Buying first 1911. Please help.

[Lone_Gunman]

I am so dang tired of 1911s. I own too many, and have started selling them off. The constant tinkering, accessorizing, and fidgeting with them has really burned me out. I just can't take it anymore, its like an addiction.

I traded one a few weeks ago for a stock West German Sig P220 which runs flawlessly. Its cold, stark, factory appearance is very appealing.

I'll be damned if I spend another dime on 1911s... Like cigarettes, fast cars, and hot women, its better to never get mixed up with 1911s. They bleed you dry and steal your soul.

 

[gwalchmai]

There's something just not right about that boy...

 

[horge]

Lone Gunman,

I triple dog dare you to sell ALL your 1911's.

 

[trickyasafox]

any armscore fans? if your lookin for a cheap intro check out rock island armory. some love em some dislike them, but i'd say overall they are looked at as a good affordable 1911 to start out with

 

[caz223]

Recommend instead of buying a $2000 .45 having never shot, that you buy a $900 dan wesson and $1100 in ammo.
Or better yet an el-cheapo $400 springfield to pay your dues on.
Look around see what's out there, and buy the one that calls out to you, but keep it under $500 for a first 1911.
An old nork would be a great gun to learn on, but they are getting expensive since the 'import restriction'.
That being said, I own 2 dan wesson 1911s, both in 10mm, like 'em both.
The first one, a 5" razorback was NOT a reliability champion, and is quirky, needy and was sent back to DW less than 3 months after I took delivery.
The other, is prolly something more like what you're looking for.
A commander length slide mated to a full size frame, with an Ed Brown bobtail and nights.
Oh, and a new style external extractor, too.
I ordered it last may and got it in september '04.
It's been 100% reliable, very accurate, and the recoil is MUCH better than the 5" model.
Their accuracy testing is done in a ransom rest, so their 3/4" groups aren't going to happen, at least not without a LOT of focused practice.
Being from mich as well, I can say you will need to be 21 to buy a handgun from a FFL.
Private party, 18 will do, no form 4473, just go to the sheriff's office in your county of residence, and pick up a permit to purchase.
Pay $5, bring your driver's liscense, and bring that 3 part form to the seller.
Fill out all 3 forms, he tears off the top copy, and the bottom two go back to the sheriff's office with you and the gun, locked in a case, or otherwise disabled (Trigger lock, whatever.)
They do a NICS national background check, and after you sign 3 more forms, they give you 1 to keep with the gun, and you're on your merry way.
They also will give you a basic pistol safety questionnaire, a test, 2 brochures, (Safe storage, and basic pistol handling and laws.) and prolly a fw other brochures, like gun lock use, etc.
The first one I bought I was fingerprinted, they took a picture, and added me to a database. I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen anymore, that was many moons ago.

If you're local to grand rapids mich or whereabouts, I'd be happy to accompany you to the range to see if 1911s are for you, or not.

 

[Waitone]

<jumps up and down waving arms frantically>
Contrarian Here!

As a young noob you have the chance to do something us wheezers failed to do. And that is to learn it right the first time. Consider starting with an entry level 1911 such as a Springfield (BTW, you do have good taste in firearms already ) and take your savings (approx. $500) and put it into first class training starting at the "this is a trigger" level. The NRA sponsors top notch training at affordable prices.

The other piece of contrarian advice is to remember the cost of purchase is not the cost of ownership. Depending upon your caliber of choice you can shoot lots or little. Your level of proficiency depends upon training and perfect repetition. .45 ACP ammo runs sorta $14.00 / box. 9mm runs half that. .22LR is cheapest.

Congratulations on your well-developed taste in firearms Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[gwalchmai]

WaitOne is on the right track. Get a Springfield GI (I have one and it's great) or similar relatively inexpensive 1911. And get a .22LR top end for it. Then you can practice stance and trigger for penies on the dollar.

 

[1911 guy]

Charles Daly

Yes, they are inexpensive, but I own two and neither has ever given me so much as a hiccup. They cycle fine and require no more than normal maintenance to run just fine. There are some expensive guns worth every penny, and some expensive guns useful as paperweights. Personally, I'm cheap, so I go for inexpensive and reliable. Another thought: If you're going to "Kop Skool" you might want to consider buying and training with something they will let you carry. Most dept.s these days are full of idiots who can't figure out a real pistol and require something idiot proof. You may have to sink to their level.

 

[1911JMB]

"If you're going to "Kop Skool" you might want to consider buying and training with something they will let you carry."

My plan for that is buy the cheapest ruger I can find, and use 1911's for everthing other than the Academy. Including hopefully police work if I find a good department.

A lot of you guys have seemed to think 1911's might not be the right gun for me. Having shot one, having wanted one since grade school, and considering pretty much everything else to be ugly, 1911's are my clear favorite.

caz223,
thanks for the offer but I live in the detroit area.

