[Phil DeGraves]

Maybe this has been asked before, but I'm relatively new here. Which commercial make and model of 1911 do you feel is best? I am not talking custom race guns like the Les Baer or Wilson. Just go to the guns store and buy it 1911s. Please speak from experience.
Colt
Kimber
Springfield
SIG
S&W
Dan Wesson
Auto Ordnance
Taurus
Norinco
LLama
Star
Ballester Molena

Did I miss any?

In my experience, the Colt and the Kimber win hands down. The Kimber generally comes with more features standard, but Colt is now coming out with ones to compete. The Springfields are good and have good customer service, but I shouldn't have had to find that out. The SIG GSR is a good shooting piece but not terribly reliable yet. The Dan Wessons had some real quality control issues, but I haven't tried one out since CZ took over.

[Phil DeGraves]

Haven't shot the S&W but they look pretty good. Not fond of the external extractor though.

[Lone_Gunman]

Smith and Wesson is the best. Colt is second.

I have had very bad luck with Kimbers and Springfields, and will not buy another one of them. If I got one for free, I still wouldn't want it. I have had appallingly bad customer service from both of those companies as well.

Others will disagree, but I think they are wrong.

On the issue of the external extractor, I like them and think they are a good idea considering the manufacturing techniques currently used to cut cost. The original design of the 1911 called for the internal extractor to be made of spring steel so it could be properly tensions. Today, most internal extractors are not made of spring steel, and therefore will not maintain proper tension long term, leading to failure to extract properly. The external extractor can make up for this.

If they would make internal extractors out of proper spring steel, I would have no problem with them.

[MyRoad]

There was a time when I bought and sold guns a bunch, and had several 1911's (Kimber, Springfield, Wilson Combat, STI, S&W, SIG GSR). I sold them all except for the Kimber, and that's because I had a lot of money tied up in that gun. The only gun I've sold that I regret selling is a SW1911SC.

I don't have time to do all of the research I used to before buying a gun, so if I had the inclination to buy a 1911 again, I would go straight for S&W. Period.

[taz-2005]

Smith is great but don't discount Para Ordnance.

[Ron Brooks]

I think Colt is best, especially the pre Series 80.

Just my opinion, I don't think the others are tresh, I just like Colt the best. You should get the one that you like the best, you will enjoy it more and have more confidence in it, and that my friend is the name of the game.

Ron

[progunner1957]

The best non custom or semi custom 1911 I have ever owned is my Springfield Armory TRP 1911. If you shop, you should be able to get a new one for around $1400, maybe a little less. This puts the TRP in the midrange price category, as the semi customs go for $2000 and up, custom jobs for $2500-3500 and up.

I have fiddled with several Kimber Warriors and Desert Warriors, which is roughly Kimber's equivalent to the TRP. IMHO, the TRP is hands down a better 1911.

My TRP has 700 rounds through it with not one malfunction of any kind, and has exhibited outstanding accuracy. One of the first groups I shot with it was 7 rounds into one hole at 7 yards, fired offhand.

You can't go wrong with a Springfield Armory TRP, I'm tellin' ya!:D

[XavierBreath]

The "best 1911" depends on what you expect from the pistol. I prefer Colts, but your needs and desires might be different. Get what is best for you (http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2005/09/best-1911-for-you.html).

[Bazooka Joe71]

This question gets asked all of the time and it is all a matter of opinion. Different brands all have their advantages, so you need to figure out what you want it for, and how much you want to spend.

I quote, "the search engine is your friend" someone told me this and I never looked back.:D Do a quick search and just type in 1911, and you will have all of your questions answered and all the opinions you could ever need.

Also, if i had a dollar for every time ive heard this id be rich, but it all comes down to what fits your hand and what shoots well for you.

[Phil DeGraves]

I already have what's best for me (4 Colts, 3 Kimbers, 1 Springfield). Just wondered what everybody else liked.

[zoom6zoom]

Maybe this has been asked before

Nope. You're the first. :D

[Renegade360]

Personal Experience is limited to Dan Wesson, I have two and feel they are the most Bang for the Buck of any 1911 on the market. 100% Built in US. New ones are all Ed Brown/Sti/Greider small parts. Available in 45 & even better, 10mm. I have both calibers. The 45 is nice, but the 10mm is much more satisfying to shoot.

[Bazooka Joe71]

I unfortunately do not own a 10mm(can't ever find one i like)...What is so satisfying about them?

