1911s

you need one-

it depends how much you want to spend. you can get a nice springfield for around $600 or you can get a really nice Kimber for $1300. i like both

If you're just looking to try out the platform a Rock Island Armory is a good basic entry level 1911.

DO NOT buy a Llama

A Colt is always the right answer!

A 70 series re-issue is a great way to get into 1911's. 80 series can be had at reasonable prices as well, but would go with SA before a 80 series.

After that look at Springfield Armory. Wide range of 1911's from mild to wild. GREAT customer Service and custom department.

STI builds a great 1911 as well.

Beyond that you have the partial to full customs from people like Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer.

Kimber has its following, but I am not a fan of them or any other 1911 with firing pin saftey's

Try here for all things 1911:
http://www.m1911.org/

I recently bought a Dan Wesson 1911 Classic Bobtail Commander and love it!

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=66

S&W SW1911 models are reasonably priced, reliable, and accurate. There is a model for everyone's use....
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&categoryId=15709&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15708&top_category=15708

with the 1911, it's all about how much you're willing to spend. anything from new and used range guns for 400ish, most regular ones run 600-800, and fancy ones can easily soar past 1000 and more.

what the others said.
For me it's a Springfield Loaded full size. Not a cadillac, nor even a Buick, but it's more that the no frills Chevy/Olds. Good shooter with a few extra things that I like: ambi safety, lowered & flared ejection port, low mount sights, delta hammer, extended grip safety (bobtail?), mag well somethinged, adjustable trigger. Also had a few things I don't particularly care for/about, or like: front slide serrations (cosmetic) and full length guide rod. FLGR easy enough to replace. Front slide serrations - not so easy from a budget perspective.

Overall nice gun, modestly priced for 1911s, great warranty and customer service from Springfield.

If I had it to do over again I'd buy this gun. If I did not need the ambi safety I'd have gone with the Springfield Mil Spec.

I have a Springfield Loaded that is great but if I couldnt get the deal that I got on mine I would have got one of the STI Spartan's

Take a look at Les Baer's offerings. They're good guns, made with tool steel parts. Accurate too.

I have 3 1911s, all are 100% reliable. My boat anchor Loaded Fullsize Springfield, gets target duty. A Kimber Ultra carry, and my S&W SC commander get carried. All guns shoot very well, the kimber and Smith are very tight from the factory, but the Springfield needed a fitted bushing installed to get good groups. The slide to frame fit is still loose, but it shoots one hole groups after a little help. You will end up with more than one, thats a given

Welcome to the club. The 1911 is a great design.

This may seem a bit backwards at first, but I am sure others will second it...A standard/mil-spec gun and a high end hand fitted gun are my favorite two choices. The standard gun is enough like Browning designed that it functions flawlessly. The high end gun has many modifications, but has been correctly assembled and fitted to function. Mid priced guns with a lot of upgrades *usually* lack the proper fit and finish. Corners have to be cut somewhere when price is reduced.

Many people love the Loaded series from SA. Most of these have required some after market tuning or parts swap to get to where they needed to be though.

A mil-spec SA or base model from RIA is a great starting point. Colts are great also, but a bit pricey. Used Colts can be found for reasonable if you want to shop a bit.

There are tons of options for these guns. As JDGray said, I highly doubt you will end up with just one. Long term thinking, I would go with a base model first. Shoot the hell out of it. Then buy a model with exactly what you want, or build one. Many of the high end guns have upgrades you may not care about/notice/appreciate/want, etc. Not slamming anyone with a "custom", off the shelf 1911, but when anyone can walk into any store and buy the exact same gun, the custom factor is gone.

Have fun. Its an expensive habit.

Sir,

I highly recommend the used market to acquire one. There are some deals to be had out there. Here's mine: It's Colt made in 1919. She may be old but still shoots like a Springfield chicken. Old Betsy is her name. Don't know how common it is to name one's guns but this is my only one that has one. Just seemed right. It still has the original grips but has been refinished (due to one owner letting it get a little rusty and they took the US government stamp off of the frame) and has some new guts such as the barrel and a very heavy spring. Not a collector's piece but definitely a good shooter. Groups are around an inch at 20 yards.

I just bought a Colt New Agent last week. I'm growing rather fond of it.

Buy a cheap one. Make it work.

