Details
The Ruger Custom Shop team worked closely with well-known competitor Doug Koenig to help hone the features of the SR1911. After living with my test sample for about four months before writing, I feel it’s pretty much living up to the promises made for being what is, essentially, a custom 1911 for competition, practice, fun and even carry if you’re inclined. Doug’s seasoned ideas are obvious in the final package.
The basic platform doesn’t hide any surprises. But the list of customized features does add a thing or three for sure. The gun itself is stainless, finished in black nitride with polishes here and there to toss in some accent. I think it looks fine. It’s got a high cut behind the trigger guard, common on custom guns, allowing a firm, high grip. There’s 25 LPI checkering where needed, and the G10 Piranha grips are supplied by Hogue — they happen to know a thing or two about grips. They are, um … grippy, and frankly feel great, adding a good deal to control.
Being a 1911, everything is where you expect it and runs fine. Safeties snick on and off (ambi, by the way), the slide runs smoothly but is tight, as is the barrel lock-up. It has a recoil spring guide rod and the smooth fit and lightweight spring — since it’s a 9mm — makes the slide easy to run and manipulate. It’s great for us old guys or anyone with some strength issues. I really like the move to 9mm in this platform and this example is a benchmark for how to do it.
The magwell is made by Techwell and has what I thought was a peculiar space at the front. That is, until you insert one of the two supplied Metalform mags (10-rounders) and you find the mag’s baseplate toe fits easily because of that. It will also help with after-market mags with even more pronounced toes. I had never seen this before and think it’s a thoughtful touch.
The barrel is listed as being a “competition” barrel and was crowned nicely and hard-fitted perfectly. It has EGW’s “Ultimate Trigger Kit” installed, a nice, flat trigger which I really like — it’s forgiving of trigger finger placement if you’re in a hurry — and great adjustable sights. The sight has a bold green fiber optic in front and a nice, big, black serrated rear to peer through. That front green dot really jumps out in the light.
Our sample is advertised as having a Koenig Shooting Sports low-mass hammer and competition sear, a precision disconnector and tuned sear spring. That hammer is interesting as it’s sort of “skeletonized” side-to-side as well as back-to-front. Check out the pictures to see what I mean. There are plenty of other hand-fit touches too, like a polished ramp, fitted lug, etc. as you would expect.
The trigger was fine, with a bit of travel but still a real pleasure to use. Some people like a tad of travel (I do) so I don’t call that a strike. Our test gun’s trigger broke between 4 lbs. and 4 lbs. 6 oz., using a nifty Wheeler electronic trigger gauge. Very consistent too, as it held those same weights from the beginning to the end of testing.
