Gun Reviews >
Find a Dealer >
Find a Club >
Competitions >
videos >Low Mill 1911 Long Barrelled Pistol
-
32
Comments
- Last updated: 27/01/2017
Comments
I’ll lay my cards on the table now; I have never cared for what might be called the bastard offspring of the handgun ban! By this I mean the fact that to be a Sect 1 (large firearm) the smallest a gun can be is 24” butt to muzzle with a 12” minimum barrel. This over the years has spawned some truly horrendous equipment from the long barrelled revolvers with tubes near 19” long, to the revolving carbines that were neither fish nor fowl.
This last group grew into a design that paid strict, but anorexic attention to the law and offered a simple rod out of the rear of the grip frame and a 12” barrel. In this way you complied to the 12/24” law but in a minimalist manner. Probably the best compromise, but still just that. For me as an ex-handgunner I could not get my head around these hybrid pistols and chose not to bother; that is not to say I have not tested a few over the years.
That’s More Like It
I know people own and use these things and more power to them; as if you’re enjoying yourself then it’s fine by me! But like I said - not for me! However, I could just be tempted by the new offering from Peter Hathaway Jones, owner of Low Mill Ranges. Pete is now offering a Colt 1911A1, 22 rimfire semi-auto copy from Ivor Johnson in 12/24” format. Already I can here credit cards coming out of wallets!
The gun is made as a Sect 1 with a 12 ¼” barrel and with the extension rod/counter weight making the overall length to 25 ¼”, so well within requirements. This is not a converted Centrefire handgun as the slide is the dedicated rimfire unit as offered by Ivor Johnson in the USA. The grip frame remains the same 1911A1-style though as we shall see shows a few go faster bits.
My initial reaction was, “Oh yes, very nice, but look at that extra length front and back.” Though I was intrigued, as I had not fired any form of 1911A1 since the ban and despite the extra it did feel pleasantly familiar and I was a bit excited. But first…
The layout was as expected. On the left of the frame is the safety catch, which flips up when the hammer is cocked. In front of this is the slide release catch; both of these controls are extended for easier manipulation. The rear of the frame shows a straight (1911-style) back strap. Above this is a an upswept grip safety, more on that later and the hammer is skeletonised.
At the base of the grip is a big magazine chute, with the extension rod fitted to it. The magazine catch is at the rear left of the trigger guard and is a simple, press-in button. The grips are the old-style chequered wood, with the Ivor Johnson Owl head logo cut in. The slide is longitudinally grooved along the top with front and rear gripping cuts.
The front sight is a medium height/width blade set in a dovetail and the rear a Bomar-style unit, which is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. This is very much an example of a modified Colt 1911A1 from the middle/late 1980s before Practical Pistol lost its way with red dots, race guns and all the daft rules and calibres.
Oh Yeah!
Most pleasing was the fact the pistol offers, as standard, a 15-shot magazine capacity. I was expecting an 8-round design, but this is 100% better. There are however a few anomalies on this 22 model when compared to say a centrefire 45 ACP.
Loading is simple, press the mag button and pull the mag out of the grip. Filling is easy and it doesn’t stack up that much towards maximum capacity. Slide the mag back in until it locks in place, here the mag chute does not do any favours as the magazine base plate does not have an extension/bumper on it so you need to get your finger up there to make sure it’s fully home.
Now pull the slide back all the way to the rear and let it go, which will chamber the first round. Before going any further flip up the safety catch and you’re cocked & locked, in Condition 1!
By this time I was quite excited and flipping off the safety with my firing hand thumb I squeezed the trigger. The break was around 3-4 lbs and very easy, and the 1911 popped most pleasingly. The first mag full was just plain fun and the pistol ran as sweet as a nut. The major difference here is that after the last round there is no automatic holding open of the slide as you get on the centrefire, but hey who cares?
This means you have to retract the slide by hand, hold it rearwards and flip up the hold open to lock the action back. Also different was the fact that the mag does not drop free when you press the button, this could be down to a new gun that is not run in, again no big deal. After a few more mags full I was hooked and started getting some of my old handgunning skills back.
