American Tactical Imports Ati Gsg M1911 Ad-ops 22lr 5-inch Fake Suppressor Review
As a low-price preparation selection, trail companion or plinker the GSG-1911 is a reliable fiddling pistol faithful to its large brother the .45 ACP. Scott Wagner provides a 1911 review of this affordable pistol.
It seems the latest tendency these days for firearms manufacturers, licensee manufacturers, or sometimes totally contained entities is to provide realistic replicas of modernistic combat/tactical firearms in .22LR versions, especially since centerfire ammunition has been in short supply or so expensive that actually shooting any of it is cost prohibitive. Therefore shooters take been turning to the mod wave of "understudy" firearms to exist able to take something they can actually shoot, in a realistic replica version of the gun they would actually similar to be shooting.
This has resulted in the introduction of some outstanding firearms that at first glance can't be distinguished from their total power siblings. I tin't actually say full size, as these are full size weapons, mimicking the weight, residuum, ergonomics and treatment of their full power relatives. And commonly, not only is the ammunition for them much less expensive, but and so are the guns themselves, existence rimfire, blowback versions of the "existent" thing.
Now, this has been a not bad thing, especially for those of u.s. who think the outset of the .22LR "replica" (male child was that term a stretch) AR-15s from companies similar ERMA. Their gun had almost equally much in common with a real AR-15 as the toy Mattel M16 rifle from 1969 did. This new generation of replica guns is outstanding and long overdue. Just one of the all-time of this new breed isn't an AR-fifteen or MP-5 replica. It'southward a 1911, ane very nicely done by German Sport Guns in (you lot guessed it) Germany, and imported by American Tactical Imports: the GSG-1911.
To put it mildly, this is a bully pistol for anyone seeking a .22 for whatever reason. It is a 1911 subsequently all (admitting with a few blueprint modifications). Equally such it has and then much more than to offering over standard .22 pistols that await similar, well, standard .22 pistols, especially considering its price. Even the Ruger .22/45 — which has a grip frame designed to feel like a 1911 — isn't a 1911.
It nonetheless conspicuously looks and handles like a .22 target blazon pistol, its grip but feels a bit like a 1911, but it certainly doesn't expect like 1. The GSG-1911 IS a 1911, and as such it offers the shooters all the shooting advantages of its full power relatives without the recoil. And believe me, although they won't acknowledge information technology, there are plenty of folks out at that place that would like to shoot a 1911 without the dissonance and recoil of the .45 ACP round. So let me detail what those advantages are, particularly in terms of this particular 1911.
GSG-1911 Construction
In terms of structure, the GSG-1911 does exhibit some differences as compared to a true 1911. First, the slide of the GSG-1911 is aluminum and the frame/receiver body of the pistol is bandage Zinc #Z410 (Zamak), which gives information technology a heft that totally absorbs the miniscule recoil of either standard or high-velocity .22LR rounds, making it an platonic gun for new shooters. While some of you may be put off by a 1911 frame that is constructed of zinc as opposed to aluminum or steel, you won't know it is zinc by the appearance, which is a pleasant matte greyness. It took me awhile to figure out what the frame was made out of. I finally emailed the manufactory. Yous won't recognize it every bit Zamak, at least externally. Where you will discover the Zamak structure — if you are a 1911 aficionado — is in terms of weight distribution.
The GSG is grip heavy, enhanced past the light weight of the aluminum slide. Here's the matter though — considering of the materials used in its construction, you tin purchase this pistol for about $339 retail. Sure, they could brand the frame out of steel, simply that would shoot the price upward past at least $200 a copy. Because the low pressures involved with the .22LR cartridge, there shouldn't be whatever significant clothing and tear on the frame. The slide is marked .22LRHV but the owner's manual advises that the gun is set to work with either standard or high-velocity rounds. For what I envision the uses of this pistol are, I would stick with HV loads when running it. The grips are nicely checkered walnut colored wood of the traditional Colt style "Double Diamond" design. They are held in place by flathead screws.
The extended pollex safe is ambidextrous — again a nice touch for the new left handed shooter, or a shooter who wants to use this pistol for cocky-defense (steady now, I volition get to that role). In that location is a magazine safe, which, for a house defense gun, is a squeamish touch. In a household with young children, a round tin be kept in the chamber of the gun, fix to rock with the safety on and the mag kept in a split up location. Should the need arise the homeowner can catch the gun, slap in the magazine, and the pistol is ready to go — no need to fifty-fifty rack the slide, simply snick the thumb prophylactic off (from either side).
Speaking of charging the pistol and retracting the slide — and here is where I notice a huge advantage for sure shooters who wish to employ this pistol for self defense – the aluminum slide and lightweight recoil spring of the blowback activity takes almost no effort to pull back and retract. In fact, when holstering in a tight fitting holster, you will want to make certain the slide is cocked and locked, or held in place by your thumb as you lot holster as information technology volition non take a whole lot of rearward pressure to accept it out of battery. This characteristic makes the GSG-1911 ideal for those with hand force issues — the small-statured, the elderly and others.
