This is as close as you can get to a Delta Force-spec 1911 (2024)

For years, the US Army’s legendary special missions unit 1st SFOD-D (aka Delta Force) has made considerable use of the just-as-legendary M1911 pistol, chambered for the .45ACP round.

The 1911 was not only known for its versatility and stopping power, it was also a huge favorite of Delta Force’s founder, Col. Charlie Beckwith.

Up until Delta Force began transitioning to Glock pistols as their standard sidearms, each would-be and full-trained operator was issued a pair of 1911s for both training and overseas missions.

While the very first Delta pistols largely came unmodified from the Army’s vast conventional small arms arsenal (as the military hadn’t yet moved to the Beretta M9 back then), Delta armorers soon began retooling the 1911 to suit their needs.

This is as close as you can get to a Delta Force-spec 1911 (1)

According to former operator Brian Searcy in an interview with Tactical Life, the 1911 was revamped to a match grade pistol with an unheard-of 100 percent reliability rate. Now Brian, along with his company Pilot Mountain Arms, offers civilian buyers the closest thing they can get to a Delta Force-spec 1911, highly similar to the one he carried as a member of America’s premier black ops force.

Dubbed the Pilot Mountain Arms Operator, the pistol is 100 percent made in America with high quality parts. Searcy starts off with a Caspian Arms frame and and 5 inch carbon steel government slide combo.

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Housed inside the slide is a match-grade barrel from Kart Precision. An extended magazine release is included, courtesy of Wilson Combat.

The PMA Operator uses Ed Brown grip safeties adjusted to disengage when pushed down halfway, so as to account for a poorer draw in an adverse environment, as well as a set of Ed Brown ambidextrous thumb safeties on both sides of the frame.

A match grade trigger, a slightly-recessed Bomar rear sight and Heinie tritium front sight, analogous to the ones Delta used on their 1911s, complete the gun.

This is as close as you can get to a Delta Force-spec 1911 (3)

Each gun comes parkerized, though Cerakoting is listed as an optional upgrade. Additionally, buyers can also avail of an underbarrel rail upgrade which accepts most pistol flashlights and lasers on the market these days. The Operator uses Barnhart Performance Burner Grips, and with a pair of 8-round magazines.

According to PMA, a competent shooter can achieve a 3 inch grouping at a range of 50 yards with the Operator.

PMA’s website lists the Operator for a whopping $3,499, but considering the workmanship and the high-quality (and extremely expensive) parts that go into this beauty of a pistol, it’s no surprise that it retails for that much.

About IanD'Costa

Ian D’Costa is a correspondent with Gear Scout whose work has been featured with We Are The Mighty, The Aviationist, and Business Insider. An avid outdoorsman, Ian is also a guns and gear enthusiast.

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This is as close as you can get to a Delta Force-spec 1911 (2024)

FAQs

This is as close as you can get to a Delta Force-spec 1911? ›

Colt M1911a1 - Delta Force - Weapons

The Colt M1911a1's design has remained largely unchanged since the late 1890s. The Colt M119 / M119a1 has served in the American military ever since. Delta adopted the M1911a1 as it was the standard Army firearm at the time and it suited their needs.

What 1911 did Delta Force use? ›

Colt M1911a1 - Delta Force - Weapons

The Colt M1911a1's design has remained largely unchanged since the late 1890s. The Colt M119 / M119a1 has served in the American military ever since. Delta adopted the M1911a1 as it was the standard Army firearm at the time and it suited their needs.

What pistol do Navy SEALs carry? ›

The M11 Sig Sauer P-228 was introduced in 1989. It is a compact version of the Sig P-226, just 7.1 inches long and only 1.5 inches wide. The Navy SEALs and Special Boat Teams consider it a favorite, and use it as their standard carry pistol as it is small, light, durable, accurate and easy to conceal.

