1911 Newb needs help

i have a sa 1911, and it has dine well, over 3500rds and still going strong.reliable and accurate.

i have shot more kimber 1911's than all other 1911's combined and i have never had a single issue with any of them, ranging from thier low end to the most expensive models.

I've got a high end Springer Custom (Rob Leatham TGO1) and it is, without a doubt, the absolute finest handgun I've ever held and shot in my life.

Their lower lines also give you a bunch of gun for your money. I'd recommend starting with a Springer "Loaded".

Second choice would be the Dan Wesson - great gun at a great price. I highly recommend the PM7.

Good luck and happy shooting!

For a carry 1911 and for the price a Dan Wesson CBOB is going to be very hard to beat. If you can find one they are about 1050.00 for a new one.

i didn't vote because if those are your choices then you've got nothing to worry about. All of those brands are very respected and they are all great.

Avoid the real highend Kimbers. They cost more but are really close to the same thing as the lower models.

I'd stick to the Kimber TLE, and Custom II. The 5" fullsize models are the most reliable. Real good fit and finish especially the bead blasted stainless Kimbers.

My Kimbers have been reliable. Only needed Wilson 47D mags and recoil spring replacements for perfection. My CDP with the external extractor extracts flawlessly but would fail to feed on occasion. It also would fling caseings 30+ feet! That hinted at the recoil spring being weak. I put an 18 lb. wilson spring and dissassembled the gun gun completely and reassembled and lubed the gun exactly as the Wilson 1911 DVD said to. She's been perfect since. My CDP needs its frame reannodized or refinished in ION bond but otherwise looks new.

I plan on getting another Kimber, a Black Custom II for carry. When the finish wears I'm going to send it out for a Melonite refinishing.

Dan Wessons are good stuff to.




Should add Glock to your poll just for laughs......

My choice - STI. I have 4 and all perform like finely tuned instruments. STI pistols are hand fitted, buttery smooth, outstanding triggers, and man are they accurate. While the popular manufacturers listed make good guns, STI is a step up in class.

I bought a brand new Springfield Loaded 1911... if I could do it again, I'd get a Rock Island 1911 for half the price. Everybody says they're great. My $750 Springy is very pretty, but is made in Brazil from a computer lathe, not reliable, and doesn't have a great trigger. I still love it and will get it running, but for that much money I expect something that runs and shoots well.

The Rock Islands have a solid reputation as a cheap 1911... I hear they have good customer service and with the money you save you can get a nice trigger job and few boxes of ammo.

Sig makes some very pretty 1911s. I was looking hard at the C3 before I stumbled into a used SW1911PD. I still want a Sig. I like the shorter grip (to go with the shorter, 4.25" slide).

voted springfield ! ... I have owned several springfield 1911s an they are pretty solid despite the brazil thing alot are hung up on !! have an xd too -croatia ..go figure ... great gun as well .... currently carrying a Champion milspec ... very basic yet very accurate as well ..!!

As far as the XD Croatia bit, Croatia and Checkoslovakia (sp?) have some of the best machinests I've ever seen.

Nothing wrong with the brazil stuff either.

If it works, it works, don't matter where its from.

I only have one 1911, but I bought it for duty carry, so it had to work and work well. It's a Wilson CQB, and I can't imagine needing another 1911.

Love my Dan Wesson the most there made by CZ now.

I did a lot of research and handling before I bought my 1911 - I kept coming back to, and ended up with, a Dan Wesson PM7. I got a great deal on a gently used one. The only thing that keeps gnawing at me about my purchase is, I wonder if I should have got a Dan Wesson CBOB instead . . .

I've owned two Springfield 1911's (a loaded compact and a loaded full size). Neither ever gave me any problems that weren't attributed to wearing out recoil springs after a few thousand rounds. Shame on me for not keeping track. I think they have a lifetime warranty as well.

Kimbers are supposed to be great except for really crappy factory magazines (easy to replace) and a 500 round "230 grain ball only" break in period during which you can expect some amount of failures. The people I've heard that stuck to the break in period seem to always end up happy. If you don't anticipate running 500 rounds in short order, or want an instant carry gun, they may not be for you.

My preference is w/ Colt -- but it's not one of the choices you provide
Of the choices you have, I like American made Springfield (specifcally the Operator) and the DW CBOB --
good luck w/ your selection

I own at least one of every pistol you listed and love them all except the Kimber but we wont go there. the Springer is by far the best production 1911 made, and when i put the Wilson CQB in the safe i reach for my Springfield TRP and that is what resides on my hip almost 85% of the time.

Springfield longslide for me, just more gun for the money imho. I wouldn't own an XD, but their 1911's are superb pistols in all aspects ( the XD's are fine polymer frame firearms, but there are better examples, ie; H&K P30 ). You could spend a lot more and notice little difference in fit and finish, performance and reliability between a Springfield 1911 and one that costs a lot more. Save on the initial purchase and custom tune it one part at a time, if it "needs" it. 1911's are habit forming...right now I'm hooked on Polymer frames, Glock G17, 19, 34, H&K P30L, USP EXPERT .40, Walther P99.

Personally I own 4 colts, 3 1911's 2 in .45 one in .38 super and a mustang .380. That said I really like Springfield Armory guns, they seem like a great gun for the money. I have shot 5 different springers and haven't disliked one of them. The only real reason I haven't purchased one is the frames and slides are made in brazil. I personally want my money to stay in the states. If that don't bother you I say go buy one, I think the loaded 1911's are a great buy for the money.

Rock Island needs to be on the list. Tactical model. Best Value Pistol on the market. Reliable and well made with all the up-grades allready installed. Of all the ones listed you could buy 2 RIA's, one 4" and get you a 5" (both Tacticals), and be much happier after the fact.

I agree with Thomas Garrett. The Tactical 4" and 5" are great pistols and are an amazing value. I recently purchased a 5" tactical and my friend purchased the 4" compact. both guns are beautiful and wonderfully functional. the compact was $349 and my 5" was $ 385 plus $20 shipping. cant beat that price.

check out www.sarcoinc.com thats where we recently baught ours.

Your poll is a crock.

Smartshooter, have you seen the write up on the RIA FS Match yet? That's my next. Then the RIA 6' Citidel. Awesome pieces.