How to use a 1911 in under 60 seconds

Published on April 12, 2022
Duration: 1:00

This guide demonstrates the fundamental operation of a 1911 pistol in under 60 seconds. It covers engaging and disengaging the manual safeties, including the grip and thumb safeties, and explains how the thumb safety interacts with the hammer. Proper sight alignment is shown, and the basic steps for loading, firing, and managing the slide lock and magazine release are illustrated.

Quick Summary

The 1911 pistol has two manual safeties: a grip safety activated by holding the gun, and a thumb safety where 'up' means safe and 'down' means fire. The thumb safety only engages when the hammer is cocked and locks the slide.

Chapters

  1. 00:001911 Manual Safeties Explained
  2. 00:11Thumb Safety Mechanics & Hammer Interaction
  3. 00:24Proper Sight Alignment for 1911
  4. 00:36Loading and Firing a 1911
  5. 00:53Slide Lock and Magazine Release

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the manual safeties on a 1911 pistol?

The 1911 features two manual safeties: a grip safety that is engaged when the handgun is held firmly, and a thumb safety. For the thumb safety, 'up' is the safe position, and 'down' is the fire position.

How does the thumb safety on a 1911 work?

The thumb safety can only be engaged when the hammer is cocked. When engaged ('up'), it locks the slide, preventing the user from chambering or clearing a round of ammunition.

How do you properly align the sights on a 1911?

Align the front post horizontally and vertically within the rear notch. The top edge of the front post should be level with the top of the rear notch, indicating the point of aim.

What is the procedure for loading and firing a 1911?

To load, insert a magazine, ensure the safety is off, and rack the slide. To fire, disengage the thumb safety and squeeze the trigger smoothly.

Related News

All News →

More Training & Techniques Videos You Might Like

More from Gunghis

View all →