Ben Stoeger Posted April 14, 2005 Share Posted April 14, 2005 Hey guys. I am wanting a single stack 1911 for IDPA CDP. The one that comes off the shelf with the features and gizmos on it that I want is the Kimber Tactical. It has, however, an alloy frame. How much more felt recoil am I looking at with this sort of a set up? My steel frame 1911 isn't to bad, but since this is for comp I need to make sure I wont be putting myself at a huge disadvantage. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted April 14, 2005 Share Posted April 14, 2005 Years ago I did a test/eval of Springfield's full-sized Government Model with aluminum alloy frame. Strangely enough, in side-by-side shooting, it seemed to have LESS recoil than an all-steel gun. And that wasn't just me, everyone who fired the gun made the same comment. I talked to Bill Laughridge of Cylinder & Slide Shop about this, and he said he'd noticed the same thing. His theory was that, at the end of the slide stroke, when the slide hits the frame, with a heavy frame the weight of the frame gets added to the recoil impulse. With a light frame, that happens less. As Bill put it, "I know that doesn't make total sense, but it's the only explanation I can come up with for the phenomenon." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southpaw dan Posted April 14, 2005 Share Posted April 14, 2005 I believe the liteweight frame is the reason Glocks have less perceived recoil. Some say it's the grip angle but in my experience a G21 with a grip reduction recoils exactly the same as one with a full grip. Though the low bore axis doesn't hurt, either Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Stoeger Posted April 15, 2005 Author Share Posted April 15, 2005 Well either way, its a sweet gun. Thanks for filling me in Duane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Yer welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 Ben, last year I built up a pretty cool single-stack around the Les Baer .45 match barrel I won out at the Steel Challenge. I used a Les Baer aircraft aluminum frame and an STI slide as the main components. I've owned, shot, and sometimes carried a Commander for years, but don't recall ever shooting a full-size 1911 with an alloy frame until I test-fired this gun. The gun came out pretty nice, and shoots great! With full-power loads, I do think it recoils a little more (in my hands, at least) than my steel-frame single-stack 1911s, but it's still very manageable. I have used it in the CDP division (I'm out of IDPA these days), and would do so again without hesitation. It would also be a good carry gun, although the trigger is set up for competition use. The best part--I completed all the work myself. No grumpy gunsmiths. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted April 16, 2005 Share Posted April 16, 2005 BYW, I decided to take the time to do a nice blend job on the S&A magwell on my alloy-framed .45--it's not a bit faster than a dropped-in S&A, but it does add to the aesthetics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Stoeger Posted April 18, 2005 Author Share Posted April 18, 2005 Carmoney.... Sweet lil gun you got there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted April 19, 2005 Share Posted April 19, 2005 Thanks, Ben--not bad for a guy who wears a suit to work every day, huh! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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