Top 5 Modifications you should make to a 1911 - Bill Wilson & Massad Ayoob - Critical Mas Episode 24
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- One of the common questions we get from our subscribers is "What modifications to a 1911 would Bill Wilson recommend?" Massad Ayoob sat down with Bill to ask him just that. Here are Bill's recommendations for turn a good 1911 into a great 1911.
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ABOUT BILL WILSON Bill Wilson has always been infatuated with guns. Originally trained as a watchmaker, he has been in the firearms industry since 1974, starting out with a retail store called Sportsman's Headquarters in Berryville, Arkansas. Since that humble beginning, he has built Wilson Combat into the largest and most successful custom firearms company in America. Since 1977 Wilson Combat has been the leading innovator in high-performance, custom 1911 handguns, tactical long guns and accessories. A Wilson Combat product’s unmatched level of exceptional reliability and peerless craftsmanship is only equaled by our legendary customer service. Wilson Combat is proud to service all levels of local and State law enforcement including The Department of Homeland Security, US Border Patrol, HQ SOCOM, US Marshal's Service, US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Diplomatic Security Service, Texas Rangers and many more elite law enforcement and military units worldwide. We are also pleased to support the needs of thousands of law-abiding private citizens in the United States and in many other countries abroad.
ABOUT MASSAD AYOOB:
Massad Ayoob has been handgun editor of GUNS magazine and law enforcement columnist for AMERICAN HANDGUNNER since the 1970s, and has published thousands of articles in gun magazines, martial arts publications, and law enforcement journals. He is the author of some twenty books on firearms, self-defense, and related topics, including “In the Gravest Extreme” and “Deadly Force,” widely considered to be authoritative texts on the topic of the use of lethal force.
The winner of the Outstanding American Handgunner of the Year Award in 1998, Mas has won several state and regional handgun shooting championships. Ayoob was the first person to earn the title of Five Gun Master in the International Defensive Pistol Association. He is the current President of the Second Amendment Foundation. He served 19 years as chair of the Firearms Committee of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and several years as a member of the Advisory Board of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. In addition to teaching for those groups, he has also taught
for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Homicide Investigators seminars.
Mas has received judicial recognition as an expert witness for the courts in weapons and shooting cases since 1979, and served as a fully sworn and empowered, part time police officer for 43 years, mostly at supervisor rank. Ayoob founded the Lethal Force Institute in 1981 and served as its director until 2009, and now trains through Massad Ayoob Group. He has
appeared on CLE-TV delivering continuing legal education for attorneys, through the American Law Institute and American Bar Association, and has been retained to train attorneys to handle deadly force cases through the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network. Ayoob served for two
years as co-vice chair of the Forensic Evidence Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He also appeared in each episode of Personal Defense TV (Sportsman’s Channel).
0:00 - Mr. 1911
0:50 - Reliability Check
1:15 - Sights
1:55 - Trigger Pull
2:15 - Extended Thumb Safety
2:40 - Beavertail Safety
3:00 - Beveled Mag Well
3:15 - 110 Basic Package
4:30 - Improved Accuracy
5:30 - Recommended Maintenance
7:00 - Magazine Selection
#MassadAyoob #BillWilson #WilsonCombat - Sport
Not true! I shoot a gun at least 25 rounds before i clean it! OK, maybe I do clean a gun after 20 rounds…. :)
Hah! Got called out by Bill Wilson in front of thousands of fans. Gotta keep them clean!
That's right. I clean mine after every rang day.I don't want a Dirty carry gun on me
🤣🤣
Yeah, I clean mine after every range session too but I'm usually shooting 250-300 rds. Granted, I don't go to the range near as often as I used to back when a box of .45 ACP could be had for less than $10 but when I do shoot my 1911 maybe once every 2 or 3 months these days, I try to get it nice and dirty.
I am with you Jerry! I clean after every session in detail. Bill Wilson can go kick rocks with all his spare time 😅 How can he even sleep with all of those neglected firearms ?
