What a Conundrum

The only obvious answer is to get both.

Everyone needs a 1911 and an AR in their collection.

if you already have an AK, go for the 1911. A lot here depends on what other guns you have and what (inside you know) you REALLY want.

Well you've already got a pretty good 1911, so get an AR while the prices are reasonable. Jmho, lotta good deals on ARs right now. A nice colt should be less than $1,300, with money left for the optic or whatever and ammo.

For a 1911 I'm thinking about either a Dan Wesson (probably Valor) or one of Les Baer's Concept models with fixed sights. I have a basic Kimber Stainless II 1911 right now that I like, but would like to get a quality piece that would last a lifetime and could be handed down when the time came. Are there any other models that I should look at in the same price range? (~1500 - 2000).

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Given the budget I would personally be looking for a like new in box Colt Government Series 70 in a standard or national match flavor. Then too that is just me and my like of the early Colt Government 1911 guns.

Ron

Because we're in Rifle Country....AR... Plus, i just dont care for the 1911.
DD and many others are turning out some top notch stuff. Right now you can pick up a Colt in Walmart for about $1100 but a good AR can be had for less.

a quality piece that would last a lifetime and could be handed down when the time came

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I dunno, but that Kimber already fills the bill. I don't know what either of those other 1911's can do that the Kimber won't as "range toys".

For $2K you can get a top of the line AR with a decent optic. Maybe throw in a couple of cases of .223.

Laphroaig

Daniel Defense is hard to beat for AR rifles.

A nice Colt 1911 fits there bill for a heirloom piece.

I have a basic Kimber Stainless II 1911 right now that I like, but would like to get a quality piece that would last a lifetime and could be handed down when the time came.

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Then you already have a quality 1911 range toy that will last a lifetime and could be handed down. It is at least as good as the DW you are considering. Time for an AR.

It sounds like it's time for you to join the black rifle club. Get the Daniel Defense Ar15.

While my brain is still adolescent, the rest of me is going on 80. Even so, I can get three shot groups in one MOA with my Colt AR and irons. I figure it's as good a casual range toy as I might want. Not bum-rapping anything else, mind you.

As far as 1911s? You oughta be okay as is. All I've done differently in bunches of decades of messing with the darned things is to either rebuild any old rusty clunker or work over a Series 70 so it suits me. They're just way too easy to work on and make into accurate, reliable shooters.

I have several ar-15's but just bought my first 1911 (sw1911sc). I am way more excited about the 1911 than I ever was about the Ar's.

nebeel said:

So is there any real difference in quality/workmanship between Colt & DD? I'm not one to strap a bunch of things all over the front of my rifles so the quad rail handguard doesn't really matter to me that much. I'm told though that the DD handguards are very well made so won't knock them.

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Don't have a Colt but the fit/ finish on the DD is excellent. The DDMV7 handles like lightning. The barrel and hand guard have a lot to do with that. Compared to other midrange ARs the overall differences are very subtle and go completely unnoticed by the average shooter.
Last week my friend shot the DD. This week the Armalite. He had no idea they were 'different'. The bullet sure doesn't know. I notice, but I can't look at my groups and tell which rifle they were from.
Between the Colt and DD I would pick the one with the furniture/ configuration I liked best and call it good.

One difference in the Daniel Defense is the chamber in their hammer forged barrels. I'm was told by a Daniel Defense rep that the chambers are also hammer forged at the same time as the barrel is manufactured. Other manufacturers "cut" a chamber after the barrel is made. Not a big deal, but one of many things that may or may not matter for your intended purposes. Only you can decide what the various differences mean for you and the role your rifle will serve.

My preference is DD over Colt without giving it a second thought. YMMV.

I would get the AR or AK since you have a 1911 .

I love my savannah roll marked DD M4V1. Colt makes a fine rifle, but DD makes it better. Look up the Daniel Defense torture tests. To me, they are the best AR especially for the cost of them. Tier one rifle just like a larue or noveske. I digress: Don't shoot a knights armament 15 unless you want to spend big bucks as those rifles are the end all of the AR realm.

Pick up any of the two ARs you're considering. You cannot go wrong. If you get the colt, I'd suggest a 6920. For the DD it depends on wether you like a front sight post like me. If so, get the V1. If not and you still want the full rail, get the V5. If you like extremely lightweight, they have LW versions with the V7 being the lightest. The V7 also has a tubular handguard which is nice. It also tends to cost less too.

Good luck and if you decide to get an optic, don't cheap out. You'll regret it and it would be a sin to put a crappy optic on such a nice rifle. aimpoint or eotech for red dot/ holographic. Trijicon or leupold for magnified optic. There are a few more magnified offers that'll work as these are just my preference. As for the red dots, stick with the above and only the above if you want quality made and something that'll perform regardless of how you treat it. The companies also back their product better than anyone else.

1911, but then I don't care for ar-15s.....

I'd definitely recommend an AR as most others have. No need to buy a different 1911. You can certainly plan on passing down your Kimber!

AR

It's okay to have two 1911s.
But I'd buy the second after getting my first AR, if I had it to do over again.
Which I don't.
:banghead:
Still I don't mind having two 1911s and an AR.