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The GSG-1911 (.22LR) -- first impressions

121K views 114 replies 65 participants last post by  qwiksdraw 
#1 ·
Recently picked up a GSG-1911 -- it was an impulse purchase for sure. I paid $345. Unfortunately the pistol comes with only one mag, and extras don't seem to be in very plentiful supply. But that's the end of the bad news.

This gun is very enjoyable to shoot, for several reasons. First, it costs about $.08 vs. $0.34 per round to shoot (I'm comparing the price of CCI Mini-Mags to the Walmart price of Winchester White Box .45ACP). That's about 75% less ammo cost. If you're not lucky enough to find .45ACP at Walmart, the savings are even better.

The second feature that makes this a fun gun: It's reasonably accurate, i.e., no problem with an under-1" group at 7 yards. I haven't had a chance to test the pistol at greater distances (I rarely practice at anything beyond typical self-defense distances).

Third: The rear sight is windage-adjustable, and the height of the front sight is adjustable by selecting any one of three sights provided. They pop in and out with an allen wrench. It took some patience and fiddling to zero my sights (about 50 rounds), but, as noted above, I was pleased with the 7-yard accuracy when done. All adjustments, including swapping front sights, can be easily done right on the firing line, if your range allows it.

Fourth: The finish on the gun is pretty decent -- but there is more than the usual amount of text printed on the slide and frame. On the plus side, the text is tastefully done, nothing garish in annoying type styles.

Fifth: I had to call customer service with a couple questions, and the gunsmith handling the GSG-1911 at ATI is a real knowledgeable 1911 specialist and a super nice guy. This is a real plus!

CAVEATS: The recoil spring in this pistol is slightly tapered! The wider end goes in the plug. Reassembling with the spring in backwards results in a vicious lock-up of the slide. Be aware! Also, the manual (at least the one I got) makes NO reference to a hex screw that must be removed before the slide will come off the frame. I'm sure you'd see this right away, but it's worth a note. Also, the GSG-1911 requires high-velocity .22LR, so stick with Mini-Mags or the like. I had about 5 failures to feed in over 200 rounds of Mini-Mags, which, for now, I chalk up to normal break-in behavior. No other malfunctions.

MORE CAVEATS: I read a claim somewhere that 80% of the parts of the GSG-1911 are interchangeable with a mil-spec 1911. I detail-stripped the GSG-1911 and I think the 80% figure is high -- but no telling how that 80% was actually calculated! I'll also mention the trigger. It's unlike most 1911 triggers because it has ALMOST no "take up". Otherwise, it's crisp at about (I'm guessing) 4-5 lbs.

All in all, a very fun gun. Does it replace training with a .45 1911? No, for so many reasons. But if you have young sons, like I do, who are ready to begin shooting a handgun, this pistol is a perfect intro to the 1911!

tap n rack
 
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#2 ·
Nice review. I just ordered one last week at $282.00, and saw today that the price went up to $377.00! If this company---Midwesthuntersupply--comes through, it will be the first time I ever bought low and had something actually go up in value---unlike my Ruger LCP! Midwesthuntersupply, however, has a spotty reputation, so we'll see what happens.

I believe it will be only a matter of time before magazines will be plentiful like its .45 caliber big brother. In the meantime, I look forward to slipping the GSG 1911 into my 1911 holster and practicing some drills. As I've told my wife, "Think of all the money we'll save!" :rock:
 
#3 ·
I ordered mine from Midwest Hunters Outlet on Saturday for the sale price of $282, it is being shipped today. I think the sale price was only through the 12th.
 
#15 ·
Did they promise you a shipping date? They told me 7-10 business days. I ain't in a hurry, though, not at that price.
I emailed them with a question about shipping time and they said they were waiting on my FFL's info. I had him refax it and they wrote back saying they rec'd it and the gun should go out today. Hopefully they were telling the truth.
 