Reliable
To its credit the 1911 was pretty reliable over a good range of ammo from sub-sonics, standards and hi-velocity fodder. At about 300-rounds it started to show a hesitancy in chambering the first round from a full mag, but this was sorted by stripping it and cleaning the slide etc. I reckon I must have put around 500-rounds through it in all! Accuracy was good and with SK High Velocity hollow points off the bench at 25-yards it was holding an inch, which is good for a handgun. Likewise, free standing you could put the rounds where they needed to go inside a two inch area.
Equally pleasing was the balance and weight, though considerably heavier than a standard 1911A1 the pistol sits solid and stable even with a one-handed hold. But for me it was the good old Weaver-style and I had a lot of fun on the more frangible targets at my disposal.
To be honest, and though I hate the long barrelled look with its counterweight, after a few mags I tended to forget this was not a normal handgun. It would be possible however to fit optics, as there are a number of scope mounts that simply replace one of the grip plates to offer a Weaver-type rail over the slide, so red dots or extended eye relief scopes would not be a problem. Likewise, if you don’t like the wood there are any number of replacement grip options. Truth is with 1911s the world is your oyster much like Ruger 10/22s and AR15s.
Springs and Washers
Action-wise this 1911 rimfire is a straight, blow-back system as opposed to firing from a locked breech like the centrefire version, which makes disassembly slightly different. You start by removing the mag and pulling back the slide so the lug of the hold open catch is positioned in the small, semi circular cut out behind the locking slot in the slide.
With a plastic hammer or similar tap out the end of its axis pin from right to left and pull the catch out of the frame. Now pull the slide/barrel assembly forward and off. It’s here you notice that the slide is aluminium alloy and not steel. Barrel removal is a bit fiddly as you have to push the recoil spring and rod all the way forward and hold them out of the way against the spring. Next remove the rubber washer from the end of the rod then drop the barrel down at the breech end and pull it rearwards out of the bottom of the slide.
If you try to do this with the rubber washer in place it’s very tight and awkward, as I discovered… Reassembly is just the reverse of the job; rod and spring in place held back, slide in the barrel and allow it to engage in the slide. Pull back the recoil rod/spring again and insert the rubber washer and you’re done.
Over the time I had the 1911 I let a few other shooters try it out, and seeing the smile spread on their faces as they capped off mag after mag said it all. At £1200 + this pistol is far from cheap. However, consider how much you would be paying for a customised Ruger 10/22 and that is not going to give you much change from a grand. But to be able to get what is near enough a 1911, albeit in 22 LR is for many a far more attractive proposition!
We Reckon:
• A bit of what you fancy does you good
• Fun and very functional
• Best 12/24” gun yet
PRICE: £1250
SPARE MAGAZINE: £39.95
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
click on image to enlarge
32 Comments
I think I have kind of answered my own question in part - there is some confusion it seems over what is a 'long barrel pistol' and a 'long range pistol'.
It seems it is perfectly legal to let someone borrow and use your long barrel pistol at a range. The relevant wording from the government guide on firearms licensing law 'april 2016' says:
"Long-barrelled pistols, long-range pistols, section 1 shotguns and full bore rifles designed or adapted to fire ammunition capable of discharging projectiles at muzzle energies greater than 10,000 foot pounds do not fall within the three Home Office categories of approval for target shooting clubs, and therefore they cannot take advantage of the free club certificate issued to Home Office approved clubs. They can, however, be held on an individual’s firearm certificate as long as they have the facilities to use the firearms for target
shooting. Long-barrelled revolvers, long-range pistols, section 1 shotguns and full bore rifles designed or adapted to fire ammunition capable of discharging projectiles at muzzle energies greater than 10,000 foot pounds may not be borrowed at a range for use by other club members. "
So it is LONG RANGE PISTOLS and LONG BARREL REVOLVERS you cannot lend - not LONG BARREL PISTOLS.
