1911

I've never had a problem with my Kimber Custom II, got it from a local shop for 730 plus tax.

This is it, with a dark set of tequila sunrise grips
 
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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Adrock, sounds like you're trying to fill out a collection of good guns :thumbup:

As I said, my first and only 1911 is a Springfield Armory Mil-spec. I've had no regrets; I did a trade/purchase with my local gun dealer who also is a very experienced gunsmith and his favorite flavor is 1911s. This was 8 years ago and it would have been $500-600. After 1000 rounds, he trimmed the trigger for me and now I love it.

As others have said, there are better 1911s out there, you get what you pay for. The SA is probably on the low end of the "good ones" IMHO...but it's a basic platform for tweaking and customizing. Remember, you can always trade up. Have fun shopping, it can drive you crazy :D
 
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chogue1980 said:
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
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Good info. Sounds up my alley. Thanks :thumbup:

DowntownDM said:
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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Again, awesome, informative info. Thanks. It seems like everyone has differing opinions. I just want a good base model I can be happy with. I hate to make a purchase and then discover I've wasted my money, but I just don't have the funds to purchase a $2000+ custom 1911. It seems enough people agree SA makes a solid gun out of the box

Coldwood said:
Adrock, sounds like you're trying to fill out a collection of good guns :thumbup:

As I said, my first and only 1911 is a Springfield Armory Mil-spec. I've had no regrets; I did a trade/purchase with my local gun dealer who also is a very experienced gunsmith and his favorite flavor is 1911s. This was 8 years ago and it would have been $500-600. After 1000 rounds, he trimmed the trigger for me and now I love it.

As others have said, there are better 1911s out there, you get what you pay for. The SA is probably on the low end of the "good ones" IMHO...but it's a basic platform for tweaking and customizing. Remember, you can always trade up. Have fun shopping, it can drive you crazy :D
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Thanks. Thats pretty much where I'm at. I've got my 870, and 686, and an excellent AR-15 and my Glock etc... but no 1911. Looks like SA will be where I start my search.

If some of you guys who posted suggestions could at least give me an estimate of price, it would help. I'm not going to bother looking into it, if its out of my range to begin with. Thank you though for the input.
 
Great choice choosing the 1911 platform. You will not be disappointed. There are lots of good recommendations already in the thread. I have not owned an Ed Brown yet but every one I have ever handled was very nicely built and a great feeling gun. I have been very fortunate with my 2 Kimbers. They are older models and have run perfectly for me. I have heard many rumors of poor QC lately, which is a shame to hear. The older Kimbers were great guns. The new Colt Series 70 is supposed to be an excellent gun in your price range. Many people are claiming that they are close to the finest guns Colt has ever produced.

Springfields are also excellent guns for the money. I have lusted over a TRP many times. They look to be impeccably built and all the ones I have seen were very smooth and well fit. One at a local gun store has one of the best triggers I have felt on a 1911.

I was lucky enough to find a pair of Rock River Arms (not Rock Island Armory) 1911s last weekend. Just happened to stumble across them at a gun store near me. A matching Commander and Government size pair of RRA Carry, both new in the box. I can't wait to pick them up from my FFL back home next weekend.

My current EDC piece wearing Busse pants. I'll get some pictures up of the RRA 1911s for the 1911 aficionados ASAP.
SC5%20and%20GenII%20with%201911.JPG


Good Luck. Lots of great choices. I am sure you will end up with a few to sample from.
 
jdraizor said:
Great choice choosing the 1911 platform. You will not be disappointed. There are lots of good recommendations already in the thread. I have not owned an Ed Brown yet but every one I have ever handled was very nicely built and a great feeling gun. I have been very fortunate with my 2 Kimbers. They are older models and have run perfectly for me. I have heard many rumors of poor QC lately, which is a shame to hear. The older Kimbers were great guns. The new Colt Series 70 is supposed to be an excellent gun in your price range. Many people are claiming that they are close to the finest guns Colt has ever produced.

Springfields are also excellent guns for the money. I have lusted over a TRP many times. They look to be impeccably built and all the ones I have seen were very smooth and well fit. One at a local gun store has one of the best triggers I have felt on a 1911.

I was lucky enough to find a pair of Rock River Arms (not Rock Island Armory) 1911s last weekend. Just happened to stumble across them at a gun store near me. A matching Commander and Government size pair of RRA Carry, both new in the box. I can't wait to pick them up from my FFL back home next weekend.

My current EDC piece wearing Busse pants. I'll get some pictures up of the RRA 1911s for the 1911 aficionados ASAP.
SC5%20and%20GenII%20with%201911.JPG


Good Luck. Lots of great choices. I am sure you will end up with a few to sample from.
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Damn! Very nice. Thanks for the input, and photo. I'm a fan or Busse Orange/Pumpkin myself.
 
Here is one of my favorite 1911's.

