I need opinions on 1911s

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Paladin5469

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I've recently got into bulls-eye shooting and I'm enjoying the hell out of it. Right now I only have a S&W 41 22. and I want to purchase something in .45 so I can compete in a full bulls-eye match. To be clear I fully expect to sink in money towards accurizing in order to make any of my choices suitable for bullseye competition. After looking at all different styles of .45 pistols I am inevitably led to the 1911 platform due to the mountain of parts available to it and the expertise available. The thing is, I don't know what brand of 1911, out of the hundreds, to look for. I've done my searching but with the 1911 there is definitely so much information available that it's difficult to sift through the non pertinent data. Right now I am interested in a few particular choices:

1. SIT Spartan- Pros: STI Parts, QC, factory backing, and is new Cons: Armscor made frame and slide (the forward cocking serrations and the billboard on the side doesn't do it for me but that is just a personal preference issue and not a mechanical fault of the gun)

2. The WWII US Govt Property Colt at the local funstore that someone has already fooled around with (previous owner seems to have stippled the front strap and installed adjustable sights) -- Pros: Heritage. It's very cool. (I know, I know. Not a rational reason to choose this particular gun but the heart wants what the heart wants). Someone has already cut it up so I wouldn't feel bad accurizing it. To be honest, If I didn't know any better (which I don't) I could swear it was set up to be a hardball gun. Cons: It's well used. Probably a 90% gun. More importantly, I wonder how the steel in this old war horse compares with modern weapons.

3.Chinese Made Norinco- Pros: Supposedly made of 5100 series steel. Supposedly seriously top shelf stuff to make a gun out of. Definitely good steel for large knives. Popular platform for custom 1911s (so im told) Cons: Chinese

That's what I'm looking at now. I'm not particularly considering anything from Springfield or other makers, but if someone can make a compelling case I'm all ears.

Oh, and thanks for your time and opinions
 
If you like the old colt and the price is right I would jump on it IF...
-The barrel to bushing fit is tight
-The barrel to slide fit is tight
The barrel to slide fit can be checked by pushing firmly on the barrel hood with the slide forward. I wouldn't worry about Colt's steel, I'm not the biggest Colt fan but I know they don't make junk. The other 1911 I would look for on the used rack is a kimber custom classic, not the custom II, the custom classic is built like a true 1911 should be (No drop safety). As for other formats of pistols, well, there is a reason the 1911 has been taking names and kicking but for nearly a century!
 
Sorry you are not going to like mine but here it is anyway. The 1911 sucks in this modern day in my opinion. There are far better designs available from a sundry of gun makers
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I think you are very ill informed especially since the OP's first choice "STI" is one of the most popular brands in competitions. What did you have in mind Doc Glock, since you only had bad things to say without mentioning an alternative. I often say " if you are complaining without a solution in mind you are just part of the problem" think about that next time you post.

For the OP I would reccomend STI just not the model you selected, I would look at the Trojan for single stack and the Edge for a double stack. Of course these are double the suggested price bracket through your examples. Nort to mention Les Baer is only a few hundred more than my suggestions and a much better gun IMHO.
 
Sorry you are not going to like mine but here it is anyway. The 1911 sucks in this modern day in my opinion. There are far better designs available from a sundry of gun makers.
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I agree. Far to complicated for the average shooter.
 
The 1911 sucks
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Not exactly. ;)
Far to complicated for the average shooter.
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Seriously? Didn't seem complicated to me at 17, and still doesn't. Wonderful piece of engineering IMHO.


Anyway, the OP wanted an opinion of the three 1911's, not someone to tell him 1911s suck.
 
Of the 3 you listed, I'd get the Spartan. What I would Recommend is a Springfield, a Mil-Spec is a great gun to build on.


BTW: Ignore people who say foolish things while not knowing what they are talking about, you know who they are.
 
Doc Glock and EddieNFL: I'm not trying to be critical of your opinion but is there another .45 platform out there that can compete as successfully in a bulls-eye competition? I'm not trying to say that only 1911s can be successful in bulls-eye matches it is just that it seems to me that 1911's can get to the accuracy standard demanded by bulls-eye a bit easier than any other platform. If I'm wrong please speak to it.

schmeky: The Les Baers sure are nice. I wish I could afford one. My overall goal is to build a competitive bullseye pistol out of a mid-range 1911. I think that's doable. I know, I know. I'd probably be happier just saving up and buying top shelf the first time but making something better than it ought to be is an attractive endeavor. I dig the extra effort. "A little poison now and then makes for agreeable dreams." -Nietzsche

The Real Mags: The Trojan sure is nice and is definitely on my short list.
 
