Need help choosing a 1911

Decide what you want and what it's for.

You need to decide what features you want, what features you won't have because you dislike them, and decide what this pistol is going to be for.

Ambi or single side safety? I prefer single.
GI or Beavertail Grip safety? I prefer BT with a Cdr. hammer.
Beveled mag well? Yup, I'd go for that.
Stippled or checkered frame? I prefer that to a smooth frame.
Arched or flat MSH? I like 'em flat.
Sights? I like a plain black rear with a highly visible front.
Blued or stainless? Again, I have a preferrence.

My best advice would be to make a list of desired features, a list of things you want to avoid, and find a manufacturer that supplies something very close.

A Good 1911

I Have A Rocl Island Compact $400.00 Great Gun, No Feed Problems, Compact Shoots Very Nice. You Can't Go Wrong With This For The Price. "nra"

Rock Island Rock Island I Spelled It Wrong , Sorry. "nra" Mike

go with a SA loaded. Mine has given me no reason whatsoever to be disapointed. If you want something cheaper, I hear the SA mil-spec are good

I had a Springfield GI and didn't care for it that much(didn't like the sights or GI grip safety). I just ordered a Springfield loaded target, should be getting it later this week. It has most of the popular features with adj target sights. It doesn't have a beveled mag well but i'll probably add one later. Heres a link to the one I got- http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=24
I'm getting it new for $800 shipped from mastercampers.com, I'll let you know how it works out.

I like the Dan Wessen Pointman. Comes from the factory with all the goodies already in place.


· Forged, one piece match grade barrel and bushing.
· Round top slide with Bo-Mar style adjustable target sight
· Hand polished flat surfaces with contrasting bead blasted rounds
· Flat, all steel 20-LPI checkered mainspring housing
· Front and rear cocking serrations
· Beveled magwell
· All sharp edges dehorned by hand
· Lowered and flared ejection port
· Hand polished feed ramp
· Ed Brown slide stop
· Ed Brown memory groove grip safety
· Tactical extended thumb safety
· One piece full length stainless guide rod
· Commander style match hammer
· Match grade sear
· Aluminum trigger with stainless bow
· Extended serrated magazine catch
· Wolff springs used exclusively
· Diamond checkered coco-bolo grips
· Tuned, machined, internal extractor
· Test fired for reliability
· 38 ounces unloaded

So many! Rock Islands come to mind...they have a "Tactical" thats under $400 I got a PT1911 when they were under $500 and have not regretted it!

Kimber "Classic Custom" not the classic customII the triggers are better on the first gen classics.

You really can't go wrong with a Colt.

Find a "pre-owned" Colt, and the skies the limit for what you can do with it. S&W uses proprietary parts. So does Springfield and Kimber. I have no clue what Taurus and these other bargain 1911 companies are doing.


If you have a Colt, you can find parts for it from a dozen aftermarket manufacturers for things as simple as springs, to sights, to barrels, etc. And you can find plenty of guys who know how to work on it to do what you want, and the measurements and specs are the same for their jigs and fixtures. You won't get that with the "also rans".


I'm sure you can find a Colt with what you want, and in a few years when you discover how you want one of those aftermarket "XXXX" and "YYYY" thingees, you can have it done.

having to buy a colt, and then having to spend $800 to make it shoot like a kimber is what put colt out of business in the civilian market.

+1 on the Kimber Custom II

for about $700 it shoots better than some at 2X the price.

Colt!!!

having to buy a colt, and then having to spend $800 to make it shoot like a kimber is what put colt out of business in the civilian market.

Click to expand...

Absolutely false statement. First, Colt is anything but of out of business in the civilian market. Furthermore, the beauty of a Colt is that you can buy it and enjoy it out of the box. Then once you know more about your likes and dislikes, you can customize as you desire.

I have owned Kimbers before and they are nice guns, but those were all Series I. I would not own a Series II Kimber, too many issues with them. Also, Colt is producing 1911s with far fewer MIM parts than Kimber.

WJR

A plain jane Colt never appealed to me personally especially for the money. The Kimbers and SA's are nice pistols but start at 800+ but I feel the PT1911 I got was a great investment considering it's been 100% reliable, great trigger, accurate all the bells. I'm a lefty so an ambi saftey lever was a must. The sights are different but I like using them more than the three dots systems now.

RIA Compact 400.00 or SA SS loaded Champ 750.00 My Champ has been perfect. Love those night sights! Kimbers are good. Go rent some and chose.

If you are looking for a 1911 clone then there are many to choose from varying from fair to excellent in quality and durability. This will be reflected in the price.

However, if you want the original MFG then Colt is the only way to go everything else is a clone.

Springfield's Loaded series gives you excellent value for your $$. For $700-$850 you get a lot of gun.