Got a Auto-Ord 1911 today...

hoytinak · October 25, 2012, 11:23 PM

I've never been much of a 1911 guy, owned 6 of all different brands and the one I came closest to keeping was a STI Ranger II in 9mm (actually regret selling that one

). Anyways, this a basic goverment model Auto-Ordnance. It's had a Chip McCormick trigger/hammer swapped in along with an extended beaver-tail safety and had a match bushing fitted. The blueing's rough but the gun's a real good shooter. I just took it apart to inspect (which has rough machine marks all in it), clean/lube. I don't think it's been cleaned in several years but cleaned up pretty good.

I have no way to put up pics right now but can anyone tell me about these Auto-Ord 1911s? Anything I need to look out for? It was made in West Hurley, NY and the serial number is AOC17xxx, if anyone has a manufactoring date chart for them.

Thanks,
Trevor

hoytinak · November 1, 2012, 03:26 AM

I guess no one owns a Auto-Ord 1911 on here.....oh well screw it, I got the info I needed....

Fishbed77 · November 1, 2012, 10:53 AM

Not much to react to without photos.

Robk · November 1, 2012, 11:37 AM

Quick web search showed that many do not believe the Wesy Hurley guns had very little actual control in the quality control department. Not their best work supposedly. That said, I recently purchased a AO PITBULL ZG-51. Price was right and it has been "Bubba'ed" pretty good, but I do plan on getting it to work properly. Your AO seems to have already had some tweeks that made it a good performer. Seems to me that you have a shooter. Enjoy it.
I also am having issues in finding information on serial numbers, but by reading others who have posted about them, I guess mine was made in early '94. Good luck with your new 1911. If it works like you want it to, than you made the right decision despite what others may say.

Strafer Gott · November 1, 2012, 02:47 PM

I bought one in the late 80's. A friend of mine tweaked it for me. It has been great. Fires anything, shoots straight. Makes a good place to start from. Expect to do a little work.

RGPM1A · November 1, 2012, 05:42 PM

I too bought one in the 80s - my first 1911. It was a disappointing jam-o-matic that I sold a month after I bought it. I replaced it with a Federal Ordnance Ranger. It now has about 30k rounds through it.

polyphemus · November 1, 2012, 06:59 PM

A.O's are now made in Worcester Ma,generally speaking they are project pistols very closely resembling M1911A1's series 80 blocked,metal injection small parts and investment cast frame and receiver.Quality control is uneven at best but if you know your 1911's they can be made to work without sending them back.
Your firearm has been modified with after market parts so the issues are only applicable to your setup,a customized firearm should be trouble shot by the craftsman who made the changes to it.

rep1954 · November 1, 2012, 08:58 PM

I inherited an unfired old West Hurley that wouldn't get through a single magazine without one to two problems of some kind. I replaced the extractor with a Wilson Bullet Proof and bought a couple of new Kimber seven round magazine and it's gone over 1200 rounds without one problem.

Robk · November 1, 2012, 09:16 PM

Near as I can tell, magazines for these pistols were junk. Every thread I have read about these has had one resounding theme. Buy good magazines and dump the original. Now as said, mine has been slightly reworked by someone with little knowledge of what they were doing. Someone shaved down the grip safety so much as to cuase hammer bite. Also the recoil spring appears to be a cut down full size spring. But tommorow should bring me my EGW FLGR and Clark reverse bushing. Should be up and running to full potential by the weekend. Cross your fingers...

Stevie-Ray · November 1, 2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

I bought one in the late 80's. A friend of mine tweaked it for me. It has been great. Fires anything, shoots straight. Makes a good place to start from. Expect to do a little work.

That's about right. AOs were not the best, but could be made to work. The frames were good and so were a favorite to turn into race guns in the IPSC days of the 90s, since they were cheap. Actually Chip McCormack used one at one time.

Walter · November 1, 2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Quote:
I bought one in the late 80's. A friend of mine tweaked it for me. It has been great. Fires anything, shoots straight. Makes a good place to start from. Expect to do a little work.
That's about right. AOs were not the best, but could be made to work. The frames were good and so were a favorite to turn into race guns in the IPSC days of the 90s, since they were cheap. Actually Chip McCormack used one at one time

There it is. I bought one new in 1987, gun wouldn't fire two consecutive rounds without jamming. A few hours with a set of needle files, some sandpaper and scotchbrite and a dremel with a polishing wheel, and it fires everything I put in it. I will never buy another one, but I keep this one for a spare, "Just in case".

