I Want a New 1911

i already own a Springfield Loaded in .45acp, but if caliber is not that important, you can pick up a 5" Range Officer in 9mm for $750-$800.

I voted "other", meaning Dan Wesson, Heritage.

If you want to go up in price, Valor.

I was a series 70 traditional 1911 snob for yrs. I bought a Sig Scorpion 1911, traditional slide without the rail. I have to say out of all the 1911s I have owned (approx. 15) this is my favorite and my EDC. It is also IMHO the most gun for the money. The only other 1911 I like this much is my TRP but it is 2x the price.

Go for the Smith. It's REALLY underrated.

You have a number of great choices. At the recommendation of a friend who's a gun smith, I went with a Springfield Mil Spec Stainless. I haven't been disappointed. Their current promotion of 3 free magazines and a magazine pouch was a nice bonus.

I think Kimbers are pretty and sell based on their name, but I think they are jam-o-matics

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My Kimber will cycle anything I put into the mag (SWC, HP). I can't remember any malfunctions in my Kimber and I am around 5-8k rounds.

I like (and own) the Colt's too, but the Kimber would be closer to your $1,000 price. I have full confidence in my Kimber, it is one of my CCW pistols. It isn't a Wilson, Baer, Brown, or Nighthawk, but, you could by 3 Kimber 1911 pistols for that kind of cash.

Out of both of these...the XSE based rail gun is my hands down favorite shooter. Shockingly, the trigger is actually better out of the box on it. I also like it better than the Springfield Champion Operator I owned. I've shot a nice Sig and owned a couple of Kimbers, but on a new gun ion that range my money would go to Colt with Springfield being a close runner up. The undercut triggerguards on the XSE Colt's are a nice touch. Sure you can pay for that later, along with a refinish...but it is nice to have it from the factory.




Another vote for the XSE Colt line.

Every 1911 fan should own a Colt at least once, and there has never been a better time.

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I voted "Other" because I currently own a Springfield 1911 A1 "Loaded" parkerized and a Kimber Ultra CDP II (and a neat little Browning 1911-22 Compact).

My next 1911 might be an Ed Brown Kobra Carry. This is one very fine 1911.

You really need to go by the individual gun. All of them make some that are better than others. You can't compare a 6 thousand dollar Wilson with a 400 dollar Rock Island, but each suits a purpose. I of course would get the best one that I could afford. I don't fiddle with them anymore so it would have to have everything I wanted on it already, thus more money.

STI

Check out their web site. Good little Texas company that sponsors many national shooting events.
Be sure and look at the warranty. Great stuff.

Has anyone here owned both a SIG and S&W E Series and can compare them for me.

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Yup had several Sigs including a TacOps. My main issue with the Sigs I had was the slide had an odd shaped cross-section so many of the holsters I had would not work. They were fine shooting guns though. The E-Series is just a solid gun without the extra "contraptions" that S&W included in their other 1911s (the firing pin block stuff). Either would serve you well...

I like the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec that is currently available for around $600.

You can slowly change out parts to "upgrade", if so desired.

I love the GI look of the Mil-spec, and SA currently has an offer of 3 additional magazines if you buy a SA pistol before Oct 30th!

To kinda stay within your stated price range I voted Kimber. I have three in the three different barrel lengths and they have performed very well. But if you can scrape up a little more dust any of the Dan Wessons are awesome. I have a CCO and the quality of that handgun jumps off the page

I have a Sig tac-ops that is sweet but what im really wanting is the Sig Nightmare carry , love this pistol

If you keep your eyes open, you might find a used Les Baer for under $1500. I did, and I am very happy with it. I also "just missed" two Wilsons in the same price range ($1200-1500). One right here on THR and the other at a gun show. To be sure, if you see it, you had best grab your wallet immediately, or someone will beat you to it.