My dad, before he passed away, was a gunsmith and somewhat of a collector of guns. Of the 30-something pistols he had, 13 were 1911 frames in various calibers and sizes,mainly.45 though. I had asked him “Dad, do you like 1911’s much ?” He replied, “Its the best and only automatic pistol made in my mind “. Thank you guys for all the content.
I like your Dad, wish I could have met him. ;
Your dad was a wise man.
I actually like sitting down and cleaning my 1911 after a trip to the range. It's therapeutic.
Bill seems like a really humble guy. Wish I could afford one of his 1911's.
same
Most folks can afford anything they want, just not everything they want.
There are some cheaper brands of 1911's
I agree.
I buy a new Guns and Ammo catalog of new guns for that year.
Most makers have the MSRP also listed. Even Les Baer finally put the prices on theirs. I know WC guns are expensive but it would be nice to know how much I need to save. Or if I shouldn't bother.
@@markbowman3475 They have pricing on their site, looks like 3k starting. Steep for many of us, but not completely unobtainable. Not bad for something made the old fashioned way, no corners cut, from the ground up.
I’m pleased to say that I now own my first Wilson Combat 1911!
An often overlooked advantage of cleaning is it allows for a thorough inspection . Preventative maintenance .
Thanks Mas and Bill. Also comment on Chip. More than 30 years ago, while living in NJ, I ordered some magazines from Chip. He called me to say thanks for the order. I still remember the pleasant conversation. And still have the mags. Respect to all.
Thanks for sharing
I truly envy the wealth of knowledge that Bill has of the 1911 platform. Thank you so much for sharing some of it, and please keep it coming!
More to come!
The wisdom gleaned from these gentlemen is priceless.
Amen on Bill's magazine choices. You can have an inexpensive gun or a tricked out Wilson. If you stick with those two mags, any feeding issues you had evaporate. Any mag that gives me a problem gets thrown away. The only ones that have survived? McCormick and Wilson. They are worth the price.
Yeah, my Kimber Custom that I got 20+ years ago came with a cheap stamped mag that had occasional feeding issues. I've been using WC mags for many years now and there are no feeding issues with my 1911.
3 drops of oil (total) and these magazines is all a series 70 .45 really needs. New I spent $125.00 and have thrown away several magazines.
I have those too. The Tripp Cobra mags are also good. I have all three. But the Wilsons are my favorite. No complaints.
Not even just with 1911’s either. The magazine is often so overlooked but is one of the most important pieces of a semi auto design. You see people encounter problems with AR’s, AK’s, Glocks as well as other modern pistols when using aftermarket mags and they somehow decide the gun which worked fine with the stock mags is the broken piece.
I’ve got 2 CM and 1 Wilson mags and at various times one or the other wouldn’t lock back when empty. I’m shooting a Kimber Aegis custom II.
Listening to these men reminds me of growing up as a young boy, I was fortunate enough for one to have been brought up in the rural South where men and conversations such as this was common. Just as common was the likelihood that a rifle was in arms reach as much that a wrench, hammer or any other common tool was, and I thank God for it.
Back in the 1970s-80s I read everything I could find about Bill Wilson's recommendations and applied them to my own Springfield Armory basic model 1911-A1 a few years later: extended thumb safety (mostly to give my thumb some place to rest), extended slide release, beavertail grip safety, improved barrel lockup with match grade bushing carefully fit, etc. Even did my own ejection port relief for better ejection. It wasn't a pretty gun but it was reliable and accurate. And I still clean my guns once a year whether they need it or not.
When Bill speaks I listen. Wilson magazines are the only mags I'll use in a carry gun.
Two Masters. Top of their class. 👍🇺🇸
That's right
Well said
Series 70.. my favorite 1911
3 legends at 1 table, thanks fellas ⬆️💪🇺🇸
One of my favorite subjects. The mighty 1911!
As a retired Navy armorer, I enjoy the Information that y'all pass on.
Wilson ETM mags are the best mags I’ve ever had period. A beaver tail and extended thumb safeties, slightly longer slide release, and barrel bushing were the first upgrades I made to my 1911. Best decision ever.
I have Wilson 47D and Cobra mags, too.
