[Plinkerton]

Lets hear it.

[ducktapehero]

Talk about opening up a can of worms. This should get interesting.:uhoh:

[Plinkerton]

Haha! Maybe I should add to it, to give the arguing parties reasons for their arguing.

Who makes the best 1911 and WHY? :)

[nero45acp]

John Moses Browning!


Now can we give this thread a merciful ending.:rolleyes:



nero

[Sven]

With regard to the people behind the guns:

John Jardine is a great guy. He dragged me out to IDPA and got me hooked. ;) Even though he is busy, he takes time to help everyone I've encounted while hanging out with him... people just keep handing him gun after gun with their menu of what they want done.

He laughed when I told him this would be risky given his backlog, saying "what am I going to say, 'NO'?".

Is it a fault to be too nice?

John's Italian-forged, American-fit "Valtro" brand is great, but I've seen him work wonders with any 1911 - - and other guns as well. Some of you may have been lucky enough to have seen Jardine's SHOT piece this year - suffice it to say Jardine has a hybrid 1911 compact that looks like a classic 50s Corvette.... best part is he restored it from a very old pitted Colt. Actually had to back-recess new serrations in the frame... unbelievable work of art. Pictures are available but under embargo pending publication.

Back to my more humble story: I found a Valtro for sale locally a year plus ago for under $1400. Actually, the dealer (Bullseye Precision Indoor in Marin, CA) had two Valtros, mid-600 serial number.

John lives in the Bay Area, so it was relatively easy to have him put a strong-side only safety on there - gave him a call. Over time, he's done the following for me: serrate rear slide, fit spare extractor (also serrrated to match), fit national match bushing, relieved rear sights and painted dots...


http://www.imageseek.com/sven/gallery/albums/valtro/1998A1.thumb.jpghttp://www.imageseek.com/sven/gallery/albums/valtro/magwell.thumb.jpghttp://www.imageseek.com/sven/gallery/albums/valtro/crown.thumb.jpghttp://www.imageseek.com/sven/gallery/albums/valtro/mag_release.thumb.jpg
My Valtro Gallery (http://www.imageseek.com/sven/gallery/valtro)

Regarding more informed opinions: An acquaintance is a local LEO range officer. When he shot my Valtro last month, he said it was the best trigger he had ever felt on a 1911. This is from a guy with a lot of experience, so I took that as quite a statement.

So, there you have it: a great product (though scarce and geting costlier), great custom work... all from one of the nicest people I've ever met.

The journey is a big part of the fun of an acquisition for me. Finding parts for a M14 took me 6 months, a lot of waiting... but I loved it and the final product has a certain extra appeal to me.

If you have time and money, you can certainly do it right with Jardine's Custom.

-s

PS: Tell him "seven" sent you. ;)

http://www.jardinescustom.com/


Jardine's Custom maintains a voice line at: (510) 489-8477
Jardine's Custom maintains an open Fax line at: (510) 489-8477

Jardine's Custom
24800 Mission Blvd
Hayward
California 94544

[Tamara]

Who makes the best 1911?

Best? Best how?

Prettiest? Best IPSC Open gun? Best chopped 3"-4" totin' piece? Best bullseye gun? Best longslide 10mm?


Hey, here's a question back at you: "What's the best car?"

[valor1]

Start going ballistic. I read somewhere about Terry Peters reply on this kind of thread. Here goes the magic of cut and paste:

No Best Guns

First when you read this guys. I screw up as much if not more as everyone else so do not get your toilet paper ruffled when you read my comments.

These "what the best gun for what ever reason posts" are and what makes forums incredibly informing and interesting.

Some posters are lockstep jump off of the cliff types. The computer commando's, mall ninja's and gun show guerrillas are evident and it shows in their posts.

Others have common sense. Others....... who knows. You guys read these forums much more than I.

Consider this please.

I work retail in guns as well as carry one for a living. I have been going to ranges for about 30 years and have competed about 20 (I am not any good at it so I keep trying).

