[Squidward]

I'm thinking about buying a gov't-size.45. Nothing trick just a stock, factory, non-race gun SA pistol

So, With respect to quality and bone stock out of the box reliability, what do you .45 afficianados recommend?

Colt, Kimber, Springfield, ???

[XLMiguel]

Look up Tuner's thread on the SA GI .45. That should answer your questions. All n' all, though, you can't go wrong with any of the entry models from any of the above, though SA seems to offer the best bang/$$ with the GI or MilSpec. Go shooting, have fun, mon!

[Three Man]

S&W 1911

great gun.

:cool:

[yorec]

Any of the Springfield Armory Loaded models... That's what I'd do anyhow. :D

[10-Ring]

Me, I'm partial to Colts!

[vol_907]

...to Heckler & Koch. Their USP line of pistols (and the guns based on them) can't be beat for reliability.

jth

[Dr.Rob]

I'd go with Colt, but that's the snob in me.

[Rob96]

Colt.

[BluesBear]

http://www.1911og.org/photo/gallery/albums/userpics/10018/Rampant%20Colt%20logo%20BW.jpg

[JoeHatley]

+1 SW1911

Joe

[halvey]

Colt, Kimber Either or.

[Ala Dan]

Springfield WW-II G.I. can be had for under $500~!:uhoh: :D

[Nando Aqui]

1911s? From what I have read and have seen at IDPA matches, either Kimber or Springfield Armory are the best choices. I personally use a Kimber.

Read 1911 reviews here to your heart's content:
http://forums.1911forum.com/

For ultimate reliability (ZERO failures are the expectation, and NO break in required) and superb accuracy, my H&K USP Tactical .45 is first among all.
http://hkpro.websolv.com/

[ruger357]

S&W1911,Colt NRM,Springfield Mil Spec.

[Rockrivr1]

I also would have to say a S&W 1911. They are dependable and the price is significantly better then most. I use mine when shooting USPCA and it's straight out of the box and I've not had an issue even after several thousand rounds.

[Ky Larry]

I CCW a Kimber Custom Defender II. Great gun. Reliable, accurate, and a joy to shoot. I'm taking it to the range tommorow and put another 300 rounds thru it. That will make 1100 rounds between cleanings.(I'll probably clean it tommorow) It has never missed a beat and has been fed WWB, S&B,Remington, Federal, and my crappy reloads. I would love to have a G.I. Remington-Rand and a Colt pre-Series 70. If I ran across a Springfield for a decent price, I would buy it. Don't see where you'd go wrong with any of the three.

[Slow]

Springfield Armory basic or loaded

[cookekdjr]

Springfield MilSpec. SIG p220.

[PJR]

S&W 1911

great gun.

:cool:
Absolutely right!

[Geno]

Colt, dollar for dollar is awesome. I just completed a test of some of my pistols. I wanted to see how many rounds I could fire over the course of a couple of months, ZERO cleaning, and only adding oil as needed.

Each of these pistols had passed the break-in period (at least 500 rounds). The following are the results of how far each advanced before "jamming up with crud":

Colt Series 70 STS, .45 ACP: 2,000 rounds (Still NO failures)

Glock Model 17, 9MM Lug: 2,000 rounds (Still NO failures)

Kimber Warrior, .45 ACP: 150 rounds (Had to stop and clean)

Sure, it's not scientific, but ANY 1911 that can go 2,000 rounds without being broken down and cleaned? That's darned good.

Colt...got my vote! :cool:

Doc2005

[el44vaquero]

Springfield GI
Can be found on gunbroker with $425 Buy Now price.

[Haycreek]

My personal experience with the SA Milspec was bad. why buy a 45 that has to be rebuilt before you begin? Bad trigger, bad thumb safety release, obviously poorly fitted. There are several good 45's out there, out of the box. I personally would buy the S&W first or find a good used Kimber series 1. My favorite 45 today is my S&W 4566 . About the same weight as a govt model and goes bang "every time", unlike many 1911's. Don't get me wrong, I do like 1911s but mostly on the range. Just a matter of confidence, based upon experience, caused by so many generic 1911s that are junk, it has caused me to doubt the "good" 1911s, which they are still a few out there. :)

[Geno]

Squidward:

Remember to buy a good quality .22 LR upper for your 1911. The Kimber kit is great. The beauty is that you use your daily use .45 and so you KNOW the trigger intimately. Cheap to shoot also.

Re: the Springfield (GI) that people have rcommended: the barrel is a TWO-PIECE barrel. I have been told, but have no proof that the barrels can come apart.

Whatever you buy, check it over well. I hope you're as happy with your future pistol as I am with mine.

Doc2005

[PrimalScream]

Went with a Colt series 70 but got a steal of a deal on it. Any of the three you mentioned are worthy guns by almost any standard. All are quality firearms with a solid Rep! A basic model from any of them will more than likely serve you in fine form and fashion.

