Charles Daly .45 acp

[Longbow]

I have one that has 7k rounds through it, the slide to frame fit is still the same as when I got it (decent fit IMHO). It had the extractor broke at 700 rounds or so. I replaced it with Wilson's and its been reliable since then. I use it mainly for the gun games (IPSC, bowling pin, bullseye...). I did fit a new Kart barrel to improve on accuracy though.
Interestingly, the ones I had the most problems, and continues to have are my high $ one's (Colt and Para). Both have reliability issues out of the box. The Colt's front sight fell off the gun during recoil and the Para has lots of FTF's. Both guns won't feed HP's reliably. None of these on my CD even with the original barrel. It even feed HP's reliably.
I think $ for $, its a great deal. Lots of features for less $.

 

[J.Gillespie]

Pberzk.....I am glad you posted this thread. I have been thinking about buying a CD also. This would be my first 1911.
My personal opinion, I think they are great guns for the price. For me, to pick one up for $300-350 is good on my pocket book. Even if they have some problems( which MOST guns do at some point ). It wouldn't be the only gun I own or the one i would carry for CCW so to me a CD would be a good experience to learn how to tear down and fix. I would rather learn on a $300 gun than a $800-1000. For the most part, I hear they are good guns for the price. One thing I would also look at and I think was mentioned earlier in this thread is to check out Springfield Armory Milspecs. The price is real close to a CD and maybe a used one would run about the same.

Well, just my thoughts here. If you get a CD for $350...congrats!

 

[Longbow]

I did consider the S.A. mil-spec when I was shopping for an inexpensive, beater 1911 but the fact that it doesn't offer the features that come standard on the CD's (dovetail front sight, beavertail safety, front and rear serrations) and its 2 piece barrel made me think twice. Their high end ones has 1 piece barrel though. I also find that the slide to frame fit is better on the CD. The only thing it offer that better the CD is resale value. Not important if you plan on keeping the gun.

 

[J.Gillespie]

Good point Longbow.

I am not one who likes to sell my guns. I didn't know that about the 2 peice barrel on the milspecs.

 

[makarov]

Just to throw another log on the fire I have heard good things about the Rock Island Armory guns. They run $350 for the basic mil-spec parkerized version. I think parts of them are also made in Phillipines.

If the CD is one of the higher end CD's then $375 is a good price. Nothing wrong with inexpensive guns.

 

[Baron Holbach]

I often rely on the experience of gun owners in this forum before purchasing certain guns. When I learned of the sterling reputation of the Bersa Thunder .380, I proceeded to buy one. I was not disappointed. In regards to the reputation of Charles Daly 1911s, I have relied on input from CD owners in 1911.org, The Firing Line, Glocktalk, and the High Road. Yes, there have been comments from satisfied CD owners, in addition to those who have not had good experiences with these guns. The comments in favor of CD guns have been far more favorable than, for example, the polymer pistols manufacturered by Taurus. Nevertheless, I have been wary of purchasing CD 1911s after comparing their reputation with the likes of custom Colt, Kimber, and Springfield 1911s. I own two 1911s: a Colt Govt .45 and a Kimber .38 super. Both of these guns, although costing several hundreds dollar more than a CD, have performed admirably and I would not hesitate to buy another custom 1911 from either Colt or Kimber. But until I view enough favorable owner replies in support of CD 1911s, I will refrain from purchasing one.

 

[jsalcedo]

Sheesh, who's trying to force a CD on you?

I'm glad you are happy with your colt and kimber
but some of us like to go out prospecting in unknown territory in hopes of finding a gem.

Sometimes you eat the bear sometimes it eats you.

 

[chaim]

Add another very pleased Charles Daly owner to the list. Mine is a pre-enhanced (where they added mostly cosmetic enhancements) but post-"improved" (reliability improvements) Charles Daly Field Grade full-sized 1911. I have thousands of rounds through it (I stopped counting some time ago so I know for sure it is over 3K but I am probably under 5K). The only problems I had were when I used the factory mags, but with quality mags it has been 100%.

