1911, here I come!

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drw2514

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I'm sure this gets asked here a lot, so I apologize in advance :uhoh:

Just looking for opinions from folks a lot more experienced with 1911s than I am.

I'm looking to purchase my first 1911 after realizing that it is the platform I shoot the best with, by far. I was interested in the new Taurus 1911, but nobody seems to have any. I don't want something highly customized but I don't want a bare-bones beater, either. It'll be primarily a range gun. I'm looking to stay below $600 in price. I would rather get a new gun, but used isn't completely out of the question if something presents itself.

Thanks!
 
Check out the SA GI's...Very nice 1911's for a decent price.

Never shot a mil spec, but all i hear is good things about them, and they are also a good price.

Also, do a search....it takes .3 seconds, and you will have WAY more than ample opinions to choose from.
 
Under $600 get a Springfield Millspec. You may be able to find a Loaded version used around that price. The GI and MilSpec are not the same. The Milspec has taller sights, beveled magwell and flared and lowered ejection port.. Much better gun IMO
 
Another vote for the Springfield MIL SPEC; but if for some reason funding
won't allow it, the Springfield WW-II G.I. replica will get the job done~!:D

Or, if you find a little more money in the kitty- move on up too the
Smith & Wesson (108282) 1911. A little more bells and whistles, and
it comes in stainless, with Novak's low mount three dot sights. Can
be had for $640-660 range without rails, from the right dealer~!
 
I vot for the S/A mil-spec. If you can wait for a TAURUS PT1911, do it. I really like mine!
 
+1 on the Taurus 1911, love mine. If you want lot's of features there's not a better deal out there. If you want plain jane the Springfield is nice. Even the RIA's are good guns for the money.
 
Any current 1911 will work...

...until you get used to it. Then you will discover that you NEED another one. Take your time, and get all your money out of the first one you buy, shooting the fire out of it. All this time save your pennies, and get a really good one next. You may be like me and buy ten 1911s around $700 each before you bite the bullet and buy ONE really great one for a little more. Then you will ask yourself: Why the heck didn't I do this years ago?
I ended up, after ten years, keeping three:
SA Mil Spec. Serious shooter, with thousands and thousands of rounds through it.
Colt combat commander (stainless) my almost all the time carry gun, worn very shiny in spotf from all the time in the holster.
Ed Brown Special Forces. Why didn't I get one like this when I was 21?
 
Please get a modern .45 and not an all steel jamomatic. I've had nothing but trouble with my SA loaded model and regret having bought it.
 
As with anything you can get a lemon. I carry an RIA that I customized and did a lot of work on. Although it shot right out of the box. I have heard very good things about the Taurus although the only one I have handled was out of spec. I handled a SA Milspec and for the price I don't think you could find a better out of the box accurate shooter.

If you had a budget under $400 I would say the RIA, 4-500 SA GI 5-600 SA MilSPec. I can't give an opinion on the Taurus yet. It has not been out long enough to see how they stand up over time but I am sure I will pick one up soon.

You mentioned that it is going to be a range gun. +1 for the MilSPec (It has larger sights than the GI)
 
I think I've made up my mind to wait for the Taurus. The guy at the gunshop is going to order me one, a stainless 5"...he quoted me a price of $459. Sounds like a good deal to me! :)

Problem is, he doesn't know when they'll be coming in...says his distributors don't have any right now, but should soon. I'm crossing my fingers!
 
Jump on it! If you can get the stainless for $459 then by all means get it:) . I paid more than than for my blued one and if I did it over again I'd probably pay up to $600 for one. One problem though, I've heard Taurus is selling the blued version as fast as they can ship them, supposedly won't produce the SS model till next year. I originally wanted the SS too, hope you have more patience than me.:D
 
While the SA GI or Milspec would be a great gun, and fit in your under $600 budget, it is a bare bones, plain jane 1911.

If you want some goodies on a new 1911, then you'll have to break the $600 mark. 1911s with the "goodies" would be the Kimber Custom II or the Springfield Armory Loaded. Both come with fixed sights, beavertail grip safety, extended thumb safety, and full length guide rod.

Only difference is the Series II safety on the Kimber and the ILS on the Springfield. The Springfield safety is preferred because it can be switched out easily by replacing the MSH (mainspring housing).

You can get a Taurus 1911 with the "goodies" too under $600, but it's too new to really recommend it.
 
Springer makes a good "cheap" gun.

I've got a G.I. that is being worked on to replace my current carry 1911.

I also like the Charles Daly 1911's (my current carry pistol) but the metal does leave something to be desired. Getting some frame battering after about 6,000 rounds (yes, I do replace my recoil spring occasionally) Lower cost models of higher quality are decreasing the appeal of these. G.I., Taurus, etc.

I'd recommend getting something that has a solid and squarely machined frame above all else. Taurus, from what I hear, has got that down pretty well. You can add or remove modifications if everything is square without any major pains.
 
So...bad news...the guy at the gun shop said his distributors aren't even taking any more orders for the Taurus...he does have several mil-specs in stock, though...$519.99.

What kind of accuracy can I expect out of the mil-spec, seeing as how it's rather basic...the 1911s I shot at the range were Smiths and Kimbers, and the accuracy that I achieved with those guns made me want to get a 1911 (30ft, 2" group...that's good for me :) ). Is the gun going to be a little less accurate because it doesn't have the better barrel and such, or is it going to be such a miniscule difference that someone with my limited talent won't even notice?

I liked the 1911s I shot because the holes in the target always seemed to appear where I wanted them to :) Seeing as how the range doesn't have a mil-spec for me to rent, I figured the next best thing to do was to ask.
 
There are a few Taurus PT1911s on gunbroker and gunsamerica, some with pretty decent prices. Might wanna take a look there :)
 
I picked up a Dan Wesson Panther for around $500 after shipping and transfer fees. It came with beaver tail safety, XS sights, skeleton hammer and trigger (the trigger was very nice out of the box, around 3lbs). The things I changed was the thumb safety, the slide stop, put in an arched MSH (personal preference), add a button mag release, and put on some Coco Bolo thin grips.

DWP.png

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They may be a little hard to find, but I think it's what you're looking for.
 
The guy at the gunshop is going to order me one, a stainless 5"...he quoted me a price of $459
Click to expand...

Thats a good price. I paid $449 for my blued model. I don't want to initiate brand warfare, but I gotta tell you guys, for the price nothing beats the Taurus for features. Reliability? Well, I don't think it's going to be an issue, and early range reports bear that out. 5 years from now, will we be saying the same thing? I don't know, but if we are, then the Taurus is the best deal in 1911's hands down. Of course, it is only fair to point out that I like Taurus guns and have never had a problem with the ones I have owned, so I am a little biased. Let me point out that I also really dig the GI. I think it's a cool gun that is a honest to god real 1911 built like John Browning intended. My biggest complaint, which I doubt anyone would argue, is that the sights are horrible. They are correct for the gun, which is cool, but that doesn't make them any less horrible.
 
I'll have to make a vote for kimber my custome II is a great shooter and have no problems with the gun itself had some issues with mags but eh gun is great, but I also love my Clot Commnader sereis 70.
 
I've a Springfield G.I. (sold the one I had in O.D Green and bought a the Blue Parkerized one) and I can tell you that it's easy to shoot 2" - 3" groups at twenty yards, off-hand.

It can handle lead semi-wadcutters, JHP (various Federal and Winchester) and ball without stuttering. For your price range, the G.I. can't be topped.
 
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