1911 help Tuner.......anyone....

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Wheeler44

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I am a dyed in the wool revolver guy. Heck, I'm so set in my ways that I think that there is only one Brand of double action revolvers. I also like trucks with straight six engines and 5 speed trannys.

A while ago I took a fellow shootin', we used my 22/45 and his Kimber super duper delta force ice nine elite custom, or sumthin' like that. Sweet gun. 400 rds. and not even a hiccup.

Heck, with a little help from my THR buddies and a youtube vid I was able to show him how to field strip it, clean it and reassemble it (with no idiot scratch).

Thanks THR gunboard Gurus.

Now my problem. I want one. I don't think I need a $1000.00 gun (I don't really even need another gun) but I went looking today and here is what I found, in order of my personal (and uninformed) preference. Prices are approximate and don't include tax for clarity.

Colt 1911 mfg 1917. this old soldier looks like it was ridden hard and put up wet. I rattles when you shake it and the beavertail safety doesn't work (the shop owner said that it needed a spring and that it would cost $20.00 if I wanted them to do the work). It has a nice brownish patina and looks tougher than a kennel of underfed mongrels. $600.00

Auto-Ordinance 1911 ,newer, very little wear (idiot scratch though) kind of a "Parkerized" look to it, basic, bone stock $395.00

Springfield Armory 1911 A-1 mfg. 1995 nice looking piece looks fresh from the box, trigger job, "Sheetmetal"? hammer,extended beavertail, not much else to say about it $600.00

Kimber "carry II" new in the box $700.00

Kimber "custom" Although it was the most bone stock (and least expensive) lookin" one in the case $675.00

So what are the pluses and minuses on these diverse specimens. I know it's kinda like comparing oranges to tangerines.

Help me decide.

Thanks,

Wheeler44
 
The most important question here is, "What do you want it to do?"

Will this be a CCW gun?
Will this be used only at the range?
Do you want the best potential accuracy?
Do you want any sort of collector value?

Almost all of the guns you listed have some potential.
I think the AO is overpriced, so I'd strike that one off the list.
The Relic may be easily worth more than $600, but depends on condition
The two Kimbers sound like fair deals, as does the Springer.

You need to answer the above questions to help narrow it down.
 
Will this be a CCW gun? Sometimes (I don't carry much) more if I like it
Will this be used only at the range? No, for carry too (if I get to where I trust it)
Do you want the best potential accuracy? sure
Do you want any sort of collector value? not so much collector value more something that "speaks to me"

The Relic may be easily worth more than $600, but depends on condition
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Part of what I like about the relic is the fact that it looks like it lived in a barn and is pitted and rough under the brownish patina. The grips are chipped, you barely make out the Mfg. date etc. But it looks TOUGH like the Fitz special on the Revolver sub-forum, and I really like that.
 
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Is a Rock Island Armory something you would even consider?
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The above are just what were in my favorite haunts.

I guess that I'm open for anything. Except fancy.

Function over form and all that.

Cost effective a plus.

No GLOCKs, no XDs, no euro-trash.

Just a good 1911.
 
The relic doesn't sound like a bad deal, but if you want a shooter 1911 I might recommend you pass it by- it's more of a collector piece, and you might well need to repair/replace internals before it's a good and accurate shooter.

The Springfield would be a good gun, from the description you give it sounds like it is either a "loaded" model or it has received upgrades along the line. The Kimbers aren't bad.

Honestly, if you want a basic shooter 1911, I'd recommend looking at the Rock Island guns; they make a "classic" 1911 model and an "upgraded" one (Tactical model) for a bit more. They should be available for $350-500, depending on how high your local shops tend to be. A Springfield Armory GI would also be a good choice.

There's a bunch of guns to choose from, so I can understand your quandary.
 
All of those other then the Kimber Carry II are good options. If the Kimber custom is really a Kimber custom and not a Kimber custom II then it is a good option.

Don't touch the Auto-Ordnance.

The Springer and Colt are not stock and that means trouble unless you know what to look for or are willing to do what is necessary to get them right.

I say your best option is the stock Kimber Custom. Sights you can see and probably a decent trigger. What more is there?
 