Thanks to everybody for the advice. I have decided on getting the springfield GI model, shooting it a hole bunch, maybe adding good sights and a good barrel, and buying a high end custom in the future.

 

[jdseven1]

Yesterday one of the guys at the club used a s&w 1911 45 cal he picked up used for $600. Its a ss and it has had wilson trigger work done on it and at about 10 yards he put a group of 7 in about 2". Made me want to get rid of my s&w 45 chief special and buy a 1911. I have an old remington rand 1911 but it will never match the S&W. I think a new one is about $800.

 

[lager1829]

S&W will be the one to beat...

The S&W's seem to be dismissed as just another clone, but they are definitely serious contenders. Any S&W 1911 owner will tell you they are super-reliable and very accurate out of the box. Mine has had about 1200 rds with not one failure (try that with a new Kimber). Accuracy-wise, I had my full sized 1911 S&W out this weekend and put a 2" dia hole in the 10 ring with 3 8 round mags at 15 yds off-hand. Enough said....

 

[Berg01]

I think that a Springfield 9mm Service Model (PI9134L) would be ideal for a young guy in your situation.

 

[1911JMB]

Berg,
do a google search on the "Thompson Lagarde Tests".

 

[Seraph]

I second the motion for the SA GI in .45, and a Ciener .22LR conversion kit.

 

[StrikeEagle]

In fact, I have fired only 7 shots from a handgun, my friends dads friends ww2 Ithica. The slide had a very loose fit to the frame. It was dirty and had to have the slide slapped forward for each shot.

Dang, that hurt my feelings when I read it.

That fine old warhorse should have been One Reliable Sonofagun. Clearly it was VERY dirty... and it's like nobody loves it.

I'd relish a gun like that. Clean it up, perhaps replace a few small parts and have a shooter/trophy to gladden the heart. What a shame.

StrikeEagle

 

[fedlaw]

Until last December I had never shot a 1911. Then on a whim I borrowed my friend ChuckB's Springfield Loaded during requalifications. All 50 shots in the ten ring later and I was sold on JMB's design. I would have gotten one just like Chuck's if I could have been assured it would have been just like his. Our dealer, however, advised me to get a Kimber. On December 27, 2004 I took delivery of a new Stainless Target II. Long story short, 4400 rds. and one competition trophy later I am very satisfied with the gun. BTW it is every bit as reliable as the SIG P226 I carried for years: 100%.
Steve

 

[Safety First]

Do a search on THR on the S&W 1911's... You will find 99% praise on all the available models...They can be had for a good discount off the MSRP...S&W has done an excellent job with these guns and the life-time guarantee with S&W paying the postage both ways (if it ever does need to go back) really ices the cake...Many good choices,but research this one, I think you will find it hard to pass up....good luck....
Disclaimer: I am new to the 1911 myself,and know as little on the gun as most here,I just bought my first 1911, S&W SC for concealed carry. I have not shot it yet but hope to soon, very difficult as of late to find the time...I paid $789 for mine and that was too much, but I was ready to buy and tired of shopping...You can probably find one for much less ....

 

[pete f]

go out looking and find a nice used series seventy or pre seventy Colt.

should be able to find one in the 500 to 650 range if you do not look for one that is NIB (new in box). Take time to learn about the gun and make sure you change the recoil spring when you get it. My guess would be that WW2 ithaca needed a cleaning and a recoil spring. some wartime springs had less than perfect quality control. then shoot it a lot. after shooting a couple thousand rounds thru it, then pay someone to teach you how to shoot it well. My guess is that will be about the time you have enough skill development that someone will be able to teach you the fine points of shooting 1911's

I would not buy a new 1911 until there were no more old ones to shoot. JMB knew what he was doing with the internal extractor and not too tight tolerances, the tolerances do not apply once locked up. but only when the pistol is out of battery and when it should be moving. these tolerances are not there because they had sloppy manufacturing, but rather an understanding that a fighting gun MUST work in times where and when cleaning is not readily available. I have a drawer full of 1911's and I think you would be best served by a 1950's 60's or early 70's colt. And if you are at a gun shop, there is no law against a father buying a gun for his son for a gift.

 

[1911JMB]

"Dang, that hurt my feelings when I read it.

That fine old warhorse should have been One Reliable Sonofagun. Clearly it was VERY dirty... and it's like nobody loves it.

I'd relish a gun like that. Clean it up, perhaps replace a few small parts and have a shooter/trophy to gladden the heart. What a shame."

My friend told me that gun was cleaned up and works fine now.

"And if you are at a gun shop, there is no law against a father buying a gun for his son for a gift."

Actually, seeing as the sole intention would be for me to get the gun, and I would be giving him the money to buy it, I believe that would be an illegal straw purchase. Please correct me if I am wrong. Besides that, it would also be kind of a pain because after he bought it, it would have to transfered to me.