Looking for New Target 1911

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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 think a lot has changed in the last decade in terms of 9mm 1911 reliability. A number of manufacturers seem to have it pretty well figured out. I don't know what they have done, but I have seen a lot of people run 9mm 1911's that are pretty dang consistent.

Note that this is observation is based mostly on seeing people run 9mm 1911's in the single stack (minor) division of USPSA. That usually means that the users/competitors are loading their own ammo and aren't dropping guns in dirt. Maybe 9mm 1911's are still just as picky about nose profiles and OAL as many 45 1911's are, and the competitors are just good at controlling those variables. OTOH, these are generally guns that are run very hard - lots of extremely rapid shooting, sometimes with only a single hand on the gun, lots of slamming magazines home quickly, odd tilts/angles on the gun shooting around walls, etc.
 
I use 10 round metalform mags in mine. It took a lot of feed ramp and magazine work to get mine to feed reliably and it’s still picky about bullet profile, but its also an unramped barrel. It’s 100% now though with fmj. I would only ever buy another 9mm 1911 if it had a ramped barrel.
 
I use 10 round metalform mags in mine. It took a lot of feed ramp and magazine work to get mine to feed reliably and it’s still picky about bullet profile, but its also an unramped barrel. It’s 100% now though with fmj. I would only ever buy another 9mm 1911 if it had a ramped barrel.
Yes. Mine is ramped. I’m sure it is helping.
 
I have 4 1911s in 9 mm Ruger,S&W,RIA and Springfield armory and all have run like a racehorse. Out of the magazines I have only one sticks in all 4 pistols and I believe it's a Metalform.
 
I had a Ruger SR-45 that jammed about every other shot. My handloads would easily fit into my go-no go gauge so in examining the pistol more closely it was apparent that the feed ramp was very steep thus not permitting the rounds to chamber properly. I was shooting one day with a friend of mine that had a nice Colt 1911 and his pistol would eat anything. His feed ramp didn't have any incline as it was a straight in feed. In my opinion Ruger makes their semi-autos to handle factory fodder only so if you handload forget the Ruger and go Colt.
 
I had a Ruger SR-45 that jammed about every other shot. My handloads would easily fit into my go-no go gauge so in examining the pistol more closely it was apparent that the feed ramp was very steep thus not permitting the rounds to chamber properly. I was shooting one day with a friend of mine that had a nice Colt 1911 and his pistol would eat anything. His feed ramp didn't have any incline as it was a straight in feed. In my opinion Ruger makes their semi-autos to handle factory fodder only so if you handload forget the Ruger and go Colt.
Are your loads that odd? Otherwise how can the gun tell the difference?
 
I had a Ruger SR-45 that jammed about every other shot. My handloads would easily fit into my go-no go gauge so in examining the pistol more closely it was apparent that the feed ramp was very steep thus not permitting the rounds to chamber properly. I was shooting one day with a friend of mine that had a nice Colt 1911 and his pistol would eat anything. His feed ramp didn't have any incline as it was a straight in feed. In my opinion Ruger makes their semi-autos to handle factory fodder only so if you handload forget the Ruger and go Colt.

That is a ludicrous conclusion.
 
I've Ruger 1911s in 9mm,10mm and 45 auto and they have no problems with factory or handloads. Cast bullets in RN,SWC,HP all feed without a hitch.
 
I have a 9mm Springfield "Loaded" model (older one) that I really like.
Nice trigger, well built still, tight after 20K rounds. not the cheapest but not sky high either, I think the new ones are around $1100.
I has become my favorite range/match gun. (SS USPSA)

Shoots everything I have feed it as long as the OAL is note long, as far as that goes it will feed empty cases if you rack the slide.
 
Just my opinion...

The Colt Gold Cups and their Colt variants are the "off the shelf" accurate M1911s. So, compare other manufacturers' versions against the Gold Cups. There are several other manufacturers that make good M1911s.

Les Bear, Wilson, and others make excellent, accurate pistols but at a price.

I have a Kimber 38 Super Eclipse that shoots accurately and compares well with my 45 ACP Colt Gold Cup within this shooter's ability.

Service style M1911s can be good shooters but they do not really compare to the capability of the Gold Cups and better pistols.

So, do your research, and let your wallet be your guide in part and accept what you have and are capable of buying. There are many good M1911s out there

I'm a big fan of M1911 pistols although I've never bought a Les Baer or Wilson M1911. I wish I could pry my wallet that far open for one I just cannot justify the price.

I do have a Gold Cup (converted to 38/45 Clerke) and Gold Cup Trophy as well as several other M1911s from various manufacturers and home built. I have M1911s chambered in 9x19, 38 Super, 38/45 Clerke, 357 Sig, 40 S&W and 45 ACP.
 
What about the STI Trojan? Made in Texas and close to your budget, the last I checked (it’s been a while). Mine has been flawless, but it’s the only 1911 that I own. A great pistol.
 
Around your budget, the Colt Competition Series is really hard to beat. National Match barrel, the same as used in their Gold Cup models, Novak adjustable sights, dual recoil spring assembly, fiber optic sights, and G10 grips.
9mm Wilson mags will ensure you never have a mag issue. I have two 9mm 1911s, and they both run flawlessly. Then again, they are a Nighthawk and a Les Baer.
 
