Best 1911 under 1500 and why

[Kano383]

For that budget, go with a Dan Wesson. There are no other production guns that can compare, buck-for-buck, period.

You can find new or LNIB models from 3.5” to Commander and full size Goverment, in 9mm or .45 ACP, between $1,000 and $1,500.

Don’t take my word for it: search specialized 1911 sites for “Dan Wesson”, and see what’s the general opinion from owners and 1911 nuts.

1911addicts.com and forums1911forum.com come to mind.

 

[AndyJ]

Colt Gunsite model

 

[Monac]

I was in a LGS last week and saw a polished stainless Rock Island 1911. It was marked at $600 or $700, IIRC, and seemed very handsome. Are they good guns?

 

[OARNGESI]

Rock Island is thought to be good solid guns but still more of a entry level and there in no way on the same playing field as dan Wesson les Baer or Wilson etc.

 

[WVsig]

used Les Baer

This....! I have less than $1,300 in this TRS. These days it shows more wear but Baer's are not known for their blueing.



If you have to buy new I think Dan Wesson it a solid choice. Pick your flavor but if you are looking for a NIB Valor buy sooner rather than later because what is in the pipeline is all there will ever be. They are discontinued for 2019. I think the Heritage and Pointman guns represent an amazing value at about $1100.

 

[ChairborneRanger]

My most accurate 1911 is a S&W Performance Center 5" with adjustable rear (target) sights---it shoots like a laser. A close second on my list would be my Dan Wesson Pointman-PM-7. The S&W PC1911 can be had new for about $1250-$1300----the Dan Wesson PM-7 for about $1350-$1450.

 

[1KPerDay]

I was in a LGS last week and saw a polished stainless Rock Island 1911. It was marked at $600 or $700, IIRC, and seemed very handsome. Are they good guns?

Great guns for $400. Not so great for $700. Entry level and mine have been very good performers. But you get a lot more refinement, fit, finish, features from the major names. At $700-1000 level I'd go Colt, Springfield, SIG, Ruger. $1000-$1500 Dan Wesson every time. Then move into Ed Brown, Baer, Wilson. Above that I'd need to have won the lottery.

Truthfully the only thing that really bothers me about my RIAs is they are sloppy and not accurate with the shaping of the frame contour above/behind the trigger. it's very obvious to my eye and it is annoying.

 

[Jessesky]

US issued colt 1911 because of the history. (I know that’s not what you entirely meant by “best”)

 

[rpenmanparker]

My earlier comment about the ATI gun was largely tongue-in-cheek, but I do seriously love it. Enough about that. For the OP’s price range I would only consider Dan Wesson. Amazing value.

 

[George P]

My vote is for this one (especially for me as a LH):
https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/sw1911sc-e-series-round-butt-scandium-frame

 

[JDR]

At that $1,500.00 price point, I’d consider a used Dan Wesson Valor, a used Les Baer Premier, or a Springfield TRP.

 

[rabid wombat]

Buy a beater Colt or the like....then dial up what you want:

https://clarkcustomguns.com/parts-category/1911/

The Clark’s are good people, and do great work.

 

[G'dale Mike]

No Kimbers suggested?

 

[OARNGESI]

Kimber makes a good gun with the potential for horrible ones

 

[JONWILL]

I would go to a range and rent the ones I wanted to buy

My range rents a lot of high end 1911’s

 

[Dudedog]

Happy with my Springfield "Loaded" 1911.
The new Range Officers look nice, as well.
May not be the "Best" but I am quite happy with it.
Liked the first one so much I bought another to have around as a "spare" before it cam off the Approved List.

 

[1KPerDay]

No Kimbers suggested?

I only have dealt with a sample size of one (Super Carry Pro) but it had significant issues and took lots of fiddling, new extractor, and shaping the ejector before it would work properly. And I still get BTF. So I'm not a Kimber guy, I guess.

 

[George P]

This....! I have less than $1,300 in this TRS. These days it shows more wear but Baer's are not known for their blueing.

View attachment 818443

If you have to buy new I think Dan Wesson it a solid choice. Pick your flavor but if you are looking for a NIB Valor buy sooner rather than later because what is in the pipeline is all there will ever be. They are discontinued for 2019. I think the Heritage and Pointman guns represent an amazing value at about $1100.

