1911 - Most reliable

[Maia007]

Considering my first 1911 pattern auto, more or less true to the JMB single action design.

As absolute reliability as reliability can get is the paramount issue for me.

New or used is immaterial. My preferred budget is perhaps $800 or so, but, if I need to go up to $1000 or thereabouts, fine.....provided it buys me the reliability I have to have. Not interested in the custom big high falutin end of the spectrum.

Are there any models that consistently demonstrate a reputation for meeting my needs?

 

[Dobe]

Colt, Springfield, and Dan Wesson, will fit that critereon. Smith & Wesson will also, but it isn't a traditional 1911 (external extractor).

 

[9mmepiphany]

if you're demanding absolute reliability in that price range, in a steel 45, i think you're looking at a Sig 220

 

[loop]

You are looking for a Colt.

Read all the negative comments you can find about 1911s. Hardly anyone ever bad raps a Colt.

It may be because Colt has been building them for more than 100 years...

 

[Rockwell1]

Buy 2 RIAs ( you'll still be at the low end of your price range) you'll be fine.

Beyond that I'd say go with the Colt's just for the historical value

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Colt and S&W are the only two I would consider.

While the S&W has an external extractor, I would like to say that it is the same proven design they use in their other autos, and works flawlessly.

I would stay away from Kimber at all costs. I have owned 4 or 5 of them. None were 100%, and the fools at Kimber "customer service" are an unpleasant and unhelpful group of people to deal with.

 

[ulflyer]

Don't forget the NORK! Hard to beat at well under $500.
I have Colts and a Springfield...all excellent, but the Nork is my all around, toss around, don't worry about scratching and getting nasty gun. Shoots anything, everytime. Don't get me wrong, so do the others but they ain't as inexpensive.

 

[freakshow10mm]

*** is a Nork?

 

[Hostile Amish]

Norinco

Buy a Colt. You won't be dissapointed.

 

[rklessdriver]

Without a doubt, buy a COLT. All 3 of my current COLTs are 100% reliable. Every COLT I have ever had that was not "Bubba Smith'd" ran perfect.

Come on folks. The man said he had $800-$1000 to spend.

Don't get me wrong - RIA, Norinco, Taurus ect are pretty good guns in their own right. They fill a gap for 1911's at a low price. I even cut my teeth on a Norinco 1911 back in 1995.... but no one in their right mind would buy BRAND X when they are willing to spend kind of change he is.

Will

 

[General Geoff]

Colt or Dan Wesson, I'd say.

 

[TX1911fan]

I've never had a lick of trouble with any of the 3 Springfield 1911s I own.

 

[CWL]

Springfield Loaded, Dan Wesson if you push up another $100, or a baseline Colt.

 

[Rangegod]

The following list is an overview of the performance of my NIB 1911's over the last 35 years. (May have missed a few, as memory is not what it once was.)

9MM Colt Commander (6)
45 ACP Colt LW Commander (5)
45 ACP Colt/Gov. Md.(original S70) (5)
45 ACP Colt/ Commander (1991 ORM) (4)
45 ACP Clot/Defender (4)
45 ACP Colt/LW Commander XSE (4)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (Blue) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (Hard Chrome) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Kimber/Clasic (3)
45 ACP Kimber/Royal Cary (2)
45 ACP Kimber/Custom Royal (4)
45 ACP Para-Ordnance/P12-45 (1)*
45 ACP Brown KC (1)
45 ACP Brown SF (1)
45 ACP Brown SF (1)
45 ACP Brown/Class A Ltd Commander (1)
45 ACP SA/TRP (3)
45 ACP SA/PRO (1)
45 ACP SA/Trophy Match (3)
45 ACP STI/Trojan (3)
45 ACP Dan Wesson CBOB (2)
45 ACP Taurus / PT 1911 (1)
45 ACP Valtro (1)
45 ACP S&W 1911PD (1)

Honorable mention “1911ish” guns (Like other external extractor “1911 want-to-be’s”)
45 ACP Star/PD #1 (1)*
45 ACP Star/PD #2 (1)*
45 ACP Star/PS (1)*
9MM Star/BM (1)*

NOTES:
(1) 100% out of the box with all mags & ammo
(2) 100% with slight break-in, &/or mag change
(3) Reliable after break-in with specific ammo & mags
(4) Reliable after part(s) change &/or minor gunsmithing
(5) Reliable after major gunsmithing
(6) Never worked even after multiple returns to manufacture and gunsmiths
(*) Only OEM mags used

 

[CWL]

Rangegod,
I applaud you for your memory (beats mine), but can you provide approximate years of manufacture for the pistols listed? The reason why I ask is that a lot of changes occur to firearms over the years let-alone 35 years. I wouldn't buy a 1970's Colt, and wouldn't trust later Kimbers for example -yet both brands have made excellent pistols depending on the year of manufacture.

I think to be valid for the OP's request, current or recently-manufactured M1911s would be more appropriate (not that there is anything like "absolutely reliable").

 

[mljdeckard]

I owned a Colt 1991, and while it was certainly good enough, I don't remember it to be particularly great either.

Understand, when you are talking about 1911s, you are buying whatever a given factory is putting out at a given time, which can be affected by many factors. Some factories cut corners during various phases of management. I've seen a lot of bad comments about Kimber, and what I will submit is, if a manufacturer is making three to four times more pistols than their nearest competitor, the number of failures may or may not be higher, but that does not mean their failure RATE is higher. My Custom II is the best handgun I've ever owned, PERIOD. I have several friends who have converted because they liked mine so much. I have one friend who got one, and his wife was shooting it so much he had to get her her own. Stainless with external extractor. NO PROBLEMS. I use my Kimber for everything from range stuff to open carry in the woods. I would take it to war tomorrow if my command would allow it.

Can you get a lemon Kimber? You can get a lemon anything. If you can get one, you can get more than one. To that effect, I would think hard about the idea that was mentioned above. Get two RIAs, and learn about fixing them yourself. If you have two, and one has a problem, you can always have backup. Get good advice about what upgrades work and which ones don't. Go to brownells.com and get their free 1911 catalog, get some good books on them, and you will be able to try one at a time what parts and upgrades you want to.

For me, I don't ever see myself switching from what I have right now.

 

[weisse52]

Colt.

I have three in rotation and two are less than 4 years old and one is a late 70's Combat Commander.

I have NO problems with any of them. I buy them "base" models and then shoot the crap out of them.

I also have a Norinco that has been 100%

Your experience may vary. But if you have problems I wonder who screwed it up.