What's a good 1911 in the $700-$800 range?

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I got one of these too and it has been fine. Had a few problems with a too big slide stop part installed by a bad gunsmith (me) but a little work on that part and it runs fine.
 
In your price range, and American made criteria, the Ruger and Remington are your best bet. But keep checking for used guns! You might find a sweet deal on something else.

But my opinion us that the Ruger is even better than a Colt, or Kimber.

I also saw that Remington was producing a Commander length, as well as Ruger. Might be a while till we see either, though.
 
Sorry, I'm back. Shouldn't start threads when it's my week on for 3rd shift.

Now, I made mention of the importance of an extended beavertail as my fat hand webbing has a tendency to get mauled by semis, but after looking at some pics I'm wondering if it's necessary. Do traditional 1911's with regular hammers and, uh, non extended beavertails have the ability to hammer bite? If not, the Remmy R1 or the Springer Mil-Spec can certainly be options.
 
If hammer bite is your biggest concern, you can just bob the hammer spur a bit.

I'd never experienced hammer bit, but I can see how it can happen with the normal length hammer spur and the regular length tang on the grip safety. I use a beavertail grip safety more for the consistent hand positioning that it offers when drawing at speed.
 
Another RIA vote, I really don't think you can beat them anywhere near the price point and with ammo costs what they are, a good 1911 within budget WITH ammo is very hard to beat IMO. I am a proud RIA 1911 owner.
 
There should be no votes fir RIA, because the OP wants American made. They're not bad guns, but they do not meet his criteria.

Like I said, country of origin not a deal breaker, just would be nice to have an American firearm full of American history produced by an American manufacturer.

Pardon my ignorance, but when looking for a model similar to Ruger's offering you say you'll have to spend a bit more, how much more are we talking? I understand the cost behind a Colt because, well, it's a Colt, but the others?

And here I thought $800 was a decent amount to spend on a single handgun, this thread is making me feel poor, and stupid.:uhoh:
As you can tell that is not exactly correct
 
Another RIA vote, I really don't think you can beat them anywhere near the price point and with ammo costs what they are, a good 1911 within budget WITH ammo is very hard to beat IMO. I am a proud RIA 1911 owner.
RIA 1911 .45 ACP Tactical for $500. Is very appealing to me but how does RIA compare to the High Standard 1911, Remington R-1 1911, Auto Ordinance 1911, and Springfield Range Officer 1911 all in .45 ACP?
 
The Rock Island Tactical has a solid reputation. It's made in the Phillipines. The Tactical model has most of the upgrades most people have done to a GI. Better sights, better trigger (mine is outstanding) ambi safety, beavertail. At around $550 OTD it's a steal, IMO. Especially in California where the 70 type 1911s that are rostered are few.
A lot of people knock the finish. It's Parkerized. I'm not sure what they think a Park'd pistol is supposed to look like but mine looks just fine.;)

This is the part where the Kimber guys chime in with "You get what you pay for etc etc etc." Haters gonna hate. Owners love the Rocks and should you need customer service their center in Nevada is reputed to be top notch.
With $800 you would have enough left for a box or two of ammo...
...if you can find any. ;)
Is the RIA Tactical 1911 .45 ACP California approved?
 
RIA 1911 .45 ACP Tactical for $500. Is very appealing to me but how does RIA compare to the High Standard 1911, Remington R-1 1911, Auto Ordinance 1911, and Springfield Range Officer 1911 all in .45 ACP?
"How they compare" is clearly subjective, but having compared the RIA side by side with several others , the RIA doesn't have the "nicer finish" of some, but that is not that important to me as mine was going IWB holster anyway. Also the RIA Customer Service is second to none from everything I can find out, though I cannot say for sure since mine has never had the first issue with many rounds downrange. I would not hesitate to buy another and likely will .
 
I highly recommend the Springfield Armory M1911A1 .45 ACP handguns. I have two of them, and they have been a real blessing to my shooting career. I won a $5000 competition with one of them back in 1990. And countless pin matches as well.
 
I like most have looked at the RIAs before as they are a great value. Hell, the Philippines have as much to do with the introduction of the 1911 as America, so they get a pass.

That being said, I think the Ruger is it. I've grown up with Rugers and have always been a fan, so if they're making one why not? For now that is.
 
I like most have looked at the RIAs before as they are a great value. Hell, the Philippines have as much to do with the introduction of the 1911 as America, so they get a pass.

That being said, I think the Ruger is it. I've grown up with Rugers and have always been a fan, so if they're making one why not? For now that is.
This is true as the .45 ACP was used against the Moro warriors since the .38 caliber wasn't stopping them in time as they would die afterwards killing a few soldiers with them until they dropped.
 
My dad bought a Springfield G.I. with the traditional safety. I told him with his big hands, he might be worried about hammer bite, but he never had a problem. I have never experienced hammer bite on any 1911, I have pretty normal-sized hands.

I paid $630 for my Kimber Custom II several years ago, NIB, they other day I was in Scheel's, they had a couple for $799. It's the best handgun I have ever owned, but if I had to replace it tomorrow, I would give the STI Spartan and the Ruger a look. (If I could find them.)
 
My dad bought a Springfield G.I. with the traditional safety. I told him with his big hands, he might be worried about hammer bite, but he never had a problem. I have never experienced hammer bite on any 1911, I have pretty normal-sized hands.

I paid $630 for my Kimber Custom II several years ago, NIB, they other day I was in Scheel's, they had a couple for $799. It's the best handgun I have ever owned, but if I had to replace it tomorrow, I would give the STI Spartan and the Ruger a look. (If I could find them.)
I am hearing alot of good things about the Ruger. But they only make it in stainless? No blue color finish or parkerized coating?
 
For now stainless is it, but who knows for the future. I think they're more worried about catching up on backlogged orders right now than potential new offerings in the finish department, but then again they did just release that Commander...

I was looking through a book I have here called "Classic Handguns of the 20th Century" or something by David Arnold, he talks briefly about the possibility of hammer bite. From what it looks like to me, it seems that the A1 modification took care of that as the original has almost no tang and the hammer extends quite a bit below it. I suppose the only way I'm gonna find out is to find one to try.
 
9mmepiphany,

Well...I guess there's a first time for everything. Haha! I'm really surprised that happened. I've never heard of that malfunction before - not just on the Ruger, but any 1911. Thanks for proving me wrong, I guess :uhoh:
 
Another RIA vote, I really don't think you can beat them anywhere near the price point and with ammo costs what they are, a good 1911 within budget WITH ammo is very hard to beat IMO. I am a proud RIA 1911 owner.
RIA as a Lifetime Warranty?
 
I may be totally wrong, but my understanding is the PI elections held up export (maybe production?) but things are back on track now as far as I have heard.
 
I own a Magnum Research(aka "Desert Eagle") 1911 and I think its one of the nicest 1911s you can get in the price range. Definitely an underrated gun. I have around 1200 flawless rounds through mine. Best trigger I've felt on a sub $1000 semi-auto.
 
When I first got into the 1911 game it was with a Springfield G.I. I didnt know all that much and i wanted to sort of test the waters to see if 1911's are for me. That gun is now gone, and i think there are better options available since I first got into the game. Today, if I were in that same situation I would probably opt for a Ruger SR1911 if you can find one that hasn't seen a major price increase due to demand.
 
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