Looking for New Target 1911

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mdauben

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I've managed to avoid the siren call of the 1911 for most of my life. For carry and home defense weapons, I've been more than satisfied with my polymer pistols. Recently, though, I had the chance to shoot a friends 1911, and I was really impressed. The gun seemed to almost aim itself and it was like I could not miss the target!

So... I'm thinking of adding a 1911 to my collection. I'm still think I've got self defense covered with the existing pistols, but I'd like the 1911 purely as a range gun, for casual target shooting. Looking at the offerings of my FLGS, the Ruger 1911 Target caught my eye as something that might be a good match for what I want.

The online reviews of this gun seem to be universally positive. Does anyone here have first hand experience with this version of the Ruger 1911? Are there any other similar guns I should consider?

Thanks!
 
The Sig Sauer Target model is in a similar price range to consider. I've been pleased with the one I have. That Colt is pretty!
 
Colt National Match. Buy it now. Your or your kids can thank me in 20 to 30 years.

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I don't have any kids, and I'm not sure I'll be around to care in 30 years, but that does look like a mighty fine pistol! From a quick check, the street price looks to be about $400 more than the Ruger, but its still in my price range.

The Sig Sauer Target model is in a similar price range to consider. I've been pleased with the one I have. That Colt is pretty!
Huh, another one to think about. Seems to fall between the Colt and Ruger in price.

Thanks for the ideas!
 
Agreed that 1911's are fun to shoot. :)
The only one I own is a Springfield 1911A1. It eats any ammo I feed it without problems. Aftermarket magazines can stick a bit (probably the cheap magazines, not the pistol's fault).
In my experience Ruger has good customer support if you ever have problems.
 
I have long been drooling over a Kimber Gold Match. Never shot one so my opinion is based merely on fondling a couple of them.

If you don't find exactly what you want off the self don't overlook having a custom built as well. You can get a standard model of your choosing new or used, have the target sights of your choosing installed, get a trigger job on it, and if necessary have the barrel and bushing fit. Some may only need a new bushing fit to shoot quite accurately, and some may need to have a new barrel and bushing fit.

That is what I chose to do when I went looking for a 1911 to shoot action pistol. I wanted a 9mm 1911 and found this older springfield armory to build on. It already had the bomar sight when I bought it. I added the adjustable trigger, wilson sear, colt gold cup hammer, and also fit a new barrel and bushing in it.

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I have long been drooling over a Kimber Gold Match. Never shot one so my opinion is based merely on fondling a couple of them.
Looks like another good possibility. Thanks!

If you don't find exactly what you want off the self don't overlook having a custom built as well.
Eh, I'm not really wild about buying a gun and then having to send it off and spend more money getting it the way I want, if I can possibly avoid it. My requirements are not all that strict, anyway. I'd like a gun with an adjustable target sight, a target bushing, and a decent trigger. I think I can get that from any of the recommendations give here so far.

Thanks again!
 
Remember, 1911s don't only come in 45acp. 9mm and 38 Super make excellent target pistols as well.
I'm fond of .45ACP, though! :)

The 38 Super may have some advantages, but as someone who doesn't hand load its got the drawback of being less available than 45. I know 9mm is both cheaper and at least as available as 45, but it just doesn't seem right in the 1911 platform.
 
I have a 4” & 5” Springfield Range Officer that are incredibly accurate and just a joy to shoot. Bone stock with no work to either one. Mine are both in 9, but the 45’s are supposed to be the same, I just done have any personal experience with them in 45.
 
I don't have any kids, and I'm not sure I'll be around to care in 30 years, but that does look like a mighty fine pistol! From a quick check, the street price looks to be about $400 more than the Ruger, but its still in my price range.


Huh, another one to think about. Seems to fall between the Colt and Ruger in price.

Thanks for the ideas!

What is th budget? The Colt is a good gun but there are better choices for just a little more $$$ IMHO or even a little less.

A little more:

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9mm is what 1911s were waiting for to be completely fulfilled. What could Browning have been thinking?
 
9mm is what 1911s were waiting for to be completely fulfilled. What could Browning have been thinking?

9mm is problematic in 1911. The mags are a mess. That does not mean you cannot get one that runs well but the 1911 platform is not made for 9mm. Browning was thinking that the US Army contract requested a pistol in 45 ACP so he built one to meet that criteria. If the contact has specified 2 barrels he would have built the gun with 2 barrels. It was contract work.
 
What is th budget? The Colt is a good gun but there are better choices for just a little more $$$ IMHO or even a little less.
The $1200 street price of the Colt is really about as high as I'll go for what is going to be pretty much a range toy.
 
9mm is problematic in 1911. The mags are a mess. That does not mean you cannot get one that runs well but the 1911 platform is not made for 9mm. Browning was thinking that the US Army contract requested a pistol in 45 ACP so he built one to meet that criteria. If the contact has specified 2 barrels he would have built the gun with 2 barrels. It was contract work.
I know. As I already said, just having a little fun.
 
9mm is problematic in 1911. The mags are a mess. That does not mean you cannot get one that runs well but the 1911 platform is not made for 9mm. Browning was thinking that the US Army contract requested a pistol in 45 ACP so he built one to meet that criteria. If the contact has specified 2 barrels he would have built the gun with 2 barrels. It was contract work.
I don't about that. I have 5 1911s, 3 in 45acp and 2 in 9mm. The 9s are a sig and the other is a kimber custom II. Both run just as good as the 45s. I use metalform, brownell and mecgar 9mm mags. I think the manufacturers have figured out how to get 9mm 1911s to run right.
 
Be different... Go with a Desert Eagle 1911 imported by Magnum Research, made by Bul in Israel.

They come in case hardened color too
 
I don't about that. I have 5 1911s, 3 in 45acp and 2 in 9mm. The 9s are a sig and the other is a kimber custom II. Both run just as good as the 45s. I use metalform, brownell and mecgar 9mm mags. I think the manufacturers have figured out how to get 9mm 1911s to run right.
I find the Brownell’s 10-round 9mm mags to be excellent. No failures since I started using them. Easy to load. Decent price.
 
I have the Ruger in best mm (10)
All black sights were not ideal so I "enhanced" them.
10mm1911's.jpg
 
I don't about that. I have 5 1911s, 3 in 45acp and 2 in 9mm. The 9s are a sig and the other is a kimber custom II. Both run just as good as the 45s. I use metalform, brownell and mecgar 9mm mags. I think the manufacturers have figured out how to get 9mm 1911s to run right.

I believe that the consensus is that 1911s in 9mm are not as reliable as they are in 45 ACP. That does not mean they do not run but the odds of buying a problem child is much higher in 9mm than 45 ACP. They are even more mag dependent than the 1911 in 45 and we all know that the 1911 in 45 ACP is “The Worlds Finest Close Quarters Sidearm”… and, “King of feedway stoppages.” . LOL
 
I believe that the consensus is that 1911s in 9mm are not as reliable as they are in 45 ACP. That does not mean they do not run but the odds of buying a problem child is much higher in 9mm than 45 ACP. They are even more mag dependent than the 1911 in 45 and we all know that the 1911 in 45 ACP is “The Worlds Finest Close Quarters Sidearm”… and, “King of feedway stoppages.” . LOL
That may be, but of the 5 different model semi-auto pistols I have owned, the Ruger SR 1911 in 9 mm has by far been the most reliable. Two other 9 mm types have had far more malfunctions although to be fair several hundred rounds through each gun has really settled them down. As I meant to say above, the Brownell’s mags have been flawless.
 
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