For further clarificaiton, the same guidance defines a Long Range Pistol thus:
"Long-range pistols will often use rifle actions and cartridges. An applicant to possess a firearm of this sort may be a member of the International Long-Range Pistol Shooting Association (ILRPSA), or other appropriate shooting organisation which organises and marshals this type of shooting discipline, although this is not a requirement. A suitable range (see 13.50 above) is required."
effectively they are rifles without a stock.
john
22 Jul 2016 at 11:36 AMI have a slot for LBP and have been looking around - have a few questions - I have read several times about this law regarding you cannot let anyone else shoot your LBP - where exactly is this law specified - I have read the firearms licensing laws through twice and cannot see this mentioned anywhere - in fact they don't actually mention long barrel pistol, revolver or long arm pistol anywhere - they are treated as a rifle in law.
Also a quick question for the author of this article - using hollow point ammunition for target shooting in a pistol - why would you recommend that to people - my FAC at least states that it is for hunting only - cannot be used at a range.
John
22 Jul 2016 at 11:22 AMtac foley- absolutely right with the 'kill-joy' bit. Like yourself, I also shoot .357 LBR, as well as black powder pistols and revolvers. It is ludicrous that a RFD can be credited with a blanket approval to shoot anything and everything, yet you and I who have specific licences for a calibre/gun, cannot supervise others to try them on an approved range. I am a certified and licenced pistol and rifle instructor and coach, and I can only instruct on a :44 Black Powder revolver, which in itself is almost as dangerous as a .357- (especially at close quarters), allowing a trainee to freely handle and shoot it under my supervision, yet not my .357 LBR or .22 LBP! Crazy. I had considered letting someone handle the LBP/LBR and practice using inert snap- caps, then get live-firing practice with the BP revolver, but that is just over complex and daft. Such a simple answer, but no-one will consider this- get the law changed to put these on club gun status. Really frustrating
IanG
23 Dec 2015 at 02:18 PMI guess being an RFD and the editor of a shooting magazine allows you to test such firearms...
Troll Hunter
23 Dec 2015 at 08:48 AM@IanG - thanks for your resplone, much appreciated. I actually DO have a LBR - the Sabre Defence converted Ruger Super Redhawk in .357Mag, and since 2001. I'm getting more and more sensitive to the fact that I can shoot mine, and others, especially on a guest day where everybody can shoot everything else, can not.. Talk about a kill-joy - 'watch how much fun I'M.having, but please don't touch else we are ALL in the ****. And I still have no answer as to how a journalist is somehow exempt from the law.
IMO, the whole part of the law makes as much sense as the fact that although I have eighteen Section 1 firearms, with some VERY large calibre rifles with humungous amounts of M/E, I can't buy a toy gun that fires a little white plastic ball.
tac
tac foley
23 Dec 2015 at 08:31 AMtac foley- this is one of the real problems, I have heard rumours that the odd "blind eye" was turned in the past, but since the updated advice to the police a couple of years ago, nobody dares consider letting someone try them. The best you can do is if you know someone who has one who will let you handle it, point it etc, check out for aim and balance, just not shoot it, this must be ok, as you can do this at the shows. The whole thing is crackers!
One point you raised- I am not sure that you have to be as compliant as serial number specific. As far as I can gather, if you have a .22 LBP slot on your FAC, then you can shoot someone else's to try it, but I could be completely wrong on this and wait to stand corrected. If that is the case, and the best place to ask would be your FEO, then all you have wasted if you don't like it is the variation fee to have a slot put on your ticket. Not the answer you want, I feel, but the best I have. Good luck if you get one, I am considering changing mine for one of the New Caledonian guns, much lighter to hold, as I have arthritis in my wrist/shoulder.
IanG
23 Dec 2015 at 01:21 AMHow does anybody get to try one out just to see if it is the kind of shooting that they might enjoy? As the UK mainland law currently stands, only the registered owner who has that serial number pistol on his or her FAC can actually shoot it.