The Wilson oil is really good stuff. Since I live in Florida and it's almost always hot... I use the grease and universal oil. If it slides it's greased. If it turns it's oiled. After using it for over 3 years it really stands out compared to other oils. My EDC 45 gets deep cleaned every 60 days if I haven't shot it. I usually shoot my other 45 on the range. Anyway the grease is always still there and wet. I wouldn't want to run 100 rounds through it, but 8 or 15 rounds sure. I also use it on everything else. My 22s love it.
As usual, I have zero arguments with any of this...you guys are pure 1911 gold! Speaking as a 50 year 1911 daily carrier, certified instructor and former L.E. instructor, Bill's remark about buying ammo and shooting the gun is 100% spot on. Better sights, better trigger, then go shoot the hell out of it. Frequently.
Much appreciate Massad's recommend to buy a Wilson. Massad says everyone that has one is pleased. Good to know!
Here at low budget motors; I did all the mods Bill mentioned myself especially the beaver tail. I fought with stock mags until I could afford Bill's mags. Nothing works better!!
Good information as usual......In 1917, a corporal named York seemed to be pretty effective with a basic 1911.
yes, and I hear muskets were great firearms a some point in history.
Nope they were never good and replaced ASAP. Now back to the 1911 that is still selling strong at any gun store... @@billmoyer3254
Yes, Alvin Cullum York is a legend. Fun fact: He's whom the city & state of New York were originally named after.
@@HTown99kidding right?
Some day I'll have a Wilson Combat. Truly beautifully made with skill and care.
I love these conversations between Mas and Bill. May God bless you both with good health and a long life for you and your families!
“The main cannon on a tank actually has a guy with a 1911 shooting out of it”
- RJ Smackhammer
Good information, the first thing I do when I get a 1911 is discard the factory mags.
I myself only use wilson combat and chip M magazines. I definitely want magazines that work when they are needed.
Right on
I do the exact same thing. I will not use factory magazines. I've used Wilson Combat magazines in all of my 1911's for over 30 years, every one without a failure. I've got 12 Wilson Combat 47D mags, and 8 Ed Brown mags. I do think the Wilson Combat magazines load and feed much smoother. I'm interested in anyone else's opinion about Ed Brown mags.
@@williammatthews2948 I bought my first Ed Brown 8 rounder last month. If I load 8 rounds and then chamber a round, the first round will always nosedive. If I load 7 rounds I have no problem.🤔
@@mmabagain My Ed Brown mags are for plinking, they won't hold the slide back after the last round on any 1911 I've tried them in. I only carry Wilson 47D mags.
I always recommend an ambidextrous safety. This not only satisfies the needs of southpaws, but it can be useful for those situations where a shooter must switch hands.
Agreed I was thinking the same thing.
Absolutely, but they probably avoided that topic as there are some incredibly outspoken haters of ambi safeties among 1911 fans.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck And one should always give in to those who yell the loudest. It worked for Barabbas.
@@Paladin1873 Interesting comparison, but not far off the mark from what I've seen from 1911 aficionados.
@@Full_Otto_Bismarck the 1911: Thou shalt have no other guns before me.
I have always wanted a 1911, so when one became available that I could afford, I jumped on it. Gear heads will bash me I’m sure, but it’s the Citadel A1FS in 45 auto. I am still loving this thing. Maybe someday I’ll get a Wilson, I’ll have to save my pennies because I’m retired and on a fixed income now. The only regret, I should have gotten one earlier in life. From California too, so it’s not like I have many choices.
Don....nothing wrong with the Citadel, better yet, it's yours to enjoy...!
There’s a lot of people in this world who would give anything for that Citadel. Happy shooting, my friend!
upgrade it with wilson parts 👍
Back in the day when Colt was the only game in town you gave your new 1911 to a pistolsmith and they did their magic. I had one that was made in 51 and wish I would have kept it as it never jammed, but it had an issue with the barrel lugs being worn out and was shooting low. I had a smith fit a new barrel and bushing and it still shot low so I sold it.
I’ve installed WC sears, triggers, and barrel bushings in several 1911’s. The WC sear alone is a great improvement, and stoning the hammer hooks to the proper dimensions does wonders. Triggers with vertical play make me crazy, so fitting a WC trigger is quick and easy.
