I picked up this pistol last week and wanted at least 3 trips to the range and some time to really study the gun before writing a review. Please try and understand I am trying to not be bias in this but DAMN this thing is good. I have been seeing pictures of this 1911 for sometime and held back from ordering one at least a few times. My favorite local shop happened to get one in. No gun I have ever picked up before felt better than this one. I have to admit that kind of upset me. At least if it wasn't comfortable I could walk away, nope.
The first thing I noticed was that this gun is built with ultra slim grips, I am truly grateful for that but I seriously doubt this will fit the majority of men. I happen to have girl hands so for me it's a dream come true.
The (not checkering) pattern on the front strap and back strap is close to a chain link pattern but pretty unique. I love this style of "lightening cuts" I guess is what they are calling them. Checkering is great but I am a little put off with it now. I had a TRP Operator for a long time and ran a few 1000+ round days with it. It was painful. This type of grip really appeals to me now. I could see how this would become a little slippy though so again personal pref.
This was built with, as are most Nighthawks, a single sided safety. Nighthawk explains the 1911 was never intended for ambi safeties. They will install one at request but will not warranty them. The safety on the gun is a wide right handed safety which is a very positive on off. For the first 20 times or so it was almost too stiff. The slide has three cuts running the length of the slide to match cuts on an AAC can.
The takedown/ slide stop is also wide, makes it very tempting to use it as a slide release.
The pistol has a beveled magazine (beveled on the sides and rear. The magazine release is extended but just barely.
The entire pistol is dehorned. Front and rear cocking serrations. This I typically don't care for but the dehorning process makes the front serrations pretty much snag proof. The AAC is a bushing gun with no guide rod, personally I like that. The recoil spring plug is not checkered, weird.
The bits that really shine...
Okay, the trigger... dude... Oh My God... Dude... the trigger.
Seriously, this trigger is amazing it breaks at 3.5 lbs. every single time. I don't have a way to describe the trigger, it is simply outstanding. If you come across one try it.
The sights are Heinie/Trijicon high set sights. They use a figure 8 style of tritium insert instead of the more common 3 dot. The rear sight has a distinct ledge for one handed slide cycle if needed. I like the sights for 3 reasons. 1. There is an itty bitty gap in between the sides of the front sight and rear sight when lining them up. My personal preference but I feel I get a more precise shot that way. 2. I didn't expect it but I find the higher sights help me line up faster. 3. Obviously, they look over a suppressor.
As a nice touch the rear of the slide is serrated to match the rear sight serrations, nice touch.
Of course there is the threaded barrel .578 x 28 pitch
Last but not least, the build quality is insane on this pistol. The fit of slide to frame is flawless. Barrel lockup is definite and positive.
Range time
My first trip was a 200 round session about 15 min. after walking out of Green Mountain Guns. During the session. I fired both suppressed and un-suppressed. They gun ran perfectly. I tried to goof it up with a limp wrist and it still ran fine. I have heard complaints about Nighthawk magazines before but I don't see it, the stainless ones are (for what I can tell) Wilson's with nighthawk written on the base plate. The blued magazines are different, they have a metal follower but both ran fine. Unreal accuracy with this gun. This is a 1911 that truly out-shoots me. Everything remained in the x-ring through the 200 rounds at various distances up to 50ft.
The second session, again 200 rounds. This time, all various hollow points. Cor-bon, Federal Hydra shock, Gold saber, Horandy, winchester JHP. and a few others I simply had lying around. With this much variety I thought I could create some sort of failure... nope. In fact I couldn't tell a difference on paper either. All shots at 60ft. (new weird range by me I won't be going back to btw) anywhoo everything stayed in the x-ring.
Finally, a third trip to the range. 200 rounds Fiocci FMJ and winchester FMJ running speed drills, double taps, and Mozambique's. The gun ran fine and with sick precision.
