"I'm not a 1911 guy." This is a phrase I have uttered at least 100 times whenever someone asks me if I'm a user of the famous John Moses Browning pistol.
As a law enforcement officer, I have been carrying a Glock for almost the entire run of my 12-year career with the federal government. I love Glocks for their simplicity and their seemingly imperviousness to the worst abuse law enforcement can throw at them. I don't have to worry about thumbing down a safety or making sure my grip engages the second safety (how many safeties does one gun need actually?).
I also can't lie, there is just something about seeing that hammer cocked back on a single-action trigger that just gives me the willies. I know, I know, Glocks are also cocked and locked and have no safety other than the thin trigger bar. I'm talking about a feeling, not anything based in logic.
Living in Phoenix, I'm fortunate to have a never-ending parade of shooting competitions. During a local USPSA match, my shooting buddy asked me if I was going to shoot the Western States Single Stack Championship, and of course I uttered the familiar phrase, "I'm not a 1911 guy." He laughed and said he wasn't either, but he got a great deal on a 1911 from a pawn shop and he was going to try it out.
Thinking about it for a moment, I realized my father had a Colt Gold Cup that was at least 30 years old sitting in his safe crying out for daylight. Since a bad day shooting is still better than the best day of any other activity, I signed up for the match. I had no idea this was a 264-person, 13-stage major match awaiting me.
The Western States Single Stack Championship (WSSSC) is the brain child of Steve Horsman, and it was born 14 years ago out of his love for the 1911. Steve set out to not only honor the 1911 but also to host a match that focused solely on every shooter utilizing the same type of gun. This way there are no "easy" divisions to run, hide or "game" in. You found out where you ranked in one megadivision after all the dust settled.
Overhead view of a stage requiring you to work your way around a central barrel.
Horsman also does something a little different when it comes to the prize table for the WSSSC — as in he doesn't have one for the main competitors. The prize table is for the staff only. It is a tremendous undertaking to put on a major match that runs smoothly and efficiently, and Steve has chosen to reward the cadre of individuals that donate their time and effort for our shooting pleasure.
Doing away with the traditional prize table keeps the match fees down and emphasizes fun and camaraderie over a carrot at the end of the match. This also guarantees hard-working, fair officiating since the ROs already have a swag bag waiting regardless of any competitor's scores.
The day of the match I wasn't thrilled to see I was put in a squad with Horsman himself and several other elite shooters. I felt more than a little embarrassed showing up with a bone stock 1911, an old-school Western-style leather holster, three seven-round GI magazines and one eight-round magazine (apparently these stages are set-up for eight-rounders).
My old-school leather holster and bone stock 1911 on full display during my first stage.
To make matters worse, I didn't have single-stack magazine holders so my magazines rattled around my Glock double-stack magazine holders with every step I took. I looked like a 1911 yard sale, but everyone quickly made me feel right at home and gave me pointers right away.
Steve Leach, one of the local USPSA match directors, especially took me under his wing and helped me plan out each stage since I was busy filming and taking notes like a madman. On the first stage, I just kept saying to myself, "thumb safety, thumb safety." I did not want to be that guy who couldn't operate his own equipment in front of all these 1911 experts.
Local USPSA Match Director Steve Leach watching over me as I figured this 1911 thing out.
Thumbing that safety down felt pretty awkward at first, and the controls were in different places than my familiar Glocks, which didn't exactly equate to buttery-smooth reloads. By the end of the first stage, I have to admit ... there is just something about a 1911.
It just seemed to point naturally for me and that single action trigger with no pre-Glock trigger travel seemed to break like an icicle with each shot. I normally shoot a Glock 9mm on duty and was worried the larger caliber and heavier recoil would throw me off my game entirely. I was surprised after the first shots that the much heavier all metal 1911 frame soaked up the .45 recoil with ease. After running through stage one, I caught the 1911 fever.
The match was an excellent mix of fast-paced run-and-gun and precision shooting. Most everyone can imagine a typical USPSA major match stage, so I'll only concentrate on the true torture session — the "skills" stage.
When I walked up to the stage, I could see an array of four targets in four separate clusters with huge numbers 1-4 underneath them. The reason for the huge numbers was the targets were 50 yards away. When I heard the stage description, I honestly thought they were joking.
Targets look pretty small from 50 yards away.
The stage was a four-string course of fire with four competitors stepping up to the 50-yard line first and told to fire six rounds in 5.7 seconds with penalties for any overtime shots (ask me how I know). We then moved to the 25 and were asked to do the same with a reload. Then, we moved to the 15 for strong-hand shooting and lastly to the 10 for support-hand shooting.
If you wanted to find out whether your mechanics and shooting were solid, this is where it came out in the wash. As each of us took our turns, you could hear the quiet moans of frustration from every shooter.
This was by far the hardest stage I have ever shot in competitive shooting. When you're "hosing" close-range targets, you don't really have a true picture of your long-range shooting game. This stage was an excellent reminder to keep working on the fundamentals of accurate shooting no matter the distance. The targets may lie at 5 yards, but there is no lying at 50.
WSSSC Match Director Steve Horsman showing me how it's done.
At the end of the event, Rob Leatham slugged it out to walk away with another match win for Team Safariland. If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting Leatham, he is a class act and always willing to help any shooter of any skill level and is a true ambassador for the sport.
Over the course of the match's 14-year history, only a few shooters have emerged victorious. These champion shooters include Leatham, Nils Johnson, Angus Hobdel, Taran Butler and Don Bendorz. Congratulations again to Rob for the repeat victory.
I wish I could say that I was gunning for Leatham's title next year, but there is a fine line between optimism and lunacy. What I can say is that thanks to Horsman and all the great people involved with the WSSSC, I have now reserved a spot in my safe next to my Glocks and am eyeing a Springfield for Christmas (hint, hint to my wife).
Most people only think of Phoenix as being hot, but the beginning of November offers outstanding weather and a first-rate facility in the Rio Salado Sportsman's Club. Wherever you are in the country, I would highly recommend making the trip to the desert and testing your 1911 game with the best at the 2017 WSSSC.
Steve Horsman and the WSSSC would like to thank Scott Carnahan of Safariland, Rob Leatham and Deb Williams of Springfield Armory along with Gail Drake and Jason Steiber of Dillion Precision for their support of the WSSSC.
