$1300 advice

I don't think you would regret a TRP. I've got one and it's been great. The fit and finish on the rifle is seriously impressive for a factory gun. The only thing I hear people complain about is the aggressive 20LPI front strap checkering. I have used it for some training courses and I had to put tape on my fingers after the first day. I would prefer 25LPI but I'm not getting rid of it.

The upper end springers, colts and a few of the others will gobble up that $1300 and they are nice pistols.

Could get a basic Colt or Springfield for about $700 and have $600 to buy your reloading setup too.

For $1,300 there is a lot of choices. For another $300 the Dan Wesson could be yours. At this price range another $300 isn't that much more. Get something you really want.

Dan Wesson Valor in duty treat black is $1800 or less now. Less than a Glock over your budget. Do it. 1911's ain't cheap to build correctly.

Otherwise, this is a Colt thread.

If by looking for a more traditional looking 1911 you mean few if any extra "bells and whistles", I would go with something like a Colt 1991 or Series 70 model. Springfield Armory has their comparable MIL-SPEC model. If you prefer a few more upgrades to the basic 1911 design then a Colt XSE Government or a SA TRP would make for a decent choice as well.

A NIB Dan Wesson is most certainly in your price range.

Check out the Heritage model.

http://cz-usa.com/product/dw-rz-45-heritage-45-acp-stainless-tritium-front-8-rd-mags/

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=494907551

Dan Wesson Heritage for less than $1100 shipped.

Indeed save your money and get a Dan Wesson.

For a range plinker and host gun for a newbie reloader I'd question putting $1300 into this gun. I'd suggest getting an RIA "Tactical" and spending the savings on ammo and reloading equipment and supplies.

How'd you feel if a reloading blunder damaged your $1300 pistol?

I paid less than your budget for my used Duty Black DW Valor, the best firearm I own. The Springfield TRP and the STI Trojan, which I have in 9mm, are also very good choices, probably as good as the Valor. And I also like the Colt Wiley Clapp Gov't length model.

I like Colt's and the current production Series 70 would be a great gun, but if you're doing it as a reloading experiment, the GI ejection port on that gun will mangle the case mouth on your ejected cases. You may want to have the learning opportunity to resize those, but I'd avoid any GI gun with the small ejection port.

I haven't really shopped Springfield TRP's, or Dan Wesson's for that matter, but I think I'd be surprised to find a new, unused TRP for less than your $1,300 limit. If they do cost less than that, I think I may pick one up myself. I've always thought they were $1,500ish guns.

I hate adjustable sights on 1911's, and spend an awful lot of time and effort trying to talk guys out of getting a Springfield Range Officer, but for your application…

It will be just a plinker and a ginny pig for when i start reloading .45acp.

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…it is probably a very good choice. Relatively inexpensive, lowered ejection port, adjustable sight to help you work your custom loads, and Springfield's customer service.

Don't discount the Ruger SR1911. Can probably be had for $6-700.00 I have two, very happy with them. I also have several 1911's and 1911A1's But for a new purchase I'd look over the Ruger before I'd drop $1,300.00 on another, JMHO, Coogs.

There are many, but why do you need another one if you're happy with the SIG C3? SIG also offers traditional slide guns.

Avoid all Kimbers. My customer experience with them was absolutely terrible.


Personally, I had great luck with the Colt XSE. Just add night sights. I really like the barrel dimple since it seems to facilitate feeding of all JHP ammo.

The Colt WW I Repro was great too--except for the hammer bite.

You can find a awesome Dan wesson Blemished model for that price easy. check out this link....

http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/pistols/dan-wesson-pistols.cfm?cat_id=151

Why is Dan Wesson so cool with the kids these days?

Because they seem to be making some of if not the best production 1911s

Thermactor said:

Why is Dan Wesson so cool with the kids these days?

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It's a semi custom 1911 hardly any worse than an Ed Brown. There are Wilson's out there I've liked less. Guncrafter is king of the high end market IMO, but DW owns the middle right now.

Instead of a hard fit 1911, DW's taking advantage of modern CNC. And they aren't dcking around with cheap parts or MIM. And the price is only a bit more than a Kimber that's nowhere even close to similar quality.

Only you can decide whether you really want to save/wait for a Dan Wesson. Ultimately, you're buying a range toy either way. It's not only possible, but likely that you won't be able to determine a significant difference between the TRP and a lower-level DW 1911 while on the range.

If you want the DW, save and wait for it. If you want a quality 1911 for a range gun, the TRP will scratch that itch, and scratch it well. Other than that, I'd consider a Colt, and make the decision between those three.

Better can be hard to quantify when comparing similar guns of any type, but in 1911s at this price range, it's arguably the hardest difference to determine. It's going to be tough to make a poor decision.

thefamcnaj said:

Im in the market for a new 1911. I have no personal defense aspirations for this gun. It will be just a plinker and a ginny pig for when i start reloading .45acp.
Im on a pretty strict budget of $1300.

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With a budget of $1,300, and a desire for "just a plinker and a ginny pig for when I start reloading", you certainly have a lot of options. There is ABSOLUTELY no need to spend anywhere near the full $1,300 on just the gun.

A Colt 1991A1 would fit the bill quite nicely for about half your budget. The other half would certainly buy you a LOT of reloading gear and supplies.

There are other quality makers, too...like RIA or Springfield...that make 1911's for about half your budget.


Buy the gun that fits your needs without burning up your entire budget is easy...it's also easy to spend every nickel you have, and then some, if you go nuts. Unless you honestly have a desire to own a higher end 1911 just because you've "always wanted a Dan Wesson" or some such, then don't go down that road.

Thermactor said:

Why is Dan Wesson so cool with the kids these days?

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Because of all the CZ fanboys.

Get a Colt.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...uer+1911-45-SPARTAN+1911+Spartan+8+1+45ACP+5"

if i was going to spend $1300, though i think you can get a reliable springfield stainless 1911 for half that price, i would buy the above.

I have owned three or more each Colts and Springfields, and have no intention of owning another.

I have one DW, and IME it is overpriced and over-hyped. I have way too much into it (including gunsmithing fees to get it working right) to get anything back.... so it is probably not for sale, unless I run into a Bigger Idiot.

For my money in your price range, I bought a used Les Baer for about $1100 a few years ago, and a couple of scandium S&Ws, (one new E-Series, ~1299, one used, ~$800), and all of them are twice the gun the Colts, Springers and DWs are...in my experience.

Let me say that I have owned about 25 1911s since about 1982 or so.

YMMV.

If you are determined to spend that much, then at least take a look at the S&W E Serries. Never shot a nicer 1911.