Been carrying a 1911 in .45 ACP for about 20 yrs. Back then 2011s were strictly raceguns. Seems like some manufacturers got the reliability ironed out, so I thought I wanted one if they’re not too fat to carry, but holy shit they’re expensive. And they may be too fat to carry. I haven’t seen one of the newer ones in person yet.
So, alternatives? I want the same manual of arms. I’m used to the thumb safety and there’s muscle memory tied up in there. It’s weird if it ain’t there, and it needs to be in the same place, with the same motion. I figure since I’m considering joining the 21st century, I’d also like to have the option for a red dot.
I’ve been looking mostly at two pistols, one new, and one not so 21st century:
Sig M18 and these HiPower clones that have been introduced in the last few years. Some have optics cuts, some would have to be milled, and I don’t know how any of these clones are in terms of reliability. So I’m leaning Sig right now if the trigger ain’t shitty. I held a M17 in the store and it felt ok, but they wouldn’t allow dry firing.
Any suggestions?
I carried a 3" 1911, then decided to try striker fired on my way to a 2011, bought a Wilson Combat P320 Carry and had the manual safety added.
The Wilson P320 now has a parker mountain machine barrel and double port compensator, which makes this thing insanely flat shooting, but huge.
I also built another P320, it has the same grayguns competition trigger as the Wilson, it has the manual safety as well, sub-compact slide with the parker mountain machine barrel and micro compensator.
I also have a Bul Armory Ultralight 2011 with the 3.25" barrel. This gun wears the Holosun EPS Carry and it fits with the factory plate direct, so it sits very very low, they really have a nice factory optic cut.
If you want a 2011, Bul Armory sells direct now, $1480 for the 3.25" barreled 2011. Thing is very light, really handy, but with light and handy comes a bit of snap, though I'll note, not as bad as a guy would think, she runs nice for the size. Here's the link to Bul Armory's site
https://www.usa.bularmory.com/online-store/EDC-&-DUTY-c138236118
If you want a 2011 carry gun, it's a great option, I've even ran the thing in an Urban Carry G3 holster, drawn while sitting is no issue.
Buy MBX magazines for it, mine have run everything perfectly, the factory recommends 124gr rounds and lighter, I run 147gr fmj flat nose as my practice rounds, I carry it with the Hornady critical duty 135 +p, I've shot other 135s and 147s out of it.
Run the MBX magazines and no issues.
Factory mags and the new Mec Gar mag and I've had some failure to feeds, mind you in that first 500rds.
But, again, MBX mags have been flawless with everything, always.
Anyways, I mentioned the P320s above because I, like you, wanted that thumb safety, and while they are not a perfect translation of the 1911/2011 thumb safeties, I have found absolutely no issues using them and the 2011 back to back. They work fine and muscle memory is there.
I wish someone made an aftermarket safety lever with a wider flat for the P320s, something like a damn 1911 and they'd likely be exactly the same damn thing.
Anyways, I do find the safeties to work perfectly with my muscle memory.
Though if you're a 1911 guy, you'll always have an itchy asshole if you don't get a 2011, it'll always be there making you wonder.
So, the Bul is a great way to enter the arena.
Were I to do it again I'd get a Staccato C2 and have the Ghengis Comp done to it, after shooting compensated guns I've lost my taste for guns that aren't. One could also get the Bul Ultralight with the compensator, though I think it actually comes out a little longer than the C2 would, which is why I'd go that route.
Anyways, the Bul is a great, very fast little gun, quick target transitions, light, shoots well.