[10-Ring]

Yeah, you're right, you're right, this has been asked a couple times before ;) In my humble opinion, Colt rocks :cool: I've owned a few others, but I keep going back to the 1911 w/ the Pony :cool:

[Stevie-Ray]

Colt, no question. I own Colts and Kimber but the Colts are by far the best..

[robertbank]

The best 1911 is the one that costs a dollar more than I can afford. :D I make do with a Para SSP which has never had a hic up and two Custom Norincos and a STI Trojan in 9MM. Trust my life with any of them.

Take Care

Bob

[GlockNation]

An HK USP.

[varoadking]

Based on my experience, this is how I view them:

Ist string:

Colt
Springfield
S&W

Second string:

Dan Wesson
SIG
Kimber

Scrubs:

Ballester Molena
Auto Ordnance
Norinco
Taurus
Star
LLama

I would never consider one of the scrubs...

My TRP has 700 rounds through it with not one malfunction of any kind, and has exhibited outstanding accuracy. One of the first groups I shot with it was 7 rounds into one hole at 7 yards, fired offhand.

7 yards is not much of an accuracy test for any handgun...IMHO, of course...

[schmeky]

My 2 Norincos were more reliable than my Colt.

My Kimber Classic Custom is better fitted and finished then my Colt XSE.

I have heard nothing seriously negative about the Smith & Wesson 1911's, which I have never owned. Kimber, Smith, Colt, or Springer would be good choices.

[crunker]

I would personally prefer an STI Eagle 6.0: double-stack longslide. Need I say any more? :D

[Baldy]

Phil looks like to me your minds made up that it is going to be a Colt or a Kimber. Look around and see if you can rent one or borrow one from somebody and try it out for yourself. That will tell you a hole lot more than all of us telling you about our favorites.:)

[The Burnside Ninja]

My experience with 1911s is that you get what you pay for. However, I owned a Rock Island Armory 1911 and it thoroughly impressed me. The pistol was stolen from inside my jeep here in florida. However, I'd say precision and reliability are two main factors. If you want your pistol to be more precise, then you won't be able to pick it out of the dirt and fire it. As goes for if you want to be able to drop it around and still have it fire, it won't be extremely accurate, either.

[daysleeprx]

varoadking,

So what exactly is "your experience" ? I take it you've owned ALL of those 1911's, so you can give some opinions on all of them?

I'm being serious. I'd like to know.

[gudel]

so who's the best for reliability out of the box, no gunsmithing, no tweaking with extractor, no problems ever? :p

[Ala Dan]

I guess the best way too sum up "what's the best 1911" is to say "too
each his on". And, with that said I own 1911's made by Springfield,
Kimber, Smith & Wesson, and a semi-custom Les Baer Thunder Ranch
model. All have functioned flawlessly; and I can shoot them accurately.
What else could one ask for from a 1911~?:eek: :cool: :D

[Clean97GTI]

I'd say the best one hands down is made by FN

they call it the High Power. :neener:

[MAGNUMMAN]

COLT

[MT GUNNY]

The first thing i did when i got mine i put rubber wraparound grips from houge on. Thats the only mods i did to it! It has been flawless in funtion and acuracy. If you are going to buy a 1911 and get a S&W 1911 (stainless) and dont like it, get ahold of me, cuz id would like to have another for the other side!

[hkusp]

My smith has been my first 1911 pattern pistol that has been failure free. Thier customer service is top notch. My smith came with nice wood grips. It was supposed to come with hogue rubber. I called and they sent me the rubber one free and told me to keep the wood grips. Can't beat that. My .02

[riverdog]

I have 1911's by Colt (two NRM Series 80 GM, a Series 80 Officers Model, Series 70 Govenment & Gold Cup and a pre-series 70), a Kimber Compact Custom (pre Series II), a heavily customized Springfield, two Wilsons (1996A2 and CQB) and a Les Baer TRS.
One of the Colt S-80 Gov't needed work to make it run, the other was great (reliability, trigger, accuracy) OOTB. The Gold Cup has never failed, all it shoots are low recoil LSWC target rounds. The Series 70 GM shoots 230 ball only. The Kimber Compact has never malfunctioned. Neither of the Wilson guns has malfunctioned ever. The LB TRS failed to feed twice in the first 200 rounds, but has been perfect since that first range session -- I stopped counting.

If I needed a 1911 of the shelf right now, I'd probably go with a Colt. Preferably a new Series 70. Being in CA, I'd get a new Series 80.

That said, I use a Glock for PD and a Rem 870 for HD.

