Bitten by the 1911 bug

Take a look at Springfield. They have everything from Mil-Spec to TRP in many price ranges. That being said, you can't beat Springfield's customer service.

My 1911 is a Colt, but I don't think I be swayed away from Kimber due to price if that is what you liked. The Custom II and the TLE II are both very good values. They are really everything the other models are in the Kimber line-ups, just without the flash.

If you are really looking for the bargain gun, the Rock Island Tactical is the way to go.

Springfield has an excellent warrantee, and the Loaded would be in the same price range as the Kimber Custom II and TLE II.

Springfield for shooting. Colt for collecting and shooting.....Twenty years from now the extra dollars you paid for a Colt will seem like pennies.

I agree with ColtPythonElite: I have both a Springfield Armory M1911A1 and quite a few Colt Governments. All of them are very well made, reliable, and accurate. I believe Colt is now turning out some of the best built M1911 pattern guns and are a great value for the money.

Welcome to the club, I love my 1911's. Once you get the bug you will always have it.

Check out the Ruger SR1911's...both of them.
Price is good-Pistol is great!!
Pud

Springfield- operator or range officer, if you don't want to pop for a TRP, Colt, "I like the lightweight combat Commander" Ruger SR 1911 "I like the Commander". The Remington R!, "the most flexible pricing, from 550 - 1200, "depending on the options", I can say the first one released a few years ago, was excellent, with a great trigger and 1 1/2 inch groups at 10 yards right out of the box. Then there are the $400.00-600.00 Phillipine and Turkish guns, that seem to work pretty well. There are just some things to consider when buying one, like the parts on some "you have to check" aren't mil spec. The barrels can be any size from 3 to 5 inches and not the same exact size as an officer or commander barrel in some cases. I would go for the Ruger or Remington ,if I wanted to stay under 6-650.00, They are good to go at that price and you can add on options later if you choose. Ideally a SR1911 Commander for $600, can be had if you watch Slickguns.com for a while. It's better than an off sized gun, "good as they may be" with welded sights. If you want to add hammers triggers etc. at least you know the standard sizes will fit, and they are made in the states. If your budget allows for $1000 + weapons then we have an entirely different conversation, although the Colts and Springfield's along with Remington, all make guns that are priced much higher in the 2 and 3 thousand range, you also get into Sigs Kimbers, Browns, "well you know the rest, which can go sky high.
What you said about the trigger is the hook with a 1911, sometimes you can't believe you just did that, which I find hard to "feel" with most any other gun. I just shoot them better than anything else, which makes them a necessary addition.

The various Phillipines-made guns (Rock Island and others) and generally regarded as good bargains. They are inexpensive, they work, and they have good warranty service if something goes wrong.

I would advise against starting with a base gun and adding mods as you go, unless you have (or would enjoy learning) the skills to do it yourself. The end result is almost certain to be more expensive than if you had bought what you wanted off the shelf, and it would have less resale value to boot.

My advice would be to start with one of the Rock Island or similar models, figure out what you like and don't like about it, and, if necessary, sell it and buy what you really want when the time comes. With reasonable care you could expect your used gun to sell for maybe a hundred dollars less than you paid for it new. Select any model with good, easy-to-see sights (not the traditional GI version) and you're off to the races.

I had a Rock Island GI version, it worked perfectly but I sold it because the hammer bit my hand and the sights were useless to my middle-aged eyes. I replaced it with a used Springfield Mil-Spec, a very similar gun but with modern sights and a slightly modified hammer spur, and I've been delighted with it.

Also, if you have not encountered this yet, google up the phrase 'idiot scratch' as it apples to 1911s, and see how to avoid it. Every beginner encounters this, and it's always cheaper to learn from other's mistakes.

What is the intended purpose/use(s) of this 1911?

When it comes to buying 1911's it's important to figure out what your budget is. RIA's are a good value for the money, but you do get a much nicer gun for what you'd spend on a Kimber, STI, or DW.

And I'll echo Girodin- we need to know what you're using this for, and what kind of features you'd like the gun to have.

I think that right now, the best buy for the dollars spent is the new Ruger 1911's. They are well built, well fitted, have everything you need in a basic 1911 and are solid enough to built into whatever you EVER decide you want in the future.

I recently bought one of the commander length's and am more than well pleased with it. NEVER a hickup and quite accurate.

Give them a look-see.

ATI 1911s are a good entry pistol.

Remington and Smith and Wesson are both worth a look. The Remington is a better "value" candidate. There are a LOT of options. It would be best as previously suggested to winnow down just what you expect from the gun as specifically as possible.

You have a good start by identifying you like ambidextrous controls.

If you want to do some customization in the future, look very, very hard at Springfield. They have a deserved reputation for being milled and drilled square. This makes working on them in the future much easier for either you or your gunsmith.

I recently succumbed and picked up a Sig 1911 Nightmare Carry. Wonderful weapon, although I haven't made it to he range yet.

When it comes to 1911s, I've been told: "Bet you can't eat just one!"

Another vote for the Ruger SR1911; good price, excellent trigger. Only, they're not easy to find sights for if you live in Canada...

Welcome to the 1911 fanboy club! Once you join, you never leave

The Remington 1911 R1 is a good entry-level 1911. Made in the USA, respectable build quality, $600ish price tag. However, the stock safety on the Remington is right-handed only. I'm going to have to swap mine out for an aftermarket safety (I'm a southpaw).

Remington has a $75 mail in rebate on their 1911s until the end of May.

My R1 eats my handloaded HPs and cast very well using the stock mags and CMCs.

PARA USA is another good entry 1911 company. Right now they are having $100 rebate for a spring sale and recently came out with a ton of new models at the last 2 SHOT shows.

I like my SR 1911 but it doesn't have a ambidextrous safety either.

I'm sure you'll end up with 60,000 replies telling you to spend thousands of dollars on something...but since you've ruled out Kimber which starts at $750 "jobber" price, then you've pretty much ruled out the other overpriced models.

I'd avoid S&W because they produce a MODIFIED version which means you can't source standard 1911 replacement parts.

I'd rule out Kimber, Colt, Sig, S&W, Ruger, Remington, Springfield Armory and others on the grounds that they simply cost too much and probably outsource their parts to the same companies that import "cheap" 1911s.

I'd take a HARD look at Rock Island Armory...they are currently producing a superbly built 1911...don't go expensive unless you WANT the beavertail and rounded hammer....otherwise go "cheap" like the 1911 GI model....

BTW, Springfield Armory uses and eclectic assortment of parts sourced from various countries....then slap a $695 price tag on it....

I'll address just the RIA question here. You'll hear them called junk, worthless, jam-o-matics, philipino beer cans, etc. But only by people who don't own one. I currently have one within reach that has seen in excess of 10,000 rounds, a lot of carry time, several formal training classes and due to age and use looks like it's been run over by a truck. I cannot remember when the last malfunction was, it's been several years. It will hold 3 1/2 in groups at 25 yards with little rifling left. Yes, I've almost shot out the barrel. The trigger is nominal for a 1911. I own guns with far better triggers. But it's still better than any striker fired pistol out there. No plastic parts, unlike certain Barely Ordnance pistols at twice the price.

When I plunk it down on the table next to a custom build, it looks like a cheaper pistol. Because it is. Fit and finish aren't perfect. Not sloppy by any means, but not the level you'd expect on a pricier gun.

The supplied magazines are pretty good. They function fine in all my pistols. Mec-Gar brand.

If you want a "pretty" gun, keep looking. If you want a piece of hand held machinery that works, snap it up.