The sights are adjustable — but non adjustable in what I would term the traditional sense. In fact, and I detest to acknowledge this, but I had to read the directions to figure them out (not being a mechanical rocket scientist myself). The rear sight tin be slid back and along in its dovetail later loosening the set spiral that holds information technology in place to accommodate for windage.
Elevation is a different story. The pistol, forth with the teaching manual and cleaning and disassembly tools, comes with two spare front sight blades of different heights to change elevation. Loosen the set screw on the front end sight and slide it out of the dovetail. This is an of import feature as the GSG-1911 I tested shot well-nigh 2 inches high and 2 inches right when using the 36 Grain Federal How-do-you-do Speed Hollow point ammo. Changing the blade to the tallest choice and adjusting the rear sight to the left did the play a joke on — it was a relatively uncomplicated procedure and the pistol shot dead on. You may want to brand this adjustment after you pick what will exist your standard "duty" load.
Speaking of directions, go along them handy, while the GSG-1911 looks exactly like a 1911, it doesn't take down like one, so read the directions beginning. Yes, it is fairly close, but at that place are some small differences between information technology and a full power 1911. The slide release is standard size, the grip safety is of the beavertail variety and shields the web of the shooter's mitt from the skeletonized hammer and trigger. All these items are constructed of steel, along with the barrel liner. The guide rod is polymer, merely so are the guide rods on Glock pistols. In my book, just about everything on this pistol makes it suitable for a broad variety of shooters. Now, let's accept a look at those who would do good the near from owning or using a GSG-1911.
Beginners
I was non the get-go to become to burn the GSG-1911. I took it out on a Saturday to innovate a father and his 2 teenage sons to the world of shooting, and the GSG-1911 seemed a peachy place to beginning. Again, let'southward see, great sights (easy to explicate), lightweight trigger in the 4-pound range, and the fantabulous 1911 safety organisation, and, oh aye, zero recoil, little noise and no boom. Definitely a recipe for success. Ammo was Federal'due south bulk pack 36-grain high-speed copper plated hollowpoints — the principal .22 load I had in stock.
Of form, it worked out exactly every bit I planned. The boys and their dad took to the gun like ducks to water. They handled it with aplomb and enjoyed the experience.
Using the GSG-1911 allowed them to easily transition to a Glock 17 and Wilson Combat ULC .45. But information technology was the GSG-1911 that taught them sight alignment, grip, and trigger management.
Defensive Shooters
Ok, about of us agree that the 1911 is an excellent, if not the very all-time combat pistol extant. Office of the reason for that conventionalities is due to the .45 caliber round information technology was designed for. The other reason is considering of all the ergonomic qualities I have been pointing to throughout this article. Simply the problem with a truthful 1911 pistol is that non anybody can handle the recoil of the .45 ACP.
Yep, I know the 1911 is available in the milder recoiling 9mm, likewise, just I would submit if yous tin't handle a .45, then a 9mm could be a problem as well. Perhaps toll is a factor. There ain't zilch cheaper to shoot than the .22LR, right? And aye, yeah, I know, the lowly .22 LR is not considered to be any sort of proper cocky-defense quotient, but, 10 rounds of .22LR HV HP out of a five-inch barrel sure beats a clenched fist or mean words — particularly if that fist is restricted past forcefulness problems! Too, the .22LR has probably accounted for more than non-military/police force noncombatant deaths than any other caliber.
Add to this the fact that the person who is continuing on the concern end of a determined civilian pointing a GSG-1911 at them isn't likely to observe that the bore is "simply" of .22" diameter. They volition likely think something forth the lines of "crap-that #@$%&+ is virtually to shoot me with a .45!" Permit me tell you, when I go to the age where I physically have problems handling "full power" cartridges for dwelling house defense I feel that the GSG-1911 would be perfect for me. If yous are to use it as a self-defense force tool, choice out the hottest loads the GSG will bike with 100 percent reliability. You lot might desire to consider high velocity solid loads similar the Remington Viper 33-grain truncated cone round for deeper penetration on human or larger animal targets.
Another expanse that the GSG-1911 shines is as a trail companion, at to the lowest degree in areas where a .22 would suffice. I take taken to conveying it in a Gould and Goodrich belt holster with thumbreak when walking the dogs in my woods, a chore formerly relegated to my quondam duty revolver, a Model 67 Combat Masterpiece .38. I'm not probable to run into anything larger than a dog in my surface area (or a coyote) and a ten-shot .22 should suffice in most whatever situation I would encounter. Even if I was going camping or hiking for example, in a place where a larger gun was needed for animal defence force, the GSG would exist nice to have along as a camp gun. Great for potting small animals or plinking with, and of course additionally available for defense force.
As y'all tin can see, the GSG-1911 really does information technology for me. I hope I have given yous some ideas for its use that y'all may not accept thought of. I can tell y'all, I volition be sending a check, rather than the gun, back to ATI.
For more than data, visit americantactical.united states or telephone call 800-290-0065.
This article appeared in the August 15, 2011 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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