I am looking for my first 1911

That exactly what I meant....RIA.....cast frame with visible inclusions....you get what you pay for.

You did not specify NEW - are you set on a new gun? You can get a gently used Springfield "Loaded" model in your price range. It's what I'm most familiar with but I'd guess you might find a similarly equipped Kimber in the same price range. For a new in box with the standard bells and whistles you might consider a Taurus.

varoadking.

I could get that Colt for less than $800?

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Yes...I bought mine at a gun show in Richmond for $750.00. That seems to be the median price...

Note that those are not stock grips or a stock magazine...

How is the Range Officer better than the standard Loaded model?


Nobody said it's better than the loaded. It's just a new model with a few less doodads than the loaded. Which reflects the lower MSRP.
It also comes with adjustable sights if that's something your looking for.
For just south of $700.00, it's just one more gun to look at, which is always fun!

Another vote for - RIA and save the remainder for spare magazines, holster, and ammo!

If you want a shooter, with a reasonable degree of accuracy, that goes bang every time, the RIA will more than meet your needs. I probably have 3 - 4 hundred rounds through mine and it has never failed to feed, never failed to fire, never failed to eject, and aside from blowing the the bigger chunks out of the mechanism with the air hose and wiping it down, it's never been cleaned. It is far more accurate than I am, at any given time. And, I ain't half bad!!

Before purchasing mine, I researched the RIA 45 ACP extensively on line! For every unfavorable comment I found, there were 50 or more favorable comments. To be honest with you, I was truly impressed at the lack of unfavorable comments I did find, considering the number of opinionated rocket scientists and self-professed experts inhabiting web forums.

Every gun writer that wrote about one, stated that he went into his tests of the RIA 45 with less than favorable anticipations; all were truly impressed with the gun before they were finished with their tests. All remarked favorably in respect to it's accuracy and dependability. It performed as well, and in many cases better than guns costing 2 and 3 times as much, in all respects. And, believe me, some of those guys put them through some REALLY UGLY TESTS. Several in fact, that were designed to make the guns fail. Some of the spendier models did, the RIA didn't. All stated they would be adding an RIA to their collection.

If you want purty, if you want micro-precise fit; it probably isn't the gun for you. But if you want an entry level 45 that'll take everything you can throw at it, beat around behind the seat of the pickup, roll around in the dirt with you, and keep on shooting, it's a fantastic entry level 45.

Only recommendation I'd make is changing the grips. I opted for the Pachmayr Half Wood Grips. (Except I didn't find them nearly that cheap! :banghead If you go to a little hotter load, you'll truly appreciate that grip!!

i'm sure you are aware of this but i tried out 5 or 6 1911's in the store before i decided on my para gi expert 5" as well as my springer ultra compact.

each one felt different in the hand and each one had a different balance.

as far as reliability goes, my para gi expert hates hollowpoint ammunition and my springer has yet to have a glitch with any ammo.

i am far from an expert on 1911's and i think most of the folks here have given you a lot of good options so i would suggest that you go to a pawn shop or gun store and handle a good bit of them. maybe find a range and rent a couple of them and shoot them.

Heavy, consider keeping what you purchase in near-factory condition. New stocks are fine but sights can be expensive and come in a mind-numbing number of cuts which may or may not fit your selection.

Secondly, creating a "nicer" 1911 with aftermarket parts is what makes the average 1911 unreliable. For what it costs to "upgrade" a reliable RIA you could simply browse the gun shops for your NEXT 1911.

Whatever you buy, make sure you handle a few. Decide on MSH shape, checkering, serrations, sights, ejection port size, extractor type and trigger (short/long/solid/skeletonized), hammer, grip safety ahead of time. It will save you from squandering an otherwise reasonable budget on a shoebox full of unwanted parts.

Consider also if you'll be happy with it down the road, would you give it to your son? Some may say it's just a tool but then a Stanley is not a Snap On and every time you pick it up you'll be reminded of why.

I like all the options available but I feel the Taurus 1911 should also be given consideration based on your budget.

Believe nothing, but go shoot one! also you can go to there web site and look at models and msrp: http://www.taurususa.com/gun-selector-results.cfm?series=19&toggle=tp, I have heard numerous people giving outstanding accuracy comments "out of the box" two of these people are HP officers that I talked to at local shooting range.

Our range has rental pistols...they have Taurus 1911 and others including Wilson Combat.

While I am NOT comparing it to the Wilson in various ways I grouped almost the same with both pistols. I would love to have a Wilson!

But I need not tell anyone the price difference between these two guns....But Taurus offers alot for price range, lots of extras..Hiene straight 8, Ventilated Trigger,etc.

