[10-Ring]

Thanks to a certain two-toned member here at THR (I'm not naming any names, but he has a carbon fiber fixation & plays the tactical banjo!), I'm back on my pursuit for my ideal 1911 :rolleyes:
I've gone the Mil Spec route w/ the Springfield, I've gone the project gun route w/ a Colt '91a1 for a base. Both were nice guns, but neither really "sang" to me :scrutiny: I've made mention before that the one 1911 I really liked was a custom Caspian but I'm not ready to spend that kind of $$ for a 1911.
I'm thinking of giving a fullsized, steel framed Kimber or S&W a try this time out. Suggestions...recommendations?????

[Brian Williams]

Sistema

[shadow 1]

I am really liking my Kimber TLE and Springy Operator..both of those feel good in my hands and indeed "sing" to me...

[Sean Smith]

Might want to look at an STI Trojan. Tight & smooth with all the goodies for under $1,000. As an ex-Kimber owner (mostly happy at that), I'd say the STI is probably one of the better off-the-shelf deals.

[10-Ring]

Where can I find details on the STI Trojan?

[marvl]

Where can I find details on the STI Trojan?

http://www.stiguns.com/

[VG]

The ideal M1911 is a SIG P220.
http://www.capinc.com/files/p220_m1911a1_rs2_s.jpg

[Tamara]

Amazing.

We made it five whole posts before the first person said "Get a Glock." :uhoh:

10-ring, of the Kimbers, I think the base guns are probably the best deals. I don't have any hands-on with the S&W, but from folks I've talked to, it's pretty Kimber-esque.

Agree with Sean that dollar-for-dollar, the Trojan may be the best off-the-shelf sub-$1000 1911 on the market right now.

The Valtro certainly seems to have its fans, too, on the other side of the 1k barrier. I haven't played with one of those yet in person, though. (Sven! When you coming back to TN? ;) )

[Soap]

I'm in love with my NRM Colt. The thing feels great and it shoots great. In the cheaper price range, Colt is the way to go. In the midrange price range I like the Les Baer offerings, namely the TRS.

[Siggyboy]

The Colt 1991A1 is a great gun for the money, on the lower end of the price spectrum. I wouldn't consider Baer "midrange" though, since his pistols start at well over $1,000. His presentation grade autographed 1911 is about $6,000!:rolleyes:

[10-Ring]

Went to the STIguns site for the first time last night. I'd like to be able to handle one prior to purchasing one, but that may not be n the cards :( THe STI Trojan is, at least from their site, quite appealing ;)

[Kentucky Rifle]

What's the lower made from? Can you obtain them in all blue or all stainless? Nice! Who else has one? How much do they weigh?

<sigh>
KR

[shepsan]

IMO, the best off of the shelf modest priced 1911's are the Colt NRM Series 80 M1991A1 model 04691 Commander and NRM M1991A1 MODEL 01991 Government.

Also IMO, these two Colts are the best 1911 products Colt has ever produced. They are made of high quality material and are fitted with excellent components.

Furthermore, I think that they make the best platform upon which to build a superior highend custom 1911 handgun.

I have put my money where my mouth is and have had built both a custom Commander and a Government using these two models as the platforms for my new handguns.

[Sactown]

Sorry no STI in Kali until the federal legislation passes to protect mfg from frivolous lawsuits.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid43/p6d405a951a3628f24384b5a7571cfa24/fce2e32f.jpg

Got mine before they stopped shipping and bought it sight unseen. Best blind purchase I've ever made. Super duper 1911!!

[Soap]

Siggyboy- So then what is a Terry Tussey custom? I consider sub-$1K as low-end, $1K-2K as mid range and $2K+ as high-end for a 1911.

[WonderNine]

I'm really drooling over one of these, but will probably have to settle for a series 80 Colt and convert it to a series 70 for now.

http://rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=PS2000&storeid=1&image=pnmh.gif

[Zak Smith]

Reconsider buying something "almost" right instead of the one you know you want.

It's cheaper in the long run to buy the right thing the first time.

-z

[WonderNine]

Yea, I know what you mean. :D

But it's alot of money and a long wait for a RRA's gun. I know some people are waiting close to two years just to get theirs after placing the order.