The retail operation I currently work for has or have about 3000 to 5000 pistols pass through the books a year for the past 7 years. (Only about 2000 this year. Slower year. 40 to 50- gun shows a year with 50 to 100 guns per show). Before that I worked for two stores before that with a gun show a week business also.)

I think I can say I have heard a complaint or two and seen a jam or two not to mention a fair share of my own cases of "head up where the sun don't shine itis" not too mention more lines of bovine fecal matter from shooters than there are shooters.

There is no best maker. The best gun is the one you the individual person trust. PERIOD.

I do not care who makes it or what you do to it.

I have seen them all fail to the same degree for some reason or another.

Nothing is done to the gun by the maker for a production gun for any reason other than profit. All name brand makers are that way. I mean mid to high priced NOT the Hi Points and the associated kinds Ravens etc.

Each and ever so called new design is nothing more that a mod of an old design. The 1911 was made from the 1909 and has about 90 years of design changes to the current form. How much of the SIG, Beretta, or Glock design was adapted from the basic semi auto or the 1911 (more than lock steps will admit). Do not forget all of the early double action conversion for the 1911 such as the Seecamp. How much of the series 80 safety is in the Glock and SIG firing pin blocks or who came out with the double stack mag first. Glock or the maker of the 1911, John Browning and his 9mm Browning High Power. I do not know and do not claim to know but all are the basic same design.

Remember the vast quantity of design changes lately (last 30 or 40 years) are primarily for civil liability and secondary reason is function. (Warning labels on mags saying guns are dangerous and the ACTUAL proposal to put a warning label on ammo can cause injury or death if taken internally are inane examples of this).

Sounds kind of cold but true. You as a person do not matter. Bottom line or profit does in 99.999999999999999% of the changes. Same in any business.

Custom work personalizes the gun to the person and yes there are custom glocks out there in the $1500 and higher range, Check out Robar, Others who do grip reductions, Glock Meister and Aero tech products and I got a great guy if you Glock ologists need someone. (Tom Graham is his name, I will send you his contact infomation off line.)

Glock "Kabooms", Kimber new safety, Beretta slide failures, SIG frame cracks, etc, etc, and the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on. That is how gun writers and gun mags stay in busienss.

Countless and countless "stories" on this or that jam and 98% are easily operator, ammo, mag, "I need a reason justify to my wife so I can sell and buy another" related.

Please keep the above in mind when any gun is chosen for what ever reason.

Kind of like this. I have now 392,000 miles on my truck (Toyota and Yes, I know there are as many good Ford and Chevy stories out there and that also supports my point). And yes they all may or can be expected to ping with low or no octane gas, kind of like cheap ammo problems.

Why do it still work and I still own it. It works and as all machinces and tools with moving parts requires a degree of knowledge, care and maintenance and it will function and serve me well.

Same as my 33K plus SIG (I am required to carry at work) or 15K plus milspec Springfield with no mod or my 3K Glock or my 12K Wilson or whatever suits my fancy this year.

Basic maintenance, defensive grade ammo, and basic shooting skill will eliminate 99.9999% of the problems.

Just trying to put a perspective on the overall picture.

Have a great holidays.
_________________
You get what you pay for front end or back end.
Terry Peters AKA PT-Partners elsewhere
http://www.pt-partners.com/


Now isn't that nice?-Valor1:neener:

[HABU]

I can say the best 1911 I own (I own Three) is my Valtro. Accurate, reliable, comfortable, good looking and sub 70 SN. :neener: Seven! However, I dont carry my "best" 1911. I have another "best carry" 1911.

[Plinkerton]

Alright. When I ask the question, I meant very generally. Not a task specific 1911, just the opinion of the overall "best". I suppose I mean that from a quality standpoint. What is built the best, will last long, shoots well, can stand up to some abuse (though still properly maintained), etc.

