patton63

Yes - I included pics.

I have emailed the IDPA asking for clarification, but have not heard back. I'll continue to try and get an official ruling and let you know. In the meantime, I'll just plan to use a different gun to compete.

I picked on up a couple weeks ago and, have put about 500 rounds through it. So far, I have had one FTE (on the first mag). Other than that, it runs really well. The accuracy is OK and seems to be getting better as it gets broken in. As others state, the trigger isn't very good and the sights could be better. But, those are easily corrected. I run it with a little light slide glide and it is good to go.

Perhaps it comes from simply having done it this way for so long, but I actually like using my trigger finger to work the magazine release and slide stop. I had a chance to handle a Randall left-handed 1911 and it felt completely wrong.

Thanks for the input. My inclination is not to get one because of the risk that I'll unwittingly drop a magazine at some point during a course of fire.

This would be on a 2011-style limited gun.

I'm new to the sport and am in the market for a 1911-style Limited gun. As I consider what I want, I noted that many people are using oversized mag release buttons as a way of increasing the speed of their reloads. I am a lefty, though, and am concerned that the larger button would become a problem during a normal course of fire. For you lefty's out there that are running 1911s - do you use an oversized mag release button? Thanks in advance for your thoughts/advice.

It is entirely the perspective of the photo - the gun has a standard dust cover:

Are you a lefty? I am and when I switched to a thumbs forward grip I found that my off-hand thumb would bump the slide stop on my SA Loaded during recoil and, on occassion, would push it out just enough to jam the whole thing up. The slide stop was longer on my Loaded than on any other 1911 I had, which must have contributed to the problem (I have never had that problem on my Les Baer, which has a shorter slide stop). I ended up having it ground flush with the frame and the problem went away. Just a heads-up in case you are a lefty and switch to the thumbs forward grip.

Thanks for the input. I hadn't seen anything like this before, either. It is a treatment used by a local 1911 gunsmith (former Army Marksmanship Unit armorer). I admit that it doesn't look comfortable, but it actually is quite easy to shoot and there is enough texture that it enhances the grip nicely. As for "why," I bought this gun in 1999 and after 11 years and countless thousands of rounds, decided to have it rebuilt. After a few discussions with the gunsmith, I decided to go for something unique. It wasn't until after getting this rebuilt that I decided to get into IDPA and USPSA shooting. Would I have chosed a different treatment if I was having this built principally for competition - probably. I have shot this at a couple informal bowling pin matches and it regularly serves as my carry gun. So far, I haven't had any problems with dirt or other foreign materials getting into the mag well or the magazine. That may change as I get more involved with IDPA/USPSA, however. If so, I'll rely more heavily on my Les Baer and/or it will give me an excuse to get a new 1911. Thanks again.

I have been shooting for a long time, but am new to IDPA and USPSA competitions. I would like to shoot my Springfield Armory 1911 in the CDP division in IDPA matches. In looking at the rules, I note that frontstrap checkering is permitted. I had a somewhat different treatment done and am wondering if it creates any issues. Here is a pic: I know you cannot port the slide or do anything that is intended to lighten the slide. Clearly, these cuts won't do that. Any thoughts on whether this treatment/modification is permitted in this class? Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all of the advice. I have a feeling that my first couple matches will involve a lot of trial and error to figure out how best to approach the sport. Am I correct that, unless specified, you can shoot the stages in whichever direction you want (assuming you can do so safely and complete the stage)?

Here are my two favorite long guns: Ruger 10/22 w/ a Boyds stock, Green Mountain Barrel, and a Volquartsen trigger. My 8-year old shoots this more than I do, though: M40A1 clone, built on a take-off USMC stock with matching bottom metal and USO MST-100 scope:

I am a lefty and wouldn't know what do to with an ambi magazine release on my 1911s. But, then again, all of my long guns are righ-handed too. With some practice, working the slide release and magazine release with your index finger begins to feel quite natural - through muscle memory, you figure out how to angle the pistol for the quickest engagement. Good luck as you learn the new skill, and welcome to the world of southpaw shooting.

I am a left-handed shooter and am new to USPSA-style shooting. I saw the thread asking whether there were any left-handed GMs and, frankly, before seeing that thread hadn't considered whether the courses might be biased towards one hand or the other. At least one response said that a "small majority" of stages are righ-hand biased. Assuming that to be the case, is there any advice you would give a left-handed shooter that is new to the sport as to how to approach these stages? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.