About to buy my first 1911. Need some input.

[DHart]

Personally... for all day/everyday carry I find the 1911 just more gun than I want to carry. Even in the more compact versions. Don't get me wrong, I am a 1911 freak... with nearly 20 of them and they are my top choice for home/RV/auto defense. But for packing around on my body all the time, I decided to go with a Kahr PM-9, S&W 642, and S&W 640... depending on my mood. These three guns, especially the PM-9 and the 642 can be packed 24/7 and much of the time you don't even notice they are there. The PM-9 is about the size of a typical 380, yet it packs seven rounds of hot +P 9mm. I feel very well armed with that.

Keep in mind that I don't really expect trouble with my lifestyle, which is pretty low risk. If I worked the inner city slums all day every day, I might put up with the size and weight of a 1911, but as it is, I use the 1911 for almost all of my defense duty except everyday carry.

If I were you, I would buy a full size Colt 1911 XSE, Series 70, or 1991A1 for your basic defense needs and something like the PM-9 or a 642 for your all day/everyday carry.

 

[mattw]

I think everyone should invite DHart to thier threads just so that he might post a random 1911 picture.

Btw, DHart, is that blued XSE of yours completely factory except for the grips?

 

[DHart]

Matt... here is was box-stock except for grips and MSH:

Here it is today with:

• Colt GI-single sided thumb safety
• Ed Brown Arched, serrated MSH
• Wilson Drop-in Beavertail Grip Safety
• Kimber two-hole aluminum trigger
• VZ Green/Black Paper Gator Back grips
• Chip McCormick 8-round Power Mag (my preferred magazines)

 

[steveracer]

Hey Boats, nice pistol. I'm still curious...

I have a Champion Loaded, with FLGR. You saying I can get the standard type of Guide rod for this thing?
Fully ramped/bushingless barrel, BTW.

 

[David904]

Drat... Now I'm all thrown into the soup again. At first I was going to go compact and choose between a Kimber and a Springfield Armory Gov't. .45

Then I spent some range time and decided to deal with a little extra weight and get the full size and I decided on Springfield Armory.

I thought that Colt wasn't making .45s for the public anymore.

NOW, I have to think some more! Colt XSE or Springfield Armory Custom Loaded Full Sized 1911-A1?

Which is the better deal guys? What do you think? They seem to be about the same price. (Though the Colt doesn't come with night sights.)

 

[DHart]

Springfield Loaded isn't a bad gun at all, however the parts quality on the Colt is a lot better and with Colt you get the real McCoy, all-American made, from the people who have been making them since 1911! You will most likely want to replace the grip safety on the Colt, as that's the only component of the XSE which Colt hasn't addressed. For me it's not at all about what's a better "deal", I don't mind spending a little more for a Colt because I prefer Colts... and part of the reason the SA might be less expensive is because it has mostly South American made slide, frame and small parts. And most of the small parts are MIM. Still, the SA is a nice gun, but the Colt is a better quality gun. Either way you could get a lemon (no matter what brand you buy) but the companies will correct that for you if need be. Night sights could be installed in the dovetails on the XSE if you wanted to do that later. The SA Loaded would be a good second choice, but if you ever decided to sell the gun, the Colt will always fetch much more as a used gun than a Springer will... with their name recognition and history, used Colts hold their value very well indeed. You'd really take a hit selling the Springfield as a used gun.

 

[355sigfan]

1911's are great guns in fact the good ones are the best combat pistols made. But they are not for novice shooters. You must train hard in operating the safety so its second nature. Its not a point and pull weapon.
Pat

 

[garrettwc]

I thought that Colt wasn't making .45s for the public anymore.

:banghead:

This is one of those internet rumors that seems to have taken on a life of it's own.

Colt sort of sat around and let Springfield and Kimber take a big chunk of their market share for a few years.

Now you have all these dealers loaded up with inventory from Springfield and Kimber that they want to move, so when someone asks about Colt, they perpetuate the myth.

I wish Colt would market more effectively.

 

[355sigfan]

Colt made some bad 1911's for a while as well. I hear they are doing better now. I would try them again but I just hate their looks and options. I much prefer Kimbers in that department. I also like my Wilson CQB but thats a lot more money than most colts.
Pat

 

[DHart]

It's funny... for a time Colts 1911's weren't as great as they are now. And while the pre-series II Kimbers were some pretty nice guns, now Kimber's 1911's are remarkably trouble-prone, not to mention the Schwartz firing pin safety mechanism, nearly all parts being MIM, and the funky external extractor. Kimber is trying to capitalize on the market for glitz and glam doo-dads, rather than focus on creating a a rock solid, highly reliable 1911.

If ever there was a time for Colt to recapture the lion's share of the 1911 market, now is it. Unfortunately, Colt doesn't have the financial resources to expand product lines, increase production, and market heavily. At least they are able to produce a modest quantity of some wonderful 1911's. Nobody's perfect, though.

 

[Boats]

It is indeed ironic that Colt took the better part of 70 or 80 years to become stodgy, poor QC plagued, bloated, cruising on reputation etc., and it only took Kimber less than two decades to become what its founders despised about Colt.

Look at the mass market competition:

AO--still making garbage after all these years, now brought to you by Kahr.
CD--soft metal stuff from the Phillipines.
DW--Will CZ remain committed? Rarer on shelves than new Colt's
Colt--Barely competent management still has a ways to go to entirely kill off the original.
Kimber--Technically awful, cheaped out, and overpriced. Now non-standard too. Who buys that garbage?
Para--Has been hit or miss on QC my entire adult life. Their actual 1911s are not really anything to write home about.
S&W--I mean c'mon! Schwartz AND MIM, AND external extractors, AND the politics?
SA--It's a good thing I don't get to fondle many new Colt's anymore so that I have forgotten what "pride in ownership" is all about. Great gun in my example, but still made largely by soccer playing gun controllers.
SIG--See all my comments about SA minus the foreign manufacture slam, add a firing pin safety, and external extractor, styling by Vulcans, and a mandatory rail. They charge too much for it too.

If just one management team would ever pull their heads out of their collective you know what over in Hartford, there'd be a second Golden Age for Colt just waiting there for the taking.

 

[DHart]

Boats... you're right on target with your analysis... it wouldn't take much for Colt to royally rule the production 1911 roost... the guns are close to doing so, but management and financial constraints seem to keep the company from really pulling itself together. I feel fortunate to have quite a few really nice recent production Colts and I'm really thankful for that... it's more work to find them and there's the occasional sample which has an issue to correct (what gun maker is immune from this?) but the new production Colts are indeed worth seeking out!

 

[355sigfan]

Don't take me wrong I love Colt. I believe they make the best AR15/M16 family of weapons out there. I have 2 colt revolvers. Their 1911's however just don't strike me that well. I have had one in the past and that was a lemon but in fairness it was a parts gun I bought off someone who had built if from the various parts himself. I took it to a smith to fix it. Never did run right. I was about to try another Colt 1911. I ordered a 38 Super from their Custom shop but they kept delaying the shipping date because of the war. Finally I said nevermind. I waited 10 months. I will try them again perhaps.
Pat

 

[garrettwc]

Actually, Colt is making high quality firearms and shipping them in record numbers. The problem seems to be with their computer system. All the orders are printing with ship to's for DHart's home address.

FWIW, I agree with you and Boats. I just wish someone at Colt was listening.