I have always been told that if you were going to buy a handgun, get a Sig. The opinions of many out here (whether they be educated or not) seem to highly regard the Sigs. Now, that I am on this forum, I see that it is not necessarily the case. There seem to be MANY great gun manufacturers, and some seem to be quite a bit more highly regarded than Sigs.

So, with that in mind, I have a friend who loves the 1911 models. He would die for something like what Sven posted. So, I was curious, if there was an overall opinion of who makes a GREAT 1911, and the reasons it may be better than the others. Maybe it has much less problems than the others, maybe that specific make of gun has been used for a long time, with great results, etc.

I realize that the "best" gun is what you shoot well, what is comfortable for you, and what is of decent quality.

Just think of my question like this: If you could only have ONE 1911 for the rest of your life (God forbid!) And it would be considered by you a tool that you would use, and of great rugged quality, which one would it be, and why?

So, even if an "end all" answer is not given to my question, I think find it very informing and interesting to hear of people's opinions of what and why they consider something better than the other.

Thats all.

[Siggyboy]

Who makes the best 1911?


Either Glock or Ruger.

:rolleyes:

[Siggyboy]

1911's are in their own catagory amongst the other factory brand name pistols such as Berettas, Glocks, Sigs etc. Each 1911 maker has a different build philosophy and many appeal to completely different markets. IMO your question is really too broad to answer. A good 1911 may be a $400 Springfield Armory Mil-Spec or a $2,000 Ed Brown Kobra or a $800 Kimber TLE or a $600 Colt NRM Gov't Model. Pretty much everyone will agree that a custom made 1911 from a repected smith or a semi-custom like a Brown, Baer, Valtro etc. is a great 1911, but they all cost thousands of dollars. It all depends on a lot of factors. I guess it is easier to say what is not a good 1911.

[Plinkerton]

Okay. What is NOT a good 1911?

also,

What is your personal favorite 1911?

[Zak Smith]

Best?

Suggest looking at SVI, STI, and premier custom pistol-smiths such as Ted Yost.

Practically, however, once you get to about the $1200-1500 level of quality, you're going to get an excellent pistol, of virtually indistinguishable quality from any other in that class.

-z

[Siggyboy]

What is not a good 1911 is one that is built using cheap and badly fitted parts. I remember seeing an ad for some gun surplus store for people to buy parts to make their own 1911...they were nothing but junk. Beyond that, I'm hesitant to name brands or get specific because even some foreign made inexpensive 1911's that some would consider bad (Rock Island, Charles Daley, Norinco, for instance) can be quite servicable and good. With these models your chances of having problems may be higher with than with others though. The more you learn about parts quality and 1911's in general, the more you will have an idea about what makes a very high quality 1911.

Since you specifically asked, I don't really have one favorite of all 1911's out there, though I am partial to Ed Brown and well-fitted Colts. My personal favorite that I own is my Springfield Professional, which is a top-notch combat 1911 but is expensive.

[45auto]

Perhaps no right answers but you asked for opinions...so :eek: .

I'd avoid the low cost, mostly cast type 1911s simply because Springfield sells well made forged 1911's at a low price with a lifetime warranty.
Maybe the cast ones will last as long, but who cares when for a little more money you can have the well made forged, one less thing to think about!

In the mid range I'd go with the Colt or Springfield brands. If you want a firing pin safety that works, buy the Colt and the chances are very good you are buying a very workable gun. Mine was/is very reliable, no break in and seem, overall, to have well made small parts. IMO, they need a beavertail, extended safety and better sights.

If you don't want to add any "parts", buy the Springfield "Loaded" models in various confiqurations and save a lot of money. You can always add better internal parts if needed and/or you do a lot of shooting.

I'd avoid the Kimber and S&W types simply because they have firing pin safeties activated by the grip safety which, to me anyway, complicates an already poor safety item...the grip safety.
They also have external safeties which may or may not be better than the internal. If they are not better, you don't want an external...more parts. I think it will take several years and a lot of guns, rounds shot to determine if they are better. Anyway, you can buy an Aftec, spring loaded, internal extractor if you wish to accomplish the same effect.