I'm a big fan of M1911 pistols although I've never bought a Les Baer or Wilson M1911. I wish I could pry my wallet that far open for one I just cannot justify the price.

You can save hundreds and even a thousand picking them up slightly used.

I own guns from Nighthawk, Brown, Wilson and others but one of my favorites right now is a Colt Custom Shop Rail Gun. Yeah the cerakote pretty much falls off if you look at it wrong, its slide to frame fit leaves little to be desired and its not finished near as well as many. All that said. Its still one heck of a shooter easily on par with guns that cost far far more.

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cfullgraf

I'm a big fan of M1911 pistols although I've never bought a Les Baer or Wilson M1911. I wish I could pry my wallet that far open for one I just cannot justify the price. I do have a Gold Cup (converted to 38/45 Clerke) and Gold Cup Trophy as well as several other M1911s from various manufacturers and home built. I have M1911s chambered in 9x19, 38 Super, 38/45 Clerke, 357 Sig, 40 S&W and 45 ACP.

I like the way you think sir, especially when it comes to your collection of 1911s!
 
The Springfield Range Officer has nice features in this price point. This allows for the purchase of extra mags and minor changes like grips or...
 
IMG_4423 (1)~2.jpg I never had a Springfield Range Officer, but did have a Loaded. It was a good gun and gave me no trouble.
 
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You can save hundreds and even a thousand picking them up slightly used.

Right I am very aware that things can be bought used frequently at a nice reduction from MSRP but things are used for a reason, not necessarily a bad reason, but a reason just the same.

The high end M1911s are very nice pistols, I just do not have a burning desire to get one at present, new or used.
 
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Around your budget, the Colt Competition Series is really hard to beat. National Match barrel, the same as used in their Gold Cup models, Novak adjustable sights, dual recoil spring assembly, fiber optic sights, and G10 grips.
9mm Wilson mags will ensure you never have a mag issue. I have two 9mm 1911s, and they both run flawlessly. Then again, they are a Nighthawk and a Les Baer.

The first and so far only 1911 I got is a stainless Colt Competition in .45. I have no other 1911 to compare it with, but it is by far my favorite handgun to shoot. I've shot about 500 or so rounds out of it using all kinds of different ammo with no problems. It's way more accurate than I am, too. I absolutely love it, and for less than $900 would highly recommend it.
 
I had a Ruger SR-45 that jammed about every other shot. My handloads would easily fit into my go-no go gauge so in examining the pistol more closely it was apparent that the feed ramp was very steep thus not permitting the rounds to chamber properly. I was shooting one day with a friend of mine that had a nice Colt 1911 and his pistol would eat anything. His feed ramp didn't have any incline as it was a straight in feed. In my opinion Ruger makes their semi-autos to handle factory fodder only so if you handload forget the Ruger and go Colt.
This doesn't make any sense to me. I have 1911s in 9MM & .45, both standard and ramped, and do not understand your statement at all.

Oh, and any gun that can run factory ammo 100% can be handloaded for with the same results.
 
This doesn't make any sense to me. I have 1911s in 9MM & .45, both standard and ramped, and do not understand your statement at all.

Oh, and any gun that can run factory ammo 100% can be handloaded for with the same results.
That’s what I was saying. If you load to the same dimensions as factory, how does the gun know it is supposed to reject the handloads?
 
The Sig Super Target is right around the top of your budget, and is a great gun. Well within your budget is the Remington R1 Enhanced. Mine has the best trigger of any auto I own, right out of the box.
 
Just my experience with M1911s so do not take it as gospel.

With my 1980 through 2000 or so service grade 45ACP M1911s, I could never get them to run reliably with semi-wadcutter bullets. 230 gr FMJ and similar shaped HP bullets worked fine. I’ll admit, I did not try very hard to make the semi-wadcutters work as I felt 230 grain FMJ provided all the punch I’d ever need.

Recently, I aquired a Gold Cup and a Gold Cup Trophy and both operate very well with 200 grain semi-wadcutters. I’m happy but have not tried to determine what’s different.

The point is, the M1911 can be tuned to many different types of ammunition and it will be as reliable as a light switch. But, without a little tuning, it may not run certain bullet shapes.

The second point is, tuning is not difficult but it is still easy to hack up a pistol with some mis-applied dremel and file work so procede only from a position of knowledge. There are many little nuances to tuning, some as simple as trying different magazine feed lip configurations.
 
My first 1911 was a Colt GC Trophy. It has a nice trigger and Adjustable sights. Grip doesn't inspire any praise but it works. Everyone replaces their grips anyway so no lose there. I've bought several more 1911's since but I still like that Trophy. I've shot it enough that it looks like a well used pistol. It probably has 5K through it and I've never had any issues. I load my own ammo so I know they will run just about anything you choose to shoot in the way of round nosed bullets.

I purchased that Trophy about 5 years ago for $999. You can still buy one for that price here.

https://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com...oductDetail/Pistols/prod99999046601/cat100005

You aren't going to find a better pistol for a thousand dollars. Just isn't going to happen.

The Ruger is probably a pretty good pistol. I've dealt with their customer service and it's second to none. I don't know anything about Colt service although I have 3 Colt 1911's.

One thing to look at on the Ruger is that ambi safety. If you're a lefty it's great. If not it's just more stuff that you don't need and it makes no sense to even have one on a range gun.
 
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