Monday, April 18, 2011

SMART...Really Smart...

So the Ruger SR1911 is officially out of the bag...for our full report, go to DRTV, where we've got huge video coverage. Marshal Halloway tells me that despite our non-insubstantial server capacity we're struggling with unprecedented traffic!

I've got about 700 rounds through pre-production models and a few magazines through one of the production versions. I believe it may be one of the smartest 1911 launches in recent year...here are the bullet points:

• Series 70...no Series 80 clutter or (shudder!) Swartz grip safety system
• Ruger-made small parts, solving a lot of the typical 1911 issues right off the bat
• EDM'ed breech face, about as precise as you can get
• Barrel and bushing cut from the same piece of bar stock
• Novak sights (and yes, I could do without the 3 dots!)
• Plunger tube part of the frame (the frame is a casting finished on their CNC machines...as you probably  know, Ruger is the great master of casting...they've been casting Caspian's highly regarded frames for years)
• Titanium firing pin and heavy firing pin spring (something I've routinely done on my smaller 1911s as an extra safety edge)
• Single side safety (typically I'll take the ambi safety off a non-competition gun)

Check out the details over at DRTV....the Wednesday podcast will focus on the 1911...

21 comments:

TomcatTCH said...

Damn.

I might just buy a Ruger product.

Gunmart said...

Just out of curiosity... why did they wait until after SHOT? Is there some reason why they opted for the NRA Meeting over debuting it during SHOT Show?

Dave S. said...

"I might just buy a Ruger product."

Hold off until after the first recall.

Charlie Foxtrot said...

If it's as good as it looks; with the $799 MSRP, the SR1911 is a world beater. Congrats to Ruger yet again.

Shame that our elites will not let it into Kali because it "lacks" a magazine safety and chambered round indicator that can be seen from 24 inches.

And I'll have everyone know that I've been predicting the SR1911 - for four years. And I'M FINALLY RIGHT!!!!

;^)'

Gus said...

Ruger - a 1911 - who knew?
If we only had - had some early warning or heads up anout its possible release.


wink wink

Looks like Ruger has my number this year with the M77 - GS Scout and the 1911.

Darn

Unknown said...

If I were currently in the market for another 1911 I would definitely give it a look.

Just a question, why do you prefer plain sights over white dot sights?

Dan said...

Yawn, YANE*





* Yet Another Nineteen Eleven

Michael Bane said...

1) I think Ruger didn't want to take the focus away from the LC9 and SR40/40c introductions.

2) The 3-dot system tends to pull my focus back to the REAR right, exactly where it doesn't need to be. Front sight front sight front sight...

mb

Unknown said...

I wonder if there will be a SASS Wild Bunch edition later ;)

It looks like a much better gun then my RIA. My RIA works great but things like the non-standard sites (only novak like) and not offered in Stainless sure makes the Ruger look nice. If offered in a 4.25" model with a standard barrel and bushing I would sell the RIA and buy a Ruger model.

Anonymous said...

The least they could do is offer a version with the ambi-safety. It would cost them a lot less to offer one up front than for me pay a gunsmith to install one afterwards.

Contrary to popular opinion, there are a lot more left handed shooters today than there were when I started shooting over thirty years ago.

You always hear about how the ambi-safety could snag on clothing or could be more easily disengaged, but in all the years I've carried a 1911 with an ambi-safety it's never happened to me. And I've never heard of it happening to anyone else, for that matter.

On top of that, the thumb safety is not the only safety on the 1911. Even if your thumb safety somehow got knocked off of safe, you still have to engage the grip safety and pull the trigger in order for the gun to go off. It's not going to magically fire on it's own.

KMitch200 said...

Yawn, YANE*

* Yet Another Nineteen Eleven


I right there too....

EDM'ed breech face, about as precise as you can get

Has this been a problem in the last 100 years?
If I wanted another 1911, I'd wait 2 years to buy the Ruger. Let someone else deal with working the bugs out.

Anonymous said...

Looking at the pics, I didnt see the typical Ruger warning on it.

Perhaps they decided not to sully the fine lines of a 1911 by staming their legalese on it?

gunman42782 said...

When I get the two Rugers I have on lay a way paid for, I know what my next gun will be!!!

DamDoc said...

What a surprise!.. who knew?

Rastus said...

Nice suggested price.

Stu said...

with a lightweight frame and ambi safety (I'm a lefty), I'm there!

Anonymous said...

INTRIGUING QUESTION:

Michael, if Ruger's Pine Tree Casting subsidiary is casting the Caspian frames, who is casting the Colt frames?

Anonymous said...

RE: Colt's Frames;

To my knowledge, they're still forgings, in both steel and aluminum and Colt's forged their own steel ones. I'm not sure where the "light ones" came from.

Life Member

Steve T. said...

I predict Ruger will sell a boatload of these quality 1911 pistols. I found your DRTV video very interesting, especially the references that this new plant will have the capability of producing many more variations of the SR-1911.

Hold on to your trousers people, this is just a first gun. Ambi safeties, Commander and Officer size frames, various calibers, and a Picatinny rail are being viewed in a crystal ball....

Moosejaw said...

I have 5 ruger handguns...not a fart in the carload...you cant beat Sturm Ruger.

my only 1911a1 is a bone stock 1944 Remington-Rand....it fails NEVER...though I was looking for one that I can beat without losing my classic WW2 1911 value.

and thank goodness Ruger decided against the series 80 crap. I had that piece of nonsense in my Colt Mustang. I may look for that titanium firing pin for it...I already have the heavy springs...and NO series 80 little parts anymore(flame away)...

Awtha said...

To tell you, the best thing it has going for it – is it’s NOT made in any of the main ANTI states!!! I realize the cost to move a companies infrastructure, however, for my pea brain i don’t know why any company from NY, NJ, Conn, Taxsachusetts, etc can stay there. . . . . . Those companies should do themselves a favor & get out while they can!