#4 ·
There are mags on Gun Broker 3 for 100.00 I was thinking about getting them and then reselling a couple
we will see pistol isnt here yet
 
#5 ·
I like your signature, brindlpitt1. I saw the second half of it---the part about thinking you can or thinking you can't---inscribed on a statue of Henry Ford when I visited Dearborn years ago, and etched it into my long-term memory. I've quoted it many times, and think about it when I target shoot. Great man, that Henry Ford; his detractors and revisionists be damned.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Ordered mine from Midwesthuntersupply--on 07/06/10 gun shop called today 07/14/10 said its there going after work to pick it up :rock:
Ill let you know what I think when I have burned up 500 or so rounds:)
 
#14 ·
Mine is reportedly "in the mail" from MidwestHuntersOutlet as of today. I picked up a few extra mags from HotGunParts.Com. Not cheap, but they were in stock and shipped fast. Now, if Maglula will just hurry up and get their BabyUpLULA for .22lr to the marketplace, I'll be a happy camper at the range. :)
 
#16 ·
Well picked mine up after work.
first impressions were outstanding.
The guys at the gun shop hadn't seen one yet so I let the take a good look at mine they were both impressed
Got it home looked it over didn't see any dirt or shavings from manufacturing so out to the woods we went.
First thing I thought about was the magazine safety (cant pull the trigger with mag out )
Upon inspection I found that all it does is prevent the grip safety from being depressed cant depress grip safety cant pull the trigger, simple. Put the mag in
grip safety can be depressed trigger can be pulled ,simple.will leave it in .
Next load the magazine again simple hook you thumb nail on the little stud sticking out the side of the mag slide it down drop the rounds in simple.
trigger is great, as good as any of my other 1911's
ammo I used federal bulk pack 550 per box bought 6-8 years ago
every round functioned flawless no malfunctions
( note firing 10 rounds very fast slide may not lock back,(may have needed more lube, fire 9 very fast wait a second and fire the tenth and slide locked back every time)
accuracy shoots 1-2 inches high at 10 yards , I did not shoot for group size but I did shoot for accuracy could I hit what I was aiming at from 10 yards? yes every time!
In the picture below you will see the edge of a 1 by 6, put 8 of 10 in the edge of a 1 by 6 at 10 yards.
It will hit where I point it if I do my part. ( I never touched the sights shot it just how it came out of the box)
oh yea the box is a nice plastic case not great but nice usable I never take my 900.00 Springfield anywhere in its case. I will take the gsg 1911 everywhere in its case.
Price had some time to kill yesterday so I went to 4 different gun shops 1 shop had 1 gsg 1911 in the case the rest had never heard of it.
The one I did find was priced at 369.00 I have 328.00 in mine the same place I ordered mine from has them at 377.00 now (plus shipping plus ffl transfer puts it at about 421.00
all in all great gun. if your on the fence buy one now before they go up any more you wont be sorry.
I had a walther p-22 didn't put 50 rounds thru it and sent it packing.




 
#17 ·
Great posts -- I picked mine up today - found the travel radius of the tang on the ambi safety is longer than the cut out for the grips I wanted to put on it - so have to break out the drimmel to recut the releaf on the right side grip pannel.

SWEET pistol. Well made - easy to field strip. Will take it to fist dance at the range next week.

Now I can train my grandson on shooting 1911's - I can see the grandson / papa battle at the range -- 'MY TURN - MY TURN" I should be a lot of fun for both of us!!!!:rock:

I also paid a little more than the sales prices that have been posted lately. but - have saved on other pistols - so it all a wash in the long run!
 
#19 ·
I have to check that out, that's about the lowest price I've seen.

Naturally my gun didn't ship on Wednesday as I was told, it shipped on Thursday, FedEx 2nd day air. Here in downeast Maine that means delivery on Monday but the FFL I go through doesn't open until Tuesday and I'm not off until Wednesday......AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH:bawling:
 
#21 ·
Ordered two mags from Aim Surplus - $72 and change inc shipping - same as I paid for Wilson ETM's for my S&W 1911 9mm Pro Series. Oh well, at least I'll have 3 mags so I can run the same drills as with my center fire 1911's.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Thanks for the heads up I just ordered 2 they only show having 1 left someone better hurry :biglaugh:

got my mags today they look great too fit great...........
 
