[theotherrookieshooter]

im looking for a beginner level 1911 style .45. it will be used purely for target shooting and it must be cheap to buy, maintain, and shoot; it also has to be reliable, accurate, and fun to shoot. any suggestions will be appreciated, thank you.

[Stiletto Null]

Personally, I would go for the Springfield Mil-Spec. Nice plain 1911, three-dot sights, and should be good to go right out of the box. Something like $400?

I think Rock Islands can be had for ~$300, but they are a bit iffy (from what I hear)—if you get one that works, you're good to go, but otherwise you're in for a bit of hassle.

[MT GUNNY]

I bought my 1911 4 years ago, Ive used it for eveything from targes to pistol
shoots from helena MT to minot ND
I have not had problems with it nore have I herd bad thing from other owners
including here on this great site THR.org

however buy what you like just dont go cheap put it on layaway if you have to. kimber is to high priced but not a bad gun.

[TX1911fan]

Springfield GIs are about $400, I think Mil Specs are a bit more. Springfield makes a great gun!

[el44vaquero]

Springfield GI or Rock Island Armory. Both fine pistols that I've ownen. They shoot beautifuly and I've never had any problems with them.

[JDGray]

If you can find one, the Taurus PT1911s look promissing. They got good reviews in the latest American Rifleman.

[jac714]

"im looking for a beginner level 1911 style .45. it will be used purely for target shooting and it must be cheap to buy, maintain, and shoot;"

Unfortunately cheap to shoot and .45 acp is a contradiction in terms.

The ammo is expensive unless you reload and then it is still relatively expensive.

Good luck and enjoy. They are IMHO the best handgun in the world and a lot of fun to shoot.

[Black Majik]

I agree with the Springfield Milspec, bigger sights than the GI, lowered ejection port

It'll be the one of the cheapest (aside from the GI) 1911s to buy. As long as you properly maintain it, then it'll be pretty much maintenance free except for the regular spring change at 2-3K rounds.

[.357 magnum]

This is the gun! 14 shots of .45acp and the NRA 2006 handgun of the year. I found one in black for 479.00 the other day.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-xdpstl-45acp.shtml

Next best on the list is the Taurus the 2005 NRA handgun of the year. I have the .40 model 16 shots total-2 15 round mags come with this one and you can get a .45 acp with 13 shots. You can get the Taurus for 400 or less. I paid 400 here in Omaha. I have fired over 600 rounds now and not a single problem.

http://www.taurususa.com/video/taurus-corporate-video.cfm

Have a good one!

[possum]

i am curently on a taurus binge so i say go with the new taurus 1911. It will be the same price or a little more than the SA 1911 mil-specs, still less than
$500 out the door, and it has many, many upgrades that the mil-spec won't have, like beavertail grip safety, bobed hammer, hieni straight eight sights, and many more. ( i secretly won't all kinds of people to get these and tell me all about there performance, and all the greatness, before i buy mine. But that will probally drive me crazy, and make me charge one to my credit card which is bad news but hey, what do you do right!:)

[Ala Dan]

Every level Springfield WW-II G.I. replica's NIB run right 'round $439 + tax.
One step up, is the MIL SPEC with higher 3-dot sights, lowered and flared
ejection port, beveled magazine well, and nice cocobolo wood grips; but
the price NIB is right 'round $550; not the aforementioned $400.:eek:

[wally]

I think Rock Islands can be had for ~$300, but they are a bit iffy (from what I hear)—if you get one that works, you're good to go, but otherwise you're in for a bit of hassle.

Not at all. Go to www.1911forum.com and in the "other" section you'll find "Blackdragon" Armscor's US representative and nothing but good reports on service from the few who have had problems amoung many very good reports.

Word is getting out about how good these RIA and other Armscor guns really are.

--wally.

[possum]

I think Rock Islands can be had for ~$300, but they are a bit iffy (from what I hear)—if you get one that works, you're good to go, but otherwise you're in for a bit of hassle.

From many forums that i have read about the above mentioned I have heard great reports and good service if there was an issue! Just to prove that more money won't always buy you more happieness. If i come across a pistol that islow cost and there have been many many that have wrote good reviews of them, and the small number of people that did have issues were taken care of in a timely manner, i see no reason to not go with that particular pistol or weapon. Especially when the people that are writting the reviews on here don't have anything to gain! i personally am all about getting every bit of value out of any and everything, the more value, the better to me, if that is from a $450 pistol that will preform like a $900 gun then i am all for it!

[10-Ring]

Welcome to THR! :D
A beginner 1911? I'm taking that to mean best value. For me, the best value is the one you can afford, shoot & enjoy w/o breaking the bank. I have owned Springers, Kimber & Colts and although I never found anything wrong w/ the others, I prefer Colt. As far as price goes, I believe SA Mil Spec is the bargain leader ;)

[Slvr Surfr]

Go with either a Smith and Wesson or a Springfield Armory 1911. I went for a SA Loaded 1911 .45 parkerized for my first and its been great. It feeds anything, has never malfunctioned, and comes with just about everything a high end 1911 can. I think the mil spec SA is also a great buy for $400-500.