In the end it will cost $1,000.

Yeah, there are those who will say their RIA or whatever will shoot one-inch groups at 25 yards, but that just isn't reality for most of us mere mortals.

I love 1911s and buy and sell a bunch of them. I can diagnose the problems the first time they occur most of the time. But, it really is very rare that someone buys a low-end 1911 and has no issues with it.

Aside from changes in sights and grips the next things on the list are springs and barrel bushing. EGW makes barrel bushings to spec, but you'll need a good micrometer to know which one to order.

They really aren't that complicated. It just takes time to become really familiar with them.

If I were to buy a first 1911 right now I'd buy the STI Trojan. The frame is Filipino, but the rest of the parts are top notch. It may cost you $600 or more, but you'll save a lot of bucks in the long run.

My Kimbers shoot a whole lot better than I do. At distances up to 15 yards, I'm getting groups in one large ragged hole. I'm not confident enough to shoot at 25 yrds yet. I would have to lay off the coffee if I did that, besides if I'm threatened with violent force at 25 yds, I'm running away while dialing 911 on my cell!

BTW, they are available in 9mm as well. I have a Kimber in 45acp and one in 9mm. I also have a 22lr conversion mounted on a Charles Daly frame that works like a dream. I can shoot hundreds of rounds very cheap.

My opinion of the RIA pitols are that they are a nice, well built and reliable pistol.

Honestly, I can't think of a current production 1911 that I think is junk....some are made nicer than others but I don't think any of them are crap (excepting maybe llama).

sub $600 If you want bargain basement get a RIA. They are nice for the money. The Tactical is a good deal for the price. The tactical had novak style sights, ambi safety and a beavertail. I hate the stock RIA grips...ymmv.

In the $600-$800 range it's hard to beat the STI Spartan or the Springfield loaded. I have both and like them both. My Spartan shoots better than any loaded I've owned.

$800 - $1200 The STI guns are very nice as are the higher end Springfields (I'm not a Kimber fan, but they make a nice enough pistol and I have a Series 1 kimber that is very good...also I love older Colts but the last few current production guns I examined seem a little sloppy for the price...ymmv...they are good guns but they just don't do it for me [flame suit on].)

$1200 + When you get in this price range I like any of the semi-customs. Les Baer, Wilson, etc. At the $1200 end I love the Wilson KX45 double stack. At you go up in price from there the Baer TRS and the Wilson CQB are terrific. The Nighthawks I've handled have been very nice but I've yet to fire one.

There's my .02 worth. Start saving money now....1911's are as addictive as crack. I bought my first one 21 years ago this month, I've averaged one or two a year since then.

If I were to buy a first 1911 right now I'd buy the STI Trojan. The frame is Filipino, but the rest of the parts are top notch. It may cost you $600 or more, but you'll save a lot of bucks in the long run.

Click to expand...

I think he means Spartan. Unless I've lost my mind the Trojan is made all in the usa..I should be picking mine up in a couple weeks!

I always recommend a Colt....I've tried the rest, most worked fine, most Colts worked fine, Colt has excellent customer support, and much higher resale value plus holds value better...Colts are still individually fit at the factory by one builder/assembler, and have fewer cast/MIM'd parts than many more expensive guns....then there's buying an original vs. a copy or an "improved" design......

PS...my current 01911 shoots 1" at 25yds with UMC hardball.....just watch out for obvious cosmetic defects such as slide over/under-hang on the rear of the frame, the recoil spring tunnel being ground/polished off-center, and straight slide-flats.....even with those, the gun WORKS, and is equal or superior to wartime production....

1911-a1

I got a Colt MK IV Series 80 for my 21st birthday and am more impressed with it at the passing of each year.I am now 29 and consider this to be the crown jewel of my collection.My model is one of the enhanced Govt. models in stainless steel and this thing just plain shoots!How about 1/2 inch groups at 15 yards-rapid fire or slow-it just doesn't matter!Now that's what I call personal protection at it's finest!!I admit that I still need a little work on the 25 yard line
but for the money(avg. price 650-850 dollars) I just don't believe there is a better piece out there...With ONE caveat...It won't handle hollow points without a polished feed ramp...


P.S.

I am currently saving up for a custom built Wilson Combat pistol on one of these enhanced Govt. Model frames!!!