What 1911 does the FBI use? ›

45 ACP Handgun. Originally developed for the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), the Professional 1911 provides high-end custom shop features in an ideal platform for withstanding the rugged use of duty with one of Americas most elite units.

Do any special forces still use 1911? ›

Both U.S. Army Special Forces Units and SFOD-D continue to use modernized M1911s, such as the M45 MEU(SOC) and a modified version of the Colt Rail Gun (a 1911 model with an integrated picatinny rail on the underside of the frame) designated as the M45A1 CQBP (Close Quarters Battle Pistol).

What is the special forces favorite handgun? ›

The Glock 19 has become the official sidearm of numerous special operations forces. Army Special Forces, Delta Force, Rangers, and even the CIA and FBI use it. The Navy SEALs call it the Mk27, the British call it the L131A1, the Marine Corps calls it the M007, but most everyone else calls it the Glock 19.

Do Navy SEALs still use the 1911? ›

While the Army, the Marine Corps and even the rest of the Navy toted the Beretta M9 pistol, Navy SEALs carried an entirely different handgun altogether: the Sig Sauer P226. In the mid-1980s, the U.S. military finally moved away from the M1911A1 . 45 caliber handgun to a new pistol, the Beretta 92FS.

What is the best pistol to a Navy SEAL? ›

The P226 has fifteen round capacity, night sights and a Picatinny rail so warriors can customize their weapon. And of course, the handgun has an anchor on the slide denoting that it is the chosen firearm of Navy SEALs. Why do Navy Seals use a Sig P226?

What are Navy SEALs favorite guns? ›

The M4A1 carbine is the primary weapon used by SEAL operators. A shorter, more compact version of the M16A2 rifle, it was specially designed for U.S. Special Operations Forces.

What pistol does Seal Team 6 carry? ›

Sig Sauer P226R - 9mm pistol.

What 1911 does John Wick use? ›

The Kimber Warrior is a 1911 pistol chambered for the . 45 ACP, holding only seven rounds in the magazine. The Bowery King intentionally supplies Wick with this gun – one bullet for each million of the kill contract. Later, John masterfully uses the pistol at the beginning of the firefight in the art gallery.

Which 1911 is most like the original? ›

Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec

In many ways, and more than others, Springfield Armory's 1911 Mil-Spec is an accurate representation of the original M1911A1. The trigger length is correct (albeit with an incorrect serrated shoe), the triggerguard is correct, as is the grip safety and arched mainspring housing.

What pistol does FBI use? ›

So when the new agents come to us, the Firearms Training Unit, we train them on three specific types of weapons. Their primary weapon, their sidearm, is a Glock 19M; it's a brand new weapon—that's predominantly what we're going to teach them with.

What 1911 do Texas Rangers carry? ›

When Colt released the Model 1911 . 45 Pistol for the U.S. Army, it was embraced immediately by the Texas Rangers and proved a perfect fit. Developed by legendary gun maker John Moses Browning, the Colt . 45 Pistol has become one of the most trusted sidearms of American military and law enforcement.

What is the preferred sidearm of Delta Force? ›

Glock 9mm Pistol

Glock is a well recognizable name in handguns. Fittingly, Delta Force has adopted Glock firearms into their arsenal even if the U.S. Army prefers the standard issued Beretta M9. The semi-automatic Glock 9mm pistol is sporadically used within Delta Force and other elite units like Army Rangers.

What 1911 does SWAT use? ›

The Custom II is probably the most . 45 ACP 1911 for the money--ever. The LAPD SWAT Kimber Custom II field-strips quickly and easily with just a barrel bushing wrench. In addition to all the other special features included on this and all Kimber pistols is the company's Mark II Firing Pin Safety System.

What is the world's most popular military pistol? ›

The M9 has been the standard sidearm of the United States Navy, United States Army, and the United States Air Force since 1985, replacing the Colt M1911A1 in the Army and Navy, and the Smith & Wesson . 38 Special in the Air Force.