My 1911 was issued in 1941 and spent the first four years of its life on a pacific island scouting for Japanese movements. When it came to me, it was beat up and lost all its park rising. Day I took it to the range and all eight rounds came out at once. Clearly it needed a rebuild. I brought it to Turnbull for restoration and then had it refinished. And also got a new trigger and several of the internals. Still has the same barrel it had during the war. At first I didn’t get anything you could call a group, so I handed it to a friend of mine, who is a sniper in the Marine Corps. He put all eight rounds through the same hole at 25 yards. Clearly I needed practice. But reliability and accuracy were certainly not an issue.
Thank you for all the great info. Mr. Ayoob and Mr. Wilson, 2 all time greats in the industry. It was an honor to.watch you both. Have a safe day. Keep your powder dry.
Our pleasure!
You guys give the best advice and information. I love you old geezers
Bill, Massad and the series 70 1911A1 are awesome!! Thanx for the great content. I continue to learn from you guys.
Always great stuff from two top notch experts
Wilson Combat rocks! I'd love to see you folks come out with a high capacity 1911 some day
Love that Mr. Wilson really boiled it down to what is really important. Do love to use his magazines and parts.
Good advice by Bill Wilson.
The modifications I totally
agree with. Also I would dehorn sharp edges on the
pistol. You folks put out top
notch videos. Thank you!👍😊🇺🇸
Gentlemen, always such a pleasure to listen to you both very educational as always, I love my guns from Wilson Combat what precision and fit and finish you put into your firearms, keep up making the remarkable products you make.
Beavertail grip safety is my first must have on any 1911.
Thanks for NO Ads!!!
Good questions and good answers. It is obvious that you two have the experience..... in more ways than one. I have been following you two for 50 years. I have faced the fact that I am getting older... which is better than the alternative!
Thanks, guys!
Our pleasure!
Sounds alot like Col Cooper and his views on a defensive weapon.
Good ideas never go bad with Time
Yep,sounds exactly like Cooper’s specs for the first Gunsite Service Pistol
I recently bought a Colt Mark 4 and it came with the old school Wilson's combat build sheet from 1994. The old school logo on the grips .. it's an amazing gun to shoot. Did you personally do the builds yourself at that time Bill??? 1994? Even came with a blue and black Wilson's combat soft gun case and like 5 WC mags
Two legends at one table. Duuuuude.......
3 legends
Sights on a 1911?
Gee, I didn't realize they were supposed to have any. LOL
That long barrel has always been my idea of a sight.
Something happened to the sights on the one I have so I wasn't sure if they were supposed to come with them.
That extended beaver tail is an excellent idea. My old springfield has bit me a few times.
I've had great luck with the Wilson magazines
2:30 After I got my first 1911 back in 2009, I quickly realized (before the end of the first box of ammo) that it was beating the crap out of my hand. It was a Colt O1991 which had the GI style hammer/grip safety as the gun on the left. The tip of the hammer would bang on my flesh and took a patch of skin off. Before long, I started bleeding. I replaced them with WC Drop In Grip Safety (part number 429BG) and Value Line Hammer (455B). Not only these were the cheapest replacement parts I could find, but they were also actually really "drop in", that I didn't have to do any fitting at all. Great products, great price, and no fitting, love them! :)
My stainless 1911 5" runs perfectly on mec-gar magazines, all of them. Hammer forged everything as far as major components. The only mods have been G10 grips and self induced trigger work.
im a big fan of mec-gar mags. they are good quality.
@@leftyo9589 I am as well. Mec-gar manufactures many of the oem manufacturers mags. I have never had one fail to date.
+1 on the mec gar mags . 🙏😀😍
It's All I've Ever Used , Wilson and Chip M. Mags Here we have 2 of the top 10 1911 Oficionado's !
My father a WWII ,KOREA, and VIETNAM vet ,I remember as kid him as a instructor and on shooting team in the Army he had only stock sights on his colt ,boy he would be rolling if he knew what they got on them now . Thank you, I will try to up grade my three .
