OK my esteemed THR brethren. I am in the market for a 1911. Here are the stipulations (you knew that they were coming dincha?) First, I have an allowance of approx. $650 dollars. Second, it has to have ambi safety (lefty). Third, it must go bang from the getgo, no extra funds to send it to the Grand Poohbah of gunsmiths (whoever that is this week). I need any input as to what the best buy is in the 1911 market. This will be a concealed carry gun, and will also be a "plinking" gun. Help me out folks!
I need some 1911 help
- Thread starter akluvr
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Springfield Armory PX9109L, Parkerized Full Size "Loaded" model. It has about all the popular features, including Novak night sights, a beavertail grip safety, and your stipulated ambi thumb safety. Shouldn't be hard to find one for $650 or less.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9109LLarge.jpg
http://www.springfield-armory.com/images/pistols/PX9109LLarge.jpg
1911 guy
Member
Not Popular
But I own two and would buy another if the wife let me keep my nickels. Charles Daly makes a 1911 that comes standard with all the bells and whistles you want for about $450. Has a real extractor, too. The one that Mr. Browning invented and doesn't need tinkering, tuning, or any other ing, I mean.
But I own two and would buy another if the wife let me keep my nickels. Charles Daly makes a 1911 that comes standard with all the bells and whistles you want for about $450. Has a real extractor, too. The one that Mr. Browning invented and doesn't need tinkering, tuning, or any other ing, I mean.
nemesis
Member
Springfield.
Technosavant
Member
Get thee a Springfield Loaded.
If something might be amiss about it, SA will fix it for free, and even pay shipping. I don't think you are going to do any better than that.
If something might be amiss about it, SA will fix it for free, and even pay shipping. I don't think you are going to do any better than that.
B
Boss Spearman
Guest
Springfields in general have been the best 1911s I have owned or fired. Get a Springfield.
joab
Member
Try to find a Norinco for about $350
Then use the extra $300 to pretty it up and buy accessories
Then use the extra $300 to pretty it up and buy accessories
Longbow
Member
Might wanna try this place too. www.1911forum.com
My recommendation is to find (or should I say, hunt?) a non-II Kimber. Its the best non-custom shop 1911 for the $$, IMO.
My recommendation is to find (or should I say, hunt?) a non-II Kimber. Its the best non-custom shop 1911 for the $$, IMO.
Zak Smith
Member
+1 Longbow.
From observing my friends, a basic Kimber should run out of the box.
My DW Patriot has run well also.
-z
From observing my friends, a basic Kimber should run out of the box.
My DW Patriot has run well also.
-z
Longbow
Member
Yup, that too. How did I forget that one?
For a lefty, I think a Para LDA is worth a look also. Unless a true 1911 is the only one that would satisfy.
Father Knows Best
Member
I went through this about a year ago, and I've learned a lot since then. My final conclusion was that the DW Patriot, Springfield Loaded and Para Ordnance SSP were functionally equivalent. All were well built, well equipped with the kind of "upgrades" you want (combat sights, beavertail safety, lowered and flared ejection ports, etc.), and with street prices in the $600 range. I couldn't really find any significant performance/reliability difference in them.
Kimbers ranked about the same in terms of quality, features, reliability, etc., but tended to run about $100-200 more than the DW, SA and Paras that were similarly equipped. That was in Memphis as of a year ago, anyway. Kimbers are very popular here, so that may not be representative of where you are.
Below the Kimber/Para/SA/DW lines are various imports that are cheaper, but they tended to lack features I cared about or were notorious for reliability problems. I decided to stick with a brand name that had a good rep, even if it cost me a bit more $. Above those brands you get into the various semi-customs that start around $1,000 and go up -- way up. I'm sure they're great, but weren't what I was looking for.
I ended up buying a Para Ordnance SSP for just under $600 (I think the price was $569 plus tax, but don't hold to that exactly). It's been great. With quality mags (Wilson and CMC), it is 100% reliable and very accurate. POI at 25 yards with cheap PMC ball is 1 inch below POA, and windage is dead on. I shoot everything from HP to ball to LSWC, and it feeds and ejects everything perfectly. The trigger broke crisply at 4-1/2 pounds out of the box, and is adjustable for overtravel. Eventually I'll have it lightened up a little, but that's not bad for a factory trigger. About the only thing I don't care for is the full length guide rod, but I haven't bother to change it out (I did on my CCW 1911 for the weight savings). More on the Para traditional 1911 line is here: http://www.paraord.com/product/category.html?cat=10
Kimbers ranked about the same in terms of quality, features, reliability, etc., but tended to run about $100-200 more than the DW, SA and Paras that were similarly equipped. That was in Memphis as of a year ago, anyway. Kimbers are very popular here, so that may not be representative of where you are.
Below the Kimber/Para/SA/DW lines are various imports that are cheaper, but they tended to lack features I cared about or were notorious for reliability problems. I decided to stick with a brand name that had a good rep, even if it cost me a bit more $. Above those brands you get into the various semi-customs that start around $1,000 and go up -- way up. I'm sure they're great, but weren't what I was looking for.