Is a 357 more powerful than a 9 mm? ›

Looking at the ballistics tables below, we see that the 357 Magnum has higher muzzle energy for most of the handgun rounds listed. On average, the 357 has about 600 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle compared to an average of 340 ft-lbs for 9mm.

What is the US military favorite gun? ›

The M4/M4A1 5.56mm Carbine is a lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed, selective rate, shoulder fired weapon with a collapsible stock. It is now the standard issue firearm for most units in the U.S. military.

What pistol do Navy SEALs carry 2023? ›

The P226 MK25 is identical to the pistol carried by the U.S. Navy SEALs, the fleet's special warfare operators. The railed P226 chambered in 9mm and engraved with an anchor on the left side of the slide is the official sidearm of the SEALs.

Why do special forces use 45? ›

It's a fact that larger . 40 caliber and . 45 caliber rounds are very accurate in the hands of a well-trained shooter and create a larger wound cavity in the body when compared to the 9mm.

Why do Navy SEALs use Glock 19? ›

The Glock G19 saves weight compared to the Previous pistol of the SEALs, the Sig P226. In fact, it's 7 ounces lighter, which is quite significant. A lighter pistol is faster to maneuver, and it saves valuable weight in one's gear. A full set of military gear (guns, ammo, armor, clothes, pack, etc.)

What sniper rifle did Chris Kyle use? ›

a Remington 700/300, Later type classified as a MK13 Mod 1, .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifle with McMillan stock and customized barrel, which was later replaced with a .300 Winchester Magnum Accuracy International, Various rifles chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum used for long-range shooting.

How many guns does a Navy SEAL carry? ›

For example, a Navy SEAL platoon of 16 men might carry upward of six machine guns depending on the mission. Compare that to a Marine weapons platoon of 48 Marines that packs six machine guns and the difference in firepower is evident.

What pistol do you shoot at Navy bootcamp? ›

Therefore, during Navy basic training, you won't get to fire the M16 rifle. Instead, you qualify with the M9 pistol and the Mossberg 500 shotgun. The Navy is unique in that before you get to handle an actual weapon, you get a chance to fire the weapon on a computerized simulator.

What is Marines favorite gun? ›

The basic infantry weapon of the United States Marine Corps is the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Suppressive fire is provided by the M240B machine gun, at the squad and company levels respectively.

What gun do Navy SEAL snipers use? ›

The SEAL Recon Rifle (also known as the "Sniper M4" and "Recce") is a heavily modified M16-series rifle intended to provide US Navy SEAL snipers with a versatile, accurate, lightweight, and relatively compact weapon chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.

Do Navy SEALs get to keep their weapons? ›

"As it currently stands, following a deployment, a SEAL will have his weapon taken from him, which has been fine-tuned to certain specifications, and given to a different operator to use.

What pistol do Marine Raiders use? ›

45 ACP cartridge. A variant of the M1911, it has been the standard-issue side arm for the Force Recon Element of the United States Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Units since 1985. It is assigned NATO Stock Number 1005-01-370-7353. An MEU(SOC) 1911 pistol, built by PWS at Quantico, Virginia.

What's the best handgun for accuracy? ›

Glock 19. "The Glock 19 is one of the most accurate and reliable handguns available.” The Glock 19 is likely the most popular 9mm handgun of all time—and with good reason. The 19 pioneered the compact size category, but it still comes standard with 15-round mags (it can also accept 17 to 33-round mags).

Why carry a 1911? ›

Triggering is what 1911's do best.

Perhaps the single most famous aspect of the 1911 is its trigger. Unlike other concealed carry pistols with hinged triggers, the 1911's trigger slides straight back, making for a crisp, clean break and reset when the gun is fired.

What model Kimber did John Wick use? ›

John Wick met with The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), who issued him a Kimber 1911, . 45 ACP. Ownership of this item is restricted for UK residents to those registered as re-enactors, galleries, or individuals in film, television or theatre production.