Banned? Clique? :confused:

Interesting that you felt the need to tell the OP his pistol of choice sucks, and then later list what you deem weak points to the design. Raining on peoples parades just isn't nice. ;)

Over and out. AC
 
I have no experience with RIA, but from what I understand they are pretty good for the price. I haven't heard of too many people complaining about them. To my knowledge they are made in the Phillipines. Just a suggestion.
 
Paladin,

If you want to build your own, there are numerous platforms to pick from. This is my Norinco I fitted a Kart barrel to; I managed to get 5 rounds out of 7 into 3/4". The problem with a gun like a Norc is the slide to frame fit. Keep in mind the slide frame fit is not critical for accuracy, but for the utmost in accuracy potential, i.e. competitive bullseye shooting, it could be the difference between winning and loosing.

All the advice you've been given is good (well almost all of it :rolleyes: ), and if you don't already know, a precision fitted match barrel is the heart of the 1911's superb accuracy potential.

norincoslide007.jpg
 
Does that get me banned from your clique?
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No, Doc Glock, but it will make it darned hard for you to shoot in NRA Conventional Pistol competition (bullseye matches.)

I guess you could shoot a Pardini or S&W in the bigbore phase.
But it has to be a very accurate .45 ACP of some sort.

And you could shoot a Beretta for Service Pistol.



For the O.P., I would try to fit in a Colt or Springfield and when I was sure I was having fun, get it accurized by a bullseye specialist gunsmith.
 
Seriously? Didn't seem complicated to me at 17, and still doesn't. Wonderful piece of engineering IMHO.
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Doc Glock and EddieNFL: I'm not trying to be critical of your opinion but is there another .45 platform out there that can compete as successfully in a bulls-eye competition?
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And my wife tells me I'm as subtle as a brick through a window.

My firearm choices are as follows:

Target practice - 1911

Carry - 1911

IDPA - 1911

IPSC - 1911

Three Gun - 1911, 1100 and M4

Bedside - 1911

PPC (years ago) - 1911

Lots of folks complain the 1911 is to large, heavy or uncomfortable for concealed carry. I've always subscribed to the Smith theory that a gun should be comforting, not necessarily comfortable. Maybe I'm too ignorant to know any better or maybe I'm not very sensitive.

I am by no means a gun expert
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But you are well versed in internet lore.
 
Paladin,

I'm just showing you this to show you can think out of the box. This is a CZ-97 I accurized. The best group I have ever fired @ 25 yards from a sandbag rest is 5 rounds in 9/16" with this pistol. So there are alternatives.

norincoslide053.jpg

Jim Watson is right, when the time comes, someone that specializes in bullseye 1911's will need to do some magic on whatever you choose.
 
Schmeky: That is a fine example of a 1911. Simple and accurate.

I suppose what I'm looking for is a reason not to lay money down on the old Colt. My biggest concern is not being able to get the colt to the accuracy standard needed or shooting a well worn gun to the point where it's not feasible as a bullseye gun.

Thanks for the great suggestions so far
 
I knew the 1911 fan boys would flame me but I just don't like the 1911 platform at all and that is just my opinion!
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No, it's a personal preference. I guess I could find a Glock thread and post my dislikes, but I'm not interested in Glock threads.
 
doc glock said:
The 1911 design has several design weak points.

Plunger tube staked on and vibrates loose. not on quality guns.

Ejector only staked on and vibrates loose. not on quality guns.

Hammer spring capture by rust in housing. never heard this one before.

Sear leaf spring spring varies with other functions, trigger, grip safety. so?

Not left hand user friendly. ambi controls are available everywhere

Weak stress point at barrel link. not an issue on quality guns.

Sharp edges when carrying concealed. not on a properly made one.

Too many friction points that require constant lubrication. well, you have the rails and barrel.

Non consistent tolerance specs by clone makers for parts. that's the nature of the design.

Use of MIM parts by current clone makers. not an issue if they're quality.

Now JMB also designed the .25 ACP and the .380 ACP so the 1911a1 was not God's gift to handgun shooters. who said they were?
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.....
 
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