1911 selection help

[Desert Scorpion]

So which 1911 would you guys say is the best for a good carry gun (ON) and (OFF) Duty . My police department allows the carry of 1911's but only from (Kimber) (Colt) & (Para Ordnance). I plan to carry this pistol through the Academy, Patrol and Off duty, It will really never leave my side if you think about it. I would like to know which brand in all honesty will live up too being shot almost every week during periodic use of force training in and out of the academy. I am leaning towards Kimber because of there wide selection of models and styles.

Please do not change the thread into better pistols to use other than the 1911, I have held and shot many handguns and the 1911 has the best feel and accuracy for me.

Please be serious if you diss a brand of 1911 please include a detailed description of why this brand of 1911 is bad. I dont need people saying a brand is good or bad based on only rumors or love for a particular brand in general. I plan on trusting this pistol with my life so be serious.

Thank you

 

[John Parker]

I had a Colt 1991 that I gave to my dad for Christmas. It was a good pistol, but it required a few hundred rounds through it before it stopped having random malfunctions. I'd trust it now, but not when I first got it!

 

[Desert Scorpion]

There is one point for COLT!!!

I also found out I can carry Springfield Armory 1911's and unerntl, I may have spelt that wrong.

 

[Mags]

Get a Springfield TRP if budget allows. Springfield makes a great 1911 has good CS and the TRP should have all the features you want in a duty gun out of the box. If cost is a factor get a Springfield Loaded model or Kimber Custom Night Sight model. All these models I listed come standard with night sights and have been proven reliable.

 

[Desert Scorpion]

Anything $1,500.00 or less.

 

[weisse52]

No surprise I am going to suggest the Colt. I have carried and used Colts for 30+ years. I find them reliable, accurate, and capable of firing thousands of rounds with no problems.

For you I might suggest you look at the Colt Combat Elite

Colt lists the following features for the Combat Elite:
Front and rear slide serrations
Three-dot sights, Novak rear
Skeletonzised, three hole trigger
Combat hammer with elongated slot
8+1 capacity
1/2 checkered, 1/2 smooth rosewood grips
Smith& Alexander upswept beavertail palmswell safety
The Colt single side tactical thumb safety
Two-tone finish
National match barrel
Stainless steel frame
Carbon steel slide

This is a close match to some of the other pistols you might consider. I have always carried the plain Jane models, but that is a personal preference’

Colt is the original with the best resale value to boot.

 

[benderx4]

If I were depending on this gun as you do, I'd get myself either the Colt Gunsite or the Springfield TRP. Owned and shot them both, and neither of them ever let me down. Good luck!

 

[Oro]

After decades with the platform, my last four 1911 style pistols have all been Colt brand. I am a convert to Colt now for a production (non custom) gun. The quality is high, the feel is good, and the value is there, too.

For you I might suggest you look at the Colt Combat Elite

That was exactly what I was going to say. That would be my pick right now in a full-sized. That said, can you carry a commander size? I have a 1991 Commander and I am really, really liking it and find it handier than a full-size. I don't know why I waited so very long to try one.

 

[rellascout]

In the under $1500 market my recommendations are a used Les Baer. I got my LNIB TRS for less than that on this forum. Talk them into letting you carry one of these which are both better than the current offering from the approved list.



The next is a Dan Wesson Valor.

 

[bpl]

I vote for the Colt! The best internal parts on any production gun. Springfields are nice too, but not as nice as a Colt and probably made in Brazil. Kimbers are pretty on the outside. Mine isn't very reliable. My Colts, on the other hand, don't miss a beat!

 

[rellascout]

For you I might suggest you look at the Colt Combat Elite

Colt lists the following features for the Combat Elite:
Front and rear slide serrations
Three-dot sights, Novak rear
Skeletonzised, three hole trigger
Combat hammer with elongated slot
8+1 capacity
1/2 checkered, 1/2 smooth rosewood grips
Smith& Alexander upswept beavertail palmswell safety
The Colt single side tactical thumb safety
Two-tone finish
National match barrel
Stainless steel frame
Carbon steel slide

This is a close match to some of the other pistols you might consider. I have always carried the plain Jane models, but that is a personal preference’

Colt is the original with the best resale value to boot.

My issue with these guns is that these are the first Colts to be made on CNC machinery. There have been good and bad reports on the QC of these guns. I am also not a fan of the full length guide rod.

Here is a great write up of the Colt. http://www.m1911.org/ezine/ColtCombatElite_frame.htm

 

[Gav-n-Tn]

Springfield Arms factory loaded.

 

[rellascout]

I vote for the Colt! The best internal parts on any production gun. Springfields are nice too, but not as nice as a Colt and probably made in Brazil. Kimbers are pretty on the outside. Mine isn't very reliable. My Colts, on the other hand, don't miss a beat!

I disagree. They used to be the case but Dan Wesson even with their inflated pricing that has come with their popularity are using ED Brown parts. For example the CBOB. Wolff Springs, Ed Brown parts with more hand fitting Vs Colts new CNC guns.

The Commander Classic Bobtail is a 4.25” series 70 style, commander sized 1911 featuring a stainless steel frame and forged stainless steel slide. Like all Dan Wesson 1911s, Commander models incorporate top quality parts from the best names in the industry.

