1911? Worth it?

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Rent a 1911, they said. I rented one. Now I own six.

Rent an HK, they said. I rented one. Now I own eight.

I need to stop renting guns.
 
I've told people there are essentially two possible reasons for someone to buy a particular gun:

1) I don't have one yet; one would be cool.

2) I already have one; another one would be cool.
 
No! there is no benefit to owning a 1911.

I strongly suggest you go and hold a CZ 75. Now that is something to behold. You will fall helplessly in love with her and want to own her with such covetous greed that you will croak in moans of gollumpishness.


:evil: - heh heh - :evil:
 
"I always wanted a 1911 and got my first one ABOUT 4 years ago. Just wanted one for a 'fun' gun to shoot. Next thing I knew I had FOUR 1911's. After shooting A LOT OF rounds through these FOUR 1911's in the last four years they turned out to be a little more fun than I was expecting. 1911's are not for everyone, but they ARE right for me."


Please forgive me for totally stealing someone else's post, but they expressed my thoughts perfectly. My first one was a TISAS Turkish one from Bud's. They cost about $350 these days. It has yet to malfunction and is more accurate than I am. My favorite is a "1911 derivative" Star Super B in 9mm. (Yes, I know, it isn't really a 1911, but it looks and feels like on.) It cost me about $250 OTD. It has also never malfunctioned and is also quite accurate.

Get you one! You won't be sorry!
 
Do you "need" one? Doesn't sound like it from your post but it certainly sounds like you want one.

I have owned a couple of 1911s for years and have really enjoyed shooting them. Several years ago I bought a plastic fantastic in 9mm as a centerfire plinker because the ammo was cheap then. I wasn't really happy with it as it just didn't feel right in my hand so I traded for another PF that felt much better. I liked the new one but something was still missing. Then I wised up and bought a 1911 in 9mm.
 
1911 is absolutely my favorite gun. There is no other type that I can hit the target with so well and so consistently, except for perhaps my Ruger MKII. It's the trigger.

Also own Sig's, Glock's, S&W's etc....

I carry my Colt 1991A1, mildly customized often. Get a good holster and belt and you're there.
 
They breed. Be careful. I started a thread in July of last year asking advice about getting back into them. That Colt turned into two Colts which then turned into 2 Colts and a DW which became 2 Colts and 2 DWs which then turned into 2 Colts, 2 DWs, and a Baer. I simply love shooting them. If I had to sell all but one gun to feed my family, that DW VBOB would be the keeper.

To answer the question though....no, you don't need one. Life isn't always about need or "I have this because this other thing is bad/wrong". I do think you will like it if you get it though. Although I have five of them, my main carry is still my 9mm PPS.
 
I enjoy my one and only 1911, a Springfield Loaded model I bought new in 2009. It was my second handgun purchase. Still gives me a smile when I take it to the range and chew out the center of a target. One of my most fun guns, though I hadn't taken it out in a while until yesterday.

I'm not a "serious" 1911 person, but I marvel at the history, balance, accuracy, soft shooting and just plain awesome coolness factor. Especially the part about it being a semi-auto replacement for the venerable Colt SAA revolver. Layers of history and coolness...

If you go try the trigger in a gun shop, and then go try one at the range, you'll know if it is for you, if all else hasn't grabbed you and your wallet.

Worth it? Ownership: Definately. Price? Only you can decide.
 
Thanks so much for your help guys. I really appreciate it. I am going to the range today to shoot my M1891 Mosin Nagant, and while I'm there, I'll ask to rent a 1911 and put a box or two through it just to see what it's like.

I've done some research, and it seems the Rock Island guns are getting some major love up in this piece. I was thinking about a Colt Rail Gun for my first 1911 (if I get one) but really when I re-evaluated my position, what good would that $1200 gun do me if a RIA would be practically just as good.

Thanks guys, I'd love to hear some more input on this. I'll let everyone know how it was when I get back tonight.
 
I've read through this thread and the one aspect that hasn't been mentioned is the experience of shooting ANY 45 ACP. I know the OP asked, specifically, about the 1911 but, in my experience, there's magic to be had in firing most any 45! They have a "feel" all their own and... YES, it is worth your having at least one 45 in the stable.

