Define a "Value" 1911

[orangeninja]

I have a question to all those 1911 lovers and shooters.

What is a "Value" in 1911. In other words, best "quality" for the lowest "price".

Norinco? Armscor?

Those Phillipino thingys.....I.E. Rock Island

Mil Spec Springfields?

Dan Wesson CDNN Specials?

Old School G.I. Colt 1991?

Etc.....

Those armscor things look pretty spiffy, but I've never seen one in person. I have been looking harder at the 1911, but don't want to dump a boat load of money into it, just in case I don't like the platform.

 

[Longbow]

Value 1911's..

Monetarilly speaking, any 1911 priced <$400. Otherwise, its totally subjective.

 

[Hawk]

I guess my dirty little secret is that I rather like my Rock Island.

I replaced the firing pin spring just 'cause I didn't like digging the firing pin out of the sheetrock and felt funny wearing a full face helmet to disassemble the guy. (I got one of the ones that passed the CA drop test with no help other than the brawny spring). I have to admit that mod wasn't really necessary - I never had a failure to ignite but it beats me why not.

The mag catch needed a stroke, too.

The trigger is a tad on the heavy side (it's off the scale on my RCBS) but is disturbingly crisp and clean. It actually works rather nicely - better than my Springer loaded, to my immense chagrin.

It's been boringly reliable. It's kinda like the handgun equivalent of that SKS - probably shoots straighter, tho

I didn't know y'all were having two shoots this month - I'll haul it along on the 25th, if you're interested.

 

[orangeninja]

I didn't know we were having a shoot this month..........things have kind of been strange. I still got your SKS......I would love to try that Rock Island.

 

[9x19]

Not a 1911 "lover" but am a shooter, so...

I recently stopped by one of the local shops and found a 1911 clone that was rather interesting.

Its an older Essex frame with a Remington/Rand slide. The interesting part is the slide has an MMC adjustable rear sight with an Ashley Express leaf and big dot dovetailed front. The rear sight is marked with the MMC logo on the left side, but has "LBC" on the right.

The frame has very well fit Ed Brown "memory groove" grip safety, short steel trigger and smooth ebony stocks. Both the slide and frame have a high polish blue (goreous on the slide, with the frame showing only a very slight plum color), and the mil-surp barrel has the outside edge of the muzzle nicely rounded. That's just one indication of the attention to detail in the assembly of this pistol.

The slide to frame fit is, in a word, exceptional, with absolutely no discernible vertical movement and only a tiny (had to try it three times to make sure I was feeling it) amount of lateral play. The barrel, when the slide is in battery, is rock solid at both the hood and bushing.

Once I had a chance to disassemble it I was not surprised, based on the exterior, to find a good fit of barrel lugs and feet.

Whoever built this pistol knew what they were about and I couldn't wait to see how it shot. The hammer is a Colt commander model and the trigger pull is crisp and only about 3 lbs. The mainspring feels a bit light, too light acutally, but the recoil spring feels like the standard 16 pound variety.

I've bought numerous guns from this shop over the years and when I asked for his lowest price on this one, the owner said: "I can make you a great deal on that one ~ $250 out the door."

Its not really a boone & crocket-worthy deal, but given the appearance, fit, and obvious quality (as good as it can get with Essex), I felt it was a fair price.

Oh, and it shoots just fine... better accuracy than I can command off-hand, and perfectly reliable... even with my old MecGar range mags.

I gave it an extended mag release and long trigger, and that's all it really needed to fit my needs.

So, this is my version of a budget 1911... YMMV

 

[shep854]

The Auto-Ordnance is another good one. Mine was in the low $400s, and it hasn't missed a beat after nearly a thousand rounds of Wolf. I did swap the long trigger for a short one.

 

[1911Ron]

I have the WWII Mil-spec and it works great I feel for the money it's a great value.
If i'm not mistaken the Armscor and the Rock island are made by the same people, the one i've seen looks like it's pretty good fit and finish.

 

[orangeninja]

Does the Springfield Mil Spec and WW2 Milspec have all the same features but the sights?

 

[stans]

I think the Norinco 1911's were the real kings of value in the 1911 world. The sights were not the greatest, but it was all forged and machined steel, no castings or MIM. Too bad the Klinton administration saw fit to ban them from the U.S.

 

[ruger357]

A value .45 is the SA GI 1911.

 

[Jammer Six]

Does the Springfield Mil Spec and WW2 Milspec have all the same features but the sights?

No. There are at least two other differences that I'm aware of.

The Milspec has a flared and lowered port where the WW2 does not, and the slide serrations are milled at an angle on the Milspec while they are milled straight on the WW2.

I should probably point out that while I own a Milspec, I don't own a WW2, and the presence of these three differences seem to indicate that there may well be other differences that I'm not aware of. These are simply the visible differences that I can find by comparing my Milspec to the WW2's I've seen in pictures and at the gunshop.

 

[orangeninja]

I really like the looks of the SA GI....I might get one...but I don't want a jam-o-matic.

 

[Cableman]

A Stainless WWII Springer for $429


The best value in a 1911 going today.

 

[Silent Bob]

Besides the 3-dot sights and lowered and flared ejection port, the standard Mil-Spec has a beveled magazine well. The WWII does not.

 

[Ivy Mike]

"value 1911" noun An inexpensive pistol designed in 1975 and made in the Czech republic that feeds fires and ejects ammunition extremely well. They are typically of robust construction and very reliable. The cost of such a weapon is comparitively low when compared to inferior firearms bearing the model designation M1911 or a resemblance to such a pistol.

*DUCKS AND RUNS*

 

[orangeninja]

Clean97GTI............that was a good one.

 

[Texas Bob]

My "Value" 1911 was when I spotted another member of THR selling an Ed Brown Kobra at the same time on another BB the poster was looking to buy a hard chrome P7M13 like the one in the back of my gunsafe. Always wanted a Kobra and I was able to sell the one gun for what I paid for the Kobra. I still have two other P7M13's, but now I also own a Kobra. All involved parties happy, it was a good day.

 

[moorerwc]

depends on what you want

Do you want a range toy or a potential future custom job? The cast guns from the Phillippines (S.A.M., RIA, Charles Daly, and Armsor) and Spain (Auto ordnance/finished in the U.S.) might be good--I've heard of the fewest problems with the RIA/Armscor.
If you might want to eventually get it worked on, go with forged frame and slide--at the very least SA WWII/mil-spec or Norinco. If you want a bit better small parts, go with a NRM Colt.
"Value" hear has something to do with quality of parts and closeness to original specs.

If you want something more "Custom" research the SA loaded, Kimber series I and II, and S&W--each of them have their issues.

Dan Wesson might be a contender but I have yet to see any consistency--hodgepodge of parts--no idea what each model will be based on its name. Huge mix of forged and cast slides and frames, flat top and round top slides, sights, even frontstrap treatments (some look like Kimber and some like old Springfield boxes), and a variety of small parts and bbls.

-Chad