Originally Posted by
rex
Para makes a DA version but I'm not sure which one now,they were originally called the LDA.
Mags are the gun's choice and how the feedramp is cut for depth along with the location of the mag release.The majority are in tolerance but every now and then you get a ramp miscut or an out of spec mag release.Don't really worry because it's far and few between with a good brand.An easy way to judge the ramp cut is look at the bottom of the cut,it should be right about the bottom of the slidestop nub/frame opening for the slidestop,if it's toward the top of it the ramp cut is too shallow.The factory mags work 99.9% of the time and are usually made by Checkmate or Metalform,they're good mags along with Wilson and McCormic.Some guns are finicky though and may not like one of those so just don't buy any more of that brand.Stay away from the cheap crap like TrippleK (if they still make them) and there's one called MecGar that makes alot of mags for factory doublestack guns,but 1911s tend not to like them.$25 or more is usually a good bet,much cheaper and they're almost always junk.
Cleaning is no biggie,and you can learn to detail strip the gun pretty easily.The worst part is the firing pin safety system,but they aren't hard really.Colt Gold Cups are a PITA because of the sear depressor but that's the only gun that uses it.Field stripping only gets a little longer if it has a full length guide rod,as mentioned above some need a bent wire to capture the spring on the assembly.A little slower but no big deal.
If you look at Remington,try to stay away from early ones and get a newer build.At some point in the beginning there was a run where an extra cut was done instead of breaking the edge for clearance of the barrel when it links down on the frame.This spot is where the barrel stops rearward movement and the cut puts the pressure lower on the barrel lugs,some are minimal and some are hugely cut.The larger the cut putting the pressure quite low can eventually lead to lower lug cracking or shearing.The bummer is you have to pull the slide and barrel off the frame to see it.I know of 6 frames cut this way but they are over a year old,as far as I've seen they stopped doing it quite a while ago,so anything new will be fime.
Don't worry about the SA only trigger,it has 2 safeties that are easily manipulated when you grip the gun,one is automatically off on the grip.I believe it's safer than a Glock or that style trigger system.