9mm 1911 Off The Shelf Tack Driver Wanted

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MSR_Gal

MSR_Gal

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I’d like to get a 9mm 1911. This will be strictly a range queen. Not for carry. Like a 9mm Gold Cup, if such existed.

I’m looking for great mechanical accuracy (approx. 1” @ 50 yds from ransom rest with match jacketed ammo?), great trigger & adjustable target sights, and low recoil/muzzle flip. So weight is a good thing, particularly out front. It will be used strictly for indoor/outdoor practice, mostly at 50 feet to 25 yards. Ability to mount a red dot or reflex (Burris Surefire) sight would be a plus.

I’d like it to be able to do what I want right out of the box, and don’t plan to customize it. But I’d like a gun that the custom smiths are willing to work on just in case I change my mind.

I want it to be “pre-series 80” and I never remove a factory safety, so I wouldn’t consider getting a series 80 and removing the firing pin safety.

Other than being a series 80, the Colt Elite IX looked like about what I have in mind.

Can I get something like this out of either Colt or Springfield Armory?

What model would it be?

Any other makes I should consider?
 
S&W 952, expect sub-inch at 50yds. The STI longslide has it's proponents and I've shot a couple custom shop Kimbers that will almost equal the 952s.
 
"I’m looking for great mechanical accuracy (approx. 1” @ 50 yds from ransom rest with match jacketed ammo?), great trigger & adjustable target sights "

The only type of 1911 that I know of providing that kind of accuracy is a full custom 1911 pistol from a good Bullseye gunsmith like Bob Marvel. Check out his website:
http://www.bobmarvelguns.com/

Good shooting and be safe.
LB
 
I was gonna say Rock River as well. A friend of mine is ordering a 6" 9mm version for PPC. I believe they can build a 1.5" at 50 yds. gun.
 
Some of the RR's "look like" what I'm after. I just don't know anything about their quality or customer service. The only 1911 I have ever had is my Mk IV Series 70 Gov't Model I've had since 1977.

Don't know about STI either.

I'm sure Bob Marvel could fix me up, but I was hoping I could find an acceptable gun "off the shelf".
 
You can't do better in the accuracy department than RRA, very popular bullseye guns in 45...but you can probably expect to wait 4 - 6 months, esp in 9mm.
/Bryan
 
STI Trojan in 9 mm. Very accurate out of the box. It won't be a bullseye gun, but none of the 9 mm are bullseye.
 
I have a friend that shoots competitively with two Smith 952 9mm's. He has both the 5" and 6" and just raves about them. Seems like your best bet for a factory match grade 9mm.
 
The RRA Limited Police Competition 9mm (either 5" or 6" bbl) is $2355 in the 2006 catalog I've got. If the SA and STI are <$1500, that is a lot of practice ammo. Are the RRA, Brown, Wilson, etc. that much more accurate and higher overall quality? If so, buy quality and you only cry once. Or are the STI and SA are as good, just a better value? Doesn't make sense but I gotta ask.

So, of those offering a pre-Series 80 in 9mm we have:

Tier 1 - RRA, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Custom, Ed Brown

Tier 2 - STI and SA

And Tier 1 is really worth the premium over Tier 2

Any disagreement or other comments?

And if a RRA is going to cost over $2000, how much does Bob Marvel charge to build a comparable gun?

Where is the best place to get a good price on a RRA, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Custom, Ed Brown? Any in the Houston area?

The S&W 952 ain't a Series 70 Gov't Model, but does S&W still make them and whats the street price for a new one now?
 
I'd go to the Bullseye forum on google groups and search 9mm.

Lot's of good stuff on extremely accurate 9mm's. Very detailed info for the most accurate 9mm guns and ammo.

Worth the "read" before you decide to spend your money IMO.
 
+1 on the STI Trojan. That is unless you want to drop some serious bucks on a RRA or Wilson.

Bob
 
Just my opinion, but you seem to be after bullseye pistol accuracy. In that case RRA/Baer/Brown are definately worth the extra money. As far as having a full house bullseye 9mm 1911 built most of the really top builders are running $3000 and up, and a 1-3 year wait.

The STI's are also good guns, but are primarily built for action pistol shooting which is where they made their name. Ultimate accuracy is not as important in IPSC/IDPA since you aren't shooting tiny little bullseyes, so the guns are built more for reliability.


As others have mentioned, the Smith 952 is often the ultimate accuracy 9mm, if you can do without a 1911 frame.
 