[Kurush]

Liberator FP-45, it has a maximum output of 4511.6 Moro-furlongs per fortnight! Beat that with a puny USP or 1911!
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=30658&stc=1&d=1130907856
:neener:

[gunfan]

Dan Wesson Pointman Major! :)

Scott

[Berg01]

I love my SW1911, especially since I had it worked, so I'll agree with the "SW" posts.

[nyresq]

Colt XSE... everything else is just a clone:D

[ulflyer]

With some diligent shopping you can have a COLT! Just picked up a 1991A1, LNIB, for $475. Runs flawlessly. There were several on GA for around $500.

Not knocking Springers, but a GI model has pretty awful sights. Figure how much to change the sights and you're in the price range of Colt.

[Quentin]

Colt Series 70 ! Handsome gun with a beautiful blue finish

Got mine back in 1976 and it keeps on shooting... all I've ever done to it is polish the feed ramp and buy more magazines.

After about 30 years I've forgotten how much more I paid that day to have a genuine Colt. :D

[f4t9r]

Colt or Kimber

[BluesBear]

Quentin, I bought my first MkIV Series 70 Colt Government on September 1, 1976 and paid $200 out the door.

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I have Colt's and a Kimber in my safe. But, for the money I also have a Ruger 'P' series, that if you'd possibly think about something in double action, you can't beat for the price. They're sorta like the venerable Mossberg or Remington 870 out sloshing in the mud. Yeah, throw a Bennelli or Browning down in the mud and still expect to be able to shoot ducks that morning. :banghead: The Berg will run with sand as lubricant. So will the Rem. (I'm not really knocking the spendier shotguns out there. It's just a comparison...) In an SA the Colt or Springer, will most likely be more dependable right out of the box. But my truck gun, the one that I'd depend on any time. Is the Ruger.

Personally, I haven't had one failure from my Kimber. Nor any real failures from my Colts... OK, about ten years ago I had issues with a Colt. But it was used/abused and needed a slight rebuild anyway.

So, there ya go, most have responded with credible copies of the one that started the whole thing.

Colt 1911.

-Steve

[Rob96]

I have Colt's and a Kimber in my safe. But, for the money I also have a Ruger 'P' series, that if you'd possibly think about something in double action, you can't beat for the price. They're sorta like the venerable Mossberg or Remington 870 out sloshing in the mud. Yeah, throw a Bennelli or Browning down in the mud and still expect to be able to shoot ducks that morning. :banghead: The Berg will run with sand as lubricant. So will the Rem. (I'm not really knocking the spendier shotguns out there. It's just a comparison...) In an SA the Colt or Springer, will most likely be more dependable right out of the box. But my truck gun, the one that I'd depend on any time. Is the Ruger.

Personally, I haven't had one failure from my Kimber. Nor any real failures from my Colts... OK, about ten years ago I had issues with a Colt. But it was used/abused and needed a slight rebuild anyway.

So, there ya go, most have responded with credible copies of the one that started the whole thing.

Colt 1911.

-Steve

I just picked up a LNIB Ruger P97. It is a really nice shoting gun, despite it being a DA/SA.

[XD Niner]

I now have over 7500 trouble free rounds through my Springer Black Stainless. I use it for home defense and USPSA competitions primarily. I even use it for carry. I heartily endorse this great pistol.

[Kramer Krazy]

I prefer my Colts and have three of them, but......a recent purchase of a Rock Island Armory 45 (my wife got one, too), has me thinking....for the money, it's a great alternative. I'm only into 200 rounds of flawless performance (can you really call it "performance" with so few rounds?), and it shoots pretty damn well, but I'm a bit impressed with this "el cheapo" blaster.....I still prefer my Colts, but, for a gun that I don't care about it's looks, or if anything happens to it, I'm starting to like my RIA........aaahhhh....ok.......if I had my choice between it and the Series 70 Gold Cup, Series 80 Goverment, or the Series 80 Officers.......it would run a fourth (maybe a distant fourth) for my "only one 45ACP" choice.......but, I just couldn't beat the price of $295, brand new......If the RIA wasn't so cheap, I was seriously looking into a Springfield.

[Stevie-Ray]

So, With respect to quality and bone stock out of the box reliability, what do you .45 afficianados recommend?

Colt, Kimber, Springfield, ???Yes


Colt and Kimber, anyways.

[MachIVshooter]

For a fairly basic 1911 with niceties like beavertail and extended safety, I would go with a Kimber Custom II or Springfield loaded. If you want to drop a little more, the S&W 1911's and nicer Kimbers (Eclipse, Target, etc.) become available. SA does not have much between $700 (TOTL loaded) and $1200 (operator/TRP). I have a Colt Mk IV stainless and don't plan to ever own another. IMO, Colts are comparable to the SA mil-spec at best, and cost considerable more. Also, RIA seems to make a pretty decent unit int he SA GI price range.

[rick_reno]

I've had Colts (3) and Kimbers (2), neither have been 100% out of the box. The only 1911 I've had that has ALWAYS fed, fired and ejected is my Les Baer.