Overall, this is the best pistol I've ever owned. Expense as shit but worth every penny. The old saying goes "beware the man with just one gun" I own and have owned a lot of guns that won't change, I love guns, but I have always maintained a favorite. Not that I have had many but this is the favorite of all of them.
50ft group
Double tap drills
The first thing I noticed was that this gun is built with ultra slim grips, I am truly grateful for that but I seriously doubt this will fit the majority of men. I happen to have girl hands so for me it's a dream come true.
The (not checkering) pattern on the front strap and back strap is close to a chain link pattern but pretty unique. I love this style of "lightening cuts" I guess is what they are calling them. Checkering is great but I am a little put off with it now. I had a TRP Operator for a long time and ran a few 1000+ round days with it. It was painful. This type of grip really appeals to me now. I could see how this would become a little slippy though so again personal pref.
This was built with, as are most Nighthawks, a single sided safety. Nighthawk explains the 1911 was never intended for ambi safeties. They will install one at request but will not warranty them. The safety on the gun is a wide right handed safety which is a very positive on off. For the first 20 times or so it was almost too stiff. The slide has three cuts running the length of the slide to match cuts on an AAC can.
The takedown/ slide stop is also wide, makes it very tempting to use it as a slide release.
The pistol has a beveled magazine (beveled on the sides and rear. The magazine release is extended but just barely.
The entire pistol is dehorned. Front and rear cocking serrations. This I typically don't care for but the dehorning process makes the front serrations pretty much snag proof. The AAC is a bushing gun with no guide rod, personally I like that. The recoil spring plug is not checkered, weird.
The bits that really shine...
Okay, the trigger... dude... Oh My God... Dude... the trigger.
Seriously, this trigger is amazing it breaks at 3.5 lbs. every single time. I don't have a way to describe the trigger, it is simply outstanding. If you come across one try it.
The sights are Heinie/Trijicon high set sights. They use a figure 8 style of tritium insert instead of the more common 3 dot. The rear sight has a distinct ledge for one handed slide cycle if needed. I like the sights for 3 reasons. 1. There is an itty bitty gap in between the sides of the front sight and rear sight when lining them up. My personal preference but I feel I get a more precise shot that way. 2. I didn't expect it but I find the higher sights help me line up faster. 3. Obviously, they look over a suppressor.
As a nice touch the rear of the slide is serrated to match the rear sight serrations, nice touch.
Of course there is the threaded barrel .578 x 28 pitch
Last but not least, the build quality is insane on this pistol. The fit of slide to frame is flawless. Barrel lockup is definite and positive.
Range time
My first trip was a 200 round session about 15 min. after walking out of Green Mountain Guns. During the session. I fired both suppressed and un-suppressed. They gun ran perfectly. I tried to goof it up with a limp wrist and it still ran fine. I have heard complaints about Nighthawk magazines before but I don't see it, the stainless ones are (for what I can tell) Wilson's with nighthawk written on the base plate. The blued magazines are different, they have a metal follower but both ran fine. Unreal accuracy with this gun. This is a 1911 that truly out-shoots me. Everything remained in the x-ring through the 200 rounds at various distances up to 50ft.
The second session, again 200 rounds. This time, all various hollow points. Cor-bon, Federal Hydra shock, Gold saber, Horandy, winchester JHP. and a few others I simply had lying around. With this much variety I thought I could create some sort of failure... nope. In fact I couldn't tell a difference on paper either. All shots at 60ft. (new weird range by me I won't be going back to btw) anywhoo everything stayed in the x-ring.
Finally, a third trip to the range. 200 rounds Fiocci FMJ and winchester FMJ running speed drills, double taps, and Mozambique's. The gun ran fine and with sick precision.
Overall, this is the best pistol I've ever owned. Expense as shit but worth every penny. The old saying goes "beware the man with just one gun" I own and have owned a lot of guns that won't change, I love guns, but I have always maintained a favorite. Not that I have had many but this is the favorite of all of them.
50ft group
Double tap drills