What is John Wicks preferred gun? ›

TTI Glock 34: Wick uses a Glock 34 pistol as his primary weapon in the first film. The Glock 34 is a 9mm handgun with a long slide and barrel, which gives it improved accuracy over shorter-barreled models.

How powerful is a 454 Casull? ›

454 Casull generates almost 5 times the recoil of the . 45 Colt, and about 75% more recoil energy than the . 44 Magnum. It can deliver a 250 grain (16 g) bullet with a muzzle velocity of over 1,900 feet per second (580 m/s), developing up to 2,000 ft-lb (2.7 kJ) of energy from a handgun.

What is the purpose of half co*cked 1911? ›

Contrary to popular belief, the half-co*ck notch on the hammer of the 1911 is not a carry location. Rather, it is a passive safety to keep the hammer from striking the firing pin should the single-action notch on the hammer or the sear-engagement surfaces fail to maintain their intended relationship.

What is the most powerful 1911? ›

It was, and still is, the most potent military handgun cartridge ever. John Browning's Colt M1911 pistol chambered in 45 ACP was officially approved by the Secretary of War Jacob Dickinson on March 29, 1911, and became the U.S. military's official service sidearm.

How accurate is the average 1911? ›

The Government accuracy standard for the 1911 was 5-inch dispersions at 25 yards and 10-inch dispersions at 50 yards, with the pistol sighted to fire a bit high at the shorter distance and more or less dead on at 50 yards.

Is a 45 more powerful than a 9 mm? ›

A . 45 ACP boasts more “stopping power” than a 9mm, but the extra rounds in most 9mm handguns might be more useful. In short, it's a tossup. It's difficult to choose a winner for hunting or defense, but the 9mm offers an edge when it comes to competition.

What is the best caliber for self-defense? ›

Most experts recommend opting for the 9 mm and 0.45 ACP cartridges, particularly if you are just a beginner and have no prior experience dealing with a handgun. The small size simply depicts the mild recoil and high magazines.

What guns do the FBI SWAT carry? ›

FBI SWAT is known to use the M4 carbine, Heckler & Koch MP5/10, Remington 870, Remington 700, various Glock models (17 Gen4, 19M, 20), SIG Sauer P226, and Springfield Armory 1911 Professional Custom.

What rifle is issued to Army Rangers? ›

M4A1 Carbine

Weight: 6.9 lbs.

What weapons do Rangers get? ›

Dungeons & Dragons: The 10 Best Weapons For Ranger, Ranked
  • 10 Trident of Fish Command.
  • 9 Weapon of Warning.
  • 8 Net Proficiency.
  • 7 Hooked Shortspear.
  • 6 Dual-Wielding Handaxes.
  • 5 Ephixis, Bow of Nylea.
  • 4 Vorpal Longsword.
  • 3 Spear Proficiency.
Dec 4, 2022

What handgun does Texas Rangers carry? ›

About Staccato

Built with FlaTec, Staccato 2011 pistols are trusted by elite law enforcement teams like the U.S. Marshals SOG, the Texas Rangers, and LAPD Metro. Staccato pistols are approved for duty by over 250 agencies across the country.

Is Delta Force as good as SEALs? ›

Both operate very similarly, but where they conduct their operations usually varies. SEALs are used more for missions involving leaving and returning from/to a water source, whereas Delta Force is focused more on land operations.

What makes Delta Force so special? ›

Though Delta Force is primarily a tier-one counterterrorism unit, specifically directed to kill or capture high-value units or dismantle terrorist cells, Delta Force remains extremely flexible and can engage in direct-action missions, hostage rescues and covert missions working directly with the CIA, as well as high- ...

What tier level is Delta Force? ›

Delta Force, along with its Navy and Air Force counterparts, DEVGRU and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, are the U.S. military's tier one special mission units that are tasked with performing the most complex, covert, and dangerous missions directed by the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense.