Anybody else shooting with it is breaking the law. And come to think of it, how does even a journalist like Mr Moore get to shoot it without owning it or having it entered on his FAC? In law, he is just like anybody else, unless journalists are exempt the law in this respect.
tac in Ontario
tac foley
22 Dec 2015 at 01:38 PMJust got one of the new Low Mills guns - picked it up at the Gun show. Really enjoying this. Low Mills advised using Mini-mags for the first 500 or so rounds, just to bed everything in, it is now firing on standard .22LR practice ammo with very few 'stalls'. The paperwork with it identifies it as a kit offered in the US, fitted to a standard 1911 base, (it IS steel, not monkey-metal), just a longer barrel and the extension rod to the base of the grip. As the man said, after a few rounds you forget all that and just enjoy shooting a pistol again, something I have only been able to do on visits to friends in the US. I didn't order the u-type sight fitting and bits, as I wanted to try as a simple open-sights system, and Low Mills advise me that the fitting is effectively permanent, due to the use of thread-lock on the very fine threaded screws used to attach this to the body of the gun. However, I am struggling, as I wear vari-focal glasses, and I think the red-dot sight will solve the problems. Not cheap, at £900 +VAT, but having handled both, I don't regret paying the extra, a huge grin every time I use it!
IanG
04 Jun 2013 at 05:18 PMI too have never seen the GSG 1911, but a freind of mine bought one as it was cheaper than the Low Mill gun. His reasoning was that yes it might wear out faster but the money saved was more attractive.
No idea why the Low Mill gun, which is made by Ivor Johnson does not hold open. But untill I see the GSG I can not see how they are built by comparison.
PM
pete moore
18 Apr 2012 at 03:34 PMHi, I am interested in buying a lbp 1911 but I have never seen either the lmr or the gsg, I know pete moore has done a second review on the lmr and I have read it in shooting sports magazine but I can not understand why it does not have the last shot hold open but the gsg does. what I do like about the lmr are the mags and they hold 15 rounds plus the latest lmr has the steel slide also. If the gsg is so good, why do they not send one to pete to test review. there is a big price difference between the two, the gsg being £300 cheaper and that does include shroud, gunbag and spare mag. I will add that I have only ever seen one second hand gsg for sale and that was 2 weeks ago on guntrader.
valencia192
18 Apr 2012 at 02:33 PMHi guys
Check this site out - I guess they supplied the slides
http://www.iverjohnsonarms.com/3073.html
Cheere
Graham
22 Jan 2012 at 08:42 PMPete
northwest customs are not importing anything at the moment I would go to Mcavoy guns in Standish or lantac in harrogate as they have great contact's for spare mags etc.
paul w
22 Jan 2012 at 06:39 PMMagazines are always this issue with semis, so a few spares are never a bad thing, good tip on the Kimber mags too.
I have been sent the latest Low Mill gun, which is all Bianchied up with baracade wings and a C-More sight, it looks good, especially with the dummy moddy. I have been shooting standard velocity SK through it with no problems. Look out for a full test in the near future...
PM
pete moore
14 Dec 2011 at 10:14 AMHi,
I bought a LMR 1911 last year and can say it is an excellent pistol, really enjoy it and feels and shoots like the original. Only problem I had one magazine I had got damaged lips and have been waiting ages for new ones to come into the country. Once I received them I had to do a little rubbing down with fine sand paper to make a better fit. I did purchase a plastic 10 round kimber magazine from the US. After a little surgury to the magazine I did get it to fit and works as a spare. I beleive the LMR 1911 in better and better quality than the TSG and not really alot of difference in prie once you put all the addons on the TSG. I find the CCI mini mag ammo the best but did try CCI stingers!! A little too powerful! I think they might damage the gun with regular use! Hope others get on well and and like to see some competitions being run with these guns.
Matt
Matt
09 Dec 2011 at 12:17 PMI'd like to and asked for one some time ago but as of yet no joy. I'll see what's happening.
Cheers
PM
pete moore
17 Nov 2011 at 05:41 PMHi, Are you going to do a review on the gsg protsc 1911, thisone is selling for 650.00 with out shroud, I have heard they are selling like xmas trees in december.
Will.
will
17 Nov 2011 at 03:55 PMHi Willie
Many thanks for this - what size groups are you getting?
You could try The Tunnel 01297 560049 for the rear sight.
http://www.pro1911.co.uk/1911/Welcome.html
They do the TSC 1911 and I believe they were offering accessories which MIGHT fit in the Low Mill 1911 (or might not so be careful!)
