Sig Sauer 1911 Max Michel Custom 9mm Review

I consider myself a competent shooter. I mop upward in local shooting competitions. But every bit soon as I venture out into national shooting competitions I realize I'g but mediocre. I can hold my own in the middle of the pack, but the whooshing sound I hear when the big boys fly by me like a freight train can exist deafening. Max Michel, Jr. is of those amazing shooters, a professional pistolero who knows his way around a 1911. SIG SAUER reached out to Max and offered him the opportunity to design his dream gun for public consumption. The 1911 MAX is the result . . .

Above all, competition shooters need their guns to run reliably. The standard 1911 platform is interesting mechanically, in terms of how all the parts fit together within the slide (especially the extractor and firing pivot). While I capeesh the dazzler of the interconnected design information technology wreaks havoc on the platform'due south reliability. To decrease failures SIG swapped the original internal extractor for an external pattern. It does a ameliorate task of isolating the parts, allowing for a beefier extractor — all good things when you're putting thousands of rounds downrange in a brusque period of time.

A normal 1911 slide is fashioned into a curvy, rounded shape to reduce the corporeality of "extra" material moving around. SIG designed their 1911 slides to match the look and feel of their existing handguns (e.g., the P226). The upshot is a more boxy look, but one that'southward strikingly simple and elegant. The downside: the 1911 MAX requires a SIG SAUER-specific 1911 holster, which aren't widely available.

In another pause with tradition — to serve the needs of the competition shooter — the 1911 MAX boasts forward cocking serrations. I don't use them, but some competitors for admin loading. These serrations wait skilful and work well.

The interaction between a 1911's trigger, sear, hammer and firing pin is central to producing a great handgun. Getting all the variables right is essential; if anything's out of whack information technology throws off the whole gun. To achieve a competitive edge, the 1911 MAX ditches the standard 1911 trigger for an adjustable flat trigger connected to an EGW sear. The sear trips a Koenig speed hammer and impacts an EGW firing pivot. (EGW produces this aforementioned configuration in their "Ultimate Trigger Kit") The interaction is goose egg less than perfect.

The 1911 MAX's exaggerated beavertail grip safety ensures that slide bite is never an consequence, while comfortably and evenly distributing recoil across the webbing of your hand. The 1911 MAX's ambidextrous thumb safety is a welcome addition for right handed shooters who, similar me, use both their thumb and the side of their trigger finger to engage the safety. Some 1911 thumb safeties have a tendency to cut into your finger. To ensure condolement, 1911 MAX's safety is a little more rounded and less precipitous than nigh.

1911's built for self-defense often feature aggressive checkering. In a globe where a dropped handgun means an instant disqualification, the extra command of the 1911 MAX's aggressively stippled and from and back straps are much appreciated — even though information technology can feel similar you're belongings onto a cheese grater during longer range sessions.

The  traditional unmarried stack 1911'southward magazine well is a very small target for a reload. Under the stress of contest it doesn't get any bigger, and a fumbled magazine change can mean the difference between first place and tenth. The 1911 MAX'southward flared mag well increases the odds of smooth, successful changes and decreases the odds of ballsy embarrassment.

Max'due south last major change: top-notch sights. The 1911 MAX's front sight is a scarlet fiber optic dot. In normal lighting they await every bit large and brilliant equally a full moon in a clear night sky. The twin dot rear sight is hands adaptable for your personal point of impact. Contest has taught me that the aforementioned handgun can perform differently in the easily of different shooters. The 1911 MAX'due south site features a set up of dovetail mounts so y'all can swap out Max'southward preference in pursuit of your own personal excellence.

I spent a few weeks throwing everything I could find at this gun and I gotta admit that I was pleasantly surprised at the way it handled. With its chunky slide and grippy grip, total power .45ACP loads felt more than like 9mm. My usual drill is to prepare two targets and transition from one to the other as fast as possible. I endeavor to get the sights aligned on the second target before I can reset the trigger. Aided past the gun's large red snout-mounted fiber optic dot, the 1911 MAX made this drill easy and instinctive.

About 4 years ago, SIG SAUER sent me a 1911 Nitron to review. I was severely disappointed with the gun's reliability. The 1911 MAX may look mostly the aforementioned, but its reliability is worlds autonomously. I removed the 1911 MAX from the box, wiped off the surface oil and started shooting. I didn't feel a single malfunction in several hundred rounds of ammunition.

The MAX's trigger is the source of my but complaint. SIG SAUER had to bore a hole into the face of the trigger blade to provide admission to the set spiral that controls the trigger weight. This is a pretty common practice, but I detest it. My finger sits directly on the small hole when I burn down the gun. At the end of a range session I had a nice footling dimple on my trigger finger. Information technology's annoying and slightly painful.

The 1911 MAX's accuracy is exceptional — as y'all'd expect from a grand-and-a-half 1911. At my usual 30-human foot distance I was punching 1″ groups with ease.

For a straight-out-of-the-box competition 1911 handgun, the 1911 MAX is a sweet setup. Although some may cramp at the price, the MAX costs less than more common tricked-out 1911 handguns, and information technology comes with still features. That said, reliability is the 1911 MAX'southward unique selling bespeak. If you're in the market for a competition 1911 handgun that won't neglect to run when you lot run the gun, the SIG SAUER 1911 MAX is worth the money.

Specifications – SIG SAUER 1911 MAX Pistol:

Capacity:	8+i	Sights:	Cobweb Optic front, adaptable rear
Slide Material:	Stainless Steel	Slide Finish:	Black Nitride
Grip Frame:	Stainless	Grip:	Hogue chainlink M-10
Barrel Length:	5″	Overall Length:	8.seven″
Height:	5.v″	Width:	i.4″
Weight:	41.vi oz.	Suggested Retail:	$one,529

Ratings (out of five stars):

Style * * * *
The two-tone wait is classic cool, and the SIG SAUER styling is definitely something you don't see in a common race gun. It looks slick.

Ergonomics * * * *
Pretty good. The only real complaints I take are that the grippy grip is a affect as well grippy, and the hole in the trigger for the adjustment spiral is annoying.

Reliability * * * * *
I had zip problems with the gun.

Customization: * * * *
For the most part this is a standard 1911, meaning that standard magazines and aftermarket parts fit just fine. Thanks to the SIG SAUER styling, common 1911 holsters won't hold the gun. Custom makers are on the case.

Accuracy: * * * *
Non as well shabby.

Overall: * * * *
You could spend less and not go every bit much gun for the money. You lot could spend more than and get less reliability. The 1911 MAX is the Goldilocks of entry level competition 1911's.

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Source: https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/gun-review-sig-sauer-1911-max/

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