I gave up other guns over the years and now I have 4 Wilson .45 1911’s, 1 9mm and 2 EDC X9’s - the EDC or SFX line covers all my higher capacity 9mm needs and my 5 traditional Wilson 1911’s cover my need to have phenomenal 1911’s. I have learned that you invest in the best, you are never disappointed!
Bill's book, "Gun Guy" is a great read. The man absolutely knows his stuff. Truly amazing to see how far he came!!!
I was surprised, Mr Wilson didn't mention the magazine! Maybe I'm just old but I remember before we had all the good Wilson Combat, Chip McCormick, etc... magazines that feed worth a damn. Use a good quality mag would have been my thought for the #2 thing he would have said.
I love my 1911s all of them thank you guys 😊.
I purchased a new DW Bobtail in 10mm when they first came out. I heard Wilson mags are the best! the 8 round Wilson 10mm mag finally came out so I purchased one for around $45. Failure to feed left and right. FMJ, hollow points all the same results. Compatibility issue was the culprit. SO I purchased TRP's Cobra mags. NEVER had a failure to feed problem again. The correct magazine is everything.
3 icons at the table Mas. Great videos guys!
Thanks!
Great video, Guys.
Thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Good stuff fellas! Thanks !
With 60,000 rounds down the pipe of my Wilson 1911, Bill is SPOT ON when he says a lubed 1911 is a runner! Just like a combustion engine, it needs lube!
No question a lubed 1911 is the
top of the line. I carried one 40
years. The pistol never had a failure to fire during stressful
circumstances & during training
circumstances. 👍😊🇺🇸
every upload from this channel with Mas is required viewing
As a lifetime California residence, I really like my WC stainless Protector.
NEVER had a problem with the Wilson 47D magazines I use in my Gold Cup or the standard Wilson magazines that came with my M45A1.
Thank you gentlemen
Awesome guys!
Something I never thought of on any semiautomatic pistol ! Beveling the ramp to facilitate magazine loading ! 👍
Great video from two fine fellows in the gun industry ! ❤️
Great video! I like and use Wilson combat products. I believe a clean firearm is a happy one but I am not a fanatic. For handguns I clean after 100 rounds. The modifications Bill Wilson speaks of I have done to mine.
Excellent video and info.
Just bought my first 1911, very excited to put some bullets down range!
You guys are awesome
Always great to hear your thoughts and feedback. Thanks much
No worries!
I would add that swapping to Wilson Combat Magazines is never a bad idea either! I have about 8 that I rotate monthly, smooth as butter!
Wilson Combat 1911’s, second to none in my book, great video and not sure when you did it but thank you for changing the opening music, that twangy guitar was depressing 😂all the best to you both
Right on
I bought a 1911 Series 70 Govt. in the early 80 from a friend of mine for $200.00 he said he had problems with it the first time I took it to the range it had a stove pipe jam and I noticed the brass ejected just over my head, I did some reading and I decided to have to the ejection port lowered, feed ramp polished and replaced the oem ejector with a commander ejector, the next weekend I took it back to the range and to my surprise it didn't jam once, the brass ejected about 15 feet behind my with no damage....one of my favorite guns ever 45 ACP
Good stuff 👍
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I had a Colt Commander years ago and had work done to it...different barrel, beavertail safety, lightened trigger, new grips, different sights. It shot well, but I sold it. Just got a new 5" Colt 1911 model 70 and am going to leave it
stock. I learned that if yer not doing competition shooting, why mess with the best 1911 .45 ever made?
I've used about every brand of 1911 magazine out there, the most consistent/reliable have been chip mccormick's & novak's (steel followers instead of plastic)
Gave my adult son my 1911A1 I carried a number of years as a LEO. Had the trigger pull slightly increased, probably from 4 lbs +/_ to 5 lbs +/-. I had carried and shot this pistol a number of years and considered myself expert with it. My son, not so much. Didn’t want and unintentional discharges. I would add the pull was quite crisp before and after. Thank you Mike Merker for your fine work.
I just wanna give you guys props on the WC 365 grip frames. Its a huge improvement in shootability with a minimal sacrifice in concealabiity.
