After shooting a friends Colts years ago, I've wanted to get one, but haven't yet. It seems that anything in the 1911 range that I get interested in, and go research, I find a lot of people talking about having to send theirs in to get fixed, or them requiring upgrades to be accurate, etc. Generally it was really expensive to begin with, or it is expensive before its all said and done.
So, I thought I'd throw out some criteria and ask if anyone knows of a gun that fits my desired criteria... possibly the criteria are unrealistic, but hopefully not.
Ok, I'm willing to buy a used, not too fancy, not great looking gun. Something from the 1940s is fine by me. Unfortunately, these things get more valuable as they get older. So, a knock-off works for me as well... though I guess I'd prefer a copy rather than someones improved design (but not excluding things like para-ordinance. But if Zimbabwe made a 1911 copy at some point that seems good, I'd be interested in hearing about it...)
So, without further ado, my dream 1911 criteria:
1) Prefer $300 or less, but willing to go up to $600. Price is an issue.
2) Able to shoot four inch groups at, say, 50 yards. (Not saying *I* can do that)... just want decent accuracy without having to send it off to a gunsmith. Prefer decent accuracy in it by design / construction quality.
3) Prefer smaller than full sized, but not a requirement.
4) Would like to have a choice of calibers-- prefer something mainstream, so that by buying magazines and barrels I can switch calibers. Maybe 1911 standard is a requirement to allow this.
5) Don't mind if its DAO, LDA, or SA.
6) Prefer that 10 round mags be out there.
Hmmm... maybe those are loose restrictions! I guess I'm really asking if anyone knows of a smaller than full sized, $300, 1911 copy that take standard parts?
I suspect the price is the hard criteria to hit. IF you think this is unrealistic, but have an alternative to suggest, let me know. At this point, given what I know now, if I had to buy soon, I'd buy a Makarov, Tokarev or CZ52. I'm not opposed to 9mm, prefer .45 or 9mm, or 45/9mm/22lr.
Thanks--
Don
PS-- Forgot to mention uses: Target shooting, learning to shoot a real caliber handgun accurately, potential future cary, though I'm a bit of a recoil wuss and would prefer less recoil and more weight to ultimatre concealability at this point. Don't even plan to get a concealed permit anytime soon.
So, I thought I'd throw out some criteria and ask if anyone knows of a gun that fits my desired criteria... possibly the criteria are unrealistic, but hopefully not.
Ok, I'm willing to buy a used, not too fancy, not great looking gun. Something from the 1940s is fine by me. Unfortunately, these things get more valuable as they get older. So, a knock-off works for me as well... though I guess I'd prefer a copy rather than someones improved design (but not excluding things like para-ordinance. But if Zimbabwe made a 1911 copy at some point that seems good, I'd be interested in hearing about it...)
So, without further ado, my dream 1911 criteria:
1) Prefer $300 or less, but willing to go up to $600. Price is an issue.
2) Able to shoot four inch groups at, say, 50 yards. (Not saying *I* can do that)... just want decent accuracy without having to send it off to a gunsmith. Prefer decent accuracy in it by design / construction quality.
3) Prefer smaller than full sized, but not a requirement.
4) Would like to have a choice of calibers-- prefer something mainstream, so that by buying magazines and barrels I can switch calibers. Maybe 1911 standard is a requirement to allow this.
5) Don't mind if its DAO, LDA, or SA.
6) Prefer that 10 round mags be out there.
Hmmm... maybe those are loose restrictions! I guess I'm really asking if anyone knows of a smaller than full sized, $300, 1911 copy that take standard parts?
I suspect the price is the hard criteria to hit. IF you think this is unrealistic, but have an alternative to suggest, let me know. At this point, given what I know now, if I had to buy soon, I'd buy a Makarov, Tokarev or CZ52. I'm not opposed to 9mm, prefer .45 or 9mm, or 45/9mm/22lr.
Thanks--
Don
PS-- Forgot to mention uses: Target shooting, learning to shoot a real caliber handgun accurately, potential future cary, though I'm a bit of a recoil wuss and would prefer less recoil and more weight to ultimatre concealability at this point. Don't even plan to get a concealed permit anytime soon.