The Officer's ACP

[JimT]

Back in the late 1980's I carried a Colt .45ACP Officers Model for a year or so. I shot it a lot and practiced a lot with it. One of the things I practiced was how to get it into action when the chamber wasn't loaded. (Condition 3) I know that Condition 3 is frowned upon by most, but I figured I could get the gun in action just about as fast as Condition 1. And I practiced it. A lot!

I carried it either in my back right-hand pocket or tucked into my pants waist, just in back of my right hip. When I drew the gun I wiped it forward on my pants leg .. the gun angled so the top of the slide was facing my right leg. The rear sight caught my pants leg and slammed the slide back .. as I continued to push forward the slide returned chambering a cartridge. My trigger finger was outside the trigger guard, slightly above it. As I pushed the gun on forward my finger went into the guard and fired the gun.

I could do this before you could think about it.

One Shootists Holiday when we were meeting up in Buena Vista, Colorado, we had a group of young County Police attending. On the range I took the Officers ACP and unloaded it, dropped the slide and the hammer and inserted the magazine. Then I stuck the gun in my back pocket. I asked the cops, "If you walked up on a guy who you knew had the gun in this condition, do you think you could beat him if he went for his gun?" Most felt they could.

We were 5 or 6 feet from the firing line and I handed Jerry Danuser a rock a bit larger than a baseball. I told him, "Toss it at the backstop." I did not have my hand on the gun but just in a normal position, elbow slightly bent like I always stood. Jerry tossed the rock and I drew the ACP, wiped it across my pants leg and shattered the rock before it hit the backstop.

There were some of The Shootists standing around watching including Deacon Deason. The next day on the range Deacon approached me and said, “Can I see that little .45 you used yesterday?” I had it in my back pocket and handed it to him. He looked at it a bit and then handed it back and asked, “How did you do that trick yesterday? Can you show me?” I said “Sure. Like this.” and pulled the gun, wiped it on my pants leg as I poked it toward the backstop. AND THE LOADED CARTRIDGE FLEW OUT OF THE GUN AND LANDED ON GROUND A COUPLE FEET IN FRONT OF ME! I was completely and totally confused. I had done this a thousand times and never had the loaded cartridge fly out of the gun. How could that happen? And all around me The Shootists are laughing so hard some of them are crying!

I could not understand what was going on! I picked up the cartridge and it was a 10mm!!!! Deacon was laughing so hard I thought he was gonna fall down. It turned out that when he was looking at my gun, he dropped the magazine and stuck a 10mm magazine in it. They really got me that day!

[AJMD429]

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Glad the 'gag' went safely.

Amazing how fast some folks can draw and fire a gun - especially with a 'condition three' 1911.

I carry my little SIG-938 in that condition when just woods-walking or doing chores, as the odds of me needing a fast shot on-property are way slimmer than the odds of a grandkid coming upon even my well-supervised gun(s). I don't think a curious toddler could flip down the safety to unlock it, and then rack the slide, very easily. (Still I keep the gun either on-my-person, or in one of the safes at all times).

[Ysabel Kid]

It all comes down to practice, doesn't it?

[JimT]

It all comes down to practice, doesn't it?

Yessir. I found I could draw the 7 1/2" single action using standard power loads just about as fast as the shorter barrel. I just practiced and shot all the time. When you do that you find out that it's you, not the piece of machinery. The human factor is the most important.

Drawing and shooting the Officer's ACP was the same way. Do it all the time. Within 6 or 8 months it starts becoming a built-in habit.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Good story Jim.

I’ve seen talented men do amazing work with a variety of handguns.

I’ve come to believe that Bill Jordan was right. There’s nothing faster for the first shot from the holster than the SAA.

[JimT]

Good story Jim.

I’ve seen talented men do amazing work with a variety of handguns.

I’ve come to believe that Bill Jordan was right. There’s nothing faster for the first shot from the holster than the SAA.

Elmer said that also. And I agree with them.
The fastest draw and shooting that I have done was unconscious reaction to what was happening right now! The gun was out and went off before I could think. And the shot was good.
With a single action.
But .. I had a lot of years of practice before hand.

[Streetstar]

The Officers size is oddly my favorite size ---

@2ndovc (Jason -- RIP ) and i actually messaged back and forth a couple of times about our affinity for the compact critters and i have no idea why i could shoot them better than full size versions.

Many times we would message about 1omm's and not 45's but it was often the Glocks that were the point of conversation, but i shot an Officers frame .45 quite well from several different makers --- and in regards to the plastic fantastics, - the Glock 29 is my carry piece now but i have no quibbles at all with a short barrel 1911, -- i love /em and wish someone would make one in 10mm

Sold my Sig 1911 Officers model in a fit of poverty not long ago chambered in .45 as intended

[Griff]

When I decided I wanted a dedicated off-duty firearm, I considered a Detonics, the only sub-sized 1911 I knew of at the time (1977), I finally decided the Combat Commander was going to be it. Mostly because I was leery of stainless steel guns, having heard of galling issues with some of 'em. At my 1st attempt to qualify with it I shot a 295 out of a possible 300, but in the ensuing 30 years I never got above 297 consistently. I don't ever recall shooting a 300 with the Commander. I don't think I'd attempt doing that maneuver Jim, for some reason, I believe I'd just rip my leg open...

[jeepnik]

I have heard or racking a slide like that during an emergency. And, I have practiced it, with dummy ammo. I'll save that one for emergencies.

I'm not the fastest draw, no matter what I'm using. I'm also not the greatest shot, though I usually hit what I'm shooting at, just not all x ring. I'll stick with a 1911, in condition one, when push comes to shove.

[Ysabel Kid]

It all comes down to practice, doesn't it?

Yessir. I found I could draw the 7 1/2" single action using standard power loads just about as fast as the shorter barrel. I just practiced and shot all the time. When you do that you find out that it's you, not the piece of machinery. The human factor is the most important.

Drawing and shooting the Officer's ACP was the same way. Do it all the time. Within 6 or 8 months it starts becoming a built-in habit.

I think I read once that building muscle memory takes about 3,000 repetitions. Sounds about right.

[Walt]

I think that was a pretty foolish prank. You don't mess with someone else's gun.

[JimT]

I think that was a pretty foolish prank. You don't mess with someone else's gun.

I understand what you are saying and don't disagree. But in this case, I did not get upset about it. Deacon and I were family and close friends. We had been around each other a lot. I knew him and what he was like. And around firearms he didn't do anything that was dangerous. These days I miss him and the memory of how he set me up is a pleasant one for me.

[Walt]

You are a very forgiving gentleman and you have a wonderful way with words. I admire that.