help with getting a 1911

Rock Island for the win.

Define "decent price".

I consider paying $700-1000 a decent price for a quality 1911, some people think that's too much and others will pay far more without blinking.

I was infformed by a gun expert at a reputable gun dealer that rock island makes the best budget 1911 with american classic at a close second....also a ruger sr1911 is a good one...sells for about 600

2wheels said:

Define "decent price".

I consider paying $700-1000 a decent price for a quality 1911, some people think that's too much and others will pay far more without blinking.

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+1

We're gonna need some sort of price range. FWIW, $650+ opens up a very good range of choices. Below that, you start making a lot of compromises.
This is not to say that Rock Island and it's Armscor cousins are bad guns. You may just find them a bit rough around the edges with some of the finer points.
In the $650ish & up range, I'd look at the STI Spartan. Philippine frame, but built for STI, who know a thing or two about a good 1911.
Also if you can actually find one, the Ruger SR1911. I've only seen one, but it looks to be a lot of gun for the money.
Look at pricing for Springfield Armory, they may have something you'd like in the $600 to $700 range as well. I haven't really looked recently.
Don't overlook the potential for good used 1911s. You might be able to score something excellent with a bit of patience and careful searching.

The current issue of American Handgunner has an article titled "Beer Budget 1911s"
They looked at Springfield, Rock Island, Auto-Ordnance, Para USA & Metro Arms.
The writer, Pat Cascio, decided that the $450 Metro Arms - American Classic II was the best of the bunch.

Yes, I'm biased, (and happen to have an American Classic II) but I was very happy to read the results of his tests.

The ACII is not a stock GI model, but has a lowered, flared ejection port, extended safety, extended slide release & extended beaver-tail grip safety.
I did replace the hideous grips on it, but that's the only "feature" that says poor quality.

I've run well over 1k (possibly 2k) of assorted ammo through it with only 2 FTFeeds.


Grand total OTD was about $450.

Happy 1911 shopping!

I will recommend looking at the Remington 1911R1 cost is under $700.00 and it is made in the USA. I have one and it is a great shooting pistol.

Still the rock for the win. New fs tac 520.00 otd money left
Over for break in ammo good holster belt and grips,
I have 3 rocks so it could be just the kool/aide
Talking

Wrong thread

STI Spartan.

I picked up a Springfield Armory Champion Operator for 805.00 Hard to do better than that.

If i were to pick the best bang for the buck and general use, I'd opt for either the Rock Island already mentioned, the STI Spartan already mentioned, or the Springfield G.I.

If you plan to do any work on it, go with the Springfield because the frames are drilled and milled square to far tighter tolerance than the others. But it you want to buy one and leave it "as is", go with the R.I. or STI. If you want bells and whistles at a fairly low price, look hard at the Rock Island tactical. For a somewhat plain Jane but nice looking and well built pistol, look at the STI.

I can't speak to the Ruger, but they have good reviews so far, but limited due to recent release. Taurus seems to have a good following, but I've never shot one and only handled one once several years ago.

Given my experience with Springfield (X3) and RIA, I am looking forward to my Ruger SR1911.

I bought a rough, rattly, worn out springfield gi for 400 bucks. Then I bought springs, pins, ext slide stop, ext safety, ed brown grip safety, hammer, disc, etc etc and with a new set of grips all in all I spent about $400 on parts and tools, including a sear jig, and a checkering file. I welded up the barrel lugs and hood, recut them on the mill, (most of the barrell work could have been hand done with a file honestly,) and then welded up the rails and re-cut them to make the slide tighter on the frame. Fitting the slide after the weld/cut work took 2 hrs., the checkering all took 5 hrs, the hammer/sear/trigger work took 4 hrs, the bead blasting and polishing took 4 hrs. and oh yeah, I bob tailed the gun using the original main spring housing which required welding in the old spring hole and smoothing then checkering the flat, polishing the round edge, that alone took 5 or 6 hours.
What's my point? If you just want a gun to buy cheap and go shoot, do the 400 specials and go shoot. You'll end up with a gun that isn't special to anyone, and shoots about a three inch group at 25 yards, but hey, it's cheap, and that's okay.
If you want a reall project gun and have the tools and skill, (or desire to spend time learning to fullfill the project and enjoy earning the pride that goes with diligent work,) then do like I did, spend $800 bucks and about 40 hours of your free time after work on the project. If you do your homework and take pride in your work, it'll look nice when your done, be special to you and those in your club as they watch you learn and adore the process, and if you know how to tighten it up it'll shoot like mine, which is to say about an inch and 3/4 at 25 yards.
If you want the best, and want a status symbol piece drop 2500-3 grand or more on the name brand premium guns, and though you won't have any personal pride in its creation it'll be worth more as a status piece, and it should probably shoot under an inch and a half at 25 yards.
Now, you must decide what is important to you, and enjoy the decision, whatever it may be. I don't make any recommendations or insinuations on which path you choose, only that you do it safely, and with the constitution in mind.

Get a Springer Range Officer- top of your budget, but it has alot of the minor tweaks done already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V2eFMBe1P0