9mm 1911

I just purchased a Springfield Armory EMP (see it detailed on their site). It is a great gun and came with a very good list of accesseries 3 mags, holster, 2 mag holder, locking device and a 1911 Loaded Coupon for good descounts on 1911 accesseries and other items.

The gun may have a breakin period (mine was two hundred rounds) and they ask you to shoots 115 gr rounds for about the first 300 hundred rounds. The gun may be the only 1911 compact that was redesigned for the 9mm (15 parts were redesiged) and the gun looks soo great!
 
Springfield Custom Shop has a couple of PPC models that might do.

If you could find a cop who was changing guns, the S&W PPC 9 is well ahead of the 952. But they will only sell them to cops because they lack "safety devices" such as magazine disconnectors and grip safeties that you and I are not smart enough to get along without.
 
I'm VERY happy with my STI Trojan 9mm. It is very accurate but I'm using it mainly for IDPA and steel gaming. Shot it today in the DPC Steel Metal Mania match and finished 9th of 29. Had the Dawson Fibre optic sight installed up front and was very happy with the purchase from Dawson Precision.

It's my favorite 9mm 1911 of my two (STI Trojan and Springfield EMP). I'm waiting on my holy grail Les Baer Premier II 9mm with Tactical package to come in. It's been on order for 14+ weeks :(

I'm sure it will be awesome as my other Les Baer's are.

James
 
I've owned four Colt 'pre-series 80' 9mm's (two govt/two commanders); none of which were anything to write home about accuracy-wise out of the box. They clean up well, but out of the box - nope...

My recommendation based on your wants is to get a Springfield 9134L w/adj sights and ship it to Dave Sams to have his spec 9mm 1911 barrel fitted. Call Dave, tell him what you're after - you will not be disappointed.
 
Anybody here done business with Bud's?

I googled them to try to find a phone number. I ran accross a compaint instead.

I know anyone can end up with a complaint or 2.

Anyone got good things to say about Bud's?

Any sources for S&W 952's at similar pricing closer to Houston?
 
another 952 suporter, I recently got a 952-2 longslide, and I love it. I have never been a super accurate shooter, but I will tell you I can shoot way better with my 952 than I can with the wife's mosquito sport (a 22 you'd think would shoot a little easier for a novice, plus I shot a lot of 22 before I got the 952). but the 952 shoots better. Way way better. Plus it's a really nice looking gun. I can usually do about 3" at 25 yards...2handed a few of my clip always lands within 1/2 inch or so of dead center, usually about 2 or 3, out of the 9. I can drill it at 15 ft. one handed. All in all, it's a fantasic pistol. I got mine for $1500 on gunbroker +$25 ship + $25 ffl fee. not too bad I thought, but I saw one go (new) for about $1400. BTW: I've shot beretta 92 and glock 17 in 9mm and they don't even come close. I know this gun can shoot a lot tighter with a steadier hand holding her. I shot about 1250 rounds thru her about 200 a session. Needs ammo with a bit of pop. Basic Rem. 115gr wasn't enough Fiocchi 115g no fails in 1200 rds Obligatory pic.
side1he5.jpg
 
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I think I'm going to order a RRA Bullseye Wadcutter in 9mm and standard (5" barrel) length with the Bo-Mar Sight rib and then order the RRA scope mounting rib with it.

Is ordering it in Black T finish worth the extra $$$?

Only problem is that RRA uses red Loctite 271 on the rib mounting screws instead of the more appropriate Loctite 242. That means I'll need to heat the slide assembly to 450F to remove the screws without shearing their heads off.

Can anyone tell me if Black T will be damaged by being heated to 450F in an oven?

If Black T won't handle being heated in this manner, how about conventional blueing or parkerizing?

I plan to use a Ultradot on it all the time and keep the Bo-Mar sight rib in case I change my mind.

I also plan to use a Marvel unit 1 on the lower with an Ultradot, but will likewise order it with both sight and scope ribs.
 
You can use a soldering iron to just heat the screw heads, or inform RRA your plans to remove the rib and ask them to use blue #242.

Joe
 
Bob Marvel Guns

You order a gun from his shop, wait 2-3 years, get it out of the box and it should shoot better than 1" over 50 yards!
 
Thanks Joe,

I am planning to ask RRA to not use the red Loctite 271.

But if they won't devite from their SOP, I'll try the soldering iron on the screw heads before I try putting the whole slide in the oven.

Anybody have a gun with Black T finish? What exactly is it and is it worth the extra $200 RRA charges for it over standard blueing?

Any advice on the best/most reliable 9mm 1911 magazines? Colt? Meggar? Wilson Combat? RRA? Other?
 
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