1911 .45 opinions

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jhunter

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I am new here as you can see. I have been searching/reading this forum for a while now, but just signed up because I had a question. I have several rifles, and like to collect them. However, I gave my grandparents my only handgun I owned to use while they travel in their RV. I am going to buy a new one for home protection very soon, and will use it for home protection, and carry it when going on camping/offroad trips. I really like the look and the feel of the 1911 style frame.

I am leaning very hard right now toward the Taurus 1911... I can get this gun new for 550.00. There are 3 in my town at the moment. I have the money to get a nice springfield, or a very nice used springfield (1200.00). My question for you guys... Will I regret this later down the road? Should I spend my budget (1200) on a top of the line, of save 600.00 and get what looks like a very solid 1911 in the Taurus? From all I have read, they seem to be a great gun. I just do not want to buy something I will regret later. This seems to be a gun that will need no mods in the future, but I want it to hold up over time. I will pay the extra 600 if for something that will, but are these really as good as some say? Well, sorry this was so long, thanks for you help everyone.. Just want to make sure I am going in the right direction with all of this..
 
I haven't shot one, but I thought the taurus looked great. There was one I found in a gunshop for 550 too, and for all the features it comes with, I think it offers a good bargain over other 1911's.
 
Thats the bad thing with me. I cant shoot one before I buy. I have a buddy that might buy one, but he just bought a new AR-15 and already ordered another rifle. I was hoping he would get one first. I agree, that thing looks like a 1000.00 gun. It felt like one too which shocked me. I just worry about long term. Hell, I guess I could always buy two for the price of one when I compare costs of the higher end brands. I was dead set on a sprinfield until I got to hold this one first hand, now I am 2nd guessing it. Should would be a lot saved for a new rifle.
 
I don’t know what model 1911 Springfield you have had in mind but I was just on Davidson’s Gallery of guns and found a new 1911A1 5” Parkerized with Lightweight Speed Trigger,Delta Lightweight Hammer, a High-Hand Beavertail Grip Safety and Novak Night Sights for $805.00 out the door.

If you can’t find an FLL participating with Davidson’s in you zip code area at least you can get a price comparison by plugging in my zip in the locater, 33060, and check out the prices at Tactical Design. I typically do this to get a range on selling prices for new guns. Then negotiate…

If you’re thinking you might not be happy with one vs. the other then maybe a little more research is in order. I’ve personally never owned a Springfield Armory 1911 but the little gun shop I’ve done a bit of business with recommends them highly. They are also are distributors for many of the high end custom 1911s and they still highly recommend Springfield.
 
I have the Taurus 1911 and I absolutely love it. The straight eight sights take a little getting used to, but I wish I had them on all my handguns now. I definitly recommend the Taurus.
 
I don't know jhunter, 1911's have a way of multiplying on ya somehow. I find them... addicting. If it's only ONE, buy the best you can afford, get some GOOD magazines and a bunch of ammo and learn the platform.

Your age may affect the type of sights you want (or need) as mil-spec sights are somewhat smallish. I think Springfield makes excellent 1911's (Brazil) and they have a good warranty program and a good custom shop in house... those could be plusses down the road. All of the Taurus' handguns I own are pretty darned good Brazilian made weapons as well, tho' I do read horror stories about their customer service (haven't needed to find out on my own yet), and several people seem to love their new 1911's... which seem to have all the bells and whistles a lot of people want.

I like my 1911's pretty much stock (tho' larger sights w/ dots do let me come up for aimed shots a little quicker than the mil-spec variety) and tho' I've always gravitated towards Colt products I own a Springer or two (GI plain jane) and 6 or 7 Colts and one or two other military style copies (Systema and a Norinco).

