Best model 1911 for the dollar

[LTR shooter]

I went with a Springfield Armory Range Master.

This gun is tight! The fully adjustable sights is also a feature that I wanted in a 1911.

 

[navystang]

i have had good luck with a Taurus 1911

 

[biggameballs]

I've got a Ruger SR 1911 on order for $590. I'd bet in the next 3 months you'll see production catch up to demand and they wont be so hard to find. For $600 the Ruger is hands down the best bang for the buck in my opinion. At $800 there are tons of good options.

 

[Constrictor]

I've got a Ruger SR 1911 on order for $590. I'd bet in the next 3 months you'll see production catch up to demand and they wont be so hard to find. For $600 the Ruger is hands down the best bang for the buck in my opinion. At $800 there are tons of good options.

have you shot one?

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I would say that the Rock Island choices are pretty good. I took an RIA to Gunsite and ran it hard with no issues ( details here ). After talking with them yesterday at SHOT I think that their entire product line is probably quite reliable -- I don't think my experience was a fluke.

What you are giving up is comfort. If I were to buy another RIA (and a 9mm would be appealing) then I would plan on swapping the safety and the grips as part of the chase price. With some of the higher end guns that won't be necessary provided you like the fit and feature level.

The Remington r1 wasn't as nice in person as I thought it would be. Try one out in person before ordering one that you are then obligated to purchase.

S&W are nice as well, but they use an external extractor so to,some they aren't a "real" 1911. Of course, the external,extractor,seems to work pretty well.

I have nothing bad to say about STI -- great guns, and if you know what you want they probably make it.

 

[biggameballs]

Yes I shot a Ruger 1911. It was a range rental that I shot a week after placing the order for my gun. I shot it better then any other pistol I've ever shot. After a clip or two at 10 yards I ran a fresh target back to 25 yards and ripped off 8 rapid fire rounds that all ended up in a group the size of a softball. Repeated that several times with no fliers. Over 100 rounds down range with no issues and great accuracy. I do suspect the gun was well broken in being a range gun but I also expect that it wasn't cleaned very well.

 

[Olympus]

Honestly, I think Taurus tends to provide the most features for your dollar in their models. But dollar for dollar, I would have to say that the Sig 1911s are one of the best deals going. They have a lot fewer MIM parts than most of the other major brands. They are one of the most underrated 1911s on the market.

 

[Constrictor]

Yes I shot a Ruger 1911. It was a range rental that I shot a week after placing the order for my gun. I shot it better then any other pistol I've ever shot. After a clip or two at 10 yards I ran a fresh target back to 25 yards and ripped off 8 rapid fire rounds that all ended up in a group the size of a softball. Repeated that several times with no fliers. Over 100 rounds down range with no issues and great accuracy. I do suspect the gun was well broken in being a range gun but I also expect that it wasn't cleaned very well.

That is good news. A ruger 1911 is a dream come true!

 

[Shuler13]

I have a spartan and absolutely love it. the trigger pull is light and breaks clean. though made in the phillipines, each 1911 is "finished" by their smiths in georgetown. For the money ~$630, I couldn't find a better option.

 

[rellascout]

I personally feel that the best 1911 for the dollar is the Dan Wesson Razoback Heritage series. You can find these guns for about $1100 to $1200 OTD. The next step up is the Pointman series.

They will have no MIM. They will have a forged frame and slide. They will have a level of detail found on semi-custom pistols from the "Big 3". They will have crisp clean triggers from the factory right around 4.5 lbs. It will have night sights, extened thumb safety, a nicely fitted beavertail, no front serrations, no huge billboard and a 70 series firing system. Their QC is generally very good. There will be an occasional issue but they have a decent service rep if there is a problem.

These guns are 90% of the way to a semi-custom gun like a Ed Brown or Les Baer at almost half the price. When you break them down they are dimensionally correct. The parts are well finished prepped and fitted to the gun. There is a level of hands on work that is not present in some of the guns at the $800 level. The detail work on this pistol is very close to what you get at the semi-custom level. It is a step below but IMHO but that is not a big step.

This gun will be capable of greater accuracy than 99% of shooters, the same can be said of most 1911s but that is for another thread, and it will be a reliable gun. Now for many buyers the step up about $300 is not worth it. For many a RIA, SA range officer or Ruger will suit their needs but for others like myself the quality of the DW line makes them the sweet spot. Everyone have their own point of diminishing returns. For me in 1911s it is right around $1300 to $1400. After that point I find I am not getting enough "extra" for my money to justify the additional cost. YMMV

The only drawback is that they only come in stainless. I personally would love to see it in a black finish but at DW that adds about $300. You could always have it Ionbonded or Tefloned later down the road if you wanted to.

 

[rellascout]

I have a spartan and absolutely love it. the trigger pull is light and breaks clean. though made in the phillipines, each 1911 is "finished" by their smiths in georgetown. For the money ~$630, I couldn't find a better option.

This is not true. They are batch blessed by STI. They do not finish the pistols in Georgetown they QC check some of the pistols before sending them out. They are not apply finishes, installing parts or fitting parts on the Spartan in the US unless that particular gun chosen and failed the spot check.