I just went checking; cheapest used Baer was $2K on average

 

[Old Dog]

Wasn't gonna get involved in this thread as any and every thread about 1911s is entirely subjective and quickly subject to domination by brand fanboys.

I've got some great Springfield Armory and Kimber pistols in that price range; my TRP (Armory-Coat) is splendid, and a CDP Pro a favorite. Several Colts from about $750 to $1100 have been great. My used Ed Brown and Baer were well over the $1500 threshhold. Getting a little jaded about the Dan Wesson choir, but if it eases your mind to know your pistol has no MIM parts, go ahead and pay the premium.

I have only a couple rules; I won't own 1911s with external extractors, and I won't buy "budget"1911s, call me a snob if you want.

 

[AZAndy]

I'll throw in another vote for Dan Wesson. On this Valor V-Bob, fitting is very good, slide is tight, barrel-to-bushing and bushing-to-slide are as close to perfect as I'll ever see, match barrel, tritium sights, excellent checkering, no MIM parts, crisp 4-lb trigger. You can't dislodge the barrel by pushing down on it with the slide closed, which is not the case with my other 1911s (Sigs, Colts, Ruger). I'm impressed by the workmanship and tight tolerances. I followed the owner's manual instructions to keep it heavily lubed during break-in, and so far have had no failures. (Currently at about 1500 rounds.) One very nice engineering feature is that the slide stop has a notch cut into it so that it can be put into place by pressing straight down.

Downsides? It's heavy (36.5oz unloaded), it's right-handed (okay for me, but not everybody), and the front sight is narrower than I'd like. Also, you can't seat a fully loaded 8-round magazine with the slide closed, but I guess that's due to the tight tolerances I mentioned.

Of course, this is the only DW I have, so my observations are based on a limited sample size. Maybe all the rest of them are horrible jam machines.

As mentioned above by WVsig, the Valor line has been discontinued, so act now! The shop I got mine from is now out of stock on them.

 

[WVsig]

I just went checking; cheapest used Baer was $2K on average

Then you are looking in the wrong places. I saw a TRS go for $1,500 LNIB with paperwork etc less than 2 weeks ago. I know where you can get a Concept III NIB for $1769 + $55 shipping. There are 6 other NIB Les Baers in stock at a known dealer with incredible service right now for less than $2,000. They are out there if you know where to look.

 

[OARNGESI]

Also in the interest in being fair one of the higher end Springfield or Smith and Wesson will be really good. I’m a huge colt fanboy and while that is enough for me to consider one for me they have had enough quality control issues for me to not recommend one to anyone

 

[WVsig]

Also in the interest in being fair one of the higher end Springfield or Smith and Wesson will be really good. I’m a huge colt fanboy and while that is enough for me to consider one for me they have had enough quality control issues for me to not recommend one to anyone

Right now Colt is putting out some of the best 1911s they have ever made IMHO. Guys like Jason Burton have been praising the 70 series as "the platform" to build a custom gun on. There have been some rough patches and everyone puts out a lemon from time to time but Colts these days are solid guns.

I personally do not and will not own a 1911 "Style" pistol with and external extractor. I see it as a solution in search of a problem. Of the designs out there S&Ws seems to be the most reliable. I have owne Sigs and S&Ws in the past but sold them long ago.

 

[OARNGESI]

Colt may be making a great gun right now but it is only fair to give someone as much information as possible when they are looking to make a purchase like this. I’m a huge colt fan but that doesn’t mean there is not better or equal options with less chance of having issues

 

[WVsig]

Colt may be making a great gun right now but it is only fair to give someone as much information as possible when they are looking to make a purchase like this. I’m a huge colt fan but that doesn’t mean there is not better or equal options with less chance of having issues

I hear you but I am not sure that S&W, Dan Wesson and others are head and shoulders above what Colt is doing today. Dan Wesson has had a their fair share of issues over the last few years. Things like sight heights being wrong and guns not shooting to point of aim from the factory, blotchy finishes on their blued Valors, feed issues of all kinds etc.... My S&W Pro 9mm 1911 went back to S&W twice before it ran right. Every maker has issues.