Small arms fire practice on a range, United States, summer 1943. Museum object reference no. BAM_0036 These servicemen are doing weapons training on a pistol range using the 1911 Colt 45 pistol that is and was a very successful and popular pistol. Used by almost every allied force in WW2 and by US forces in WW1 and up until 1986, it is a blowback semi automatic pistol which typically feeds from a 7 round magazine. It was carried by all airmen and officers in the US army , marines and air force.