1911 or AR

You could get a very nice Garand for $800.
If the only rifles you currently own are rimfires, IMHO you should get a full power rifle as a priority over carbine(s).

Why are you limiting yourself to locally? In your price range they will all be similarly equipped and feel a lot alike.
CDNN has a whole lot of AR deals going on in your price range.

As for 1911's I wont buy something built on slave labor so that rules out imports from Asia Pac. Ive seen Colts online as low as 700+ so that is what I would go with.

If you haven't yet delighted yourself in the supreme trigger performance of a quality built 1911, that would be my recommendation.

I'd recommend Colt, Springfield Armory or .Ruger (in that order) for Quality built production guns.

Pure bliss

Good Ol' Boy said:

I'd still like to hear some opinions on the difference in a $500 AR and a $7-800 AR, and likewise and $4-500 1911 versus a $7-800 one. On either gun is it really worth the extra money? What if any differences are there?

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Do you have a preference for a dual or single stage factory trigger? For example,

http://www.impactguns.com/smith-wes...-assist-dust-cover-30rd-mag-022188868104.aspx
vs.
http://www.impactguns.com/rock-river-arms-r4-entry-tactical-rifle-dominator-2-sight-ar1250.aspx


Also, do you have a preference specifically for Colt? such as:
http://www.impactguns.com/colt-ar15-a4-lightweight-le-carbine-223556-16in-ar6720-098289023247.aspx
http://www.impactguns.com/colt-m4-carbine-6920-ar15-16in-6920.aspx
(Colt M4 spec sheet)

Good Ol' Boy said:

So my pre-edited reply will be that I like to support LGS when I can, and I do mostly.

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So do I.. I buy 95% of new guns from my local LGS. However, he cannot even come close to deals I can find online sometimes, thanks to stupid distributor deals with large vendors, etc.
It is what it is.

SSN Vet said:

If you haven't yet delighted yourself in the supreme trigger performance of a quality built 1911, that would be my recommendation.

I'd recommend Colt, Springfield Armory or .Ruger (in that order) for Quality built production guns.

Pure bliss

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Pretty much my recommendation above. Only additive is to get a Commander length if CCW is an potential option. That shorter barrel feels much nicer in the pants, and with as slim of a gun as a 1911 is you'll find a commander length 1911 pretty easy to conceal.

Though, AR's are so much freaking fun to shoot. I have a SW M&P with very few upgrades, still shoots great for some average guy.

For an AR, I love my Colt 6920 and I feel the same way about my Ruger SR1911CMD . great quality, made in the USA , by companies that have been around for many decades.. Ask anyone who owns a Colt or a Ruger ,these will be the last to be sold or traded.. You won't be sorry with either choice...

Just saying a guy who has Col. Cooper for an avatar ought to have a 1911 45ACP

If you shop carefully and take advantage of the many AR15 sales currently going on (get on the "Email Specials" list of places like Palmetto State Armory, Primary Arms, AIM Surplus, Joe Bob's Outfitters, CDNN, Centerfire Systems, etc.) you can put together a nice AR-15 and get an RIA 1911 for not much more than $800 (ignoring taxes, transfer fees and shipping costs).

Boutique 1911s are ridiculous, the "big name" gun companies 1911s start at $800+, but RIA makes some very nice shooters for <$500. I've got well over 15K rounds through my first RIA 1911 that I got ~2004, when nobody knew much about them, that I paid under $300 brand new, out the door! RIA customer service is very good too.

If you want eye candy and a 1911 to admire, get something else, but if you want to shoot the snot out of it and not worry get an RIA.

Another advantage of this is that you can get the RIA 1911 and start shooting and put the AR-15 together over a time span to match your budget and desires so you don't have to drop all the cash at once.

maxxhavoc said:

I would try to get both.

As far as the 1911 goes, I personally would go for a RIA. Their warranty service is stellar, and their pistols are good examples of the 1911. Plan on changing the grips. Here is one for $430:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/716006977/Rock+Island+Armory+51501+1911+Standard+GI+8+1+45ACP+5"
I have heard good things about the Tisas 1911s as well. They are about the same rice that RIAs used to go for....$330 for a 5":
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/716006977/Rock+Island+Armory+51501+1911+Standard+GI+8+1+45ACP+5"

As far as the AR goes, I have not seen significant functional or accuracy advantages to any of the value ARs. The design lends itself well to acceptable accuracy and reliability.