· Round top slide with fixed 3 dot tritium night sights
· Forged, one piece match grade barrel and bushing.
· Ed Brown Bobtail mainspring housing
· 20 LPI checkered front strap
· Hand polished flat surfaces with contrasting bead blasted rounds
· Beveled magwell
· All sharp edges dehorned by hand
· Lowered and flared ejection port
· Ed Brown memory groove grip safety
· Ed Brown slide stop
· Tactical, extended thumb safety
· Commander style match hammer
· Match grade sear
· Aluminum trigger with stainless bow
· Extended serrated magazine catch
· Wolff springs used exclusively
· Diamond checkered coco-bolo grips
· Tuned, machined, internal extractor
· Test fired for reliability
· 34 ounces unloaded

 

[9mmepiphany]

of the ones approved by your department, i'd go with something from Springfield Armoury.

when i started in LE, the Colt 1911 was the only game in town. i got a Combat Commander and replaced the trigger and sights, had the feed ramp polished, extractor and trigger tuned. that was just SOP at the time to make a 1911 usable for duty.

Kimber changed all that when they hit the market. they raised the bar by offering all the things we paid for after purchase as standard. Kimber quality has been a bit hit and miss in recent years. i wouldn't carry one without having it gone through by a 1911 smith who has experience in building a "hard use" 1911

i've heard less than encouraging things about the Para from more than one pistolsmith who won't work on them. a 1911 that i can't get a smith to do reliability work on is worthless to me.

i bought a couple of Colts recently with the intention of having them serve as the basis for custom builds. imagine my surprise when my smith called to let me know that the hole for the barrel/bushing in the slide had been drilled off-center. as i wasn't the original purchaser, Colt declined to rectify the problem...but that's a different story.

Springfield puts together a nice 1911 (too bad the XD 45 isn't approved) and yes the slide and frame are imported from Brazil...always have been. i'd get the highest quality model you could afford (remember you'll be able to deduct it off on your taxes).

my personal choice would be their Professional, which comes out of their custom shop and is a nice high end production gun and wouldn't go as low as the Loaded model. i'd still be reluctant to stake my life on a 1911 without it having been checked out by a 1911 smith

 

[beltfed74]

Given your options the new Colt Combat Elite is what Id buy.


Id rather have a Springfield Pro w/Rail though if I were LE. Wonder why your Dept. is stuck on those three?

I read your post and then totally forgot you could buy Springfield by the time I got to my chance to reply. I would go with a the Pro not the TRP. It may cost a lot but will last forever and it cant be that bad a choice its the FBI Regional SWAT/HRT sidearm.

 

[9mmepiphany]

^^^

i thought it might be the requirement for the firing pin safety

 

[EHL]

I think you would be well served with any of these three. Colt, Kimber, and Springfield. Honestly, Kimber gets alot of guff from people because those that have problems tend to be VERY vocal about them. While those that are perfectly happy with their Kimbers tend to merely mind their own business and enjoy their pistol/s. EVERY 1911 manufacturer sends out a dud. Honestly though, most problems in any pistol will be discovered during the break in period or the first few hundred rounds. I wouldn't carry any gun that hasn't been broken in/tested for reliability AND has been hand inspected by a very knowledgeable gunsmith. (not some kitchen table/bubba "gunsmith")
All three of these brands produce quality pistols, find the one you like and wring it out and have her inspected. Chances are, you'll be happy with which ever one you end up getting. My own opinion, you get the most bang for your buck with a Kimber. (more nice features- especially front strap checkering)

 

[atomd]

I'm with rellascout.

You can find a Baer TRS used for ~$1500 easy. Then I'd take the Valor next ($1200 new).

 

[Desert Scorpion]

I think I am going to get a kimber or colt now, either way I will not carry unless it has been looked at by our department certified gun smith, I will also get a second opinion on the pistol from a regular gunsmith. I will be shooting it on a regular basis in the academy before on the street duty, so there will be a couple thousand rounds through it to verify it works.

The other problem is that the gun must come (stock) meaning it can not have any special custom features or tunes done to it, it has to be left alone (factory tuned). The main reason being because of use of force issues, if the pistol is used in defense during legal situation if the court finds that the gun used by the officer is customized they could say it may have had to light a trigger or the parts were messed with causing it to fire pre-maturely.

 

[rellascout]

That sucks. If it were me I would get a Colt then. O1970CY This is Colt Custom shop gun. It is the best stock Colt you will get for carry IMHO.

 

[EHL]

either way I will not carry unless it has been looked at by our department certified gun smith, I will also get a second opinion on the pistol from a regular gunsmith. I will be shooting it on a regular basis in the academy before on the street duty, so there will be a couple thousand rounds through it to verify it works.

Sounds like the smart thing to do. I'm sure you'll be very happy with your purchase, no matter which brand you get. If you have a good gun smith, he'll be able to spot any possible problems, should they exist. Both companies make stellar 1911's, you should be in good hands.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The other problem is that the gun must come (stock) meaning it can not have any special custom features or tunes done to it, it has to be left alone (factory tuned).

there can be a large variation between different guns in the same model run. if possible, try several guns before deciding which one to buy. look for the best trigger break...even if it's the roughest gun otherwise.

i've gone through this before...trying to meet departmental requirements...as i've always carried personally owned duty guns. you just have to make choices you're willing to stake your life on.

 

[weisse52]

I of course think the Colt Custom shop is the way to go

That should fit the bill for a stock gun

 

[Desert Scorpion]

rellascout looks lke he has a good 1911, I am going to be looking at this one for sure.

 

[rellascout]

Not mine... My nicest 1911 is a Les Baer...

That Colt pic is from the Shot Show. They are excellent stock guns. LOL