What pistol do LAPD use? ›

“This training will assist in building the foundation that their firearm instructor staff will utilize when training recruits and officers in the FN 509 MRD-LE pistol.”

What gun does LAPD SIS carry? ›

Weighing in at 27-ounces, the FN 509 MRD-LE measures a total length of 7.4-inches with a 4-inch barrel. Mag capacity sits at 17-rounds. FN said it was pleased with the LAPD selecting the 509 as its duty, though not surprised given the reliability and performance of the platform.

Do cops use Colt 1911? ›

No other American military small arm has ever served for so long. The 1911 shares an equally long tradition as a law enforcement handgun.

What kind of pistol does Delta Force use? ›

The Colt M1911 is a legendary firearm within Delta Force weapons and gear. The design of the sidearm has remained relatively unaltered since the M1911 was first introduced in 1911. It was a welcomed introduction to the firearms market and the U.S. Army quickly inherited the pistol for its needs.

What brand of 1911 did the MIlitary use? ›

Despite this, it never jammed. The Colt 1911 was formally adopted by the US Army on March 29, 1911, and then by the US Navy and Marine Corps in 1913. By the beginning of WW1, more than 68,000 pistols were in service and the huge demand for the new pistol led to contracts being granted to other manufacturers as well.

What brand 1911 was used in Vietnam? ›

Yes, the Colt 1911 saw a significant amount of action during the Vietnam War. Though originally adopted for use in 1911, as the name suggests, this iconic design was to serve with the US military until 1986.

Is Colt Delta Elite a 1911? ›

The Colt Delta Elite is a modified M1911 pistol, Series 80 configuration, chambered for the 10mm Auto. It is similar to the M1911 in design and operation. Colt manufactured both stainless steel and blued versions with eight-round magazines. A Delta Gold Cup model was also offered for target competition.

Do Delta Force wear uniforms? ›

He also dresses more like someone on his way to a bar than on his way to training. Delta Force operatives don't typically wear a uniform and, even when they do, the nature of that uniform is classified and no one outside of the Unit would be able to recognize it. The MP hangs up the phone. He hands Chuck back his ID.

Why does Delta Force use Glock? ›

Delta have a history of preferring . 45s such as the venerable 1911, however it's rumored that some operators switched to Glock 22s as they were deemed more reliable in the sandy conditions the unit tends to operate in these days. The Glock 22 has a magazine capacity of 15+1.

What pistol does SEAL Team 6 use? ›

Sig Sauer P226R - 9mm pistol.

What 1911 is closest to the original? ›

Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec

In many ways, and more than others, Springfield Armory's 1911 Mil-Spec is an accurate representation of the original M1911A1.

What 1911 do the Marines use? ›

A variant of the M1911, it has been the standard-issue side arm for the Force Recon Element of the United States Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Units since 1985. It is assigned NATO Stock Number 1005-01-370-7353. An MEU(SOC) 1911 pistol, built by PWS at Quantico, Virginia.

What was the most used gun in Vietnam? ›

M16. The M16 would become the standard service rifle for U.S. troops during the 1960s, seeing widespread use in Vietnam and largely replacing the M14. The weapon was in many ways revolutionary, though not without problems.

What gun does Walt Longmire carry? ›

Sheriff Walt Longmire carries a M1911 (a.k.a. Colt Government Model) with custom stag grips for his duty sidearm. He carries in Condition 2 with the mag inserted, round chambered and hammer unco*cked.

What rifle did Marines use in Vietnam? ›

During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps decided they needed a standard sniper rifle. After testing several possibilities, they ordered seven hundred Remington Model 40x rifles (target/varmint version of the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle), and gave them the M40 designation.

Are Colts the best 1911? ›

The Colt 1911 Government is an outstanding choice for a 1911 pistol because it is one of the true classic designs of the original M1911 with a few modern upgrades, making it reliable and more user-friendly.

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