What's your choice in a 1911 style .45?

Mongo

Mongo

Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Messages
8,969
Greetings all, I fear for our future with the elections coming up... I have decided that the time is coming for a semi-auto handgun. I have always liked the LOOKS of the 1911 style .45's. Of course, I have yet to do my test shooting, but have that planned in the fairly near future. I have garnered a few opinions on what's best, with the majority consensus being Kimber, then Springfield, then I don't know. I like the looks and smoothness of both the full size and ultra-carry Kimbers. I'm leaning towards the ultra-carry, but need to shoot both. Ideally, I'd like to EDC one, but I live in friggin' Illinois... not likely to happen.
So, what's your favorite 1911 style .45, and why?
 
If concealment is not an issue go for a Commander length or full size. I edc an Officer size and a Commander (Colt CCO). In the bedroom drawer is a Government size.

If I was to do it over again I would do Kimbers. Mine are all Colts that have been extensively gunsmithed, at a price that, in retrospect, makes no sense by todays standards (in a self defense context - different for competition).
 
I also have one made by Colt. When I got it, Kimber wasn't manufacturing 45's. Kimber's, Springfields, and Colts are good. espically if you can find a Colt series 70.
 
Whatever you buy, make SURE it has the features you want. Today you can't build a WWII Springfield Repro. into a Springfield TRP for the same price. Yes I know there will be people who say "well, I'll do the work myself". For those that can, they are truely blessed. Most folks can't. Hence the reason I own a Les Baer Thunder Ranch and a Wilson Protector. I love my colt 1991a1 but honestly don't want to send it off to be built. Don't get me wrong, custom smiths make some gorgeous stuff, I just don't like the LLLOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGG waits! :D
Anyhow, you said it best, when you said you were going to shoot a few different guns. My advice on the best handgun? The one that works the best for you!
 
i like the commander size models, made by kimber myself. hard to beat a kimber for the $$, they feed all ammo well, accurate, not too high $$

my neighbor recently got a colt 1911 full size and really likes it, much better than earlier ones according to him, no problems with it so far.
 
First of all, relax. To open with the statement :"I fear for our future ......." is a little over the top dont you think ? If you were my neighbor, and you told me something like that, AND, that you intended to buy a piece, I would seriously consider moving. Please don't take that the wrong way, everyone is concerned about the upcoming elections, and with good reason, but the chances of you being directly affected by a future terrorist attack are about even with you winning the lottery, or maybe even a little greater. That being said, I'm also considering a 1911 style pistol myself, and have begun the research, I started looking at a few of the "lower end" models, like Charles Daly 1911's, and Llama's, but have pretty much settled on either a Colt 1911, or a Springfield. Take it from me, you can buy a really nice Kimber, or Wilson Comabt 1911, or go to Thunder Ranch's site, and look at some of the 1911's they offer, but you have to really start thinking about what this pistol will be used for. Do you fear a home invasion , or maybe an attempted car jacking ? or perhaps a stroll to the corner liquor store late at night for that last six pack or 40 to keep the good times rolling ? I recommend you make a trip to the range, and rent (if you can do that in Ill. like we can here in California) a 1911, both compact, and full sized versions, then fire them both for comparison. The reason for this is recoil, you want to see if there is a noticeable difference between the compact , and full size because I guarantee, when the time comes, and you feel you have to defend yourself, your ability to do so, will be greatly impaired by the normal adrenaline rush, and stress of the situation. You don't have to do extensive studies, or be a psychologist to determine this. It's a very dangerous situation to be in for you, the aggressor, and anyone within the maximum effective range of that weapon. The last thing you want to do is miss, or kill an innocent bystander. If you do make this purchase ( which I highly recommend, not so much for you to feel more protected, but just to be an American exercising his constitutional right to bear arms), see what is offered out there in respect to firearms training (not specifically safety training, though I believe that is a good place to start). Look for a Tactical Pistol course, and see if it is available to civilians, or find someone of experience, ie, a cop, or combat veteran (plenty of those these days) who is willing to go to the range with you, and impart some of their knowledge. I am a veteran myself, and though I have never had an engagement requiring the use of a pistol, I have had above average training with pistols, even with that experience, if I had to defend myself this minute with one, I know in my mind that I would be taking a huge risk. Buy that 1911 though, and work it, there is no substitute for live fire training, a serious gun owner who buys with the intent of using that weapon for defensive purposes, in MY opinion, should be at the range daily for at least a good month, firing that weapon, getting used to the recoil, practicing target acquisition/re-acquisition, and figuring out which ammo best suits the weapon, and you. Oh yeah, it can get that technical for you, ask any serious 1911 owner/shooter. Good luck, have tons of fun, and above all, Be safe !
 
Hamachikama... the future I fear is one with the phrase "President John Kerry" :eek: Perhaps the most anti-gun presidential candidate in history. I have the home protection angle covered with Mr. Mossberg, and plan to have the 1911 for range shooting and the not too realistic notion of a one day CCW. Probably have to move out of Illinois though. And lastly, I think I make a damn fine neighbor! Mine love me and don't fear me. (except for maybe the "aluminum foil hat" guy across the street... he fears everybody and everything!)
 
