I Guess I Really do want a 1911 after all!

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We want what we want.

If you like a 1911 that much, you'll get it one day anyway.

Springfield makes some good ones. You can customize it to your liking later. Same thing with a Colt defender.

I'd recommend running a minimum of 100 rounds through those rentals because you can't get a feel with just ten rounds.

YMMV
 
easyg said:
Sounds to me like you already have a reliable carry pistol....why not your S&W M&P40?

If it's too big for concealed carry then why not look at a S&W M&P compact .40?

Think about it....do you really want to carry a handgun with a manual safety but rely upon a house gun with no manual safety?
You're already used to shooting the M&P so there's a chance that you will forget to disable the safety on a 1911 style carry gun when you're life is on the line.

Just something to consider.

Good luck,
Easy
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I've thought this myself. There are a couple reasons. The M&P is pretty bulky. Double stacked magazines. It has rails that I will mount a light on and keep it there, which will serve me well in the most likely middle of the night scenario at home. I'm more concerned with a manual safety while carrying. Now that those two practical concerns are out of the way I am fully willing to admit that I just love 1911's. The look. The feel. The history. So when I choose a gun to have pressed against me all day, every day, that is what I want, a 1911. Nothing against my M&P. It is a great gun. I will probably never get rid of it and always take it to the range with me.
 
If you're new to 1911s, I would try a stock one first, to learn on. That way, you can save up money, keep shooting the stock 1911, and eventually figure out what customized features you really want on it. That'll have you wasting less money early on expensive guns with features you end up not wanting.

Rock Island, Citadel, Iver Johnson, Remington, Springfield GI or Mil-Spec are all close to stock guns for $450-$600.
 
Madcap_Magician said:
If you're new to 1911s, I would try a stock one first, to learn on. That way, you can save up money, keep shooting the stock 1911, and eventually figure out what customized features you really want on it. That'll have you wasting less money early on expensive guns with features you end up not wanting.

Rock Island, Citadel, Iver Johnson, Remington, Springfield GI or Mil-Spec are all close to stock guns for $450-$600.
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Heh. That might keep me from always wanting to buy a new gun.
 
Get a M&P compact. Much lighter than a 1911, much more magazine capacity than a 1911, no safety to learn if you don't want to practice thousands of draws to ensure that you'll click it off during a stressful situation. And it'll be cheaper, and give you less headaches in the long run, than trying to find a reliable 1911...which I hear can be hard to do especially aroung the $500 price range.

Plus its the same platform you're already using. The full sized mags can be used on the compact as well. And you can get it in the same caliber as your FS M&P.
 
My recommendation is for a Smith 1911-I like their Model 945 even better, but it's a touch more pricey. :( I'm big fan of the 1911 platform, but because ,imo, any 1911 should be carried "cocked and locked" if being toted as a self-defense piece I feel this mode of carry requires a bit more training for most people.
Actually, you apparently have passed on the pistol I carry concealed most often: the SIG Carry model. The single-stack mag configuration makes it comfortable to carry in an iwb holster and no safety lever makes it quick and simple to get into action. Though lacking "high" capacity in comparison to an equivalent pistol chambered in 9mm, the 220 is reliable, accurate and packs a big caliber punch without producing repeat shot compromising recoil.
 
Hey Swamp Wolf, you got a 945?! Sweet! I've been wanting to see one for years. You need to start a new thread about it, complete with pics. Rock on! :D
 
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I have three 1911 pistols that fit your budget.
Kimber Ultra Carry II blued model with night sights, was about $880. I added skate board tape to the front strap.
Kimber Ultra stainless TLE II. about 1,000 has night sights, checkered front strap.
I also have a XSE Colt Lightweight Commander, cost about $950 (these are OTD prices) and I added night sights for another $120.

Summary: Kimber magazines did not work for me, last round failed to feed with "factory" Kimber magazine. I had the exact same problem with the Colt. Problem solved by using Tripp magazines.

The stainless Ultra Carry would randomly lock open when shooting hollow points; turns out bullets were contacting the slide stop causing it to lock open. I filed away the slide stop a little at a time with a file until the problem disappeared.

I'm happy with these pistols now. I've got about 500 - 600 rounds through the Kimbers and about 300 through the Colt. They should have come with a magazine that worked, but they didn't. Kimber sent a replacement, but it was just the same and demonstrated the same problem. I didn't even bother contacting Colt, I bought two Tripp magazines and installed 7 round Tripp spring & follower kits in the mags that came with the Colt; guess what... the "Colt" magazines worked fine with those replacement kits.

I stayed away from Springfield because they put an internal lock on their 1911's but not on their XD series, makes no sense. Why stick an internal lock on one of your semi-autos but not the others? It's not advertised on their website either. I hate internal locks. Although the IL on the Springfield can be removed, if you get aftermarket replacements for the parts involved, I don't like it on principle and wouldn't buy SA because of it.
 
What about the Pro Crimson Carry II? It seems to be in the price range and readily available, online at least.

I am having a hard time finding any gun shops that have these in stock. Honestly, I trust S&W and have read almost only good things about them. It seems to be a mixed bag with the Kimbers.