I don't have enough experience with the high end semi custom to really comment, but for 2 to 3 times the price of a working 1911...they better "sing". If there were enough qualified, custom 1911 pistolsmiths around that could do the work in a reasonable time frame, I don't think this category would even exist. I think the Baer line has one or two good values as does Rock River. I personally start to struggle with single stack 45's at $2,000 + unless it had everything I wanted exactly the way I wanted...period. I don't see that in the other semi custom lines.

How's that for being opinionated. :D

[fix]

Mass Production Production (Read: Cheap) -- Springfield Loaded or Milspec

Limited Production (Read: Made to order) -- Rock River Arms

Somewhere in between -- Ed Brown

Full Blown Custom (Read: Second Mortgage) -- Hilton Yam, Larry Vickers, ?

JMO

[Sean Smith]

The closest thing to a widely accepted answer would be Richard Heinie. Of course, there is a 10 month waiting list to get on his 7 year waiting list. :scrutiny:

Best looking I've seen firsthand? A custom done by Dane Burns I used to have. Super-slick.

Best shooting? The Yost gun I have now. The Schuemann AET barrel in that thing is flat-out magical for accuracy.

I don't think you can really say that Dane makes prettier guns than Ted, or that Ted makes better shooters than Dane, since both guns were spec'ed very differently... I paid for more pretty metal work on the former and for more go-fast hardware on the latter. Each was about $2,000.

Nicest off-the-shelf guns I've seen are Ed Brown. If you are willing to go back in time, the pre-WWII Colt National Match guns are flat-out awesome pieces of hardware. The late-1950s Colt National Match guns are impressive too.

[Rinspeed]

I would have to agree with Sean that when you're talking the best of the best Richard Heinie would be a very safe answer.

Rinspeed

[Tom C.]

Who makes the best 1911? You do! Look at the articles, catalogs, etc. Handle as many nice ones as you can and make a list of features you like, then start buying parts. Many are pretty generic, but some are fairly critical. You can now buy slides precut for whatever sights you want. Want Bomar, get the slide precut for Bomar. You want a ramped barrel, get the frame precut for a ramped barrel. You also need to decide if you want a drop in barrel, or a fitted barrel. A drop in barrel is no problem, but you may need to have someone else fit the fitted barrel.
I bought a Caspian frame and slide, with the slide cut for Bomars and the frame cut for a ramped barrel. The frame was also checkered and was cut for a beavertail grip safety. I sent the gun to Novak's for fitting a ramped, Kart barrel. I also installed a S&A mainspring housing/mag well. It is exactly what I wanted, which wasn't readily available from any vendor.

[Plinkerton]

Tom C., maybe YOU make the best 1911. If I built one, I doubt it would even come close to being the best of anything! :D

[Plinkerton]

It is pretty safe to assume that the Springfield Loaded Full-Size or Champion, and Long Slide pistols are overall great pistols for that 1000$ range? If someone was to spend around 1000 for a 1911, would a Springfield be a good choice?

Also, how do the STI's compare to the Springfields. Specifically the Trojan 5.0 and 6.0, and the Ranger II.

Also, how are the current Colt models compare?

Sorry for all the questions, I just can't make a mistake!

[Marshall]

Just buy one of these two for $1000.00 or so and be done.

1911 (http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-pstl-1911-trp.shtml)

[andrew17]

I've got a current model Colt. I've had it for about 2 months now and I've got about 300 rounds through it.
So far I've been well pleased with it. No failures to feed or extraction issues or issues of any kind.
For an ordinance spec gun, it's pretty accurate too.
I've noticed that the colt's fit and finish was head and shoulders above other production 1911s that I have owned and have handled. Slick out of the box.

[Siggyboy]

It is pretty safe to assume that the Springfield Loaded Full-Size or Milspec, Champoim, and Long Slide pistols are overall great pistols for that 1000$ range? If someone was to spend around 1000 for a 1911, would a Springfield be a good choice?

