1911 Upgrades
To broaden the appeal of their SR1911, Ruger included as standard some of the most desirable 1911 upgrades, like a skeletonized, lightweight, aluminum trigger that’s adjustable for overtravel and a Commander-style hammer elongated for better thumb purchase when lowering it manually. Lightweight hammers and triggers are old-school upgrades that slightly speed up the cycling of the action and reduce the chance of trigger bounce or hammer rebound with low trigger pull weights. Most shooters wouldn’t notice the decrease in lock time, but the upgrades do provide a higher level of reliability with a light pull weight. I measured the SR1911 trigger pull at 4.5 lbs., so I think these features are in place for future customization. Until then, they give the gun the classic custom 1911 look.
To prevent hammer pinch, the SR1911 has a beavertail grip safety. It’s also enlarged at the heel for more positive activation and reliability. The flat mainspring housing is sharply checkered for improved grip. The forged slide features a dovetail for the front sight, an enlarged ejection port for improved reliability, and wide serrations for a more positive hold when racking. The magazine release button is about 30% taller than standard, making it easier to operate. Similarly, the thumb safety arm is extended, and the slide release lever has an enlarged thumb pad. The magazine well is beveled for easier magazine insertions. Finally, the gun has steel, snag-free, Novak three-dot sights with a wide (0.145″) rear notch and a 1.20″ wide front sight.
If the factory feature package doesn’t check off every box for you, keep in mind Ruger made a 1911 pattern pistol, not a sorta-like-a-1911 near copy. Most standard aftermarket 1911 parts and accessories, including grips and magazines, will fit it. As is, I found the pistol easily capable of shooting five-shot groups from the bench at 25 yards that averaged 2.5″ center to center, and that is quite respectable for an out-of-the-box 1911, especially one at a mid-range price point. The standard SR1911 has an MSRP of $1,229.
For more information on the wide range of model variations in the SR1911 line, visit Ruger.com
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