If anyone knows of a shop in the Phoenix/Glendale AZ area that has these please let me know.
 
Get yourself a used Rock Island and see if you like the platform.

I had 9 different types of auto pistol and I am down to only two now, one being a 1911 type.
 
Everyone should own a 1911....Russ
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Russ, you have shown yourself to be an erudite man of letters with such a statement. So provacative, so profound, so completely correct.
 
Today's 1911 is excessively expensive and is not anywhere near as reliable as today's autoloaders. I like that they have hammers and aren't striker fired pistols, and I like more modern pistols such as the second and third generation S&W autos. I had, and liked, the Star BM 9mm pistols, but they were the same 1911 design and as such, weren't as reliable as other, more modern, autos.

I don't know of any 1911 pistols that are ultra reliable out of the box. I see them jamming frequently on various ranges. I hardly ever see a Beretta, Glock or S&W jam.
 
1911's to me are fussier. Everyone should have at least one but the new age autos are at least for me easier to shoot well and easier to carry. One other thing to think about, if its going to be your carry gun and you ever have to use it or even pull it and point it at someone your most likely going to lose it for a while or maybe forever so tying a lot of money up in a carry gun can be risky.
 
I have the exact opposite problem--I think 1911s are one of the best looking guns, have an awesome market for accessories, are a classic design, etc...

but they just don't feel right to me. I can't shoot them worth a damn. I don't even like the trigger! I picked up a Sig 220 Compact and it felt great. Would probably have bought it if not for the weight, price, and 6 round capacity.

Hope you find one that works for you though!
 
What is the deal with Kimber? I would be pretty upset (or pretty dead) if my new $1500.00 gun failed on me first time out with it. I've read many stories of them malfunctioning
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Kimber sells more 1911s than anyone, by a fairly large number. If a small percentage of them malfunction, that is still a fair number of guns. And the internet is a funny place. I see the same guys on different boards, bad mouthing Kimbers time and again...makes it seem like a larger problem than it maybe really is.

They are fairly pricey, which brings out the bashers ("reverse snobs", if you will).

I have owned about 25 1911s in the last 25-ish years, and I have really good luck with Kimber. I've owned eight so far, and never had an issue with any of them. On the other hand, I've had trouble with Colts, Springfields, Paras, Charles Daly, even a Les Baer and a DW. All are long gone with the exceptions of the Baer (got it working right) and the DW (working on it because I want to own a functional 10mm).

Take what you read with a grain of salt, try to shoot a few of everything, and see what appeals to you. Nothing wrong with buying used, especially if you can try it first.

I have my Eclipse Pro on my hip as I type this. I've been carrying it since the weather cooled off, shoot it at the range regularly, and put a few IDPA/Steel Challenge type matches through it over the summer. Works with everything from 200 gr SWCs to 230 gr+P JHPs.
 
I like the XSE Combat Elite you got. I've got an Enhanced version from the mid-1990's that has an adjustable rear sight, it's a safe queen. Nice looking pistol.

It's apparent that some folks are not reading over this thread before posting.
 
Confederate said:
Today's 1911 is excessively expensive and is not anywhere near as reliable as today's autoloaders. I like that they have hammers and aren't striker fired pistols, and I like more modern pistols such as the second and third generation S&W autos. I had, and liked, the Star BM 9mm pistols, but they were the same 1911 design and as such, weren't as reliable as other, more modern, autos.

I don't know of any 1911 pistols that are ultra reliable out of the box. I see them jamming frequently on various ranges. I hardly ever see a Beretta, Glock or S&W jam.
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i own 2 used rocks the fs has 5k in the pipe th4 4in rock 3,5k and my colt 80 2k, all are in my edc rotation the full 399.00 the 4in 375.00 the colt used 600.00 the only thing i did
was change the spring to a 18.6. So to say that is unfair, But as far as what kind up to you
but imho dont spend 2k first time out, the 1911 platform is wide open, go a little cheaper
find what you like dont like then change it out
 
I've had my "low end" used 2003 Kimber BP Pro for a while now and I love it. Of course I don't know what problems (if any) the previous owner(s) had with it or if any "improvements" were made. But it sure is sweet now. The $500 price seemed a bit high at the time but I don't regret it. I also have to admit....I still want a Colt!
 
The XSE is a great choice

I own 5 Kimbers, 2 Taurus Pt 1911s and, 2 Rock Islands. The XSE is the only Colt that interests me. There are a couple Smiths and Dan wesson on the will have list also.:D
 
Alot of myth on the internet. And I've read the product even material bashing. Despite all this rest assured a tight 1911 is as reliable as a loose one. The components stay in relationship much better than a sloppy gun. A reliability test in sand indicated a tight custom 1911 was more reliable than a Glock. This test was done by an unbiased individual with vast amounts of combat, gunsmithing experience and is very highly respected.

I've built and owned probably close to 40 1911's. When set up properly they are highly reliable. All as produced models I've had have been highly reliable, save one SA MilSpec "gunsmithed" by the previous owner.

I will agree the upper end Kimbers are gussied up base models.
 
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