 

[NinjaFeint]

I personally feel that the best 1911 for the dollar is the Dan Wesson Razoback Heritage series. You can find these guns for about $1100 to $1200 OTD.

I would wholeheartedly agree. When I said that I solved the 800 dollar 1911 problem by throwing more money at it, I meant that I bought a Heritage.

One other thing besides all the the stuff you listed, they seem to hold their value decently as DW does not make nearly the amount of guns each year that say a Kimber or SA does.

Mine has been flawless.

 

[biggameballs]

Update on the Rugers. I just got word from the owner of the shop where mine is on order that he returned from a buyers show and spoke with a Ruger rep who said that they will start to see all orders filled in March/April.

 

[Shuler13]

This is not true. They are batch blessed by STI. They do not finish the pistols in Georgetown they QC check some of the pistols before sending them out. They are not apply finishes, installing parts or fitting parts on the Spartan in the US unless that particular gun chosen and failed the spot check.

oh. didn't realize that. thanks for the clarification.

 

[Detritus]

My wife and I both love the two Metro American Classic II's we bought about 6 months apart. both have had their grips swapped for better quality/prettier stocks, as well as their extened slide stops replaced with standard sized Wilson parts. Mine has an arched MSH due to personal prefernce.

Bought mine from Gander Mountain, Hers came into the Academy that I work in and is the most accurate non-custom 1911 i've ever handled (tight barrel to bushing fit). neither cost more than $550 OTD

 

[tuj]

Some other memeber on 1911forum took a tour of STI and asked about the Spartan... they told him they went to Armscor and trained their own guys, have them building Spartan separate from the other pistols in the plant in the Phillipines.

There's a lot of love for the Spartan on the 1911forum for a reason; guys are having good luck with them. They come with a very good stock trigger, good sights, good accuracy. Might not be as pretty as some others, but for value, its right up there.

 

[918v]

Springer TRP.

Did I tell you guys about my most recent encounter with a Baer TRS? So I see one at a gun store, brand new, just came in. $2250 sticker price...

.015" gap between the beavertail and the right frame tang.

That's what you get for $2250 nowadays.

 

[9mmepiphany]

they told him they went to Armscor and trained their own guys, have them building Spartan separate from the other pistols in the plant in the Phillipines.

I just had a conversation the other day, while at the SHOT Show, with the nice folks at STI.

The frame, slide and barrel of the Spartan are manufactured in the P.I. by Armscor. All other parts come from STI and are shipped there to be assembled by a crew, in a separate section of the factory, to STI's specs. STI send a crew over to train their team of assembly technicians in how they wanted it do.

 

[shinyroks]

try the Remington, MSRP 699 but it sells for about 600. Mine fed an empty case right out of the box. Not a single ftf out of all the magazines I have, except the Kimber mag. Go figure. btw, ive worn out both factory mags over the last year, that is a required investment...

 

[kvtcomdo]

Range Officer, same as a Trophy Match without the fluff.

Concur completely.
All the benefits of the high end Springer without the fluff and within your price range.
Also, adjustable sites. I have one and couldn't be happier. I also own some high end 1911's and still love and appreciate the fit/finish and quality of the Springfield Range Officer.

 

[partricp]

I have a Charles Daly 1911 that is an absolute tack driver. The only drawback is that it doesn't like JHP's very much, since you are looking for a range gun that shouldn't matter. I don't think they sell them new anymore, but there is probably a comparable one from RIA (also armscor import) currently available. Many of the inexpensive 1911's these days are made by Armscor but seem to have varying quality.

 

[Sunburnt]

After last year's tax return I bought a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 which I had had my eye on for quite a few years. With that said, it was by far the best handgun purchase I have ever made, so far. Definately worth the money. Like anything else in life you get what you pay for, true there is nothing wrong with RIA 1911's, but my advice is to spend the extra dollars on a good Springfield and that's a decision I'm sure you won't regret! There's just something about them that just feels "right" when they're in your hand, you feel the quality! But that's just my two cents

 

[Martowski]

I just got a Spartan 9mm in, $588 SHIPPED to my FFL. Haven't shot it yet, but the trigger breaks cleanly at 4.5 lbs and the fit is every bit as nice on this as my 1998 Kimber Custom Classic Target. Finish is "okay"; it's parkerized so it's not beauty queen but it's very nice and even; I kind of like it.

Looking forward to getting it out and running it through its paces. I like the fact that it comes with a Metalform magazine and that STI has a reputation for great customer service.

 

[Dr_B]

I am very satisfied with my Sig 1911 C3. I have over 1000 rounds through it now, and its like a revolver in terms of reliability and very accurate. Occasionally rounds fail to go into battery, but that only occurs with some of my reloads if I don't crimp them enough. It will eat factory ammo all day long.

Both Critical Defense and Remington Golden Saber hollowpoints feed reliably.

 

[roadliner]

Norinco for $325 NIB. Of course this was back in the '90's. Rock solid and accurate to boot. I've been looking for another, but like an earlier post stated, the prices are up there now.