Also I love Kimbers as well but our local shop quit selling them to my surprise and I asked why? They claimed very small issues with the gun...but major attitude issues with customer service regarding fixing the small issues.

I dont know, have not ever dealt with them? I have heard horror stories with Beretta customer service, but personally have dealt with them with no problems at all?

Again I dont know, hate it cause Kimber makes beautiful guns. But Happy Gun Hunting!

I only own 1 1911 a Taurus. I can't testify for the others, but I spent 6 months deciding and with a lot of the same concerns and priorities as the OP. I have loved mine. It shot great from moment one and eats everything I have fed it.

I was first concerned by the negative comments. But I noticed most of them fell into 2 categories. One - people who tried them several years ago when there were evidently some QC problems. Two - people who knew someone that knew someone that heard about somebody at the range their cousin uses.

I think its possible to get a bad gun from any manufacturer.

At any rate - I love mine. I have not regretted the decision to go with the Taurus and don't expect to either.

xXxplosive said:

Well, IMO.......you can't have champagne taste with beer money.
For $750.00 I'd actually opt to wait and try and save a few more bucks. In this game you mostly get what you pay for. For around 1K your choices will be much better and you won't end up with some new Cast Frame 1911 with inclusions in the metal or internal parts of second quality.

You might even consider a Pre '80s Colt for around the 1K price.....mine are just the best and I love them.

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What about a Kimber? Custom II Kimbers are right around that price. I paid $725 for mine. Now watch, a WHOLE bunch of people are going to get on here and slam them because they 'jam.' I can honestly say that this pistol doesn't jam for me even shooting reloads and YES I shoot Wadcutters. I even shoot sooty old Unique in the pistol. I did pick up a bunch of Wilson Combat mags and don't have a problem.

Oh and by the way, the pistol is a FORGED frame. A big deal is made out of the MIM parts. In the 4000 rounds I have put through this pistol, I have never had a part break.

The pistol is VERY accurate, has a one piece match barrel, GREAT trigger, full size guide rod, match barrel bushing, etc.

EDIT---- I FORGOT TO MENTION MY KIMBER WAS NEW FOR THAT PRICE.

Now watch, a WHOLE bunch of people are going to get on here and slam them because they 'jam.'

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Now why do you think that is?

I have owned 4 or 5 kimbers over the years, none of them ever 100 percent reliable.

I hope if I am ever in a gunfight, the other guy has a Kimber.

You should answer this question first: Do you want a 1911 you can tinker with or do you want one that has everything out of the box? If you are a tinkerer, getting a plain jane GI model from RIA, Springfield, among other makers would be suggested. They will cost you about 400-500 new, depending on where you are located. Then you simply check out Brownells to find all kinds of gadgets and gizmos to put on it (not needed really, just wanted to have)

If you want it all there out of the box, see exactly what you want. Someone suggested trying many out to get a feel of them in hand. Long trigger/short trigger? Arched MSH/Flat MSH? Front serrations/no front serrations? Adjustable/fixed/night/fiberoptic sights? What kind of warranty do you want?

These are all questions you get to answer by experience, by picking up different models and trying them out. Personally, I lean toward Springfield products, as my screen name suggests. They have a great warranty (never needed it) and wonderful customer service (never needed it either, but check out the reviews on the 1911forum).

Balrog said:

Now why do you think that is?

I have owned 4 or 5 kimbers over the years, none of them ever 100 percent reliable.

I hope if I am ever in a gunfight, the other guy has a Kimber.

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I really question whether people who say things like "I have owned 5 of (insert gun here) and they all jammed have ever owned the firearm in question. Who in their right mind would purchase multiple items that continually fail. Were you hoping for some 'luck of the draw' phenomenon? What is the old saying? Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice....well I think you know how this one ends.

My Kimber shoots. It shoots dirty and it fires many different bullet types.

American Classic ll has been a good out of the box shooter for me as well.

I really question whether people who say things like "I have owned 5 of (insert gun here) and they all jammed have ever owned the firearm in question. Who in their right mind would purchase multiple items that continually fail. Were you hoping for some 'luck of the draw' phenomenon? What is the old saying? Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice....well I think you know how this one ends.

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Well I am one of those people who have bought multiple Kimbers. I am curious, why do you think someone would make it up? Do you think I have some sort of personal grudge against Kimber that is baseless?