[gjblanchard]

I've got two S&W's, a 1911 Sc (blued) and a stainless target model. Both guns have been 100% reliable (zero failures of any kind) and they are amazingly accurate. Comparing quality of fit and finish to other brands shows that the S&W guns are priced about $200 below the competition gun-for-gun. If I were to get another 1911, it would be a S&W, no question.

Take a look on the 1911 forum and you'll see a bunch of gripes about the QC and reliability of Colt, Kimber and Springfield. Compare that to the comments on S&W, where you will find many very happy owners. That says a lot.

Cheers, Gary

[aspen1964]

I had a beauty of a Colt Gov't late 50s 45...lost it to a burglar..you can bet your life I will continue looking for a replacement just like the first...none better..

[Devonai]

To fit my criteria, the best 1911 is the one that goes bang every time and will fly through magazines as fast as I can touch the trigger.

My first was a stock Norinco 1911A1 and it did just that. I traded it for a pre-Kahr Auto-Ordinance 1911A1 that had severe extractor problems. I put a great deal of effort into fixing it before I sold it back to the store with full disclosure.

I later picked up another stock Norinco 1911A1 for $290. So far it has been just as reliable as the first one. Anything but a "scrub." ;)

I am sure that there are many fine, robust 1911 pistols out there, but as long as my Norc continues to perform count me as satisfied.

[glocker1911]

Keeping in mind that every person has their own likes/dislikes, and every company will let out a real lemon now and then, for me I really like Sigs 1911, as long as you are talking the newer Revolution series, and I really dislike and Kimber with a II in the name. Smiths, Springfields, or Dan Wessons would be my only choice behind Sig in a non custom 1911, YMMV.

[Geno]

For me, Colts are hand-down best. I have owned about 14 or 15 Kimbers, 3 Colts. The only Kimber I would own is the "Series I", same as Colts. My only remaining Kimber is my Warrior, a "series I" format.

Now, Re: Colts, I am not opposed to the series 80 (same as "series II"). They are excellent quality. But, for me, I'll take series 70 as first choice, series 80 as second choice and and series I Kimbers as third choice.

For me, the concept of the firing pin-block is a red herring. The 1911 series 70s (series Is) are NOT apt to go off even when dropped. This concepot is nothing more than extra, needless tooling, parts and bother.

Keep it simple. You want to see sweet pistol, look at the Colt 1910. Lordy sakes!!! Check out the picture at the bottom of the page. The rounded hammer is sleek and sweet!!!

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/1910.asp

Doc2005

[justaguy]

I agree with some of the other posters here, it's mostly personal preference. You know like Ford vs Chevy vs Dodge. Everyone will have their own opinion on wich one is the "best". Almost all production 1911 makers have had some problems with quality control over the years. As to the different price levels, most of the time you get what you pay for.

[psychophipps]

I hear great things about Nighthawk and Wilson Combat 1911s. Of course, the pistols from both are pretty spendy so bloody well better work. :evil:

Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )

[BevrFevr]

I have shot all the major manufacturers. I bought a smith and it is sweeeet!

I would hesitate to buy anything else unless I got to shoot the exact pistol first. My experience is that I have had every manufacturer of 1911 that I have shot malf except for the Smith. This goes hand in hand with the reps of each manufacturer.

Smith may be the new kid on the block but they have done thier homework.

Don't be persuaded by all the external extractor bs. If it was a kimber with an external I would be worried but not the smith.

There are things that Smith could do better but I would hesitate to ask them to change anything because what they do now really works.

hth -bevr

[1911Tuner]

Well...The best that we're likely to be able to find without mountin' a 2 year-long search would probably have to go to mid-March 1944-end of 1945 production Remington Rand. The pre-war Colts, starting about 1930-'32 to about 1939 were probably a cut above...but lotsa luck findin' one that's in good shape and for sale at a reasonable price. Very nice and little-used Rands are still out there. Yes, you'll give a couple grand for a minty example...but they're very very good. I'd rate the late-production Rands as a bit better than Union Switch or Colt for overall quality, functional reliability, and accuracy.

Forget Singers. I've only seen two original, mint examples...and the owners wouldn't take'em out of the display case for me to even handle, much less take apart. Besides...Who's gonna carry a 40,000-dollar collector's item? :D

[riverdog]

Tuner,
What would you think of an unaltered '57 vintage Colt Government that had been rarely fired and never holstered. It's a real beauty that I have been reluctant to shoot. I've got lots of shooters.