IMO Springfield makes pretty decent 1911's and their Pro model is fantastic. The Mil-Spec should only cost you about $400-450. The Loaded models have a lot more do-dads, some that I like (like Novak sights) and some I'm not crazy about (their mainspring housing and cheap beavertail). Still, you should be able to get a Loaded model for way under $1,000. If you were looking to spend $1,000 on a 1911, personally I'd skip Springfield and get either (1) a used semi-custom for a good price but that would take patience. (2) an STI Trojan: very nice 1911 with great fit and feel. (2) a new Colt, either a 1991A1 or a series 70 reissue and install a beavertail, long trigger, Novak sights, Wilson extended tactical thumb safety and then dehorn and refinish. The new Colts are very nice, but I won't buy any sight unseen. I always want to check the fit first. The Colts are great but IMO still need some touches to make them shoot comfortably for me.

[Plinkerton]

Okay, I talked to my friend and he has narrowed it down to the Springfield TRP, or an STI Trojan.

Now, between those 2 which one? And why?

Thank you everyone!

[Zak Smith]

STI, hands down. Tighter, better quality. Handling the two side by side, it should be obvious.

-z

[Plinkerton]

Really? I would love to hear other opinions regarding this, as he is now pretty much sold on the Springfield. I would hate for him to make a less than perfect choice.

[Zak Smith]

Try searching here and on TFL for Stephen Camp's review of the Trojan.

-z

[Sean Smith]

http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=18056
http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=18167
http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=14896
http://www.pistolsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=13190

I'd say to pick the Trojan.

[PigPen]

I know that their is no one size fits all.......right for every purpose......or situation........but I guess if I could only have one, it would have to be my Pre 70, Colt Commander with match barrel and bushing and a Videki trigger!!

After all, I carry it all the time, I sleep with it beside my bed.....................It is my self defense weapon!!

I have others that are better in some way but I depend on the Colt LWT to protect my life!!

PigPen

[Siggyboy]

They are both nice guns. I would only consider .45 caliber if it were me, but I'm not a IPSC or IDPA gamer.

The TRP is a fine 1911 but given the choice I'd probably take the Trojan. Have your friend handle them both before buying.

The "less than perfect choice" comment is funny. If your friend isn't sure what HE wants, then maybe he should wait and research some more.

[Plinkerton]

Well, I meant the less than perfect choice within the current parameters. He will not be able to actually hold both of them, because they are not readily available around here. Also, he works all the time, and doesn't have a lot of time to research what he wants, so I have been chosen to tell him what he wants, and why he wants it. :)

I'm just trying to gather lots of information of other people's opinions, etc. and then I pass the info onto him. Since he is willing to spend around a grand, I have been trying to find the "best" within those prices.

Initially, this thread was for my amusement and information. I was actually curious about what the "best" 1911 made was, but it has now turned into the "find the best 1911 for 1000$ for my friend" thread.

After considering both, as much as he could, he seems to have chosen the Springfield. I think I may have personally gone for the STI, but I'm not the one buying the gun.

So, thanks for helping me/him out on this. Either way, I'm sure he will be happy with whatever he gets. I'm personally impatiently waiting for my 4" 686. :)

[Siggyboy]

Here's a link to a guy selling a real nice looking SA TRP. He's asking $1,050. A decent price I guess. I don't know the guy but it may be what your buddy's looking for.

http://sigforum.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=674608412&f=350601935&m=655107671

[ken grant]

NORINCO 1911A1 :D :neener:

[shep854]

OK, I'm in. I linked over from TankNet, and have been lurking while I got a feel for the forum. It's like trying to drink from a firehose, there's so much here. This thread, though, has dragged me into the light.

Best 1911: First, what's the gun's use? If it's a military collectable, any GI C&R fills the bill, but expect to go way over $1K for a decent one. A plinker? I just bought an Auto Ordnance M1911A1 for a little over $400. So far, 200 rounds of ball without a problem.