I have owned a Kimber Custom II, Custom Target, CDP, Eclipse, and a TLE. NONE were 100 percent. Why did I buy them? For a couple of reasons. First, they are very pretty guns, and I am easily tempted. Second, I kept telling myself after reading other people talk about how great their Kimbers were that I must have just had a run of bad luck. Third, I trade guns often, its my hobby, so I am always in the market for something.

Anyway, with Kimber, I finally learned my lesson, and will buy no more. As far as 1911s go, I have had great luck with S&W, and own 2 of them right now. They both work 100 percent. I also own 3 Colts, and they all run 100 percent.

Would never consider owning a Kimber.............sorry..........Never.

Guess I'm just a Colt Pre 80's guy......

Balrog said:

Well I am one of those people who have bought multiple Kimbers. I am curious, why do you think someone would make it up? Do you think I have some sort of personal grudge against Kimber that is baseless?

I have owned a Kimber Custom II, Custom Target, CDP, Eclipse, and a TLE. NONE were 100 percent. Why did I buy them? For a couple of reasons. First, they are very pretty guns, and I am easily tempted. Second, I kept telling myself after reading other people talk about how great their Kimbers were that I must have just had a run of bad luck. Third, I trade guns often, its my hobby, so I am always in the market for something.

Anyway, with Kimber, I finally learned my lesson, and will buy no more. As far as 1911s go, I have had great luck with S&W, and own 2 of them right now. They both work 100 percent. I also own 3 Colts, and they all run 100 percent.

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Well I guess that is up to you. It just seems strange to purchase something you hate 5 times without trying to find a fix for the first firearm that may have a problem. There are lots of really pretty 1911's. For the price of the 5 firearms you purchased, you could have purchased a Wilson or even a Les Baer. The nice thing about 1911's is that there are many choices available. I was just trying to give advice for someone who, like me, is on a budget. Kimber is the best bang for the buck.

I just got back from the range and shooting 100 Berry's 200 grain hollow points loaded with 5.8 grains of Unique. I finished up with some 230 grain cast bullets I have been working on. Everything is dirty. I didn't even clean the pistol from the last range session. Total round count is pushing 400 with out a cleaning or an oiling. After shooting the cast, however; I will clean it tonight.

Malfunctions? ZERO. I think one of the problems people have with 1911's in general are with magazines. Kimber mags (not made by them) are junk. I have never had a problem with Wilson mags and have several.

On a side note, I do have the Custom II with the internal extractor. I guess that makes a difference.

Mine has an internal extractor also.

I think a lot more people like Balrog are out there than you think. My dad for one, has traded more guns than I will likely ever own. If it works it sticks around. If something catches his eye, something else goes away. It's a great way to experience a large sampling of firearms without over commitment to any specific one. He does have favorites mind you but that after 40+ years of trading should go without saying.

He also never stated he hated Kimbers, simply that they were not 100%. I know of no one who WANTS an unreliable pistol of any sort regardless of label, looks or loss.

As for tinkering with an inexpensive 1911 to build what you want, that is a sure way to experience reliability issues and waste money in the process. An RIA or STI will make a fine starter and if love blossoms for the platform a simple savings plan of $25 a week will have the OP well in to the semi-custom market by next X-Mas. That will give him 2 fine 1911s in the safe and plans can be made for the third.

FMJ, that SA has me salivating. Still can't talk myself into purchasing a 1911, because I know I would only be doing it for the "look," but man they are pretty guns.

If you're looking in the used department, just posted this article a minute ago

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=562858

They are all made in the USA and every part is made by Kimber.

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Yep, but a lot of those parts are MIM (metal injection molding) parts and this process is not as tried and true as milling a part out of a solid billet of certified material. This is the underlying reason, in my wanderings, why most people seem to poo poo Kimber and often call it Mimber instead.

Tight is fine, but if reliability is a bust, well then, it's a bust. Nothing loses you more customers in the gun market than a rig that is not reliable considering CCW applications are a large part of their targeted market at premium price points. Premium should include reliability in there somewhere on that marketing brochure, and Kimber doesn't have it.

I'd just find something with an adjustable sight and call it good.

I have owned 2 1911's in the last 4 years, both have been Kimbers. My first Kimber I bought in used in 2006 for $400 from a guy that used it in competitions, it ran flawlessly. In Aug of 2009 it was stolen from me by a roommate's friend never to be seen Again.

In Oct of this year I bought a Pro TLE II brand new. I've run 1000 rounds through it since I've bought it. When I was going through the break-in I was having issues with the pistol jamming. I corrected the issue by replacing the Kimber 22# recoil spring with a Wolff 23# recoil spring. Not a single time has it jammed since then. The trick to Kimbers is getting rid of the factory mags and replacing them with Wilson Combat mags.