I ended up buying a Para Ordnance SSP for just under $600 (I think the price was $569 plus tax, but don't hold to that exactly). It's been great. With quality mags (Wilson and CMC), it is 100% reliable and very accurate. POI at 25 yards with cheap PMC ball is 1 inch below POA, and windage is dead on. I shoot everything from HP to ball to LSWC, and it feeds and ejects everything perfectly. The trigger broke crisply at 4-1/2 pounds out of the box, and is adjustable for overtravel. Eventually I'll have it lightened up a little, but that's not bad for a factory trigger. About the only thing I don't care for is the full length guide rod, but I haven't bother to change it out (I did on my CCW 1911 for the weight savings). More on the Para traditional 1911 line is here: http://www.paraord.com/product/category.html?cat=10
Otherguy Overby
member
Beware!
Beware the dreadded Bandersn.... er MIM.
"Tis evil that MIM, an invention of the devil, no less.
Beware the dreadded Bandersn.... er MIM.
"Tis evil that MIM, an invention of the devil, no less.
ChuckB
Member
My S.A. Loaded has been fabuloso. I love it.
Chuck
Chuck
AnthonyRSS
Member
Taurus is coming out with a 1911 that should be >$500. I saw one on TV and it looked pretty good, but haven't seen one in person yet. You can mail-order a Kimber Custom II for $599 from someplace, I don't remember where, and after shipping and such you still get a fair deal from what I've seen. I don't like ordering guns though.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
For a basic, no frills 1911 .45 ACP its hard too beat a Springer WW-II G.I.
replica~ $429 parkerized, or $459 for stainless and either is a sweet deal.
replica~
$429 parkerized, or $459 for stainless and either is a sweet deal.dhoomonyou
Member
How difficult is it to clean/breakdown that Springfield?
I was thinking of getting one also.
I was thinking of getting one also.
Technosavant
Member
SA's are no more difficult to break down and clean than any other 1911. The Loaded models have a 2 piece guide rod, which means you need to use the included allen wrench to remove the rod before depressing the plunger (danger: sharp edge on that plunger; I use the plastic chamber flag to push on it to save my thumb). Some people have complained that the rod has unscrewed itself at the range. I always get it good and tight- it hasn't happened to me yet.
As for the Taurus 1911, I wouldn't want to be the first in line for it. It might well be a good gun, but sometimes it takes a couple tries to get the 1911 just right (SIG had teething pains with their GSR, it can happen to anybody). SA has been at it for quite a while, and if something isn't right, they'll make it right.
As for the Taurus 1911, I wouldn't want to be the first in line for it. It might well be a good gun, but sometimes it takes a couple tries to get the 1911 just right (SIG had teething pains with their GSR, it can happen to anybody). SA has been at it for quite a while, and if something isn't right, they'll make it right.
Father Knows Best
Member
The SA Mil-Spec is a good value, but it's basically a plinking gun. The sights are tiny and useless for any serious shooting. It also lacks a lot of the upgrades that are pretty much necessary for a 1911 you intend to shoot seriously. Sure, you could buy a Mil-Spec and later add things like the lowered ejection port, beavertail safety, extended ambi safety, good sights, etc., but you pay a lot more in the end than if you'd just bought a loaded one from SA. Spend $600 to $650 for a loaded SA, DW, PO or Kimber. You won't regret it.
Zach S
Member
The GI .45 has the tiny sights, the mil-spec doesnt.
While the mil-spec doesnt have an ambi safety or a beavertail, it does sport the lowered ejection port and beveled mag well. The only complaints I have about the sights are that the front one isnt dovetailed and theyre three-dot, well, two dot. The front sight is always getting dirty and its not real easy to clean...
I second the Kimber Series I suggestion. I have three that run flawlessly.
While the mil-spec doesnt have an ambi safety or a beavertail, it does sport the lowered ejection port and beveled mag well. The only complaints I have about the sights are that the front one isnt dovetailed and theyre three-dot, well, two dot. The front sight is always getting dirty and its not real easy to clean...
I second the Kimber Series I suggestion. I have three that run flawlessly.
I agree with what Zach said about the SA Mil Spec (and I also dislike 3-dot sights). Simply changing the Mil Spec's OEM front sight, from a stake-in type to a dovetail type, would elevate that pistol's value immensely. Throw in a carry bevel and some legitimate grips, and I think you'd have a grand slam box-stock carry gun.
Father Knows Best
Member
Whoops! I stand corrected on the Mil-Spec vs. GI. I thought they were one and the same. In any case, I still think that a loaded SA is a better value. Street price on a loaded with Novak sights should be $600-700.
Mute
Member
Get a SA Milspec, Colt Govt. or Kimber Classic and you'll be good to go. If (and that's a BIG IF) the gun has any kind of problem, a simple reliability job from any good gunsmith (usually about $40-100 depending on the smith) will give you a gun that will go through anything a Glock or HK or Sig can handle.
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