Best Budget 1911 under $500 new

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Slow

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2003
Messages
150
Location
Indiana
I want a reliable weapon that I won't need to put an additional $300 in to get it to feed,extract, and prevent hammer bite.
 
Dig around your couch for another $50 in spare change and get a new-rollmark Colt Commander. No hammer bite with the Commander hammer, but the Colt still looks like a real 1911 (because it is).
 
Under $500 new? That's a toughy because IMO, you'd be making asome serious quality compromises to find something at that price point. I'd recommend you same a little more $$ & get a loaded Springfield or start looking into the pre-owned market ;)
 
See this thread. From personal experience, I highly recommend the Griffon, and at its current price of a shade under $350, you can afford to have any little details "tweaked" that you feel are necessary. It's probably the best value for money in a 1911-style pistol right now.
 
While some people badmouth them (mostly people who knew someone who knew someone who knew someone...who owned one, but usually not someone who actually owned/owns one) I have been very happy with my Charles Daly. It has many thousands of rounds (over 6K now) and I'd still say it has been a good gun. The original mags are POC so you will want to change them out, but after that it should be a good gun. Mine does occasionally fail to go into battery initially (a stronger spring would probably fix that) but once it is initially placed into battery it never fails to go back into battery while shooting (thus, it isn't anything that would scare me from using mine for defense). A set of decent mags (mine are Chip McCormick Power mags) and a heavy recoil spring should be enough to stop the most common problems.

Mine is generally quite reliable and it is accurate. Compared to the Kimber Custom Target II (stainless) that my best friend bought (going on a year ago) it is a little sloppy (it isn't nearly as tight as the Kimber, obviously when you about double the price you get something for that). However, in the time period he's had his Kimber my Daly has had fewer hiccups than his Kimber has (not that I'd say the Kimber is unreliable, on the contrary it is a perfectly good gun, it just has had a few hiccups over a couple thousand rounds). Also, both my best friend and myself are more accurate with my Daly than his Kimber (not sure why, I'd expect the Kimber to be more accuate, and maybe with more time with it we will be more accurate with it).

If you do get one, and if you go used, be sure it has the letters "CD" proceeding the serial number. The reason Charles Daly 1911s have a bad rep is because they used to be fairly bad. However, several years ago they improved them and put the CD before the serial number. About 2 years ago they improved their quality control and upgraded some of the parts and put it out as the "enhanced" model. I have the post-improvement, but pre-enhanced model.

Anyway, I have been completely happy with it and I would be more than willing to buy another. In fact, I do plan to eventually get the 3" version at some point.

Another option is the Rock Island Armory. It is more or less a military spec 1911. It is made by Armscor in the Philipines as is the Daly, in fact I'm pretty sure it is made in the same factory. For some reason though, people who badmouth the Daly (again, usually despite never having owned one) like the RIA.:rolleyes: I'd love to get one of these, but they have been discontinued and they are disappearing fast (but if you can find one it should be a good choice).

A third good choice is the Springfield Armory Mil-spec. Around here they go for over $500 (usually around $550) but guns are way overpriced in MD. Most everywhere else they seem to usually go for around $450 (based on reports here and other forums).
 
I would spend the extra $50 or so and get an NRM Colt Govt.
 
a basic springfield 5" 1911 is $485.00 in my area....
 
The Springfield Mil-Spec is a very reliable pistol out of the box. You should be able to find either the regular or the WWII model for under $500.

If you can cough up a little more dough, the Colt NRM pistols are a great deal as well.

I shoot al three of these, and they just keep going..........
 

Attachments

  • springfield mil-spec.jpg
    springfield mil-spec.jpg
    77.3 KB · Views: 339
Rock Island Armory 1911's have NOT been discontinued.
(What ended was merely the distribution arrangement with SARCO.)

A quick search on the 'net will turn up lots of spanking-new RIA's.
The Armscor GI series 1911 is practically the same thing, and to my knowledge is presently serving Philippine troops serving with the coalition in Iraq (IIRC it is an option alternative to the Beretta as a sidearm).


hth
 
Another vote for the Rock Island Armory mislpec .45. Mine's tight, reliable, accurate, has a decent trigger right out of the box, barrel's hard chromed inside and out and no MIM/plastic parts or two piece barrels. All I've done to mine is install a Wilson 18 lb recoil spring, Pachmayr rubber grips and meprolight night sights. IMHO you'll be hard pressed to find a better budget .45. Do a search for "Rock Island" and "RIA" here and check out the owner comments: http://www.1911forum.com/forums/
HTH...
Tomac
 
Look around and buy a used Kimber for $500. I've shot dozens of 1911's with trigger jobs by many top-rank gunsmiths and the out-of-the box Kimber trigger is the best yet.
 
I am considering spending a bit more money... anybody have an opinion about a Springfield Armory model PX 9109L?
 
well, thats 3 guys stating the milspec or basic springfield 1911 all for the 4 and a half mark.........
 
I am considering spending a bit more money... anybody have an opinion about a Springfield Armory model PX 9109L?
Click to expand...

I bought the px9109l about a year ago. I am really happy with it. The only problems that I've faced are a couple of malfunctions with Fiocchi ammo (mainly their 200gr. JHP) and some comercial reloads. With american factory ammo it runs like a champ.

attachment.php
 
Look around and buy a used Kimber for $500. I've shot dozens of 1911's with trigger jobs by many top-rank gunsmiths and the out-of-the box Kimber trigger is the best yet.
Click to expand...

In my experience, there's no such thing as one brand that comes with great triggers out of the box. My series I Kimber is great but it came with a lousy trigger. $130 later, it's the best I've used.

(Come to think of it, my NRM Colt had a very crisp trigger out of the box.)
 
For around $550 you could get a Kimber Custom without night sights. It seems that the more 1911's I buy that Kimber seems like it really is a good deal. I only own 2 though? :confused: Kimber Custom
 
Repeating what they said

My Springfield mil-spec is great. Never a hiccup at all, until I tried some cheap no-name mags. The Springer WW2 commemorative is 400 +/- and is a solid platform. (The non-WW2 mil-spec is around 450 here and is worth the extra money, IMHO.)
 
Budget crunch - I feel your pain. My answer: Springfield Mil-Spec, WWII or standard, under $500, very reliable, lifetime warranty, excellent customer service. Bonus: Loaded coupon with which you can get up to 10 extra mags for under 10 bucks each.

I just traded for a WWII Mil-Spec and I love it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top