What Makes a 1911 Different Than Any Other Gun?

[McPatrickClan]

I could be missing something obvious here but...

I realize that guns have various calibers. I have a few questions:

1) Why is .40 called .40 S&W? Did Smith & Wesson "invent" this caliber?

2) Why does ACP follow .45 so often?

3) 1911 is a reference to the Colt 1911 pistol, right? Was this "frame" originally made in 1911? If yes, are all the 1911s made today just updated versions of the Colt 1911?

4) When you say you have a 1911, does it use a particular size/caliber bullet? Or is there a 9mm 1911?

Thanks!

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[pgrass101]

[/QUOTE]

I could be missing something obvious here but...

I realize that guns have various calibers. I have a few questions:

1) Why is .40 called .40 S&W? Did Smith & Wesson "invent" this caliber?

Yes they did.

2) Why does ACP follow .45 so often?

ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol

3) 1911 is a reference to the Colt 1911 pistol, right? Was this "frame" originally made in 1911? If yes, are all the 1911s made today just updated versions of the Colt 1911?

See link 1911

4) When you say you have a 1911, does it use a particular size/caliber bullet? Or is there a 9mm 1911?

Thanks!

Yes it comes in 9mm .38 Super, 10mm and many others as well.

[OPFOR]

What makes it different? The PR of the rabid, vicious, die-hard, fanatical cultists in the Church of JMB!

[rodc13]

What makes it different? The PR of the rabid, vicious, die-hard, fanatical cultists in the Church of JMB!

There is no god but Mars, and Browning is his prophet . . .

[alfack]

I think its natural pointability makes it different, sort of like the Lugers.

[BlackPR]

2) Why does ACP follow .45 so often?

There's also .45 LC, .45 GAP, and .45 HP... All of which are different than .45 ACP and won't work in a Colt 1911.

The ACP predates the 1911... it was introduced with the Colt 1905.

4) When you say you have a 1911, does it use a particular size/caliber bullet? Or is there a 9mm 1911?

This is a religious question. There are models that are functionally identical, that are 9mm. Some people think that qualifies. Other folks will tell you (perhaps with a wink) that 1911's shoot .45. Colt manufactured them in .38 super and .22LR (Colt ACE) as well.

These guns were really a marvel of engineering, and perhaps JMB's cult following is well deserved. To think that a guy could dream this up without the aid of computers and cad software just blows my mind sometimes.

[Catalina]

Do yourself and your money a favor:

Never, ever pick up and hold/fondle a well made, tuned 1911.
and
Never, ever fire a well made, tuned 1911.

[packinnova]

Yes they did.




ACP stand for Automatic Colt Pistol



See link 1911




Yes it comes in 9mm .38 Super, 10mm and many others as well.

HEH! When it comes in 9mm, .38 Super, 10mm or anything else not .45acp...IT ISNT a 1911! Ok so maybe I'm in that cult faction opfor mentioned

[QKShooter]

> Actually what makes it (a 1911) different is the incredibly perfect and sweet crisp trigger.

> The fantastic ergonomics and the flawless natural pointability.

> The incredible number of available aftermarket and custom options that allow you to have or build exactly the pistol that you want.

> The "piece of cake" complete take down and reassembly.

> Great functional reliability in dirty and sandy environments.

I can think of a few more but, those are some good ones.

[Captain Crunch]

All of your M1911 questions are answered here:

The Sight's M1911 .45 ACP Page

[retsupt99]

All of your M1911 questions are answered here:

The Sight's M1911 .45 ACP Page

New site for me...another addition to my bookmarks...
Thanks, Captain...

[dan728]

There's also .45 LC, .45 GAP, and .45 HP... All of which are different than .45 ACP and won't work in a Colt 1911.

What does .45 HP stand for?

[BlackPR]

What does .45 HP stand for?

Hirtenberger Patronen. It's not manufactured anymore, but was made as a result of a ban on ownership of .45 ACP in Italy. It's identical to the .45 ACP, but just a millimeter shorter.

I think the idea was that it might work in some 1911's. Not sure about that... but I know I wouldn't feed it through mine, even though we're just talking a millimeter. Maybe some of the other 1911 history buffs can chime in on this one.