Thoughts/reviews on the Ruger 1911 clone?
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I have had mine for a little less than a month now. There really isn't anything not to like about it if you like 1911's and .45 acp. It looks very sharp, has a decent trigger right out of the box, and the price is good.
I also have a Remington R1 (not enhanced) and I shot them both together last week. Didn't get enough time on either one to make a comparison.
I like the R1 for it's simple more military original look, and the SR1911 is a looker!!
I also have a Remington R1 (not enhanced) and I shot them both together last week. Didn't get enough time on either one to make a comparison.
I like the R1 for it's simple more military original look, and the SR1911 is a looker!!
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5,018 Posts
Yes, do a search on this forum on SR1911 and you'll find several days worth of reading. The response to the SR1911, on this forum as well as dedicated 1911 forums has been overwhelmingly positive, though there are going to be some negative comments, as well, same as with any gun.
I don't know that 1911 clone is quite the way to describe any current production 1911, though, given that the 1911 has evolved and seen many changes throughout its history to its present day form, not to mention that it was made by many manufacturers, not just Colt, down through the years, right up to the dizzying number of 1911 makers, today. As current production 1911s go, though, the SR1911 is truer to some vintage 1911s than some other current production 1911s. It really is a very basic 1911 - simple, rugged, reliable and a joy to shoot.
My SR1911 would be the last gun I would sell. I'd trust it above all others in a pinch.
I don't know that 1911 clone is quite the way to describe any current production 1911, though, given that the 1911 has evolved and seen many changes throughout its history to its present day form, not to mention that it was made by many manufacturers, not just Colt, down through the years, right up to the dizzying number of 1911 makers, today. As current production 1911s go, though, the SR1911 is truer to some vintage 1911s than some other current production 1911s. It really is a very basic 1911 - simple, rugged, reliable and a joy to shoot.
My SR1911 would be the last gun I would sell. I'd trust it above all others in a pinch.
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5,018 Posts
Sorry to hear that, Pat. No model is completely free of the lemon jinx, but it's hard to swallow when you're the one that gets the lemon. I've been there, too.Glad you got a good one, mine was not, and the second guy that got it also had it for a short time.
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5,458 Posts
My SR1911 is one of the BEST 1911's I have in my collection. I've been shooting 1911s for 40 years, at some times as much as 500-600 rounds a week. The SR1911 was super right out of the box and that was very important as I purchased it and left for a shoot in another state the week I picked it up. I literally cleaned it and shot a quick box through it to make sure there were no surprises and we left town. I took first place in the pistol target comp and a instructor who was teaching combat techniques shot a couple rounds with it and was also very impressed. It's a good one.
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6,618 Posts
All of my handguns are Ruger S/A or D/A revolvers. I've been a revolver shooter for all my shooting life, over 40 years...until I picked up my SR1911 last month...
...and I am crazy about this gun!!!
So far I've put 700 rounds down range without a hic-cup. This is an awesome firearm, a real sweet shooter.
Get 'cha one!
...and I am crazy about this gun!!!
So far I've put 700 rounds down range without a hic-cup. This is an awesome firearm, a real sweet shooter.
Get 'cha one!
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583 Posts
Clone? Well I suppose all new 1911s are clones of the original John Browning design. Anyway, to answer - I have been very happy with mine - bought 3may11, two days after official release, so now over 18 months. Recently my log went over 10,000 rounds, most at matches. No issues.
So yea it is a great 'clone'
So yea it is a great 'clone'
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3,158 Posts
I bought one in early september and have over 3000 rounds through it without so much as a hiccup. I have three 1911's and the Ruger is the most accurate.
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1,259 Posts
Welcome to the forum.
You really should search the forum and find the in-depth review that Iowegan did on the SR1911 awhile back. There also was a balanced review of the Ruger SR1911 in the 1911.com forum some time ago.
I have two 1911 "clones," a Ruger SR1911 and a Sig 1911 XO. Both are very good pistols, similar but still different in some subtle ways. I bought the Sig when I couldn't find a SR1911 in the Seattle area for over a year after release. The Sig was recommended to me, and it is also a sweet pistol. Both of them have about 200 rounds each downrange, and no issues. I have tried all types of ammo and magazines without any problems....except the magazines seem to empty too quickly...lol.... I run Wilson Combat and MecGar mags in any of my 45ACPs, including my old stalwart, my P90.
You can't go wrong with an American-made Ruger SR1911.
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828 Posts
Great gun.
I've taken a few first time shooters to the range and they did as any new shooters do, all over the paper. That is until i handed them the SR1911 and they shot it like they had been shooting for a while. They surprised themselves.
I only have the Ruger, so nothing to compare it to, but it too is the last gun I would sell.
I've taken a few first time shooters to the range and they did as any new shooters do, all over the paper. That is until i handed them the SR1911 and they shot it like they had been shooting for a while. They surprised themselves.
I only have the Ruger, so nothing to compare it to, but it too is the last gun I would sell.