[up_onus]

Read this artical!!!!
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_144_24/ai_57886947

Shows why the FBI chose springfield....
just to add to your choices...
i own a sa champion, ive never had a misfeed, never had a problem of ANY type.

[Correia]

STI.

I've owned the following: Springfield, Kimber, Smith, Colt.
I've shot most brands, including a lot of the off brands. I'm also a dealer, and a competitive shooter. Outside of the custom guns (in that case, I would take a Nighthawk) and sticking with just production guns, I would get the STI.

Yes, people will accuse me of bias (I'm an STI master dealer, and I'm doing another group buy right now) but the reason I've done a lot of STI stuff is because I like them the best, and it is easier for me to sell something I really happen to believe in.

[1911Tuner]

Riverdog...If ya don't shoot it, sell it to me and I will.;)

Now, don't take that to indicate that I'd use it for a common old beater. I wouldn't...but neither would I be content to just let it languish around in the safe, waitin' for the day that one of my heirs gets it and decides to shoot it.
Ya only live once...What are ya savin' it for? Investment? Okay. It won't hurt it to shoot it a little, once in a while, unless it's an unfired specimen, NIB with original papers and documentation that it is, in fact, unfired.

[riverdog]

I'm not saving it, just haven't gotten around to shooting it. There's no box and definitely no documentation it's NIB. It's just a very new looking 1911A1 with a 1957 sn. Next time for sure.

[1911Tuner]

Shoot it! It'd be a sin not to...

I've shot all mine...including the Union Switch Twins. I don't shoot'em much...but I do shoot'em. Today's beater is tomorrow's rare and collectible.:cool:

[jeepmor]

Taurus will steal the show for value.

If the new 1911 from Taurus performs like the two PT models in 45 and 9mm. Other manufacturers should worry, because I make my decisions from information here, not from gun rags who love EVERYTHING!

I'm loyal for their current performance, because that's where I've started and they have been the most solid thus far. With Sig45, Kimber45 and Witness base model to compare with. Not all mine, but current Taurus offerings has me NOT buying a more expensive gun unless I want a project. All of these I've personally shot. Not that they all jammed on me, but I did witness them jam while shooting.

jeepmor

[riverdog]

Tuner,
One of my earlier purchases was a S&W Mod 27-2 nickel that judging by the front of the cylinder had only been test fired by S&W (every other chamber). So I took it to the range and fired six 158 gr magnum XTP's. What a nice revolver. Cleaned it and put it away. No box there either.

[varoadking]

varoadking,

So what exactly is "your experience" ? I take it you've owned ALL of those 1911's, so you can give some opinions on all of them?

I'm being serious. I'd like to know.

I own a Yo-Bo Colt, a Springfield and a Nighthawk. The Colt is both uber accurate and reliable. The Nighthawk, though not a production piece, is flawless. The SA WWII model can shoot as well as either of the other two. I've owned a dozen or more Springfields over the years - from GI .45's to TRP's.

I am contemplating a S&W. A friend has one that shot terrific groups at 25 yards - custom shop groupings and terrific fit and finish - despite the external extractor. They have a new nickel model that has me leaning that way.

Kimber has had perhaps the spottiest reputation of the upper half of the dozen or so listed. SiG, with all the quality they are capable of, has no business trying to make 1911's - something like Porsche making an SUV - not to mention the fugly proprietary slide that should only be seen on a P series piece. I owned a Dan Wesson - it was OK, but lacking something - dunno, maybe it was the sharp angles on the slide.

I'm 54 years old and learned a long, long time ago not to buy "cheap" handguns, hence the scrub list...

Me - own a Llama? Please...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v22/varoadking/YoBo.jpg

[daysleeprx]

That's too bad. I think you might be surprised how good some of those "scrubs" on your list are.

[varoadking]

That's too bad. I think you might be surprised how good some of those "scrubs" on your list are.

I'm not interested in surprises...a prime reason why I don't buy "cheap" handguns...

[Harry Paget Flashman]

I've owned 1911's off and on for 30 years and I've liked the quality and reliabilty of the Colts, Kimber, Springfield and Norinco but they all felt clunky in my hand and I never shot them well. I really like .45ACP and kept only the Ruger 97DC, P220, G21 and S&W 1917. 1911's are no longer a "must have" for me.

[Northslope Nimrod]

1911's felt clunky....and you kept a RUGER?!
They are a very reliable firearm...but the 1911 feels sleek and nice to me and the RUGER is a brick. Feel is very subjective, but usually you hear the opposite.