Best non-custom 1911 for the $

[Timradcliffe345]

What non-custom shop 1911 is the best bang for the buck? I am looking for an uber reliable 1911. Thanks.

 

[kentucky_smith]

Rock Island
STI
Colt

 

[Throwingdown]

A million choices - first you have to define how many bucks.
For the under 700.00 range, go with a springfield or a Colt 1991
Over 1K to 2K - Les Baer
2K and up - Les Baer, Ed Brown, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk.

Have read mixed reviews on the Sig. 45ACP style and the S&W.

Had a few Kimbers myself, bad luck with the ones I had.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Smith and Wesson, by far. They are more likely to be reliable out of the box than any other brand, and if you do have a problem, they actually have a customer service dept that can fix your problem.

 

[rbernie]

My basic $700 Kimber Custom II has been far more satisfying than any of my other Colt, Springfield, or Para 1911s.

I swore off Kimbers a number of years ago, but within the last 18 months have gotten several and I am very pleased with them all. No more Series II safety issues, and so far their reliability has been 100% over several thousand rounds each.

 

[Jason_G]

Dan Wesson. Bar none IMHO.

Jason

 

[slabuda]

Best non custom 1911 for the $$
Dan Wesson IMO I did a bunch of looking/research and thats what I got.
Tight, accurate, reliable.

 

[HexHead]

A million choices - first you have to define how many bucks.
For the under 700.00 range, go with a springfield or a Colt 1991
Over 1K to 2K - Les Baer

What happened to the $700-1000 range? Id go with a Colt.

In the $500-600 range, the new Para GI Expert looks promising.

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

Cheap but good Para GI and the Taurus PT 1911 not the best by far but for the money damn hard to beat.

 

[Geno]

In alphabetic order:

Colt <<You all saw that coming>>
Kimber "Custom" <<Did I admit that?!>>
Rock Island <<Must...resist...urge...to...buy>>

Geno

 

[PT1911]

taurus PT1911... no doubt....!!!

 

[bannockburn]

You would be hard pressed to overlook the RIA Tactical, which I have seen going for $489. I did some customizing on a friends RIA and was impressed by the overall fit and finish of the gun, and even more impressed by what he paid for it.

 

[FM12]

Go to www.olyarms.com and look at their 1911s. VERY nice.

 

[Nero_Atrum]

I got another vote for Dan Wesson here.

 

[snakeman]

springfield mil-spec

 

[MICHAEL T]

Dan Wesson then Colt

 

[Thomas Garrett]

RIA Tactical, or the Springfield Mil-Spec. The RIA is better because of the "custom" standard additions.

 

[broken]

.......

i would look for a 500.00 doller norinco on gunbroker,people go nuts bidding on these,hard to find sometimes,but use the buy it now button.i just whacked my 100th post,im a senoir member now"cool".

 

[Taffnevy]

STI Trojan

 

[robctwo]

I own a SA Black Stainless Loaded and a S&W1911PD Commander with CT laser grips. I liked the S&W trigger much better out of the box. I think Dan Wesson is every bit as good, if not better at this price point.

At the lower end I have no experience.

I own an Ed Brown Exec. Target and 2 Les Baer PIIs, one in .45 and one in 9mm. For me these are more value than the $900 guns. Not everyone wants to put that much money into a pistol, even though you will put many times that amount into ammunition if you shoot much. If you don't shoot much, it doesn't matter.

 

[Mainsail]

Sig GSR. The rest are junk.

 

[JDGray]

My S&W SC Commander, was my favorite. Paid 600.00 used, never missed a beat, accurate, tight, only negative is the ejected cases would hit my head once in awhile. I'm sure a smith could have tweeked it, but it had what felt like a 20+ lb recoil spring in it, so that may have contributed

 

[Ala Dan]

Smith & Wesson product code #108282

 

[Browns Fan]

My current 1911 (I've had a few), and my favorite is the Detonics 9-11-01. I will say that if I didnt get the Detonics, my next choice would be Dan Wesson!

 

[azmtnbikerxdm]

I would vote for a Kimber Custom II. I got mine for $650 out the door and have had no problems with it so far.(1000 rds through it now)