#23 ·
Picked up mine yesterday after work. Cleaned, lubed and took it to the range this morning. Fired 500 rounds. Ammo was CCI Mini-Mags, CCI Standard Velocity, Federal Auto Match and Federal Bulk. Ate everything, no jams, misfeeds, light primer strikes, nothing. No problems at all,just bang every time I pulled the trigger. No cleaning at the range, just one mag after another. I'm very impressed with this pistol. If things keep going this well, it may replace my CZ Kadet as my favorite .22 pistol.
 
#24 ·
Ooooh, got to fondle one at a gun shop today, I'm impressed! It is a much higher quality gun than the Chiappa. Except for being a little lighter it feels the same in my hand as my Springfield Loaded, it's going to be very cool to have a .22 version to play with. I'll be picking mine up Mon or Tues, can't wait!

BTW, they had it tagged at $369, I'm glad I got in on the $283 deal while it lasted.:rock:
 
#26 ·
I was shopping for a .22 pistol that my arthritic wife could operate. I was about to give up when the guy behind the counter brought the GSG-1911 out and told me to give it a try. The slide requires far less effort to operate than my two Colt 1911's, and even less than my wife's LCP, which she was having problems operating.

I'm generally impressed by the quality, but the ambidextrous safety and slide stop are much stiffer and clunkier than my Colts. I'm hoping everything will smooth out when broken in.

I paid $349, but they didn't have any extra magazines, so will have to wait for them. I hope to get out to the range next week.
 
#27 ·
I purchased mine at a funshow this past Saturday, and today (Monday) took it out for a workout. I was considering a .22LR upper, but decided on a dedicated pistol. Fit and finish on this gun are very good.

Shot 300 rounds through it today. Minimags, Stingers, American Eagle and Remington Subsonic all went through without any problems whatsoever. I did get several light primer strikes on the Subsonics but I get that on three other various 22LR pistols on that ammo as well. Don't know why; maybe a bad batch.

Everything fed and ejected perfectly, and the slide locked back each time. Medium front sight shot a little low; changed out front sight and now it's just slightly high at 15M but still well within tolerances.

Found the trigger bow was dragging on the grip safety so I filed ever so slightly on the grip safety; no more problem. On a personal note I found the back corner on the thumb safety to be way to sharp for my tastes so I did the file thing on that as well; a shot of 44-40 and all is well.

Next is to try to find an adapter for my suppressor. This barrel is threaded for M9 x .75 and that's a funky size; don't know if an adapter is made for this but I'd sure like one.

Very happy with the pistol.

Mike
 
#30 ·
I would like to put adjustable target sights on my GSG 1911 but having trouble figuring out what kind. Does anyone know if it is a Novak or Bomar cut? I was told it was a Novak cut but when I check my Rock Island 1911 (which was suppose to be Novak cut) it looks nothing like the GSG 1911.

Is there a site on the web that shows drawings of Novak, Bomar, etc., cuts? I sent a email to the importer saking but no reply.

I tried to measure the dimensions but not sure if they are right.
Rear sight: A .475" B .125" C .335" (don't know the degree of angle)
Frount sight: A .300" B .090" C .275" (don't know the degree of angle)


C
/_______\ B
A
 
#32 ·
Mr Rembrant,

THANK YOU for the information!!! :rock:

I immediately called them and spoke with a gentleman named Paul. Extremely nice guy, and exceptionally professional in his business dealings with me. My part was put in the mail today and I cannot wait to get it.

This has really turned out to be a super gun!

Thanks again.

Mike
 
#34 ·
Got my swarfworks suppressor adapter today. Ordered last Thursday, in my hands today. Super customer service. Fit is terrific. I did not have a chance to shoot it today and won't return until late Wednesday but will shoot it at first opportunity with the suppressor and report back.

Absolutely super customer service and I appreciate the heads up about this company! :rock:

Mike
 
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