[dmarbell]

I would like to add a .45 to my collection for carry. Are there entry level
1911s that anyone can recommend, and is there a price below which you can't really go? Something shootable, but which won't break the bank, and if you decide it's not for you, won't break your back getting out of it?

Danny

[daysleeprx]

I assume you want a no frills 1911 without the bells and whistles, in which case I recommend you take a look at the Rock Island Armory, Springfield GI, or a used Norinco (if you can find one for a decent price)!

[doubleg]

Their all great you can't go wrong. :)

[briansp82593]

charles daly? or a springer

[Black Majik]

The Springfield Armory Milspec would be the entry level gun I'd own. SA's quality Customer Service (if you need it) and forged slide and frame. Great base guns if you choose to modify later.

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

Springfield 'Milspec' or 'GI'.

[10-Ring]

I would go w/ anything less expensive than a SA Mil Spec. If I were you, I'd look into the pre-owned market for a deal on a top name.

[fattsgalore]

Well, everyone said what I was thinking. Would also like to shout out to the Taurus PT1911.

[mattw]

Depends on how much you want to spend. If you can afford it I would say go with either a Springfield Armory Loaded or a Colt Series 70 Repro. Now that I think about it, those are mid-range 1911s.

Entry level: SA Mil-Spec, SA GI, Taurus PT-1911A1, Colt Series 80, Rock Island Armory 1911A1

You can't go wrong with a slightly used SA Loaded, though.

[silversport]

I think the Springfield Mil-Spec is a bargain and a sweet pistol...has many "upgrades" (larger sights, larger ejection port) but is still simple...high quality and decent price...(can be found around $550 or so (depending on finish)...good starting point that you could stay at indefinitely or nice place to start to add more "extras."
Good Luck,
Bill

[Ala Dan]

Springfield G.I. parkerized priced at $439.88, or the same gun in stainless
steel for $479.88. The Springfield Armory MIL SPEC model would run close
to $569; but has better (3 dot sights) and a lowered/flared ejection port.
The MIL SPEC also comes with the beautiful new crossed cannon logo
grips made out of cocobolo wood~!;) :D

[justsurvivingincalifornia]

Did you say CARRY? I recommend that you buy a semi-enhanced version like a Kimber Classic. That’s what I bought 7 years ago. Some of the no frills “GI” model have issues with HP ammo. Also consider one of the compact versions. Smaller for easer for CCW usage and lighter (alloy frame) to carry. It's cheap in the long run to buy a better gun from the start rather than modify a base model.

[tegemu]

The Taurus PT1911 is undoubtedly the best value on the market today and comes with MANY features that you would pay extra for on a basic 1911.

[moredes]

"Something that won't break the bank, and won't break your back if you wanna get out of it" means you should be most likely looking to score a used gun. (Even at that, you're in $800--1000 territory---no one's mentioned it, but a good carry rig will cost at least $100+ retail shipped.) Absolutely no Charles Dalys, no Stars, no Llamas, Norincos, and I'd exclude Rock Island, too.

If you buy 'junk', it'll be harder to get rid of, and you'll get 'bottom dollar' in the used market. Those that I've mentioned will sell on the used market for $400-500. That's about all you should pay for them, too, if you're buying one to test its' appeal and function and don't wanna "break your back getting out of it".

Save/spend a little more than 'entry level'. As the old saying goes, pay more first, spend less. You can probably find a lot of 'mid-level' choices in the $700-900 range--used Kimbers, Colts, Springfields, Model is up to you of course, but in that range, generally, you'll find much better quality. They are much easier to sell, used, and you shouldn't have any trouble finding a model to your liking.

As to CCW, there are a couple schools of thought on smaller/lighter 1911 'clones'. Most would agree that a Commander-sized gun (with its' 4 1/4" barrel) fits the CCW requirements best. Some prefer the Lightweight Commander with its' aluminum alloy frame, but along with lighter carry comes stouter recoil. There's some folks who believe that a full-sized 1911 (5" barrel) is no harder to conceal than a Commander, and that neither is a bad choice with the proper holster and belt. (That equipment could [and should] set you back another $100-200 retail shipped; cheap holsters and belts are just the fodder most folks sell used.) A good rig will carry any OEM 1911 without causing fatique or soreness.

There *are* smaller "1911 clones" out there--'Officer models', CCO's (Commander slide on an Officer frame), and alloy variants of each. Shorter than 4-4 1/4" barrels mean shorter sight radius, and (most probably) lower ballistic performance (some might even argue poor bullet expansion); and noticably sharper recoil, and longer split times (double-taps) over the full-sized gun. An alloyed version of the Officer-frame based gun will be the biggest challenge to shoot well, though it is by no means exclusionary with some practice.

If you're committed to giving the CCW idea a full evaluation/chance, I'd suggest at least a Colt Lwt Commander with a holster and belt from either Milt Sparks, AKJ Concealco, Andrews Custom Leather, or Garrity's Gun Leather. No Bianchi, Galco, FIST, or other plastic; no "heavy" Walmart, K-Mart, or Target belts. Only a true double-sided belt is built to carry 40+ ounces comfortably all day, and a good holster augments it well because it retains the gun properly and *in the same place* without having to constantly adjust it. (I got a box full of holsters and belts; believe me, spend up front. I prefer AKJ Concealco holsters, and almost any 'gunleather' belt. Liger is another good belt maker.)

[BrennanKG]

Just to chime in here.