Walter

solitude127 · November 2, 2012, 12:17 AM

Where's the pics?

Walter · November 2, 2012, 07:58 PM

here you go...

October 25, 2012, 11:23 PM	#1
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,708	Got a Auto-Ord 1911 today... I've never been much of a 1911 guy, owned 6 of all different brands and the one I came closest to keeping was a STI Ranger II in 9mm (actually regret selling that one ). Anyways, this a basic goverment model Auto-Ordnance. It's had a Chip McCormick trigger/hammer swapped in along with an extended beaver-tail safety and had a match bushing fitted. The blueing's rough but the gun's a real good shooter. I just took it apart to inspect (which has rough machine marks all in it), clean/lube. I don't think it's been cleaned in several years but cleaned up pretty good. I have no way to put up pics right now but can anyone tell me about these Auto-Ord 1911s? Anything I need to look out for? It was made in West Hurley, NY and the serial number is AOC17xxx, if anyone has a manufactoring date chart for them. Thanks, Trevor __________________ "Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul." Last edited by hoytinak; October 26, 2012 at 12:01 AM.

November 1, 2012, 03:26 AM	#2
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,708	I guess no one owns a Auto-Ord 1911 on here.....oh well screw it, I got the info I needed.... __________________ "Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."

November 1, 2012, 10:53 AM	#3
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 1,477	Not much to react to without photos.

November 1, 2012, 11:37 AM	#4
Robk Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 207	Quick web search showed that many do not believe the Wesy Hurley guns had very little actual control in the quality control department. Not their best work supposedly. That said, I recently purchased a AO PITBULL ZG-51. Price was right and it has been "Bubba'ed" pretty good, but I do plan on getting it to work properly. Your AO seems to have already had some tweeks that made it a good performer. Seems to me that you have a shooter. Enjoy it. I also am having issues in finding information on serial numbers, but by reading others who have posted about them, I guess mine was made in early '94. Good luck with your new 1911. If it works like you want it to, than you made the right decision despite what others may say.

November 1, 2012, 02:47 PM	#5
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 879	I bought one in the late 80's. A friend of mine tweaked it for me. It has been great. Fires anything, shoots straight. Makes a good place to start from. Expect to do a little work.

November 1, 2012, 05:42 PM	#6
RGPM1A Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2010 Posts: 132	I too bought one in the 80s - my first 1911. It was a disappointing jam-o-matic that I sold a month after I bought it. I replaced it with a Federal Ordnance Ranger. It now has about 30k rounds through it.

November 1, 2012, 06:59 PM	#7
polyphemus Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2012 Posts: 235	A.O's are now made in Worcester Ma,generally speaking they are project pistols very closely resembling M1911A1's series 80 blocked,metal injection small parts and investment cast frame and receiver.Quality control is uneven at best but if you know your 1911's they can be made to work without sending them back. Your firearm has been modified with after market parts so the issues are only applicable to your setup,a customized firearm should be trouble shot by the craftsman who made the changes to it.

November 1, 2012, 08:58 PM	#8
rep1954 Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2009 Location: Mid Western Michigan Posts: 683	I inherited an unfired old West Hurley that wouldn't get through a single magazine without one to two problems of some kind. I replaced the extractor with a Wilson Bullet Proof and bought a couple of new Kimber seven round magazine and it's gone over 1200 rounds without one problem.

November 1, 2012, 09:16 PM	#9
Robk Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 207	Near as I can tell, magazines for these pistols were junk. Every thread I have read about these has had one resounding theme. Buy good magazines and dump the original. Now as said, mine has been slightly reworked by someone with little knowledge of what they were doing. Someone shaved down the grip safety so much as to cuase hammer bite. Also the recoil spring appears to be a cut down full size spring. But tommorow should bring me my EGW FLGR and Clark reverse bushing. Should be up and running to full potential by the weekend. Cross your fingers...

November 2, 2012, 12:17 AM	#12
solitude127 Member Join Date: December 5, 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 74	Where's the pics?