I am impressed enough that I may pick up another (likely the 3 1/2" version) before they all disappear here in MD (the darned built-in lock law). That is in competition with a couple CZs (and you guys may remember that I LOVE CZs) and several other guns I'm considering before the stock of "pre-lock" guns in MD dry up.

I too find it funny how some people here and on other forums will bash CDs based on "reputation" (which was by the way mostly built on guns that aren't up to the quality of their guns today- there was a series of reliability improvements done about a year and a half to two years ago), yet they have absolutely no first hand experience with the guns. Look over at 1911.com, you'll see a similar proportion of unhappy Kimber and unhappy SA owners as unhappy CD owners.

It is especially funny when those people turn around and suggest RIA- the Rock Island Armory guns are Charles Dalys brought in by a different importer and with mil-spec trim instead of the options Charles Daly gives you. They are made by the same company, at the exact same factory and to the same internal and mechanical specs.

 

[Any Cal!]

CD 1911

I'm a dissapointed CD owner. I bought the fancy model for 429 about a year ago. The one that looks like a Kimber CDP. I heard a lot of people say that they were as good as their Kimber, Springfield,etc. Mine was an absolute lemon. Trigger was awful, multiple malfs, (1-2 per magazine), accuracy was the worst I have ever seen, and 0 pride of ownership. 50-100 bucks buys you something with a better reputation and more pride of ownership.
Maybe mine was the exception, but I think the extra c-note gives you better odds of getting a good gun. On my Daly, the frame and slide were so soft I would not dream of spending money to put good parts on it. When I bought mine there was a parkerized Springfield Compact 3.5 inch for 479.NIB. While I was practicing tap-rack drills and trying different ammo, loading different types, replacing springs, lapping in the slide, smoothing the trigger,etc, how many times do you think I wished I had spent the extra 50 for the Springfield? There is supposedly a good warranty through KBI, but everyone I have heard from says they are incredibly slow,
ie months. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

P.S. My wife thought it was the best looking gun in the store.

 

[cratz2]

I would agree that another $100 may go a long way towards buying a better percentage of success. If you don't have a problem buying the gun, shooting it a bit, noting its faults and sending it back to the factory (assuming it still has its warranty card) then I don't think that sounds too high. But I'd try to talk him down of course.

I've shot a few Daly's and they functioned fine for me. Maybe one failure, can't recall now. I was impressed enough that I was looking for an EFS which is their two-tone gun. Couldn't find one for the right price. Can't comment on their long term reliability/sllide hardness or lack thereof. I've heard this, but don't know anything about it first hand.

Among other lower priced, I was recently impressed by the Rock Islands I handled. Didn't shoot them but they seem pretty well fitted, didn't have horrible tool marks inside and the trigger was not too bad. Again, I can't comment without shooting one but I was more impressed that I thought I would have been.

Definately go check out the 1911 Forum. Lots of good information over there. Be sure to read back many pages in the Daly forum. People come along all the time and you can generally tell which ones have experience with the guns and which ones are just blowing smoke.

 

[Longbow]

About disappointments..

Any Cal,
I once had a Colt that's a lemon. Sights fell off after a couple hundred rounds and ejection problems every 10 rounds or so. My Para won't feed anything except round nose ammo. It took two trips to a gunsmith to make it right. And it's still quirky sometimes. Worst, both of these gun costs about $800 or more. Yes! any manufacturer puts out a lemon from time to time. Even really expensive ones like S_I (fill-in the blank). I've seen a couple of these babies choke in IPSC matches too! ' guess no pride in owning there too.
The only problem I had with my CD is the extractor I did break sooner than expected, but I replaced it with a Wilson extractor ($25?) and its been reliable since then. The best thing.. I only paid $380 IIRC out the door! It has a lot of features than the S.A. Mil-spec I was considering at the time, and it doesn't have a two piece barrel like the S.A.! Overall I still feel I made a good buy! I'm happy with mine!

P.S.
Have you tried sending your CD back to them? I know it might take them sometime, but at least you are not doing the work they are supposed to be doing. Its less costly that way, IMO. Also, how did you measure the metal hardness on the CD?