What with Kimber, S&W, SIG, RIA, Chas Daly, and a few others making and selling them for a reason, I think you'd do best to find one as close to stock (as J.M. Browning's original design) and shoot the heck out of it. Maybe not a Springfield GI but go up their line to their Mil Spec 5" (bigger brighter sights and larger slide ejection portal). Things like FLGR, ambi safety might be nice, but aren't really necessary (to me). Look for good (tight) barrel to slide lockup at the hood and barrel to bushing fit at the front end.

And good magazines to feed it.

If you're like me (or a lot of others) it'll only be your first 1911, probably to be followed home by several others over the years. (They ALL need a good home) :D
 
Got two

both bought used for <$400@. It doesn't matter what you spend, soon you will have spent more on ammo.
Good luck.
 
If it were me, I'd use the budget to get myself a 1911 that fit me well, but for well below the $1200. If you find one that has been used and not abused, that's even better. Just make sure if has sights you can see and isn't unreliable. I really like Springfield myself. Even if you got one that was dressed up and ~$750, that still leaves you $450 for other things. I'd get 3-4 more magazines, a good holster and good supply of ammo. That's another $280 or so. That leaves $170 to use to start saving up for a good training course. If you were able to find a slightly cheaper pistol (like the Springfield Mil-spec model, for example, at ~$500), then you could get that training even quicker or right away.
 
Springfield, Kimber, Colt or S&W (in that order). I DO NOT buy Taurus products (no flame intended, their 1911A1 may be GREAT. I just WON'T buy one). There are, of course, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Novak, Vickers, etc. (NOT in any order) if you want braggin' rights.

You just can't go wrong with a 1911 from any of the first four. Their quality & Customer Service make them the Mid-grade hitters. Past that...look for the deal & features that suit ya'.
 
If you end up getting something over about $600, be prepared for this: If it ain't a Colt (in the premium bracket), or it ain't one of the sub-$600 guns, it probably isn't going to work right without some "break in" or "tweaking" or even a full blown gunsmith session.

The cheaper ones seem to run more reliably due to more forgiving tolerances. They are less accurate since those tolerances affect barrel/slide and barrel/bushing lockup, but they run very well.

I bought a Charles Daly 1911 and it ran. Just ran. I wore the bluing off after several thousand rounds, several hot sweaty summers in Phoenix, and several abusive backpacking trips, so I had it parkoted. Then I put several thousand more rounds through it.

I decided it was time to upgrade, so I bought a Sig GSR Revolution 1911. Right off the bat it needed the feed ramp machined since Sig didn't know what they were doing. It had about a 40% failure to feed rate out of the box with ball ammo. I've now shot exactly 290 rounds through it since the machining, and had 2 fail-to-feeds (150 factory rounds - magtech and wwb, 140 handloads with 230gr ball... the ftf's were factory ammo) due to the bullet nose impacting on the top of the chamber at the incorrect angle.

Whatever your new gun costs, if it is a "premium" 1911 it will need some smithing probably. Keep that in mind.

Also something else to consider: Taurus aren't the best guns in the world. $550 is high for one of their guns, IMO. I'd much rather get a Springer Mil-Spec for about $475 in my neck of the woods. WWII GI models go for around $400 here.

My only taurus will probably remain my only taurus. It is a model 94 revolver, not an auto, but it isn't confidence-inspiring.

Good luck shopping... with everything that is on the market right now and my experience with only a handful of 1911's (Daly, Sig, Colt and Springer), I'd strongly suggest either a Colt or Springer.
 