[Zak Smith]

Consider this: You can have a 1911 built for you, from scratch, using best-quality pieces (e.g. Caspian or SVI) by a nationally-known pistolsmith for around $1800-$2100. It will take between 3 months and 12 months.

I'm having a Titanium-framed Commander built and it'll be about $2100 all said and done. I expect it to realistically take about 10-13 months.

-z

[Trisha]

10-Ring, that intangable, lovely connectivity, that song is probably so dependent on the individual that all I can do is convey that it did happen for me, and that it happened with an early Kimber Custom Eclipse II.

Susan and I don't have an extensive firearms collection, but the KCE II is hands-down the finest made, most accurate, spine-tinglingly beautiful handgun we own - and the song happened from the first moment I was handed it from the display case.

STI's, Les Baer's, Wilsons, etc - none of their best offerings have duplicated that love-at-first-sight. Not to that degree.

I've visited as many as seven area gun stores, examining each stock handgun of a specific variation before selecting 'the right one.' I wish I could objectively quantify exactly what it is that becomes the determining factor. . .

In the end, that's what makes handgun shopping such fun! It approaches finding 'the perfect aaah!'

Best of luch in your quest!

Trisha

[sm]

10-Ring
Since it is your money...aw heck, jump off the deep end, build the Caspian the way you want it. Then when you post pics, you'll get someone else to spend more monies than you when they build one and you'll feel better.Its that friendly vicious cycle thing we do for one another.;)
Dang, you are restricted,arrgh! I like the base Kimber if I go with a beavertail ( FLGR and stuff comes off). NRM Colts are nice, not sure about the Springfield 'allowed' for your state...I like the base SA just fine. Though Wilson's is about 3 hrs in state from me...not my cup of tea.

STI is nice, I too want to handle a Valtro. I personally like the simple basic design. I prefer to have a gun for ME not what someone thinks I need. So as others have stated handle, rent, borrow and shoot others. But don't rule out a simple Caspian that fits you, sounds like that is what your instincts lean toward. Just learn from the others what you do and don't want.

[10-Ring]

THe custom CAspian is not even an option in CA anymore :( even if I had the $2k+ to spend on it. I saw the STI Trojan on the CA approved list which has gotten this ball rollin'
THe search continues! :cool:

[Ian11]

I live in CA as well.

For a while I played with the idea of getting "a really nice 1911". After some research here and at 1911forum.com I decided either a Valtro or a Colt NRM 1911 customized to order would be the best way to go. The other semi-custom makers didn't inspire a lot of confidence as far as I was concerned. Anyways, I decided to save some money and got an altogether different .45 instead (I won't name it since I think I've touted it here enough already :o) .......and I couldn't be happier. :D

Good luck.

[antediluvianist]

The "High-End"-brand forums ( Kimber etc.) are full of complaints about $1500- $3000 1911s that malfunction.

You guys who own and fire guns in that price range, what rate of malfunction per thousand rounds do you experience?

[shooter.45]

I would go with the Kimber TLE II I have one and its a very accurate gun not one problem and not a bad price for what you get. nite sites, Front strap checkering for about 725.00.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/051764.JPG

[shooter.45]

Kentucky Rifle,

I have the SIg 220ST which is the all stainless version and what a gun. and the weight is 39.2 oz for the all stainless not sure about the aluminum frame one..

http://www.hunt101.com/img/051835.JPG

[antediluvianist]

Oh, such complexity. Trusting your lives to springs. If you must use a semi-auto, get a modern one, why the 1911 with all its malfunctions?

Get an S&W .44 magnum with speedloaders.

[zarroboogs]

A buddy at work has gotten my interest in 1911's up quite a bit. I've started to look at some of the models and read through this thread with interest.

A question: I didn't see much mention of the Dan Wesson models (Pointman, Patriot, etc.). I was wondering what experiences folks have had with these? Any comments about them as an entry-level 1911?

Thanks!

[10-Ring]

Get an S&W .44 magnum with speedloaders.

Actually, the S&W 625 is on my wish list. If I come across one at the right price, it's mine!

[Trisha]

antediluvianist -

In answer to your first question (malfunctions) - zero. The KCE II has just passed 8,000 rounds (200-300 rounds per session without cleaning).

