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LDBennett · 10-31-2009, 06:09 AM

While several possible reasons the 1911 is not chosen for police or military work have been expressed above, I think the real reason is the trigger. Its a single action trigger. To get the first shot off when the hammer is down you have to manually cock the hammer or cock the hammer before hand and rely on the safety to hold it day and night, maybe forever. Then you have to remember to take the safety off. That's the extra training required.

But todays COP may not be a gun fanatic and may only practice when he or she has to. While most may keep their gun handling skill up only one has to fail to do so and the city or government agency may have a big problem when the adrenalin kicks in on the COP with little practice. It's a matter of record that a COP involved in a shooting usually can't even remember how many shots he took. How's he going to remember under duress the gun handling skill required with a single action trigger if he doesn't practice?

COP's are the main reason for Double Action Only or self cocking double action triggers on defense guns. Nice triggers are not necessary, only triggers that take a concerted effort to pull and that produce a shot with every pull of the trigger. Government agencies want COP guns on the street that are only fired when absolutely necessary, not by mistake or not at all when the drill is forgotten in a bad situation. It's about Liability, I would guess.

Still another factor is that double action revolvers were the duty gun for decades and old officers who learned and trained on them are more easily converted to a self cocker like a Glock or a double action pistol.

Still another reason is gun size. 1911's are big guns. Little lady COP's with small hands MAY have a problem using such a big heavy gun in a incident where life and death gun use is required. Today women become COP's in the field. They don't get to choose only calls where no violence is required. It can happen on any call. They need protection they can handle and the smaller lighter guns are usually necessary for them.

LDBennett

10-31-2009, 06:09 AM	#10
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,754	Re: A really big 1911 question While several possible reasons the 1911 is not chosen for police or military work have been expressed above, I think the real reason is the trigger. Its a single action trigger. To get the first shot off when the hammer is down you have to manually cock the hammer or cock the hammer before hand and rely on the safety to hold it day and night, maybe forever. Then you have to remember to take the safety off. That's the extra training required. But todays COP may not be a gun fanatic and may only practice when he or she has to. While most may keep their gun handling skill up only one has to fail to do so and the city or government agency may have a big problem when the adrenalin kicks in on the COP with little practice. It's a matter of record that a COP involved in a shooting usually can't even remember how many shots he took. How's he going to remember under duress the gun handling skill required with a single action trigger if he doesn't practice? COP's are the main reason for Double Action Only or self cocking double action triggers on defense guns. Nice triggers are not necessary, only triggers that take a concerted effort to pull and that produce a shot with every pull of the trigger. Government agencies want COP guns on the street that are only fired when absolutely necessary, not by mistake or not at all when the drill is forgotten in a bad situation. It's about Liability, I would guess. Still another factor is that double action revolvers were the duty gun for decades and old officers who learned and trained on them are more easily converted to a self cocker like a Glock or a double action pistol. Still another reason is gun size. 1911's are big guns. Little lady COP's with small hands MAY have a problem using such a big heavy gun in a incident where life and death gun use is required. Today women become COP's in the field. They don't get to choose only calls where no violence is required. It can happen on any call. They need protection they can handle and the smaller lighter guns are usually necessary for them. LDBennett Last edited by LDBennett; 10-31-2009 at 06:11 AM..