1911 Purchase

[Okiegunner]

In the market for a new 1911. Commander or FS. I currently own a RIA "officer" model. Great pistol. I just want something a little different.

Does anyone know of any rebates or special "deals" currently being offered? $700-750ish would be about the top end for $$ spent.

At current prices I can find this would include SR1911, Springfield loaded, Magnum Research DE, or a low end Colt (1991).

I have also been looking at the closeouts that CDNN is having in the Para USA "Elite" series Commander ($599) or the "Pro" series FS with the tritium sights ($799). However I know there are a certain amount of Para haters out there. The "Pro" price would be at the way upper limit of where I can spend.

Anyhow, if someone knows of some specials or discounts being run, I would like to know.

 

[bannockburn]

Okiegunner

Don't know about any special deals or rebates being offered but you can sure find quite a few decent 1911s for $750 or less. Some examples:

ATI Firepower Extreme 1911-$375
Tisas Classic 1911A1-$389
RIA 1911-$425
Iver Johnson 1911A1-$435
SA Mil-Spec 1911A1-$596
Remington R1 Enhanced-$666
Magnum Research DE1911G-$674
Ruger SR1911-$690
Colt Series 1991-$749

 

[Tcruse]

I highly recommend the Ruger SR1911 light weigh commander. The weight difference is a big deal if you actually carry every day.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have shot the full size Ruger 1911 and I liked it a lot. I was going to buy one before I decided to upgrade the 1911 I already had.

 

[badkarmamib]

Another vote for the Ruger. I acquired my wife's Commander during a merry-go-round of selling, trading, and buying to get her a new Springfield XD-S. It is my favorite handgun out of all I have ever owned.

 

[Tallball]

My Tisas has been 100% reliable and is more accurate than I am. It is one of the few handguns which I bought brand-new and paid retail price for. It has been well worth it.

My FiL lucked onto a Metro Arms 1911 for somewhere in the low $300's on GB. It has excellent sights and is very nice looking. In the past he got a surplus Beretta 92 & surplus Star Super B for around $200 apiece. They are both good-shooting pistols, but he feels that the Metro Arms was the better deal. I wish mine had grips and sights like his.

 

[wojownik]

In 4.25" commander size, I'd suggest:

- Colt commander (model O4691) - this might be just above your price range. Unless a pre-owned one might be acceptable?

- Ruger SR1991 Compact Commander - in your price range, and nicely outfitted

 

[ulflyer]

I bought a used 45cal Sig commander size 1911 type at a gun show for $700 and it is an outstanding shooter. It's on my hip as I write. Or look for a Sig Ultra which is about the same gun but with shorter barrel. I have one of those too but somehow prefer the 4" commander size.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Unless you really have to buy online, I'd recommend going into stores "in person" and seeing what is available.

Handle the 1911 yourself, SERIOUSLY scrutinize it. Don't just pick up a pretty one, click the trigger once, and then buy it. I read so many stories of people who buy a 1911 (or any firearm) and only after they get home do they realize the slide and grip safety are clattery, the sights bent, the mag well is crooked, the ambi safety is loose, and tool marks everywhere, etc.

A logical person reads the review amd has to wonder, "Why didn't they notice this before buying?".

It's totally within your right to do a thorough inspection before you buy.

Sometimes, despite best efforts, you still learn a lesson the hard way. My most recent was with a Springfield Loaded 1911. I have two phenomenal SA Loadeds, but one had night sights and the other didn't. As part of my OCD, I decided both needed night sights.

My lesson was that while night sights on a Glock cost a mere $65-75, on a 1911 they are A LOT more expensive. Every 1911 manufacturer seems to have a different dovetail or slot, or different height. The correct sights, after being hand fitted, cost $200.

My advice is to be sure you get sights you are happy with on the front end, versus changing them later.


The Springfield 1911s I've handled seem to be better fit than the Rugers and equivalently priced Colts I've handled, especially at the slide and grip safety. The sloppier fit doesn't necessarily preclude the Rugers & low/mid level Colts from functioning.

I owned a Kimber Stainless II once, and it had frequent failures to go into battery. Knowing what I know now, it was probably a weak recoil spring or sub-optimal feed ramp geometry.

Both my Springfields function perfectly on any JHPs I use, as well as my own handloads. Though I can't promise all Springfields will.

 

[wojownik]

Unless you really have to buy online, I'd recommend going into stores "in person" and seeing what is available.

...

It's totally within your right to do a thorough inspection before you buy.

...

My advice is to be sure you get sights you are happy with on the front end, versus changing them later.

A few reasonable points above. I have gotten several Colt 1911s online. I have been pleased with every one (my Colt series 70 repro is tight and well fitted). But I'm always more comfortable seeing it in person first. Also, a great point about the sights. I love the Series 70, but in retrospect I like having the three dots of the Springfield and Colt Commander a lot better than the plain sights (yeah, yeah, painting on a few dots is not big deal). You might find out you don't like Novak sights, and that would be a big consideration if you were looking at, say, the Ruger SR1911...

Yes, it's within your right to do a thorough inspection, BUT some gun stores make this uncomfortable to do during the transfer process. Some just slap the forms down and barely give you time to look at the item. One even refused to let me take it out of the box until I signed the forms and paid the FFL fees (yeah, I never went back to them again). Unrelated to 1911s, but one clerk at an FFL decided to play with my Sig 228 before I got to the shop to pick it up. Badly marred the pistol by dropping it on the edge of the counter. :banghead:

So, being able to eye over the newly received item is essential, but not always easy to do, even with a trained eye, as the store clerks try to speed you along and free up the counter space. Then again - you already paid for the pistol, so they really shouldn't have a lot to say about you giving it a real close going over.

Colt is really on their game these days, the fit and finish of these pistols are the best they have put out in decades. My old Springfield 1911 gov't is a trusted, reliable pistol, though I have to say that their 4" commander had some issues for me (more finicky, FTFs, etc..) . The Ruger SR1911 is a great value for the money, but I definitely rank them behind Colt and Springfield in terms of fit. My buddy's SR1911 had its front sight fly off the first day at the range. Never did find that sight. Otherwise, a great looking pistol though.

I had a Kimber once, also with frequent failures to go into battery. Replacing the recoil springs and getting work on the feed ramp didn't do much good. And their CS left a lot to be desired. Kimber is unfortunately one of the few brands I cannot recommend.