Point about use: yes I EDC 1911's - however, I EN (Every Night) a Mossberg 500 (5 00 buck followed by 3 slugs) next to the bed.

I can reach for the Mossberg if baracading behind the bed, and grab the Surefire Z3 and Colt 5" if applicable.

Whatever you do - have a plan!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yeah, I figured you for a level headed dude, and I didnt catch the John Kerry angle there, sorry. It is sad about the out of control gun laws. I live in California, and the gun Nazi's are still unsatisfied with the ridiculous restrictions in place here. I try to have conversations with people outside of my circle of friends, and it's like talking to a wall. My simple opinion is harsh punishment for offenders. You do a drive by, kill a liquor store owner, pay the price. Some police associations were upset that the AWB wasnt renewed, either because they fear being outgunned, or that crime will rise exponentially. That, to me says our legal system is the problem, not the guns. Thank you for not taking it the wrong way Mongo. When you do get that 1911, show it off, I definitely wanna see what you get, and how you like it. Take care buddy.
 
First of all, I like my Glock 10mm better than ANY "1911" .45 out there...:D.

If I HAD to choose or suggest an old pistol, such as as the 1911 style, the above mentioned commander-sized would be my choice, as it has the best balance and feel...The Colt Combat Commander Enhanced would be my top choice.
 
Ahhhh, glockman99... the venerable Model 20. Right at the top of my favs. And I thought I was the only crazy one who loved this piece. If I was forced to choose only one, in times of total chaos... this would be a major contender. It's big, powerful (if handloaded), high capacity, light, accurate and utterly reliable. The only downside would be the scarcity of brass and it's size.

Having owned many .45 variants, one of my favs was the Colt Commander. The reasons were: reasonably compact, much more accurate than my Officers, std. parts w/Govt. series, powerful and reliable. That thing would feed casings! I do love my Kimber SS UltraCarry though. It's a piece of work :) It's not a performer at the 25 yd. range like the Commander was though. After a little work, the Commander could hold 2" groups with no problem The difference between a 3" and 4.25" barrel is significant. You lose enough fps to be a cause for concern also. Keep in mind, most commercial loadings are geared for 5" bbl's and not optimized for very short barrels. Most produce prodigious muzzle flash, really bad for night. Gotta stick w/fast powders.

For CC I would opt for an aluminum framed, Commander sized variant. This shoots down the middle of weight vs accuracy vs power. Kimber offers some nice options in that genre. Hand size could be a factor too. My ParaOrdnance/Commander franken-gun always suffered from a too-fat grip for my hands. If they feel good, you might consider the hi-capacity offerings from Kimber in ±4" bbl. That is probably my next purchase.
 
I am a diehard 1911 fan, have more than I am willing to admit from many of the makers already mentioned in this thread - one thing I can say no 1911, no gun period is perfect out of the box in my experience. Granted I have not dropped the $$ on the Les Baer or other high end semi custom guns since most of them arent legal in CA and secondly why spend that kind of money on a semi custom gun when you can get a full custom gun for close to or less than the same money depending on who you go to. If you can buy anything, i.e. you arent trapped in CA and paying CA prices then the answer is Colt, Colt, Colt - they are making good guns again, they are competitively priced out of this state and are great base guns to build on, second choice after that is the Springfield again good gun, good price, great base to build on. The Kimbers are a solid gun but their quality is starting to slip, they have got to comfortable. The MIM parts are crap and need to be replaced as soon as you buy the gun so does the plastic MSH which is just plain wrong on a gun at that price IMHO.

Go to a range shoot a few, find out what you like, figure out if this is going to sit in a drawer or be carried, if you are going to send it out to a smith or not, if you are just going to start stockpiling them in case that leftist nut gets into the white house - as I plan to do I would buy the Colts, good to go nowl, good to build on.

just my two cents
 
Mongo,

I have several Springfield 1911's from the 2 Mil Specs, a Loaded, a Lightweight Champion, and a custom worked Champion Comp gun and they all shoot great. I also have several 1911's from Colt, and they shoot great as well. As far as the MIM parts go, I have one 91A1 that is bone stock that has "a few" rounds run through her and no malfunctions whatsoever. My Series 70 NM Gold Cup shoots decent, but not stellar. Either of these brands I can personally vouch for. I know there are good ones and bad ones in everything, and Kimber makes a fine gun but the one that I had didn't shoot worth a damn, but I probably just got a bad one. Wilson would be a great choice if you want to spend a few more dollars, and the people there are more than helpful. I've shot several of the ones that I've sold and they seem to be put together well.

The next member that I add to the 1911 herd will be a Springfield Professional. It will run me around $2000, but it is one awesome shooting iron. IMO the Springfield 1911's are the best bang for your buck.
 