I recently shot a Taurus PT 1911 at my local range (thank you to the gentleman who let me shoot it). While it might not be the prettiest 1911, I have to say that quite honestly it's the best bang for the proverbial buck in 1911s right now. Heinie straight-8 sights, ambi safety, good fit&finish, all for under $600.

An amazing deal in my book.

If one is looking for a 1911 in the $1000 range you have a veritable legion of nice options, but at a more entry level price for the features, I think the smart choice is the Taurus.



B.

[Mad Magyar]

"Absolutely no Charles Dalys, no Stars, no Llamas, Norincos, and I'd exclude Rock Island, too."

Any Spaniards or Philippinos out there!!!:eek: Oh, forgot the Chinese.....:D

[Whirlwind06]

The entry level / budget 1911 is a myth. Just like Bigfoot and Roswell. Sure you can get a $350 dollar gun but, you will end up putting another 200 to 300 dollars in upgrades. Sights, springs, internal parts, mags that actually work, and ammo to test all of the upgrades. To make it a carry gun that you will trust your life with. Add to that all of the low end 1911 pistols are steel. Unless you are willing to spend another 150 to 300 dollars on a good holster and belt. Lugging around 3 pounds of steel is not fun to say the least.

Most of the alloy framed 1911s are in the 600+ range. You can find Kimber's ploy framed ones used for about 500 or so.

[daysleeprx]

Absolutely no Charles Dalys, no Stars, no Llamas, Norincos, and I'd exclude Rock Island, too.

If you're going to make a statement like this, you need to back it up with some facts. The majority of RIA, Norinco, etc owners are very happy with them.

I'd wager to say that RIA might even have the best customer service of any current 1911 manufacturer out there at the moment. Don't believe me? Go over to m1911.org and see how many satisfied customers they have.

[dmarbell]

Getting some good advice, or at least opinions, and that's as good as advice on an issue like this. M1911.org, I'll check that out.

Anybody like Para Ordnance? The Warthog and Slimhawg look attractive, medium priced. Are they not really 1911s? I think I just like to say "para ordnance," sounds potent.

Danny

[BrennanKG]

Danny,

I owned two P-14s (5 inch barrel, wide body) and didn't have any problems with them. I just found that high-cap 1911s weren't my thing.

Para makes wide-body and single stack, standard SAO and their LDA (light double action). In other words a fairly wide selection of choices.


B.

[GrandmasterB]

Bud's has the Sig GSR Revolution on sale at $639 -- no MIM and no plastic. Seems like a bargain to me. http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411534321

[Redlg155]

Wow...Bud's has some almost unbelievable prices for his guns. Why can't I have someone like that in my area!

As for the original post, I'd look for a good used Kimber Custom II. A bit of looking should land you one in the $500 range. The Custom II has just about everything you want and need on a 1911.

If you decide it just isn't for you, then you should have no problem getting your money back.

[Lonestar.45]

The entry level / budget 1911 is a myth. Just like Bigfoot and Roswell. Sure you can get a $350 dollar gun but, you will end up putting another 200 to 300 dollars in upgrades. Sights, springs, internal parts, mags that actually work, and ammo to test all of the upgrades. To make it a carry gun that you will trust your life with.

Not true. My Springfield Champion GI was $419. I've done absolutely nothing to it except put some thin Alumagrip grips on it, and I didn't even have to do that. It shoots 100% with all kinds of ammo and I'd trust my life to it. The mags worked out of the box as did the two extra Chip McCormicks I picked up. The sights are low profile and do not snag on holsters or clothing. From 3 - 15 yds I can put all rounds into one fist sized ragged hole.

I think the myth out there is that if you buy a 1911 and it doesn't have a lowered/flared ejection port, night sights, beavertail, Wilson mags, etc. that you have to get all that to make it work. That hasn't been my experience. As a matter of fact, I think monkeying with it just makes it less reliable. Unless it's broke to begin with, don't fix it I say.

Now, the weight you can't get around. If you want a lower weight gun for carry, you really ought to look at a polymer of some type or alloy framed 1911 which will cost you more than the entry 1911's you are talking about.

Good luck.

[psychophipps]

I just looked at Bud's, myself. he has some pretty good prices on a few things but a few of his price gave me a "Huh?" :confused:

Take his SigArms 5" GSR Revolution w/ Rail for $1122.22. Comes with Novak's night sights, match trigger and barrel, etc, etc. Not too shabby when you figure a Kimber with the same goodies starts a bit higher, right? Wrong! The MSRP, from the SigArms website, of this firearm is $1049.95. And the price from Buds is before shipping and FFL transfer fees.

Oww?
Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )

[MarshallDodge]

When I went shopping for my entry level gun I ended up with a Norinco for $277. This was before Kimber had entered the game, Springfield did not have the loaded models, and Colts with plastic triggers were $600.

It shot pretty well out of the box but I did a few things to make it better:
1. Full length guide rod. $20
2. Chip McCormick trigger $10
3. CM hammer $12
4. CM springs $10
5. Pachmeyer grips $10
(All of the above prices were mid 1990's)

My next step was a set of BoMar sights but I found a screamin' deal on a Kimber Target and sold the Norinco. I later bought it back when the individual I sold it to needed the money. :)

After that experience, sights and a good trigger are very important in my selection.

Today I would look at a Springfield loaded model or the new Taurus looks nice.
The Springfield and Taurus are available with the Novak or Heinie sights and a good gunsmith can always tune the trigger for you.
Don't forget about the used market:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/classifieds/none/_976837265.aspx

[dmarbell]

Anybody have an experience with these? Seems like a few for sale at reasonable prices.

Danny