Self-defence? whatever you're comfortable with. I have a Colt Series 80 Combat Commander in stainless. I had an arched mainspring housing and ambi safety put on. The only problem I've had is when the slide holdback broke. The pistol has had over 1000 rounds of all types through it, with nary a bobble. I haven't tried to feed empty cases, though.

Competition? Ah, now it gets interesting (and expensive). Most of the custom 'smiths got their start building gameguns that shot accurately and reliably with softball target loads, then retuned them for full-house defence loads when owners wanted the nifty-looking pistols for carry.

Next, what turns you on? For me, KISS and plain vanilla. Others are into the custom look. Trying to improve on JMB's masterpiece is rather like gilding the lily. Most of the "improvements" are cosmetic, or correcting problems created by earlier mods. If you like and can afford the custom guns, by all means go for it! They are truly works of art, but I don't feel any less well armed with my plain vanilla (almost) Commander compared to the Kimbers , Heinies, et al.

The bottom line is, does it go BANG only when it's supposed to, and is the hole where you want it?

I hope I haven't overdone my first post.:)

[Zak Smith]

shep854 has good points. (Welcome!) I agree with simplicity. A 1970's Colt Combat Commander is simplicity itself, but after shooting its sharp points dig into my hand and the sights are hard to pick up.

It's true that you can buy a servicable 1911 for under $500. But that is a different question than, "What is the best 1911 for $1000?"

IMO, a 1911 should satisfy the following:

1. It ought to be reliable and durable. This should go without saying. Reliable means it can shoot at least 1000 rounds without failure.

2. It ought to be comfortable. This means it should fit your hand, and importantly, have no sharp edges. Even a slight un-turned corner will dig a hole in your hand after a serious shooting session. For me, this also entails a upswept beavertail and a short trigger. YMMV.

3. It ought to have good sights. Something with a high-contrast Bo-mar style sight picture works really well. The old-style "bump" on the end of the slide is wholly insufficient.

4. There's no excuse for a poor trigger pull in a 1911. 3.5-5 lbs, crisp, some take-up okay.

Beyond that, it's your preference. Here's my $720 Dan Wesson Patriot, which has had a little sear work and a short SV trigger - I got short fingers. It's seen over 10,000 rounds in the last year of IPSC and 3Gun and is a workhorse. It ain't pretty, but it runs.

http://apollo.demigod.org/~zak/DigiCam/2003-12-10-reload/small/IMG_0060.jpg

Competition? Ah, now it gets interesting (and expensive). Most of the custom 'smiths got their start building gameguns that shot accurately and reliably with softball target loads,

Winning IPSC pistols in Limited and Open class usually cost around $2k. Here are examples of both:
Limited:
http://www.sviguns.com/photos/slideflutes_350_350.jpg
A Limited USPSA/IPSC pistol is usually a wide-body double-stack 1911 shooting .40SW, with a magazine capacity of 17-20. Minimum Power Factor (PF) is 165.

Open
http://www.sviguns.com/photos/imm_open_b_350_350.jpg

An Open USPSA/IPSC pistol is usually a wide-body double-stack 1911 shooting .38Super (or closely related cartridge), with a magazine capacity of 18-30. Minimum Power Factor is again 165 (I think). Some sort of red-dot is usually used.

Custom defensive pistols need no be "flashy". Here's one of elegant simplicity from Ted Yost:
http://www.yost-bonitz.com/photos/1911/SKB1.jpg

The changes are small: upswept beavertail (comfort), better sights, checkering for control, and a little bit of clean-up here and there. Sadly, that one isn't mine. Hopefully my Ti-framed Commander will be done soon!

-z

[Plinkerton]

This seems to be what my friend has decided on. He seems to be happy with his decision, and I think it's a nice lookin' gun. Thanks everyone, for all the input. I think my next gun will definitely be a 1911 of some sort. All this research on them has got me liking them a lot.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/a1/PC9108L.gif

[Jerry the Geek]

Arghhhh!

