1911

adrock1978

adrock1978

Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
2,538
I know some of you guys are quite the 1911 aficionados, and even Busse makes (made) 1911 slabs, so it seems a fitting place to ask this. I'd like to set my sights on a 1911, but not one that will break the bank. On the contrary though, nothing considered sub par. Can anyone with experience give me a few suggestions, and maybe even a price range I can expect to stay in. I'm looking for something in a .45 ACP. Is that even necessary to mention? Are all 1911s .45?

I'm pretty happy with my firearm collection now, as I have all my bases covered, and have most of the "set the standard" guns. I'm lacking a decent 1911 though. Thanks guys! :thumbup:
 
I would recommend an Ed Brown, or if you do not want to spend that much, then a Smith and Wesson would be my 2nd choice.

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adrock1978 said:
I know some of you guys are quite the 1911 aficionados, and even Busse makes (made) 1911 slabs, so it seems a fitting place to ask this. I'd like to set my sights on a 1911, but not one that will break the bank. On the contrary though, nothing considered sub par. Can anyone with experience give me a few suggestions, and maybe even a price range I can expect to stay in. I'm looking for something in a .45 ACP. Is that even necessary to mention? Are all 1911s .45?

I'm pretty happy with my firearm collection now, as I have all my bases covered, and have most of the "set the standard" guns. I'm lacking a decent 1911 though. Thanks guys! :thumbup:
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Good choice, and you'll be looking at $400-$600, new or used. You can spend a lot more.

I've got a Springfield Armory Mil-spec and am very happy. I once turned up my nose at Rock Island Armory because they are made in the Phillipines, but I've since been educated on that error...they are reportedly a fine basic GI piece and are available in .45 or .38 Super. Taurus also makes an affordable and good 1911, but Taurus is controversial and I'll let others rip into that.

I own a Taurus .22 and I'm happy with it.

I expect someone also makes a 1911 in 9mm.
 
All 1911's are not just .45 - they come in 38, and 10MM also

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I like Colts - I have several 45's and 10MM's and have never had any problems. Kimbers have a pretty good rep too, as do Springfields, although I have no experience with either.

You can find a new Gold Cup for around $1000, or step up to the Special Combat for around $1500. Not sure what you want to spend, but you can spend alot more. I really like the Ed Brown's, but don't want to drop $2K plus on one. Les Baer and Wilson also make 1911's in this price range.

You can find some pretty good deals on the used market too. Just learn what to check for, especially the safety tests, if you buy used, or you could end up with an auto due to some yahoo who has tinkered with it.

Have fun in your quest!
 
My next sidearm purchase will likely be a 1911, I spoke with a gunsmith recently and he stated that the kimber or springfield would be the direction he would take.

I mentioned taurus to him and he stated that they do make a 1911, but anticipate repairs.
 
I would recommend something like a Springfield Mil-spec or Springfield Loaded, depending. Nice basic 1911s, and there is no need IMO to drop a ton of cash on your first one.

Short look at the Mil-Spec by Stephen A. Camp.

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Springfield "G.I" Mil-spec, with non-lowered ejection port and plain Jane sights. The other flavor of Mil-Spec has a lowered port and better sights.

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Colt.
 
Can we put some approx prices to the brands mentioned? S&W, Springfield, etc. Lets say my price range was $600 - $1000. I'm assuming less than $600 won't be doable unless its used (for a decent gun). $400 or $500 would be awesome, but I don't want a piece of crap.
 
I have a Kimber desert warrior. I sold my sig that I had owned for at least 10 years after I got it. I think you could get one for under a grand right now, but haven't really looked lately either.

I love my Kimber. Deadly accurate with a nice slim profile. THe .45 is Much easier to conceal than most any comparable double stacked mag IMHO:thumbup:
 
I have a Smith & Wesson 1911 M&P. I would venture to say it is a midrange quality when considering the other brands and customs out there. I love it though. Nice to look at, functions perfectly, and the most accurate handgun I own. I believe I picked it up for about $600 on the secondary market, although it was about 95%.