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32 Posts
I got mine last friday and love it so far. I took it out along with my brother's AMT hardballer 1911. Granted the AMT is far cheaper, but its a night and day differnce shooting them. I'm pretty new to 1911's but for the price I don't think there's a better 1911 for the money. Even my wife and sister-in-law prefered shooting my sr over the AMT. For them it seemed easier to control and the thumb safety didn't pinch there hand like the AMT did.
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18,834 Posts
By definition ... any 1911 that is not a true GI 1911A1 is a clone, including many Colt models. Colt produced the first commercial models in 1905, which were modified slightly from the original Browning design. In 1911, the US Govt adopted the pistol and designated it a "M1911". In 1924, the design was changed slightly and became a M1911A1. Since then, the patents ran out, which allowed any company to produce M1911A1s without violating patent laws. Colt continued to produce 1911s and called them "Commercial Models" or "Government Models" and the target models were called "Gold Cups". Later, Colt introduced the Commander, which were identical to a Govt Model except with a shorter slide/barrel. The Colt Officer's ACP shares the same basic design but has an even shorter slide/barrel and a shorter grip frame.
Today, the "Colt Series 70" has become the industry standard for 1911 type pistols. Nearly all aftermarket parts are said to be "Series 70 compatible". All clones have some variations that make them slightly different than the original M1911A1s. These include sights, triggers, extractors, firing pin interrupt devices, and slides plus many are available in stainless steel versus blued or Parkerized finishes.
Ruger SR 1911 clones have several departures from the original design to include the plunger tube, which is cast into the stainless steel frame rather than a separate part (a vast improvement). The sights are 3-dot medium profile and are set in a popular Novak dovetail. Some other Ruger enhancements are: beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer, extended thumb safety, extended trigger, extended magazine release, straight mainspring housing, beveled magazine well, enlarged ejection port, loaded chamber indicator, titanium firing pin, stronger tension firing pin spring, wood grips, an 8 round magazine plus a conventional 7 round, both with different magazine followers (also a vast improvement) and different serrations on the slide. With exception of the sights and plunger tube, all other parts are 100% compatible with Colt Series 70 parts, something that can't be said of many other clones.
Because the basic 1911 design is so robust, you can customize most any clone by installing aftermarket custom parts ... most being "drop-in". Ruger SR1911s already have most of the desirable enhancements. Some things you can do to further enhance a Ruger is to install a National Match grade barrel and bushing, install fully adjustable Novak type sights, extended slide lock, arched mainspring housing, or different grips. With some extra machining, you can install a fully ramped barrel. By installing a kit, you can convert a SR1911 to 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W, or 22 LR.
For my own SR1911, I swapped the straight mainspring housing for an arched housing that fits my hand much better. I also bought a matching Wilson Combat extended slide lock and thumb safety. My SR also works perfect with my Kimber 22 LR conversion kit.
Today, the "Colt Series 70" has become the industry standard for 1911 type pistols. Nearly all aftermarket parts are said to be "Series 70 compatible". All clones have some variations that make them slightly different than the original M1911A1s. These include sights, triggers, extractors, firing pin interrupt devices, and slides plus many are available in stainless steel versus blued or Parkerized finishes.
Ruger SR 1911 clones have several departures from the original design to include the plunger tube, which is cast into the stainless steel frame rather than a separate part (a vast improvement). The sights are 3-dot medium profile and are set in a popular Novak dovetail. Some other Ruger enhancements are: beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer, extended thumb safety, extended trigger, extended magazine release, straight mainspring housing, beveled magazine well, enlarged ejection port, loaded chamber indicator, titanium firing pin, stronger tension firing pin spring, wood grips, an 8 round magazine plus a conventional 7 round, both with different magazine followers (also a vast improvement) and different serrations on the slide. With exception of the sights and plunger tube, all other parts are 100% compatible with Colt Series 70 parts, something that can't be said of many other clones.
Because the basic 1911 design is so robust, you can customize most any clone by installing aftermarket custom parts ... most being "drop-in". Ruger SR1911s already have most of the desirable enhancements. Some things you can do to further enhance a Ruger is to install a National Match grade barrel and bushing, install fully adjustable Novak type sights, extended slide lock, arched mainspring housing, or different grips. With some extra machining, you can install a fully ramped barrel. By installing a kit, you can convert a SR1911 to 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W, or 22 LR.
For my own SR1911, I swapped the straight mainspring housing for an arched housing that fits my hand much better. I also bought a matching Wilson Combat extended slide lock and thumb safety. My SR also works perfect with my Kimber 22 LR conversion kit.
I've found that this seems to happen with Rugers, they are spookily easy to hit things with!
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A friend of mine had a .40 Glock. We were at the range and I offered to let him shoot my SR1911. He loved it. I don't know how he did it, but the following day he was in a LGS looking to buy a shotgun (similar to the one I let him borrow, first time he shot a shotgun and I don't think he missed a single clay, but that's another story). Anyway, even though I couldn't find an SR1911 locally even after diligently looking for over a year, they had one in stock and he bought it and the shotgun on the spot. This was this past summer. I saw him yesterday and he offered me a box of .40 cartridges because he sold the Glock. He said that he wanted a single SD gun and the Ruger was going to be it.
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