Cheers
Graham
Graham
18 Oct 2011 at 08:07 PMHi Pete - I've just bought a Low Mill 1911 and would really, really appreciate your advice - here goes:
1. Do you think my 1911 would also like the SK ammo you got such excellent results with - or do even guns of the same make have different preferences?
2. If you reckon SK would be a goer, do you know of any stockists in the North West & if not, who the importer is, so I can ask them
3. As a Plan B, which other ammo brands showed promise?
Many, many thanks
Cheers
Graham
Graham
18 Oct 2011 at 07:58 PMHello Graham.
Interesting to hear a comment from another owner of the LMR 1911 LB Pistol.
Regarding the ammo used. I have found that #American Eagle & #CCI Mini Mag perform well.
I am still looking to acquire a rear adjustable sight for the pistol, If you know of any supplier please let me know.
Regards. Willie.
Semauto.
16 Oct 2011 at 11:26 AMNo problems...
PM
peter moore
06 Sep 2011 at 09:09 AMThanks PM. For the info. will check them out.
Regards. Semauto.
Semauto.
05 Sep 2011 at 07:28 PMYeah near enough to make you grin and remember how it was... I think the dovertail is Bomar-cut, but I reckon you'll have to access an adjustable rear unit from the USA, as I'm unsure if anyone is bothereing bringing in adjustable irons for handguns anymore in the UK. You could try South Yorkshire Shooting Supplies or North West Custom Parts. Another source might be IPA of Italy as they make a wide rnage of irons for handguns and long guns too.
Good luck
PM
peter moore
05 Sep 2011 at 09:22 AMHave purchased LMR 1911 LBP. Excellent . Just like it used to be. (or near enough). Unfortunately it has a fixed rear sight. Can any body tell me where I can get a adjustable rear sight to fit without any milling/gun smithing etc.
Is the slide Bomar or Kimber cut .???
The info would be much appreciated.(LMR.Cannot supply one at the moment)
Best Regards. Semauto.
Semauto.
03 Sep 2011 at 11:53 PMHave you been away from the UK for a few years?
dateline:
1988 - self loading centrefire rifles banned in the UK, though .22 rimfires were not included
1997 - all handguns banned in the UK apart from muzzleloaders
To be a legal Section 1 firearm the smallest a gun can be is 24" overall with a minimum of a 12" barrel. If you made such an item as centrefire it would be classed as a self-loading rifle...
peter moore
07 Mar 2011 at 09:22 AMWhy don't they make.semi auto centre fire one......as these are classed as hand guns and not semi auto rifles
mr griffin
05 Mar 2011 at 08:07 PMI got one in 45 ACP a few years ago, Very nice from Armalon
I got the BuckMark LBP just put a scope on it to stay up with the 1500 comps
Will try the 1911 out above soon when a freind gets it. will see about getting one as well.
Still use my 45 ACP in Practical over seas.
Dave
28 Nov 2009 at 07:15 PMIt looks odd but I will get one, after all it,s a 1911. I have owned the long barrel revolvers in 357 and 44 magnum. I look at it like this, if we dont use it, we lose it. I will be putting plenty of overtime...
william davies
12 Oct 2009 at 09:14 PMSuch is life and the exchange rate... But these days all the FUN TOYS seem to be well over priced.
PM
pete moore
11 Oct 2009 at 08:54 AMI really want one, I can imagine exactly how it feels in your hand, but that is an awful lot of money for an LBP. I could kit myself out with a Buckmark LBP, a Marlin lever-action and a hi-cap Remington 1100 for that kind of money. It's a definite 'I want' but much too expensive.
Robin Lee
10 Oct 2009 at 01:43 AMThe World did not ban handguns ,the British Goverment did .
Robin L Cooke
30 Aug 2009 at 11:46 PMThey should never have banned handguns... but hey the world is not perfect!
pete moore
30 Jul 2009 at 09:52 AMThey should have made it a long slide, would have looked better.
Pete Williams
29 Jul 2009 at 11:34 PM