The Ruger SR1911: No longer a rumor.

[Ryan in Maine]

From Ruger: http://www.ruger.com/products/sr1911/models.html

Review: http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SR1911.htm

Series 70. Made in the USA. The frame is cast, but if I'm going to trust a company to do it right, I guess Ruger is a good bet.

[Tallpine]

Does it shoot 1500 fps .45 ACP loads?   

[Balog]

Interesting. MSRP of $800, wonder what it'll hit the street at? And no internal safety crap, or firing pin safety. Interesting indeed.

[AZRedhawk44]

One unique feature of the SR1911 build process that I observed in Prescott is that the barrel and barrel bushing are machined from the same piece of bar stock, and the two parts are kept together throughout the machining and assembly process, instead of just grabbing a barrel from one box and a bushing from another. These two parts start off as one piece, and both end up in the same pistol.

So, the barrel bushing is the same steel variant as the barrel.

Two pieces of steel rubbing against each other are the same alloy.

I thought that moving parts needed to be different alloys with different carbon content so as to prevent galling against each other?

[PTK]

Nope - if the steel is hardened, as is the case with a 1911, for example, the parts will not gall. You're confusing steel with things like Al and Ti. :)

[RoadKingLarry]

Me likey.
I wonder how long till they come out with a Officer or commander size version?

[mtnbkr]

RKL, that's my question too.  I don't have plans to carry one, so a full sized 1911 isn't an issue, but I tend to like smaller guns in general. 

Depending on the actual street price and my finances at the time, I may get one.  I don't own a 1911 and this seems like a good one to get.

Chris

[brimic]

Until I read the review of the SR1911, I just thought it was goig to be another also-ran. It looks like it has some really nice features, and if the price is right, its going to be pretty hard to overlook.

[41magsnub]

I was eyeballing this.  It is on my maybe list after a few suckers...  I mean early adopters..  run one for a while.

[HankB]

Sometimes a cast frame can be better than forged & machined - consider the Browning Hi-Power, where a better alloy and better heat treatment actually improved durability, even though the newer frames are castings.

I'm not entirely sure that the same principle applies to a 1911, but Ruger ought to know how to make a casting work, considering their experience with the process.

I have to wonder about small parts like the ejector, slide stop, thumb safety, hammer, sear, etc. Some of these parts are highly stressed, and at this price point Ruger may not be using forged/machined parts, but cast or MIM components. Maybe they'll hold up . . . we'll see.

[AJ Dual]

This is weird... I'm trying to think of what 1911 Kel-Tec came out with. 

[PTK]

Thread win, AJ. Total thread win. :)

[AZRedhawk44]

This is weird... I'm trying to think of what 1911 Kel-Tec came out with. 

An awesome one, perhaps.  I've been wanting a polymer framed 5" 1911 that uses standard mags and standard components for about 5 years.

[roo_ster]

My first thought was this:


But, Ruger has been coming out with some interesting Kel-tec knockoffs products lately.

[Balog]

MIM small parts... You mean like a Kimber?

[roo_ster]

MIM small parts... You mean like a Kimber?

Not all MIM is equal. 

Kimber MIM = Walmart/Harbor Freight tools, S&W MIM = Craftsman/Husky

Of course, forged/milled = SnapOn

[Balog]

Just out your curiousity, what do you base that comparison on? I've never seen a source differentiating where S&W gets their mim bits from where Kimber gets theirs.

[PTK]

Forged/milled is like SnapOn?

Wait, so forged/milled is overpriced with a dubious service record WRT the warranty? "My frame cracked and I can't get service from the van, he keeps driving away when I park next to him!"

[roo_ster]

Just out your curiousity, what do you base that comparison on? I've never seen a source differentiating where S&W gets their mim bits from where Kimber gets theirs.

IIRC, a few years I read some article on the two companies and their history / use of MIM.  Kimber was more interested in ramping up volume, whereas S&W needed a supplier that could produce MIM parts appropriate for some of its nicer guns and was concerned about the $$$ spent on warranty repairs. 

The takeaway was that the two companies took different approaches due to labor rates.   S&W had a higher cost of labor/hour and wanted to reduce hands-on and warranty returns while Kimber had a lower labor rate and could afford more warranty repairs that less-costly MIM parts would generate.  Both ere looking to maximize $$$, but did it differently.

I can't recall the link/pub, though.  Also, take with a grain of salt, as it has been a while.  My memory may be faulty and S&W may have changed its use of MIM.

[MechAg94]

MIM = Made In Mexico? 

[PTK]

Metal injection molded. Wasn't sure if you were kidding, so I figured I'd answer. :)

It's basically powdered metal, in a mold, heated up until it adheres to itself.

[Angel Eyes]

A bit of thread drift: did Kimber always use MIM parts?  If not, anyone know when they started?

[Lee]

A bit of thread drift: did Kimber always use MIM parts?  If not, anyone know when they started?

Not sure...but it's been many years. 

I have been wanting to get another 1911. I used to have one, but traded it off, and I really didn't want to spend a grand on another one. I might have to stop by the local dealer and  and have a look at one of these. I wonder if Ruger will offer some type of intro rebate, considering this ain't the best of financial times and the competition is pretty fierce.

[stevelyn]

Guess i'll have to redo "The List" and put one about 4th down.