First 1911 Purchase - Need Help With Selection

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There are so many 1911's out there that it is a bit overwhelming. I am hoping some of you can give me some advice about which to look at this weekend based on the following information about my use of the gun. I currently have a xd 9mm and Mark III .22.

Size - I want a full size, 5 inch barrel. I also want a heavier gun. Steel is fine with me. 35 to 45 oz.

Area of Use - I will use it primariy for range use, but I will also rely on it for self defense, such as a car gun when traveling or camping so I can leave the 9mm with the wife. I am not a LEO and it not will be be CCW, and rarely carried. I don't need light rail or anything tactical, if that means anything any more.

Type of Use - Right now I enjoy slow fire for accuracy between 7 and 30 yard. I don't bench rest them and I don't do too much fast fire, maybe in the future. I don't compete, and probably never will. I want an accurate gun. A good trigger/sear and accurate barrel is imporant so it groups as well as I can shoot. Also, reliability is very important and expected.

The 1911 has so much history, and although that maybe not a good reason, part of the reason I want a 1911 is due to its long history with the Military. Thus, I want a traditional gun that has some connection to the 1911 history.

Price - Somewhere between $600 and $900. I consider value for the money to be important more than overall price. I would rather spend $800 for twice the gun as spending 600 for something I would be unhappy with. I will probably keep the gun forever.

So far, the Springfeild Loaded and the Kimber brand jump out at me. Colt is great, but I don't know much about them and how them compare for price/quality for my uses.

Any advice on what to look for this weekend would be appreciated. Thanks.
Chad
 
s&w 1911
kimbers-most
the new sig gsr or whatever
a good springfield
para ord-lda or a reg
stay away from the taurus and its mim parts
 
briansp82593 said:
stay away from the taurus and its mim parts
Click to expand...

All 1911s listed have MIM parts. But that's a good list.

Check out Dan Wesson, Kimber Custom II, Springfield Loaded, and Smith and Wesson.

SIG's new 1911 is the Revolution, which seems to have worked out some of the bugs from the GSR, though some are still reported to have problems. More at SIGForum.com. As of right now I don't feel comfortable recommending it yet.
 
Black Majik: All 1911s listed have MIM parts. But that's a good list.

SIG's new 1911 is the Revolution, which seems to have worked out some of the bugs from the GSR, though some are still reported to have problems. More at SIGForum.com. As of right now I don't feel comfortable recommending it yet.
Click to expand...

Correction, all the SigArms 1911s are MIM free.
I have heard that getting a GSR Revolution with a serial number higher than 3000 tends to lead to less issues. Of course, pretty much any 1911 purchase for under $1500-2000 (and even a few in this range) has a fair-to-middlin' chance of teething problems.

Mark(psycho)Phipps( HAHAHA! )
 
Wow. Thanks everyone.

Why do I have this feeling that I should at least buy from an American Company? I know I am out dated, but since it was the military side arm, seems like I should buy American.

Yes, I know, all the parts are probably made somewhere else and even the US companies are probably owned by an EU conglomerate hedge fund, but let me have my illusions.

I am going to research the SW.

How come no one is recommending Colt?
 
My kimbers on the right. Great bushing to barrel fit, the slide is very tight and smooth, all steel exept the mainspring, modern features but not overboard. There are three mods I plan to make to it.

Metal mainspring

Ed Brown beavertail (kimbers doesn't fit my hand well)

White dot sights
 
Here's Deuce's $.02:

Digest all the advice you get from the forums. Do all your online research. Go find a good gun shop with most or all of the brands you are interested in. Handle the models from each manufacturer you're interested in that is within your price range. It will probably not be a difficult decision after handling the guns. You will probably be able to pick out your favorite.

p.s. Get what YOU want, others' opinions can be helpful but it's your money and your gun.
 
Correction, all the SigArms 1911s are MIM free.
I have heard that getting a GSR Revolution with a serial number higher than 3000 tends to lead to less issues. Of course, pretty much any 1911 purchase for under $1500-2000 (and even a few in this range) has a fair-to-middlin' chance of teething problems.
Click to expand...

Got me there, I forgot to mention that even though I knew it. Even with better quality parts some of the Revolutions are still having problems. It's a shame since that gun has/had a lot of potential.
 
I never could understand how someone could drop 2k on a handgun. I could go buy a house in some nieghborhoods for that. :p
 
For a well kitted 1911 in that range, I'd look into the Springfields, Kimbers with the internal extractor, the Dan Wesson, the S&W, the Dan Wesson pointman, Para PXT's, and yes, absolutely look into the Taurus PT1911.

You don't HAVE to spend $900, since you're not looking for a trophy/safequeen.

for ~$500, the Taurus is mainly forged, well appointed, and by all counts,
accurate... I would not discount it.

Dan Wesson are good values.
 
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