Somebody has got to make up his mind here.

First it was "What is the best 1991?".

Then "What's the best 1911 for my friend?"

Then "What's the best 1911 for my friend for under $1000?"

Then "What's the best 1911 for my friend for under $1000, if he isn't interested in competition in, like IPSC or IDPA?"

Get a GRIP here, folks! Decide what your question really is, THEN ask it!!!


Don't be asking a question, then rejecting answers because they don't meet your hidden agenda. That's not fair to anybody who is taking up their personal time trying to give you an honest answer. That's freakin' disgusting. And it alienates people who really want to help.

What's the best 1991? An STI!!!!
Okay, let me back off and take a look at the various criteria and genre of 1991's. After all, it depends on what your definition of 'best' is.

STI Open Gun ... Grandmaster or Tru-bore: The tru-bore is probably best for IPSC competition, depending on the optics you choose. It indexes better t han the GrandMaster, but some people handle the GM better. even though it's a half-inch longer, because it handles muzzle-flip better.

Sti Open gun vs SV Open Gun; the STI is better because the SV sucks for after-market support, including warranty.

I've owned or used the SV Open, STI Grandmaster Open and STI Tru-Bore for IPSC competition. This is The Word.

Don't want to deal with the compensator or electronic sights? Go to the STI Edge in 10mm. Hi round-count in the magazine (18-10 rounds in the 140mm magazine), the gun doesn't blow up if you overload a round (unlike the .40S&W), you can load the gun to full-power 10mm which is comparable to NEARLY .41 magnum load, or download it to .40 S&W load for IPSC competitionor for convenience. I have the gun, used it for years in IPSC competition. It smokes, the full-length dust cover makes a significant difference in minimizing muzzle-flip ... which means fast double-taps and every shot dead on target.

Oh, you want a single-stack?

The Trojan is available in a number of calibers, you can decide for yourself which works best for you. Ten mm, shorty-forty, .45acp, .38 super ... you decide. Works first time, every time. And the Warranty is the same: if it breaks, send it back to the factory and they fix it for free. And they return the gun UPS 2nd Day, they pay the shipping.

Still, we're talking about a pistol which costs significantly over $1000. Well, you get what you pay for.

Can't handle the expense of a $1000+ gun?

Okay we can't talk about STI, SV, Clark Custom Gun (chamber's too tight, you don't want it unless you plan to use it in bullseye shooting anyway), let's talk really NON-CUSTOM / rough guns.

Get a Kimber.

I've got this coyote-ugly Kimber Custom, that I bought in 1997 and bumped myself up from C-Limited to B-Limited in a year, and this was before the USPSA initiated Limited-10 division. The finish is rusty during the summer, when I sweat on it, because it's essentially finished with paint. But the gun works every time, all the time, and I have beat IPSC competitors with more expensive guns because the Kimber is more reliable than their guns. You gotta be careful in reloading ammunition, it won't take too short or too long cartridges, nor will it accept ammunition whch hasn't been taper-crimped (in 180-grain or 200-grain Hard Cast Lead bullets, although it seems to take any HardBall ammunition you can poke in the chamber. This is A Good Gun, and my Sweetie can shoot it without any major problems. She doesn't LIKE it, but she can shoot it all day.

Still to rich for your blood? Okay, one more suggestion about The Best 1911:

I have this 1911 ... not a 1911A1, but a 1911, made by Colt Firearms, serial number N231****, indicating that it was made in 1918. That's right, it was used in WWI. Not '2', but '1'. This is the gun I keep in my nightstand for home defense. Don't shoot anything but military hardball in it, in original GI 7-round magazines. This is the gun I trust my life to.

The WWI surplus I keep for home defense is several orders of magnitude less accurate, reliable, and expensive than the top-of-the-line STI Open Gun, with C-more sights, 26-round double-stack magazine, compensated gun in .38 Super +P I use for IPSC competition. And it costs considerably less.