Great information, I have one Wilson, first class, thanks
Right on
Thanks guys.
Our pleasure!
I agree with Bill, as far as lubrication in warm or hot seasons, I use light grease. In fact, as odd as it sounds, I use Ford Motor Company part # DOAZ-19584-AA multi purpose grease. It’s specifically made for sliding mechanisms like seat slides. It stays where you put it and is very slick.
Very well done.
Glad you liked it!
Glad they affirmed my belief that it isn’t necessary to clean a 1911 until it’s filthy dirty. In fact I just spray G96 or CLP into the internals to bring back smoothness in the action, then went right back on shooting. IIRC, I’ve shot 3-400 rounds before my 1911 malfunctioned, sprayed, shot a total of 700 rounds with a couple more squirts of lube. This was a WWII Remington customed and tuned into a compensated pin gun.
Point well taken!
When I took my conceal carry class the two things the instructor told us over and over was do not modify your gun keep it box stock and do not use hand loaded ammunition or you could have legal issues if you were involved in a shooting . What are Massads thoughts on this ?
There are older video of Mr. Ayoob teaching classes about defensive shootings and the court fallout afterwards where he goes into detail on that topic. Search Massad Ayoob and look for the longer videos (45 to 60 minutes). Long short of it was no punisher skulls, shredder self defense ammo or unsafe triggers. Everything else should be dealt with in court by saying "I did x to my gun so I can more safely handle it, shoot it more accurate to minimise dangerous misses..." etc.
Any modification made to your pistol is subject to legal issues and questions in court. I prefer my guns to work well straight out of the box without the need of barrel polishing (making them work), new sights, different barrels, lighter trigger etc. etc.
Doesn’t matter about after market parts
There are no legal ramifications for upgrading your gun to perform same function but more efficient or cosmetic swaps
If u put a silencer on it/ put zombie rounds in it and still kill someone it’s still circumstantial as for ammo, just buy from a store and they are liable , not u bc their ammunition is “overpowered “ not a thing tho
I took a cheap Norinco 1911, and with the help from Gene Shuey of AGI Building the ultimate 1911, and a few wilson Combat parts built the ultimate 1911! Shoots very well, no feed issues,no jams, and very acurate! So thank you Bill Wilson for making great parts with very little fit issues, and for helping build a great firearm!!!
Just got my Service Grade M-1911A1 from the CMP. It’s a Union Switch&Signal (sn 107xxxx) frame with a “GI repro” slide. Hopefully I can locate the proper US&S slide for it. These improvements will go on my Delta Elite.
We want to hear from you too! What modifications have you made to your handgun? What would you recommend?
None. Only buy guns that fit in my hand, like the trigger feel, and shoot well with. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
$$$$$ ammo back to $$ ammo ..Joey did this !!!
Tritium sights, WC bullet proof ambi safety and a lighter mag release spring for this lefty. And of course Wilson Combat magazines.
Grip enhancement if needed, red dot, depending on the trigger I like to do the same as bill and just clean em up. Including what bill said of course Lol ammo!!!
Pretty much the same things. My exceptions would be Ambi-safety and Mag-well. Hoagie makes a grip that works great especially on the officers size grip. Just enough for a better grip but doesn't impact conceal ability
I’m really enjoying my Wilson combat flat wire kit in my kimber eclipse target 2 45. The gun never functioned as well. I went from liking the gun to loving it.
My first 1911 was a parts gun I paid $40 for the parts and my Sergeant assembled and blued it for me. That was 1971.
I remember speaking to Bill back in the day when he customized my X’s 1911.
Thank you
You're welcome
Three icons!
First 1911 I ever shot was a WWII 1911. I hated it. I have a scar in the web of my hand where the hammer dug into it. Next got a Colt Combat Commander and a Kimber TLE both with the beavertail grip safety's and YES first thing I would do. Great video.
I carry the Dan Wesson PM1-S. It is wicked-accurate! Will only use Wilson Combat or Chip McCormick mags and Wilson Combat parts. Load my own ammo (long story)
The legend’s speak I listen, always great 👍 videos 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Right on
Would love to own one in the future