Admittedly wealthier aquaintences of mine who carry Wilsons and STI's and the like also report zero malfunctions. On the flip side, I've seen several highly customized IPSC space guns that became jam-o-matics if you looked at them too hard, but that may be more a case of the particular gunsmith, or the operator demanding tolerances so tight a gnat in a corselet couldn't find her way past the slide rails. . .

Trisha

[Sean Smith]

or the operator demanding tolerances so tight a gnat in a corselet couldn't find her way past the slide rails. . .

Best mixed-up metaphor ever. :D

[Tamara]

The "High-End"-brand forums ( Kimber etc.) are full of complaints about $1500- $3000 1911s that malfunction.

You guys who own and fire guns in that price range, what rate of malfunction per thousand rounds do you experience?

Well, you don't find too many Kimbers in the "$1500-$3000" price range, but the two guns I have in that category (a Les Baer Concept III and a Springfield Professional) are top drawer. The Baer has been absolutely faultless, despite living entirely on a diet of powderpuff 200gr SWC's that choke my Glock 30, and the only hiccup from the Pro was after I stomped it into a mudhole, and that was with one of the aforementioned 200gr SWC's, too; it ran just fine on my normal carry load of 185gr +P's despite being thoroughly crusted in red clay...

[10-Ring]

Now I see SIG is thowing their hat into the ring! :rolleyes: Maybe that HK 1911 isn't so far fetched after all :neener:

[Tamara]

Maybe that HK 1911 isn't so far fetched after all :neener:

...and an HK 1911 would be sooper, why, exactly? :confused:

[Skunkabilly]

Tamara, because it'll be overpriced, highly tactical, everything will be proprietary, but 10-ring can sleep at night knowing it'll work out of the box :D

10-ring, how about a Tactical Custom for carry and an Eclipse Custom as a range beater? The Royal or whichever the blued model is looks real nice too!!!

[Tamara]

but 10-ring can sleep at night knowing it'll work out of the box :D

Kinda like both my Baer and my Pro? Or more like my Colts and my old Kimber? ;)

[antediluvianist]

Ah, you guys in the States.... you don't know how relatively cheap your guns are.
Out here in the Philippines, and in other places with high tariffs and taxes on imported guns, a mere Smith&Wesson Model 10 .38 Special 6-shot revolver - the basic blued cop revolver - costs about $700.

And your salaries are much higher over there too.

Just spend the couple of thousand dollars for a Les Baer and don't worry about it. You can afford it.

[Rob96]

Just spend the couple of thousand dollars for a Les Baer and don't worry about it. You can afford it.

Is there a little bit of sarcasm in that post?

[antediluvianist]

No, no sarcasm. It's a statement of fact. You can afford the best.

[Rob96]

All depends on what best is. Some people won't consider anything but Wilson, Les Baer, or Rock River. None of which I could afford to buy right away. A Wilson runs around $1800, the Colt I bought cost me $609. It does everything I want, and it worked right out of the box. Where in the Phillppines are you?

[antediluvianist]

I'm in Makati, which is pretty much the main business district of Manila.

Well, I don't mean to introduce international rancor into this thread. And yes, sure, what is "best" is a matter of opinion. I use a Tanfoglio 9mm. and it does everything I need , even if it costs a lot less than, say, a 9mm. SIG.

My only "message" is that Geez!, sure costs a lot less in the U.S. to buy guns in terms of either absolute dollars, or- more importantly- in terms of how many days/weeks/months of work it takes to earn the cost of the gun.

I guess that's why many of you guys have entire "collections" of guns, not just one or two or three. Yummy.

And ammo - Geez! again. A speer Gold Dot - one round- costs about a dollar here.

Well, that's how it goes. On the other hand, I have a family driver for $120 a month , and a cook and maids for a song. And the beaches are great. Seafood, sunshine, all that tropical stuff.

Enjoy your guns, Americans!

[Gary G23]

Sig

[Skunkabilly]

Kinda like both my Baer and my Pro? Or more like my Colts and my old Kimber?

Yes Tamara, like that, but not like my old Wilson and Kimber or his old Springfield :neener:

[Tamara]

More like your P7, then? ;) :p