What does "Duty Ready" mean and how does a 1911 fair?
In another discussion on this forum, we have been debating the pros and cons of issuing 1911s for duty carry. Arguments have been made for and against the issuing of 1911s in a law enforcement/military capacity. What I would like to look at a little closer is what an actual “Duty Ready” sidearm really goes through in the hands and holsters of law enforcement professionals. The term “Duty Ready” or “Hard Use” is thrown around the internet and these forums quite a lot. The question is what does “Duty Ready” REALLY mean? When we take out back slapping, groin adjusting, good old boy talk, the reality is quite different from what we think.
Before we delve into the discussion, we need to take cost, weight and capacity out of the equation. I can already hear the screams. Cost, weight and capacity are decisions made by the end user. We are not here to discuss the merits of those decisions. I think we can all agree that departments and agencies make very different decisions that we may or may not agree with.
An average law enforcement officer at a well-funded department will more than likely perform firearms qualification 4 times a year. That means that 1 day of each fiscal quarter, the officer is required to actually shoot his gun. The qualification courses may vary, but overall a 50 round course would be the norm. More than likely, the officer will shoot the qual course twice. That would require the duty issued pistol to shoot a grand total of 100 rounds every three months when controlled by the “average” officer. We are not talking about the SWAT guy or the officer who pushes himself to excel and shoots on his own or at department non-mandatory “practice days”. That means that a “Duty Ready” handgun issued to an individual who does not do anything more than the minimum will fire a total of 400 rounds a year.
So, when we discuss Law Enforcement “Duty Ready” handguns, the idea of a tactically superior weapon blasting thousands of rounds downrange in the freezing cold or dusty hell holes of the world is not reality. How does an “average” 1911 fair for “Duty Ready” use? In my opinion, it fairs just fine. It may be a different choice than a Glock, M&P or H&K but it is just that, a DIFFERENT choice. We can even take what many would consider a mid-grade out of the box 1911 and see how it would fair for duty use.
A Ruger 1911 runs a little over $800 with taxes and fees in my neck of the woods. A family member of mine purchased a Ruger 1911 a little less than a year ago. During that time frame, the platform has been put through more usage than an average “Duty Ready” handgun would see in a year. In about 10 months of ownership, the Ruger has seen 580+ rounds of 230 grain hard ball go through its barrel. That’s 150 more rounds than the standard duty issue sidearm will see in a year. It has made five range trips, which is one more than a duty issued gun will see over the course of a year. During the Ruger’s existence it has not had any malfunctions and has shot a steady diet of Federal and Winchester rounds. It has been shot by various individuals with varying skill levels. It has been the first 1911 individuals have shot and belongs to an individual who has plenty of time on the sidearm. In addition, the Ruger has not had any broken parts or required any down time at the gun smith. It has been cleaned after each range session but had never been fully broken down.
So, we have a 1911 that some on the internet would scoff at as “Duty Ready” being used more than actual guns that are issued by police departments around the country. In fact, if we look at normally issued side arms to law enforcement, we can see that their usage is far less than expected. In fact, a 5 year old M&P, Glock or H&K in the holster of your “average” officer has seen 2,000 rounds go downrange. The moral of the story is, a privately owned Ruger 1911 sees more usage than a “Duty Ready” firearm and has had no issues. Now, I understand it is a viewpoint of one gun over one year. With that said, time will tell how the Ruger continues in its more than “Duty Ready” lifestyle. I’ll continue to watch and report on it.