I have also owned three Colts. Started with Colt because that is what my dad carried in WWII. It is also the first handgun I ever shot. It is "what a real 1911 is", "if it's not a Colt it's a copy", etc. My experience was not all that favorable. If you want to talk about a 1911 maker who is existing on their reputation, Colt would be my first choice. And mind you, I was born and raised in Connecticut, and my dad took me to visit the Colt factory as a young lad many years ago. I was born and raised a Colt 1911 fanboy. But I grew out of it. All that said, and all these years later, I am not all that impressed.

I have also owned three or four Springfields. Again, my experience clashes with internet "reality". I don't see myself owning another springer.

I've had four Paras, and my wife still has one. If you are not comfortable with the traditional 1911 trigger, the LDA is a neat idea, but it is not my cup of tea. Still, I had better luck with Para than I did with Colt or Springfield.

One Dan Wesson, overpriced and honestly not worth the price.

The aforementioned Les Baer, that I got for a good price but needed some help from my 1911-wizard (a Baer-specific issue that Baer does not deem to be a problem but a "feature"...pm me if you choose to) but it was resolved for about $100, and it is now an outstanding 1911.

And eight or so Kimbers. Why so many Kimbers? Because I had good luck with the first one I bought. Bought another and it was just as good. The next, same story...and so on. They shoot anything I can fit in the mag, which includes large quantities of my 200 gr SWC handloads. That includes 3", 4", 5" Kimbers in alloy and steel frames, with both internal and external extractors. Just haven't found a bad one yet. Just one man's experience.

Note that I am a serial owner, and no longer own most of these guns. This is not so much a reflection on the guns themselves as it is a reflection upon my poor economic state (I have to sell one to buy one) and my fickle nature (I frequently see something I want to try, so I sell something in order to buy it)

Now, let's talk S&W. I have owned two PD 1911s (one early and one more current) Scanduim 4" 1911s.

IMHO, this is the best value in a carry 1911. Reliability (in my admittedly small sample size) is exemplary. I shoot a variety of ammo, including my handloads through all of my handguns, and my S&Ws were/are not at all picky about bullet profile. Very nice build quality, accuracy is as good as I am, weight is the same as any other aluminum alloy framed 1911 (which is to say, pretty dang light, esp if we are talking 4" barrel length) and the durability of the Scandium alloy is likely to exceed that of an "normal" aluminum alloy...although very few people shoot any alloy framed 1911 enough to render it unserviceable. My first was a Gunsite edition that I bought used for $800. The newer E-Series with the bobtail frame cost a bit more, but I have seen used ones for less than $1000.

I think Kimbers are pretty and sell based on their name, but I think they are jam-o-matics...

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You are entitled to your opinion, but I believe we have established that your opinion was form from hearsay, and not from actual experience...
My opinion is formed from actual experience. I am not the world's foremost expert on 1911s, but I shot my first one in 1964 or so, and have owned 25 or more since I was old enough to own one of my own.

Maybe talk to a good gunsmith? Buy his preferred inexpensive mil-spec pistol and have him build it exactly the way you want. Custom nice is nicer than out-of-the-box nice, imho.

As far as a Mil-Spec and then getting it upgraded, that is an excellent idea. I sent my SA Mil-Spec to a 'smith who fitted a Kart barrel and bushing, replaced almost every part on the gun and even installed sights he made. It is now my best 1911 and definitely one way to go - if your budget will allow for the 'smith work.

I won't be any help, all the ones you listed are good companies. I guess the only one I might not buy is the Kimber. I've seen a few with problems, but that might not turn me off either.

All I can say is, I own Colts and Springfields and a Sig.

Me to,
I'm considering this; http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/.../Remington+96336+R1+Commander+7+1+45ACP+4.25"
A friend has this with a 5" barrel and I was impressed.

With a $1500 budget I'd get a Dan Wesson. A lot of people think Dan Wesson is as good as you can get in a production gun.

Another vote for the series 80 Colt. There might be fancier looking 1911s out there. But I doubt you are gonna find a more solid one.