I have three: A Glock 30SF, a Sig P220 and a Para Ordnance (1911) Expert 14.45. They are all fun to shoot and I believe the 45 ACP makes them fun.

Besides, from what we know, you only get one ride one this planet so you may as well have at least one of EVERYTHING you can afford!

images-1_zps5gjb4di2.jpg
 
A couple of years ago my oldest son went shooting with a friend, and when he came home he was going on about the 1911 he shot. I sold one of my safe queens and picked up a Springfield Stainless Mil Spec. I picked up 4 more since then, Ruger SR1911 Commander lengths, first stainless and then the lightweight model, a Springfield Range Officer Compact and a Springfield Loaded Lightweight Operator. I love my polymer guns, but the 1911's just have a certain amount of class to them that the polymer guns will never have, not to mention that they're great shooters.
 
Cooldill

If you want to test the waters so to speak with a 1911, one from RIA would be a good way to go. I did some work on a friend's RIA and I was impressed with the build quality and the overall fit and finish. You get a lot of gun for the money with them.
 
It looks like you've been doing some research on the 1911 so I'm sure you've noticed that people's opinion vary greatly on which particular brand or era it was produced as to quality.
I think one things for certain and that is that there are now so many versions that you will be buying only a clone of the real original John Browning, Colt produced pistol from early in the 20th century.
Few of the guns you will shoot will function with all the ammo you can stuff into the modern "soulless" pistols.
Getting an original GI/mil spec pistol to the standard of the gurus will cost North of $300.
The drop in parts of the "fantastic plastic" will be but a dream.
Not saying you shouldn't have one but if you're expectations are to high you will be disappointed.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
I'm a revolver guy for sure but one of the three semi-auto handguns I do own is a 1911 because every man should have at least one.

I bought a used Springfield 1911 years ago for my son. He decided a year or so later he wanted a "nicer" one so I paid him for that 1911 instead of letting him sell it. I'm very happy I did. I really like shooting that 1911, it's different than any other semi-auto I've ever shot. You don't need to spend a lot on a good 1911 as you realised. Springfield and Ruger make really nice 1911s for a fairly low price. Rock Island makes good guns too from what I've read but just never shot one.
 
After four decades of .45acp 1911s, I decided to try a 9mm 1911. Bought a RIA Tactical, as I liked the features, and was more than pleased with both RIA and the 9mm 1911. Now I own three of them, and the wife has laid claim to one of them. Outstanding range toy at a great price.
 
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The 9mm I mentioned in my earlier post is a RIA Tactical. It had a couple of glitches out of the box. I gave up on trying to get someone at RIA customer service to talk to me and simply fixed the problems myself. One fix cost twenty bucks and polishing the feed ramp helped with the other. It will feed any brass cased ammo including handloads but absolutely refuses to run the aluminum cased Blaser which I have a lot of from back when it was five bucks a box. Oh well, my plastic fantastic has no problem with it so it won't be wasted.
 
The 9mm I mentioned in my earlier post is a RIA Tactical. It had a couple of glitches out of the box. I gave up on trying to get someone at RIA customer service to talk to me and simply fixed the problems myself. One fix cost twenty bucks and polishing the feed ramp helped with the other. It will feed any brass cased ammo including handloads now but absolutely refuses to run the aluminum cased Blaser which I have a lot of from back when it was five bucks a box. Oh well, my plastic fantastic has no problem with it so it won't be wasted.
 
Jimster said:
I think everyone should have at least one 1911.
Click to expand...
+1. Cooldil, anyone can successfully conceal a 1911, it just takes effort. I at one time sucessfully concealed 6 1911's on me. The hardest part was spacing them out so they didn't clank together. I did have to sit more gently than usual....
 
If you want one.....get one.

But don't buy one just because everyone says your life is empty without one.

Buy one because you are genuinely curious if all the hype is true.

You will probably find out that it is.
 
You might not NEED one , but if you spend a little time with one , all of a sudden the light comes on and you realize why the 1911 is still going strong. It's not this this popular and in such demand for no good reason.
I have the most fun with an old AMT Hardballer , which is just a stainless steel 1911 with adjustable sights. My bare bones Mil-Spec 1911A1 , fixed sights and all was my favorite but my son had to have it . Shoot one , you might just discover something you've been missing.
Gary
 
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