ETA: I owned a Springfield Armory 1911 and sold it within a few months. Just didn't do much for me.
 
Idaho Jarhead said:
I have a Smith & Wesson 1911 M&P. I would venture to say it is a midrange quality when considering the other brands and customs out there. I love it though. Nice to look at, functions perfectly, and the most accurate handgun I own. I believe I picked it up for about $600 on the secondary market, although it was about 95%.

ETA: I owned a Springfield Armory 1911 and sold it within a few months. Just didn't do much for me.
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Secondary market would be fine. I'd just have to research what to look for and know what I'm getting.
 
Great buy for the $ is the Springfield Loaded (item # PX9109lp) Its a standard 5 inch, ambi safety, front and rear cocking serrations, oversized beavertail, and night sights. You could get set up with that gun, a few extra mags, very nice carry holster/belt combo and some ammo for under $1000. Easy
 
give us more guidelines, because the range of possibilities is WIDE. (oops, I see you did while I was typing this).

super awesome: a Full House Custom Colt from Ted Yost (or a few other 'smiths of that caliber, no pun intended). These will run you $3k on a cheap day and as much as $5k, but are the cream of the crop, and equally beautiful and functionally perfect. Something your grandkids grandkids grandkids grandkids will relish if it's taken care of. The waiting list can be a couple or more years long, but there's nothing else like it. Head over to the Louderthanwords.us forums to see examples of their work, and other 'smiths in the same league. People buy and sell them fairly often if you don't want to wait.

The next best: Ed Brown. The best (IMO) semi-custom. A Kobra Carry is the gold-standard of semi-custom 1911s in my book. I've had one for years, and shot several thousand rounds through it, and it's been flawless. These will run you $1800 for a used one on a good day and upward of $2600 for a new one with all the options. There are other companies in this range, like Baer and Wilson Combat and others, but I think Brown rules the day in many categories (looks, value, reliability, etc).

Then there's everything else, and let's call that the Under $1500 stock category. New Colts, new Springfields, some new Dan Wessons, etc. Springfield's are probably the best value for stock 1911s that you can shoot out of the box but have a nice pistol to build upon and tweak as time goes on. New (stock) Colts can go either way, but they definitely make a great base to build upon.

I love 1911s. I wish every trigger system worked and felt like a tuned 1911 trigger.

Stick with .45 no matter which one you get. Some of the 10mm ones are awesome, and the occasional 9mm, but those are more hit and miss. There are other calibers out there (38 super, the occasional .40, etc) but .45 is where it's at unless you have the scratch for a custom 10mm.

And I wouldn't keep a Kimber if you gave it to me, but that's just me. The brand is far too hit and miss (again, no pun intended).

In any case, you're likely to get a WIDE variety of opinions, and many will seem contradictory. It's like .45 vs 9mm or Busse vs all the other knives in the world... these discussions seem to bring out the kooks, and it's all so subjective anyway.

Anyway, that's my ten cents.

Good luck. ;)
 
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In this order -

Ed Brown (You wont touch it for your price range)
Colt
Dan Wesson
Springfield.
 
For a mid pack 1911, I think there is no better choice than Dan Wesson or Fusion.

I have had both and they are very nice.
 
Buck_110 said:
Colts produced from 1986 forward are garbage! When the union went on strike in January of 1986, quality evaporated. To this day, it has never returned. Fit, finish, and attention to detail no longer exist at Colt.

Pre-1986 70 series 1911s are a different story.
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I've never had a problem with a series 80 colt, but I do prefer the series 70.
 
In re-reading your comments and price range, I wanted to reiterate that I think a stock Springfield (there are several, from G.I./vintage looking ones to more modern variations) will be your best choice. You're still likely looking at more than a grand, but if you spend any less than that you're asking for trouble IMO.
 
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