Dan Wesson VBOB

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How about some Hinderer.:D

053-1.jpg
 
I don't know current prices, but put Para Ordnance on the list to check out. I've got two of their double stack models, and they make single stacks as well.

Great guns, in my experience. :thumbup:
 
Check out the Springfield TRP model, I have owned a few 1911s and this one offers about the best for a sub $1,500.00 1911. Check around and you should be able to pick one up for around $1,200.00 or so and they're worth the extra price over say the loaded or similar models. If I was going to spend over 2k it would be a Springfield Proffessional Model or something by Ed Brown or Wilson Combat depending on your taste. Hope this helps as it's just my humble opinion.
 
Something to consider is the opptions like beavertail my first 1911 didn't have one and after a couple hundered rounds the grip safty cut my hand
Nite sights are a nother good opption
How about a rail for ur light.
I have a basic springfield that I took to a gun smith and had a new triger hammer and beavertail and nite sight works good and I have a springfield trp
That high end stuf is nice but with tight tolerances u have to keep them clean dirt will jam more easily u can buy a good quality low end one and upgrade it with the things that work for u
The one I fixed up has loose tolerances and will never jam even if dirty but my trp is super accurate and a great pistol and for the price a good match pistol
Just my 2 cents and it probibly isn't worth that much
 
In your price range, you really can't beat the Taurus for reliability and accuracy. If price was not a consideration..., I would recommend the Les Baer without hesitation. I have owned them all, and once you own (and shoot) a Baer..., every other 1911 will be somewhat disappointing. Forget about "fit and finish" and all that crap!!! A handgun is made to shoot, and it ain't worth a damn if you can't hit what you are shooting at. What other manufacturer can guarantee a 1.5" group at 50 yards?????:)
 
You might want to check out a Rock Island 1911. I heard they are really good shooters for the price. I'm thinking of getting one and trying it out.
 
Patience my son. SAVE MORE MONEY. You will be happy you did. .45 is the way to go with 1911 unless you can afford a Wilson Combat Tactical Elite in 10mm which will shoot softer than most .45ACPs. I still would prefer .45 if it was my first 1911. If you can save $600, you can save $2000-$3000. I would go Wilson Combat first or Ed Brown second. I guess I like high end stuff and that's just me. That is why I'm getting more and more into Busse knives-high end knives. Wilson Combat's are expensive but after you shoot one, you will know where your money went.
 
Everyone has their own opinions. I agree with saving your money and buying once instead of buying several times and upgrading as you go. You get what you pay for in a 1911. Spend a couple of grand (give or take) and get the Ed Brown, Les Baer, or Wilson level of workmanship. I would like to try one of Ed's guns but my bang for the bucks pick at that level has been Les Baer. I dont think any of the three I mentioned will do anything but delight you so it depends how much you want to spend. Ed makes a beautiful first class pistol but I doubt that it feels or functions any better than a Baer which typically do cost a little less and are still first class weapons. The main difference I see is the level of cosmetic finish that Ed puts on.
 
Everyone has such good ideas for you, but I think intended function should be part of the consideration. As a lady who lives alone and drives quite a bit; I wanted rock-solid dependability and concealability as my first criteria. I've had (and have) a few other .45ACP pistols, but the thrill for me was finally having enough in the piggybank for an Ed Brown.
EdBrown3.jpg

As I mentioned, I depend on this for personal defense. Perhaps that is why I wanted the absolute best I could afford. At any rate, check out a few. You may find that factors like fit, feel in the hand, and smoothness of function will be important deciding factors!
 
I say save your pennies and sell a few things if you have to and get a Wilson Combat. They make the best semi-custom 1911, and are one of only two companies that makes them from all forged parts, no cast or MIM whatsoever.

If you're going to spend $1,000 why not sell a couple of things and get the other $1,500 for the Wilson?

DSC00300.jpg
 
jjust one more thing get one with a barrol bushing my trp has bull barrol and fitted to the slide and u need a tool to take apart the slide it shoot good but that is one thing I hate about my trp but I have seen other trp that had a bushing
 
adrock1978 said:
Damn! Very nice. Thanks for the input, and photo. I'm a fan or Busse Orange/Pumpkin myself.
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Thanks. I love the Kimber but I have never been more excited than I am right now waiting for my Rock River Arms 1911s. I found this pair about 10 days ago and am waiting to get home to my FFL to pick them up. It is killing me. All I have is 2 crappy cell phone pictures, but you get the idea. I don't normally care for colored 1911s, but these had to come home with me. Please excuse the poor pictures, I will get some better ones posted later.

Commander
Rock%20River%204.25.jpg


Government
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And here is a picture of my other Kimber. It has been an outstanding carry gun. It is a pre-series II Kimber, which can still occasionally be found. If you found one it would be a great gun in your price range.
P1010163.JPG
 
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