M1911A1 .45 Caliber Automatic Pistol
Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide

TM 9-1005-211-12: M1911A1
TECHNICAL DATA
Country of OriginUSA
Date Of Introduction1926
Caliber0.45 in (11.43 mm)
Cartridge.45 ACP - Automatic Colt Pistol
System of OperationShort recoil, semi-automatic
Weight With Empty Magazine2.4 lb (1.1 kg)
Weight With Full Magazine3 lb (1.4 kg)
Length8.625 in (219 mm)
Barrel Length5.03 in (128 mm)
Barrel RiflingL.H., six grooves, pitch 1 in 16 inches (406 mm)
Safety FeaturesManual safety lever, grip safety, half-cock position
Trigger Pull5 to 6.5 lb (2.3 to 2.9 kg)
Magazine Capacity7 rounds
Basic Load21 rounds
Unit Replacement Cost$242
Performance
Muzzle Velocity830 fps (253 mps)
Muzzle Energy358 foot-pounds (485 J)
Maximum Range1,640 yd (1,500 m)
Maximum Effective Range55 yd (50 m)
Sights
Front SightBlade, integral with slide
Rear SightNotched bar, dovetailed to slide
Sight Radius6.481 in (165 mm)

DESCRIPTION

FM 21-75: M1911A1
The M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol is a magazine-fed, semi-automatic, recoil-operated, single-action hand gun. It uses a .45 caliber rimless cartridge in a seven-round magazine. It fires one round each time the trigger is squeezed, once the hammer is cocked by prior action of the slide or thumb. This design is referred to as "single-action." The thumb safety may only be activated once the pistol is cocked.

HISTORY

John M. Browning designed the M1911 in response to the Army's need for a pistol with greater stopping-power following the Army's experience with close-in combat during the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1901). The M1911A1 model recoil semi-automatic adopted in 1926, was the standard personal defense weapon carried by officers and team leaders of all services during World War I, World War II, and Korea. Production was ended in 1945.

The M1911 has a rich military heritage, was very reliable, and the weapon of choice for use in close quarters. It was used up until 1984, when it began to be replaced by the more modern M9 9mm pistol.

OPERATION

FM 23-35: M1911A1
Each time a cartridge is fired, the parts inside the weapon function in a given order. This is known as the functioning cycle or cycle of operation. The cycle of operation of the M1911A1 is divided into eight steps: feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting, and cocking. The steps are listed in the order in which functioning occurs; however, more than one step may occur at the same time.
  1. A magazine containing ammunition is placed in the receiver. The slide is pulled fully to the rear and released. As the slide moves forward, it strips the top round from the magazine and pushes it into the chamber. The hammer remains in the cocked position, and the weapon is ready to fire.

  2. The weapon fires one round each time the trigger is pulled. Each time a cartridge is fired, the slide and barrel recoil or move a short distance locked together. This permits the bullet and expanding powder gases to escape from the muzzle before the unlocking is completed.

  3. The barrel then unlocks from the slide and continues to the rear, extracting the cartridge case from the chamber and ejecting it from the weapon. During this rearward movement the magazine feeds another cartridge, the recoil spring is compressed, and the hammer is cocked.

  4. At the end of the rearward movement, the recoil spring expands, forcing the slide forward, locking the barrel and slide together. The weapon is ready to fire again. The same cycle of operation continues until the ammunition is expended.

  5. As the last round is fired, the magazine spring exerts upward pressure on the magazine follower. The stop on the follower strikes the slide stop, forcing it into the recess on the bottom of the slide and locking the slide to the rear. This action indicates that the magazine is empty and aids in faster reloading.

AMMUNITION

Ammunition for the M1911A1 is issued in the form of a complete .45 ACP round. A complete round (cartridge) consists of all the components (cartridge case, bullet, propellant powder, and primer) necessary to fire the weapon once. Click here for more information.

More M1911A1 Art

TM 9-1005-211-35: M1911A1 holsters
M7 shoulder holster, M1916 hip holster
TM 9-1005-211-12: M1911A1
M1911A1 partial exploded view.
Click on image to see full size: 900x425, 33K, GIF

M1911A1 Photos - Click on image sample to see full size image.

U.S. Army TACOM-RI SAG
General Officers Model
U.S. Army Photo
566x400, 27K, JPEG
U.S. Air Force Airman
M1911A1
U.S. Air Force Photo
2100x1387, 480K, JPEG
Defenselink website
M1911A1
Marine Sgt. M. W. Patrick, military policeman, police protective course
U.S. DoD Photo by Gene Jones
06-APR-1981
1024x768, 248K, JPEG, B/W

Last updated:  29-DEC-2006: Added photo.
Copyright ©2004-2006 Gary W. Cooke
To the best of my knowledge all military data and images presented in these pages are UNCLASSIFIED, NON-SENSITIVE, and approved for public release.

Sources:
FM 21-75 Combat Skills of the Soldier.
FM 23-35 Combat Training With Pistols & Revolvers.
TM 9-1005-211-12 M1911A1 Operator's Manual.
TM 9-1005-211-35 M1911A1 Maintenance Manual.
U.S. Air Force "Airman: The Book" web edition, Winter 2006.
U.S. Army TACOM-RI Small Arms Group website.
U.S. DoD Defenselink website.
U.S. Marine Corp website Fact File - M1911A1 .45 Caliber Pistol.