Well, here is about what I have it narrowed down to. The PT1911 is 635.00 out the door new. There is a springfield 1911A1 marked down and is 756.00 out the door new, as well as the exact same gun used for 700 out the door. I can also get the remake 1911 springfield WWII version for 540.00 out the door. It is very plain as you guys know. The other two Springfields have a few options on them, and the PT has a couple of more, but nothing too great. The springfields did seem more durable. The slide and stuff felt really tight. Also, the slide release mechanism (I dont know the terms yet) did not function as well on the PT. You had to pull the slide back some to get it to release. With the springfields, you just pushed it down, and it would snap back into position with ease. All of these will of course come with case and an extra clip. I like the basic WWII version, but I also do not want to "miss" the "extras" down the road. Thanks again for all the help, I am very new to the 1911/semiauto's and thanks for not getting on my case about not knowing the term's of the different parts yet. All other models mentioned are above my budget right now. I have 1200, which will buy a lot, but now really want to spend about 700.00 because I have found plenty that will suit my needs at this price. No need to spend more than what is needed IMO. Thanks again for the help, I will let you guys know what I end up going with when I get it, as well as ask many more questions about it im sure!
 
Reality is most if not all 1911's work out of the box. If you get feeding problems it will be under warranty. Inconvenient, yes, but it will get fixed. Spend $600 to $700 on hardware and if you must spend the balance get some first class training and trigger time. It will take a while in your developing skills before a high end guns begins to make a difference in your results. You have to get the basic skill set down pat before technology makes a difference. No different than learning to golf. A certain skill level is absolutely necessary before technology has any effect at all.
 
My advice to all, please don't overlook the Dan Wesson 1911's. They are handbuilt and fitted without the Ed Brown, Les Baer price.
 
Get it!

I searched for months and fondled and codled a bunch of different 1911's. For the money you cannot beat it. All the nay sayers have colts, kimbers and other high dollar guns that need thier pride protected. To give the nod to a 500 dollar imported pistol would depriciate the value of thier handguns at least in thier own minds. Here are the advantages of the PT1911 over other higher prices (entry level) guns
SA GI as basic as they come no flared lowe ejection port, cheap a$$ sights, 1 mag, no ambi safety etc
Kimber (don't remember model) Nice gun 200 bucks more. Basic black on black sights, no ambi safety, 1 mag.
Colt - Nothing even compares when you bring price into the picture.

All the aforementioned are great guns, but I am betting that my Taurus out shoots each model mentioned comparitively equiped. You cannot go wrong with the PT1911. Will it hold is value like the "big names" probably not, but I do not intend on selling it. It works to good. Not to mention for the extra 200 bucks you would spend on a kimber, colt or SA you can do some serious customizing. New hammer, grips, match barrel
 
Man, I am going in to purchase one on Tuesday I think. I hope its the right choice. I asked the guy to give me a fair price 1 year and 1000 rounds down the road. He said I could expect 325-350 if it was in good shape. I can deal with that I suppose. It will cost 575 new, so thats not too bad of a loss on a brand new gun. I too would not plan on selling it, but you never know.. I want something that will hold its value somewhat. He said it would not bring in what the higher end guns would, but I am also not paying a ton up front. I just cant find any reason not to get this gun. A bit worried about service, but maybe I will not need them..
 
Yikes, If you're happy with 40% depreciation on a firearm after only a year then more power to you, but I wouldn't be.

If you shop around, a Colt 1991 NRM will only cost you an extra hundred bucks more than that Taurus, and I guarantee won't lose 40% of its value.

I'm not ragging on Taurus at all. In fact I recommend their little Model 62 pump action .22 rifle every chance I get. In the 1911 world though, I would go with a builder with a more proven track record, and better resale down the road if you decide to make a change.

It's your money though, so do as you wish. :)
 
Well, that number was based on the pawn shop value. I assume I could sell to an individual for more (about what they could get it for when the shop adds in their profit). 40% depriciation if I am in a "must have cash" situation. I figure they would resale it for 450 or so, and I could probably wait around and get that with time. I asked him the same about a Springfield that was listed at 1K, and he said they would give about 800 if all I did was walk out and walk back in the next week, never taking it out of the box. They said around 700-750 later on. Of course both of these were new. They carry new handguns as well.
 
You can buy a nice Colt for the money you have to spend .SHOP around and don't buy just because I want . Look around learn:scrutiny: Don't just jump at first one.
 
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