I am looking for a 1911 with a rail. My requirements are good reliability out of the box and solid customer service to support the product after purchase. I was looking at the Springfield TRP but am now considering the Sig 1911 with Nitron finish. The Sig is less money but is it a lesser gun? I will also Consider a SA MC Operator if I can find one - I've never actually been able to see or handle one up close. What do you think?
1911 Rail Guns - Which One?
- Thread starter CTGunner
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cyclopsshooter
Member
colt
JTQ
Member
It's worthwhile looking at holsters before you buy. There are a few different rail designs, and Sig has a different slide profile. If you have a holster in mind, make sure the pistol you want will work with the holster you want.
Grip a TRP if at all possible before you consider buying one. They are nice guns, but the 20 LPI front stray checkering seems to be a love it or hate it affair. It's very sharp and most folks I talk to don't care for it.
Other than that most of the popular 1911 makers have rail equipped models. Take a look at the offerings from Colt and Kimber as well to see if any of them tickle your fancy.
Other than that most of the popular 1911 makers have rail equipped models. Take a look at the offerings from Colt and Kimber as well to see if any of them tickle your fancy.
Biggerhammer
Member
My railed twins. The bottom one has 3000 plus rounds on it and the top one, just under 1000 now. Not one single malfunction on either and both are wicked accurate. The bottom Scorpion holding the slight edge.
Skylerbone
Member
I've handled both SAs and the Colt, never a railed Sig (but have shot a standard one). My always biased opinion would be that Colt and Springfield have excellent customer service, Colt has the better quality parts (from former SA employees), the TRP has the best fit and finish, the Sig is a pretty decent bargain. All could use a few minor improvements IMO.
Each has its own quirks; Colt, an added safety, Sig an added safety and odd profile, TRP a bull barrel. Pressed for an answer on which is best, TRP. On which I would choose, Colt. Again, showing my bias.
Each has its own quirks; Colt, an added safety, Sig an added safety and odd profile, TRP a bull barrel. Pressed for an answer on which is best, TRP. On which I would choose, Colt. Again, showing my bias.
LiveLife
Member
Don't let the lower price fool you. IMO Sig TacPac is a very undervalued 1911 package (I paid $850 but noticed that price has increased to $950 at LGS). As to quality, Sig verified to me by email that TacPac is essentially the same base pistol as TacOps without the ambi safety, night sights and mag well.CTGunner said:
Like other 5" Sig 1911s, under the black Nitron finish is a stainless steel frame and slide with match grade barrel/bushing and trigger. I have over 5000 rounds shot through mine and the Nitron finish is holding up very well with no sign of wear and maintaining comparable level of accuracy I got initially out of the box (dime and quarter size shot groups at 7-15 yards). I am making a scope mount for my railed TacPac and will post sandbag shot group pictures at 25-50 yards when it is completed.
I had many 1911 shooters compare my TacPac to their $1200+ 1911 models shooting side-by-side and most of them have been impressed by the quality of construction, fit/finish and accuracy.
Georgia45cal
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Between the Springfield TRP and Colt Rail Gun, you can't go wrong. Both companies will stand behind their product.
My preference is Colt, but Springfield makes good stuff.
(I really need to stop reading threads about these 1911s. I don't need another one. The Colt Run Gun is calling my name...)
My preference is Colt, but Springfield makes good stuff.
(I really need to stop reading threads about these 1911s. I don't need another one. The Colt Run Gun is calling my name...)
I have the Springfield. Green frame, black slide, bushing barrel,ambi safety. It is my standard carry gun. It shoots really good. Has never missed a beat, and shoots any ammo I put through it. I even used in a single stack USPSA match last year, and it ran great. Accurate to boot, and very tight. Cannot say enough. Trigger pull 4.5 # out of the box and crisp. Have about 2500 rounds though it and it is great.
I have shot the others you mentioned and all are fine. It is what you want and feels good.
I have shot the others you mentioned and all are fine. It is what you want and feels good.
Georgia45cal
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- Jun 28, 2012
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I don't care for the appearance of an external extractor.
However, if you're going to stick a rail on a 1911, appearance went out the window, so an external extractor is ok
From a quality control standpoint, tuning the internal extractor properly seems to be the number one problem in mass produced 1911s.
I could be wrong, but along with poor quality magazines, internal extractors either too tight or too loose seems to cause people the most problems.
Nevertheless, I'll take an internal extractor. If you've been running 1911s long enough, you eventually learn how to tune one yourself.
However, if you're going to stick a rail on a 1911, appearance went out the window, so an external extractor is ok
From a quality control standpoint, tuning the internal extractor properly seems to be the number one problem in mass produced 1911s.