So in answer to your question: what is the best 1911?

It depends on what you want to use it for, how much you can afford to spend, and how competent you are in the situation in which you expect to use it.

If you can't answer these 3 questions, you might as well buy a Glock. It doesn't matter what gun you use, you just want to spray-and-pray anyway.

Jerry the Geek

[Plinkerton]

Don't be asking a question, then rejecting answers because they don't meet your hidden agenda. That's not fair to anybody who is taking up their personal time trying to give you an honest answer. That's freakin' disgusting. And it alienates people who really want to help.

I think you need to shut your mouth before you start telling me what you think I'm doing. Why don't you go back and read this thread you have pretended to read, and not waste your own time posting the longest reply on this thread, not to mention the most out of line. You might want to change your name to Jerry the Unhelpful A**hole. No offense.

I have already explained my motives behind this thread. I have explained how it started as a random thought by me, to what the opinion of the best 1911 was. By the way, it's 1911 not 1991. Then, halfway thru, I received a phone call from a friend, who was interested in a 1911, so I started asking more specific questions. Then, after he told me he wanted to spend around 1000$, I narrowed it down even more. So far, this thread doesn't seem to offend anyone except for you. I'm sorry if you consider yourself much more elite and knowledgeable than I, with your smarmy remarks and snide answers.

I did not reject one single answer I had received in here. I have thanked everyone for their time, and it has all been appreciated. Just because someone recommended a gun that is way out of budget, doesn't mean I didn't benefit from the knowledge.

I never asked about competition, or any other strange doodads that may be on a 1911, and no one else answered my questions with those in mind, except for you. If your time is so precious to you, why did you write the longest and most sarcastic post of anyone here? I would hate to waste your time too! I mean, if you are acusing me of being "freakin' disgusting" I am surprised you would put any time towards helping me at all. But, maybe you're just a generous guy, who would never waste anybody's time with your godly posts.

Also, I don't understand why you would think anyone wants to spray-and-pray. We all start knowing nothing somewhere. I personally do not know much at all about 1911's so I asked questions, and was helped out by many people. I am not buying a 1911, so for me, it's just interesting knowledge to have. There is no reason to bash people who aren't as knowledgeable as you are. If you were interested in a hobby that I had been participating in for a long time, I would be more than happy to help you out, without condescending remarks, and smarmy comments.

Maybe next time, before your a**hole gene kicks in, why don't you relax first, and think that maybe, if you aren't going to be helpful, just keep trolling along and save everyone your drama.

[HD]

the best 1911 i've found in 33+ years of 1911's has been the springfield armory line of guns ...
only ever had one that wouldn't work (3" UCL)...
just got my WW2 and it is nearly flawless as compared to a mint WW2 colt or rem-rand...
2" groups @50' with fed ball ammo or blaser ball...
you cannot beat the SA's for the $$$$...
yeah you MIGHT get a cult or other brand that "works" , but your chances aren't good ...
i am very pleased with my WW2 and don't think Cult or any of the other makers do as good or consistant a job for the $$$...
i've owned well over 75 differant 45 autos over the last 30+ years , and i end up back where i started with a issue style 1911a1 with no changes...
get the Springfield...

[Plinkerton]

Thanks, HD.

[Jeff OTMG]

Josef Dlask makes one of the nicest I have ever seen.

[Tamara]

That's freakin' disgusting.

If you can't answer these 3 questions, you might as well buy a Glock. It doesn't matter what gun you use, you just want to spray-and-pray anyway.

I think you need to shut your mouth before you start telling me what you think I'm doing. Why don't you go back and read this thread you have pretended to read, and not waste your own time posting the longest reply on this thread, not to mention the most out of line. You might want to change your name to Jerry the Unhelpful A**hole.

Closed.

Any questions as to "why?", feel free to PM me. :scrutiny: