School me on a basic 1911 .45

Legionnaire said:

In that vein, how easy is it to change the sights on a 1911? Are they dovetailed into the slide, or attached in some other fashion?

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The front-sights are either dovetailed or staked in place - depends on the make & model. GI style sights are staked where the more advanced models are dovetailed, which makes them easier to swap out when required eg. new tritium or fiber-optic sights, different widths or heights of sight, etc.

For a staked front-sight, you'd need a staking tool (and perhaps redoing the slide finish) - for a dovetail, just buy the correct sight and press into place with a vise or more specialized front-sight vise-like tool.

SA Mil-spec has easier to see sights,opened ejection port and a slightly beveled mag-well.All bonuses in my opinion.YMMV.tom.

I am personally going with the Springfield M1911 Mil-Spec. It has all the reliability improvements and better sights than the GI and it does not have any cosmetic deviations from what you specified. I know it costs more than a RIA, but I plan to carry it and the Springfield seems to be one on the top of the list.

Good luck!

Colt "1911"s have the best bang for the buck.
They are manufactured from quality materials and still by hand.
In my opinion that is the best option.

I have a SA Loaded and S&W1911PD Commander. Both are a step up from what you are looking at. I needed the SA shop for an extractor problem and was very impressed with their service. The S&W has a much better trigger out of the box.

I'm not sure how much you shoot, or if you reload. The cost of your gun is normally a very small part of the cost of shooting, so a few dollars more to get the features you want will not make that much difference. If you reload, all your guns are free

The cost of a gun which doesn't meet your needs is just added cost. Of course, most of the guns I've bought are still meeting some need, if only as a back-up or loaner at the range.

The RIAs I looked at this last gun show had me interested.

Get a used Colt 1991. Better sights, better trigger than the GI models and not terribly expensive.

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New can be had for around $700 as well – I own one and agree, the gun’s been flawless and the build quality is excellent.

Go with the Springfield milspec, and don't mess with it from there.

They come with beautiful grips now, and the only parts I've changed out are the extractors, as they were MIM parts.

"Another one to grab if you can find it is the 1927 Argentinian Sistema. This is essentially a Colt clone made in Argentina."

Wrong! A Sistema Colt 1927 is a licensed copy of the 1911A1; the Sistema Colt 1927 is equal in quality to an old time Colt and that is superb. Regards, Richard

My Sistema Colt 1927:

Springfield Mil-spec has the advantage over the RIA becuase of the forged frame. RIA is still a nice 1911.

BUT, a Colt is the best of all. Used ones can be found quite easily. Fewer MIM parts, accurate, and excellent customer service.

Now, if you can find a Norinco or a 1927 Argentinian Sistema, they are both "hidden jewels". Just piced up a Norinco for $250 and it is a better 1911 than the SA's I used for CCW. (Still a Colt is better)

New Firestorm or American Classic
These are hard to find but worth the effort

Legionnaire,
Earlier you summarized that you would like either the RIA Tactical or the SA Mil Spec since they both have better sights. What do you mean by better sights? The RIA Tactical and SA Mil Spec have very different sights. The RIA Tac uses novak style sights which are easy to see. The SA Mil Spec uses standard tiny mil spec sights...not much different from the RIA mil spec that you rejected in favor of the RIA Tac.

Pictures of both the RIA Tac and SA Mil Spec can be found in this thread (MTMilitiaman and rondog). It is easy to see the difference. Just want to make sure you know that you are still getting "small sights" if you get the SA. If there are other considerations on your mind, like workmanship, then I would go with SA. But if sights is your main driver, then RIA Tac.
Cheers

What do you mean by better sights?

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Better than the less expensive offering by each mfgr. The MilSpec has better sights than the Springer GI, and the Tactical has better sights than the RIA GI.

Just want to make sure you know that you are still getting "small sights" if you get the SA

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I think you may be confusing the Springer MilSpec with the Springer GI.

good sights (not short and at arms length the front sight lets some light in on both sides when centered in the rear notch), decent trigger (not scratchy and does not stack-require more effort as you pull it. the break is clean with minimal over-travel--the distance the trigger travels after the point of release)and extended slide and safety release(so you ain't groping for them). that's basic.
anything else you buy up to later. relieved under trigger. palm swell grip safety, front and/or rear checkering, better trigger,adjustable sights, a dozen + different action jobs, whatever

I've been very happy with my RIA Tactical. Shot smooth and straight right out of the box, and fit and finish was better than expected. Put some $10 'nightsighter' dots on the sights and it's much easier to aim now. Got mine from Centerfire Systems.

In full disclosure this is my first handgun

RIA Tactical from Centerfire Systems.

There is not a better deal to be had than the RIA Tactical 5" version that Centerfire Systems is selling for only $399.99.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd purchase the RIA Tactical and shoot it as often as I could and then take it to my gunsmith for a head-to-toe evaluation - after 500 rounds or so - to see what is anything needed to be "modified".

For the money I do not believe that there is a better overall purchase that can be made. In fact I may be getting one because I NEED TO.

What's the difference between the full-length guide rod and the standard? Obviously one is longer, but does that give it any advantages or disadvantages?