Buy one of these for $260:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/ptac...upper-with-bcg-and-charging-handle-40176.html
and one of these for $140:
http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-ar-15-complete-blem-lower-classic-edition-no-magazine.html
And you will have a decent rifle. No assembly required that isn't part of normal cleaning.


So $750 to $850 and you don't have to make any of those pesky choices.

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Or since you're in SC get the PSA 1911/AR combo for $999. I bought 2 sets and I've been impressed with both.

I was at a similar crossroad. I chose the AR. Political winds can shift at the drop of a hat. Meanwhile a 1911 is legal even in places like California.

I carried a 1911 for about a week ... besides the fact it was difficult to ccw, only holds 6/7 rounds, it can get hung up on the sights, slide release or safety ... It also occurred to me that if I ever did use it for its intended purpose, it would likely be be taken as evidence, have a case number scribed with an electric pencil and tossed into a box with other handguns and my gun would be ruined ...
That's when I started carrying a Glock 19 or 26 and most recently I picked up a 43 which also holds 7 rounds but smaller and not as likely to hang-up.

So, to answer yout question, I'd get the AR.

$800 buys a nice Colt 1911. Done!

Cost is really irrelevant. I have a $900 Mid-Length AR that shoots great to 540 meters. I also have a $400 AR that shoots great to 300 meters. To go along with that I have a $320 1911 bought new that shoots 5 1/2" groups with Federal maroon box, large primer practice loads at 50 yards for 16 shots. That is without using a rest with the 1911. It is also a service model with fixed sights. I guess I got a good one. I have been lucky, and bought a few guns that have performed way past their price point.
Just see who's making good runs, and hope you do not get a Monday or Friday firearm. That seems to be the luck of the draw these days. Good luck.

You can get more 1911 for under $800 than you can an AR. I have purchased a couple of 1911's in the last few years, and paid under $800 for a Remington R1S and also a Colt Government Model. I recently bought an Armalite Eagle 15 for under $700. However, this is considered an entry level AR.

The older I get the less enamored I am of the 1911. Once I bought my Sig P220 then 1911s just became sort of a historical artifact.

I see I'm late to the party. I was going to suggest checking Armslist and finding a local seller if you decide on an AR.

Elkins45 said:

The older I get the less enamored I am of the 1911. Once I bought my Sig P220 then 1911s just became sort of a historical artifact.

I see I'm late to the party. I was going to suggest checking Armslist and finding a local seller if you decide on an AR.

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Funny, I went the other way. Started off with the Sig P220 was the end all, be all in .45. Years later I have many 1911s and dumped all my Sigs.

Though I grudgingly am picking up a p245 (once my holy grail gun) in a trade. Might collect dust, might reignite the Sig love. Only time will tell.

Good Ol' Boy said:

I bought this today, from this site.

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Looks like a good starter AR, price is certainly good. I really like a low powered variable scope for a general purpose carbine something 1 or 2X at the bottom. A fixed 3X prism optic would also be a good choice.

Buy whichever one you don't have. If you have neither, make it a 1911.

Since the OP stated he was funding his new purchase with his tax refund, it made we wonder again why people give the government an interest free loan? I structure my withholding so that I come as close as possible to getting no refund, or even owe them a small amount. I'll be damned if I'm going to give them an interest free loan.

Some people have income flow that isn't always so static -- particularly those that depend on working a lot of overtime to increase their income. While most of us probably agree that we'd rather not give the government an interest-free loan, that's not always possible unless one is able to get one's payroll office to change one's withholding every other week or so ...

Old Dog said:

Some people have income flow that isn't always so static -- particularly those that depend on working a lot of overtime to increase their income. While most of us probably agree that we'd rather not give the government an interest-free loan, that's not always possible unless one is able to get one's payroll office to change one's withholding every other week or so ...

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I pay well over $100,000.00 in taxes a year. They ain't getting nothing from me ahead of when it's due.