I could be wrong, but along with poor quality magazines, internal extractors either too tight or too loose seems to cause people the most problems.
Nevertheless, I'll take an internal extractor. If you've been running 1911s long enough, you eventually learn how to tune one yourself.
Update - I went to the GS this morning to shoot one of my 1911s (non Rail) Wilson Combat X-Tac..oh what a great gun in all respects. The range had a new rental - the XDs. So I rented it and put a few rounds down range. Pretty nice little gun. I asked if they had any in stock and the guy behind the counter told me no. So I start browsing and I run into one of the guys who works in sales and I ask him and he says yeah we have one that we put out last night. So I bought it. The price was good at $529. He said they just can't keep them on the shelf. So I unfortunately I got "derailed" from my 1911 with Rail pursuit.
I get done completing the paperwork and do a quick spin around the store to look at the 'new gun' inventory and I stumble on 2 brand new Dan Wesson Specialists. OMG what a gun. The fit and finish on the gun was mind blowing - every bit as good as my Wilson's for a lot less money. The trigger may not have been 'as good' as the Wilson but it was very very good. I am adding the Specialist to my list of MUST have 1911s.
I get done completing the paperwork and do a quick spin around the store to look at the 'new gun' inventory and I stumble on 2 brand new Dan Wesson Specialists. OMG what a gun. The fit and finish on the gun was mind blowing - every bit as good as my Wilson's for a lot less money. The trigger may not have been 'as good' as the Wilson but it was very very good. I am adding the Specialist to my list of MUST have 1911s.
LiveLife
Member
+1 Dan Wesson. I initially tried to buy a Dan Wesson PM7 but when I failed to buy one of ~150/200 made each year for California, I ended up buying the railed Sig 1911.
I have a stainless Taurus 1911 w/rail and it is a fine pistol. It sure beat the snot out of the Kimber I bought! Anyway, I always wanted a stainless 1911 and wanted to try a rail. I like stainless 1911s and hate the rail, but now I KNOW, from personal experience, why! I know, what an idea! TRY it and SEE! Sure beats the "I've never seen one or tried it, but in my opinion..." that so many seem to push!
Holsters that are made for one railed 1911 won't fit others, so if you want a holster, take the gun with you to try! This will save you a bunch of money right off! If you like the rail, great, obviously a lot of people do as they sell a bunch of them, but after trying them, I doubt I'll buy another. Right now I'm trying to decide if I want a red laser, green laser, bayonet or all three to mount on the rail. Finding a holster to fit all three while they are mounted on the rail might prove tough though.
XDs are great guns too.
Holsters that are made for one railed 1911 won't fit others, so if you want a holster, take the gun with you to try! This will save you a bunch of money right off! If you like the rail, great, obviously a lot of people do as they sell a bunch of them, but after trying them, I doubt I'll buy another. Right now I'm trying to decide if I want a red laser, green laser, bayonet or all three to mount on the rail. Finding a holster to fit all three while they are mounted on the rail might prove tough though.
XDs are great guns too.
jr_roosa
Member
Colt. I like mine.
12131
Member
I agree. I like a grip with traction and front strap checkering, but the TRP front strap checkering is very poky.
jr_roosa
Member
I have some shallow checkering on one of my match pistols that I'll get done on my rail gun. Basically there points of the checks are flat. It's grippy without being sharp.
I have stippling on another match gun, and I like that too. It's about as coarse as coarse sandpaper.
-J.
I have stippling on another match gun, and I like that too. It's about as coarse as coarse sandpaper.
-J.
strykerfire
Member
bought a sig tacpac with rail and i had to send it back. Right side of dust cover was pushed over into the slide and they are such a tight fitting gun anyway it would have a lot of failure to feeds. Bout two every mag. Rubbed the finnish off on the slide because of the contact. It was a very sad day to say the least. Will post the pics tomorrow.
strykerfire
Member
bought a sig tacpac with rail and i had to send it back. Right side of dust cover was pushed over into the slide and they are such a tight fitting gun anyway it would have a lot of failure to feeds. Bout two every mag. Rubbed the finnish off on the slide because of the contact. It was a very sad day to say the least. Will post the pics tomorrow.
Red Cent
Member
LiveLife
Member
Red Cent, aren't those Colts priced around $1900 and that was the contract pricing for the US Marine Corps?
I did find Colt Stainless Steel Rail 1911 for $1120 + $40 shipping - http://www.gunsamerica.com/974449488/Guns/Pistols/Colt-Automatic-Pistols/COLT_1911_RAIL_GU.htm
I did find Colt Stainless Steel Rail 1911 for $1120 + $40 shipping - http://www.gunsamerica.com/974449488/Guns/Pistols/Colt-Automatic-Pistols/COLT_1911_RAIL_GU.htm
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