Springfield Armory "Loaded" model - full size, stainless steel

Ambi-safety (I'm a lefty), Novak sights, Hogue rubber palm-swell grips (ditched the factory wood for now), replaced the full length guide rod with a standard guide rod and plug

100% reliable, no malfunctions to date for around six bills

Always use quality mags! IMHO, Wilson makes the best mags. I stick with the 7-rounders, but my buddy uses the 8-rounders in his Kimber with excellent results.


Dave
 
Depending on price range, your options vary. FWIW, a Glock 20 is a great CCW where its legal ;-)

Les Baer, Rock River and, the Springfield custom shop all make top notch pistols. Briley, Wilson, and several others are all in the upper echelon of top notch 1911 shops.

I had friend that wore out an Auto Ordnance 1911 in a few months. Yes, wore it out! He then switched to a Les Baer DCM pistol and has been shooting it for years now.

At this point in time, if I were in the market for a 1911 single stack, I would be shopping for a Les Baer Premier II on the used market. Last time I checked they cost right at a $1,000 for a mint model with "low miles".
 
Mongo,
The advice given by many here is great. Try out as many as you can! I have used a 1911 extensively since 1974, when I was in the Corps. I have owned Glocks, Sigs, and other great 45's, but always end up back with the 1911. It seems imbedded in my soul now. :rolleyes: I love them and they perform well for me, if you find they perform for you when you try them out, Get One! If not, keep looking for that one handgun that Does work great for your needs and ergonomics. No sense buying a gun that does not "feel right" to You!
I have EDC'ed a Kimber Ultra CDPII for a couple of years now. It has performed flawlessy with every ammo I have used in it. "0" failures in all of the ammo through it. It is a fine firearm. It is also a small, and lightweight firearm. That is something that started seeming important to me as I got older and started developing aches and pains all the time. :o A fullsize model would be my advice to someone starting out with the 1911 though. That is where I started and I feel the Government Model size is still the standard by which all othere are measured.
I also carry a raced out Springfield Armory that I had done at their Custom shop many years ago, when I shot a little competition. It is big, solid and accurate/reliable. It is my field/woods carry piece nowadays since it is too fine a piece to retire!
Both companys are tops in my book for the quality type 1911 that I want.
Let us know what you end up with. ;)
 
My personal preference is for a full size 1911. It usually isn't the slide length that makes a pistol harder to conceal, so I see no advantage in a Commander. As for concealment, I am tall and thin, and I have no trouble concealing a 1911 (or Beretta 92F) under south Florida attire. In Illinois, you could carry three of them most of the year and no one would be the wiser. Another point in favor of 5" 1911s is reliability. JMB designed the gun a certain way, and chopping the design has led to various problems. Finally, there is the issue of how you shoot the gun. I do my best shooting with full size pistols, not compacts. In the worst case scenario, I don't want to be taking a shot across a store or restaurant with the automatic equivzalent of a "J" frame.

For mags, I use Wilson 47Ds, but some friends have been using McCormicks with good results.

Guns-All I can tell you is to look around. When you find a Colt, SA, or Kimber that has what you want for features and seems to be put together well, buy it on the spot. I've seen good and atrocious examples of all of them. If you want to pony up for a semi-custom, Wilson, Ed Brown, and SA's TRP Pro would be my recommendations.
 
Mongo,
Not much I can add here... But I have shot a few different 1911's and most of the Glocks and a few Berrettas and H&Ks...
For EDC, I stick with my G27, with a G23 by the bed...

But my favorite to shoot is the Colt 1991A1... I found one used, in SS, and some past work on it - it shoots like a dream and I've never had a reliability issue with it yet. I've owned two ParaOrdanace P-12's, one in SS and one Al frame... I liked the SS compact and it shot well... but I gave it up to keep with the Glock line... But at distance, I still find the full sized 1911 to be the easiest and most comfortable to shoot.

I guess it will all come down to what you find comfortable... available... and affordable... I don't know...paying over a $1000 for a handgun is fine if you can swing it... but it ain't necessary to spend that much to find something equally relaible and efficient...

Good luck!
 
I got my Series 70 Govt Model back when they were cheap ($165).

Love it. Will never part with it.

Have shot Kimbers, very nice, and I love the smoothed out aspects for EDC, like on the Ultra CDP.

I too stick with the reliable 7's, although I have a couple 8's I've had no problems with.

I learned years ago about the K.I.S.S. So no frills, just straight up factory.

I am considering new sights though.
 
Whew! I've been doing research online, and have joined 1911forums. I thought knife-knuts were brand loyalty crazy.... just talk firearm opinions and the spittle really begins to fly! Worse than Ford/Chevy (almost :D ) All I've done now is really confuse myself over what I want. I thought I had it worked out when I discovered Sig makes a 1911. My brother and best friend both have Sigs, and they did mountains of research before they made their choices. Then I do some reading up on Sig 1911's... lovers and haters with little inbetween. :rolleyes: Last time I had this much "fun" was when I was trying to decide which 12ga. was best for turkey hunting. (haven't figured out that one yet).
I'm going shooting this weekend... should be both fun and informative.
 
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