Please help me choose a 1911 .45

Shoki

Shoki

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Apr 10, 2007
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When my taxes come back next week, I'll finally be in the market for a 1911. I can't spend the big bucks on the likes of a Kimber so I'm looking at 3 other manufacturers at the moment. I like the Remington R1 a lot, especially for being USA-built and reading a lot of great reviews. The roll marks are a little hideous but I could probably get used to it.
The next is the Springfield Mil-Spec model in stainless steel for around the same price. It's a little bit pricier than the Remington but I've got a little experience with Springfield handguns and I really liked my XD-40.
Last is the American Classic II. I was really skeptical when I first found them, especially considering the $400 price tag but they seem to get glowing reviews and some say the fit, finish, and reliability is as good as $1000 guns. I find that hard to believe but I've not found a single negative review.

Do you 1911 owners have any recommendations? Perhaps I should be looking in another direction. $600 is about my limit but I would like to end up with a nice, reliable .45.
:)
 
this one is a pretty common question, i'd use the search.

but 600 bucks, i think your best bet is the springfield armory milspec or GI. you'll have money left over for a box of ammo and some grip panels of your liking, and maybe an extra magazine or something.

i don't know anything about the REM R1 but i have owned a springfield armory milspec and wish i hadn't parted with it. nice gun, reliable and well built overall.
 
I've got a couple 1911s... including 2 Springfields, a Remington, a RIA, A Kimber and (almost) two American Classic IIs.

Day to day, I carry the kimber, but really only because it is 4" with an alum frame. It's just a little more comfortable and light weight to carry.

A quick plug for Metro Arms though... I have a buddy who ruined a American Classic II slide by trying to weld up the roll stamps. He was going to get it refinished so that it would have a nice slick appearance.

He ended up warping the slide. he brought the gun to me, but didn't want to pay for a new slide(Metro Arms doesn't sell parts) and labor. (it was also a good excuse to move up to a more expensive gun)

I end up horse trading with him to get the frame. i thought it could be used for a project gun or something.

I ended up shooting an email to Metro Arms. The long and the short of it is that they don't sell parts, so they are sending me a new slide for free.

The first American Classic II i have has a beautiful finish and locks up nice and tight. It shoots as good as my either of my Springfields. i'm thinking the second will be jsut the same.

I guess my point is that you don't have to spend a ton of money on a 1911 to have a good one.
 
My recomendation is Springfield Armory. I have an older one like the Mil-spec, but with a Beaver tail grip safety and Novak rear sight. It's perfect for me. Before I bought mine from the used counter at a local mom and pop shop, I had Rented the Mil-spec and shot it a ton. Loved that thing and had a hard time giving it back after a trip to the range. :thumbup:
 
if you are going to shoot a "lot" ie. competition, you can modify a basic pistol as you can afford it, provided you start with a good basic package... relatively tight slide to frame fit, relatively good barrel to slide fit (when you push down on the chamber, not too much motion, over time you will probably want to add...
good sights
reliable function package... lowered ejection port, radiused chamber mouth, tuned extractor, long ejector, fitted firing pin stop done by someone that builds competition 1911s for the practical shooting sport
comfort...beavertail grip safety, ambi safety, long mag release button
personal preference....match barrel and bushing, stippled or checkered frame and mainspring housing, arched/flat mainspring housing, captured guide rod

this may not be your goal... just some ideas for you to think about..
 
A lot of people like the Taurus 1911. It is about $600 and has many features that only more expensive 1911s have. My first 1911 will probably be a Taurus.
 
A full-sized Springfield is hard to beat at that pricepoint, unless you are willing to buy used.
 
I'd probably be happier with just about any Springer, or the R1, than any Kimber short of a Raptor. Just too many horror stories and photos of atrocious QA with Kimber these past few years, and for the price I'd rather go elsewhere.

Also look at the Rock Islands. The folks at m1911.org are pretty experienced, and a lot of them like their Rocks.
 
I have a few 1911s, and honestly have the most fun shooting just a basic Springfield GI or plain Jane Colt. Just pure 1911 with no beaver-this or ambi-that.

Though I do acknowledge lusting after a nice Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. That would be sweet. But its also in the range of $2,000.

march-1.jpg

SA GI.
 
Thanks for all the advice and opinions, guys. I think I'll check all the local gun shops and see what they've got in stock and what they can get in.
 
I think it depends on what u want to have on it. i.e. what features do you want/need. The Springfield is probably one of the best. The downsize is they are hard to come by unless you buy used ot find a dealer that has one in stock. The Mil-Spec version is plain Jane no BS American Classic, without the bells and whistles.
Kimber, man they are nice ti have, and shoot but the price tag on those,Woah..... not cheap as you probably know. Along those lines if you cannot afford a Kimber dont think of a Les Baer, Wilson etc.
My reccomendations are to buy something less expensive like a Taurus at first. Taurus offers most of the features on a higher model Springfield like Novak sights,ambidextrous saftey and adjustable trigger and also a better beaver tail grip safety,the Milspec Springfield version always dug into my hand. Then if you decide the 1911 is for you then you can upgrade.
 
People seem to like the Remington R1 and Taurus for entry level 1911s. They're each about $600.
 
How do the 1911s of today compare with the 1911s from decades ago, in terms of reliability?

Always loved that flat look combined with the big hole up front. :D
 
powernoodle said:
Though I do acknowledge lusting after a nice Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. That would be sweet.
Click to expand...

If you really want a TRS, you better get going. The collaboration between Les Baer and Thunder Ranch has just ended and the LB shop is no longer making them. The TRS is still readily available, but when they're gone they're gone.
 
If you look hard enough you can find a Kimber for around 600.00.
I saw one not long ago on TNgunowners for around that price.I have a Kimber and found it to be the best out of the Springfield,Colts and para ord. that I have had.
 
powernoodle said:
Though I do acknowledge lusting after a nice Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special. That would be sweet. But its also in the range of $2,000.
Click to expand...

Ya mean like this? :P

trs.jpg


Shoots as good as it looks. The finish has taken a bit of a beating since that picture was taken, though!
 
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