I was in your shoes about a year ago and was set on getting a SA stainless loaded.
The short version is I got a Kimber Custom II stainless for just a little less money and could not be happier if I was dipped in butter.
I think mine at the time was about $650
It has never given me one bit of trouble and is way more accurate than I am.
If I was wanting a real basic model then I would look at a basic SA or RIA.
Good luch with whatever you go with.
 
I'll also jump on the Rock Island bandwagon. As basic shooters, they're a lot of gun for the money. I also have Springers and Paras and my 2 Rocks shoot just as well.

For under $500 you can get a new Rock Tactical which comes with all the bells & whistles you're likely to need. I have one, along with a Rock Compact, and they're among my favorite shooters.

The Springer you describe sounds like a Loaded model and that's also a very good gun and $600 is a reasonable price...
 
Yup if you want a shooter and money left over for ammo look at the RIA. Get the "Tactical" (~$475 last gun show) if you want all the modern creature comforts, or the "Standard" if you want the "GI" look(~$375 last gun show). Probably will want different grips as that's one place they obviously scrimp to hit the price point, but I've got over 13000 rounds thru my oldest RIA.

--wally.
 
If the Colt speaks to you then by all means get it.

But I would have a qualified gunsmith look it over and make sure that the internal parts are not overly worn and also I would replace any parts which might have been substituted for MIM parts over the many decades with "original" tool steel parts.
 
Springfield Armory 1911 A-1 mfg. 1995 nice looking piece looks fresh from the box, trigger job, "Sheetmetal"? hammer,extended beavertail, not much else to say about it $600.00
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Of those that you mentioned, I would opt for the springer. My springer was made around that time period and it runs like a clock.

STI Spartan
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Another good option.
 
The 1917 manufactured Colt would be nice for a collection, and the price is probably right for one that old.

But it is too old for a shooter!

Metallurgy & heat treating was less understood, and far less scientific then, steel was not nearly as good, and no doubt, 91 years of use have left it less then sound.

I have repaired cracked frames & replaced cracked slides on 1911's that old on more then one occasion.

rcmodel
 
To me the Springer is a good choice but if you are looking for a simple solid shooter with that milspec look it is hard to ignore the Rock Island Armory.

RIA_L_1_500_thumb1.jpg


For $400 NIB OTD it will serve you well as base foundation to learn about 1911s. I suggest you shoot it stock and the modify if needed.

Normally I am a Colt guy but I think for the money this one will serve you well.
 
Make sure to check in over at the m1911 forums as they have a section devoted to each major brand. The Rock Island section is very active and will probably have the info you need to make a decision...

http://forum.m1911.org
 
The Tactical RIA has the beaver tail safety already and only cost $30 more. It also has better sights IMO. I've owned a few of the of the mil-spec RIAs and the only problems I had with it were the sights and the lack of a beaver tail.
 
I don't recommend a beavertail for a first 1911. Get to know the platform as it was intended and then you can modify as you see fit. To start out of the box with all the tactical do dads is a mistake IMHO.

You also get an ambi safety which I do not recommend unless you are a lefty. The real big plus on the RIA tactical is the Novak cuts on the sights.
 
The local RIA distributors are famous for their customer-service, too - which was the final, push-me-over-the-edge deciding-factor in my purchase of an RIA Tactical.
 
I don't recommend a beavertail for a first 1911. Get to know the platform as it was intended and then you can modify as you see fit.
Click to expand...

I agree with that in principle, but there are some people with large hands that must have a beavertail to avoid hammer bite. I personally am fine with a standard grip safety, but my friend cannot shoot a 1911 without a beavertail.
 
I'm also not quite convinced that a more GI-style one is necessary to get into the platform. The nice thing about the beavertail safety (and its attendant commander-style hammer) is that is allows a quite high grip, which makes the gun more controllable. Unless your hands are on the smaller side, that high a grip with a GI style hammer and grip safety will end up getting you bitten by the gun. You're best off deciding whether you want the upgraded sights and such by fondling the various types, then get what you want.

I started with a Springfield Loaded model and I don't regret it one bit.
 
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