I want to hear from the 1911 guys?
- Thread starter Brad5192
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Magnumite
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Prepare for the posts!
Take your pick - Colt, Springfield Armory, Dan Wesson, Kimber. Choose the model and configuration you like within your budget and try it out.
Some will say lots of negative about Kimber and others will praise them. Others will chime in and say the offshore $500 Rock Island Arsenal guns are as good as any you can buy. I love 1911's and haven't bought one yet. Go to 1911forum.com and read up. THAT is a 1911 site!
What price range were you looking in?
Take your pick - Colt, Springfield Armory, Dan Wesson, Kimber. Choose the model and configuration you like within your budget and try it out.
Some will say lots of negative about Kimber and others will praise them. Others will chime in and say the offshore $500 Rock Island Arsenal guns are as good as any you can buy. I love 1911's and haven't bought one yet. Go to 1911forum.com and read up. THAT is a 1911 site!
What price range were you looking in?
i'm in the boat of purchasing one. i want 9mm first because it's cheaper to shoot at the range. then later a 45 once i get the 1911 bug (which i do and i have money to spend).
i'm looking at either the springfield loaded or springfield target.
if you're on a budget people rave about the Rock Island Armory 9mm Tactical. about 430 retail, with some upgrades. i might get this as well soon.
i'm looking at either the springfield loaded or springfield target.
if you're on a budget people rave about the Rock Island Armory 9mm Tactical. about 430 retail, with some upgrades. i might get this as well soon.
*Klutch*
Member
I have a Taurus and love it. This is my 2nd one and this time I went stainless which is much nicer than the blued as far as Taurus goes.
Just my opinion but a 1911 is never any other caliber than 45 ACP, forget that 9mm ****, that is why Glocks were made get the 45 and be happy.
Just my opinion but a 1911 is never any other caliber than 45 ACP, forget that 9mm ****, that is why Glocks were made get the 45 and be happy.
stratman26
Member
Just bought a Taurus PT1911... love it! after i fired my dads kimber when i was on leave, had to have a 1911. Not as nice as his, but for the price, couldnt beat it.
ch45x7
Member
Kimber has been my first, and so far, only 1911 purchase. I will bet my life on it, and do when I carry it. That being said, I am currently looking to swap out for a Colt WWI/WWII reproduction 1911. I've wanted a 1911 like that since I was a kid growing up, and I think this may be the year.
As was already said, every 1911 is the best produced, and every 1911 is the most unreliable gun out there. It all comes down to personal experience. Since so many people make 1911's, and with many different features, it's impossible to give a definitive answer to you.
I would suggest deciding on a price range, and go from there.
Does it have to be new, or will you consider used?
Do you want GI style, or more modern features?
5", 4", 3"?
Lots of options available. Decide what you like the look of, and what fits your need.
As was already said, every 1911 is the best produced, and every 1911 is the most unreliable gun out there. It all comes down to personal experience. Since so many people make 1911's, and with many different features, it's impossible to give a definitive answer to you.
I would suggest deciding on a price range, and go from there.
Does it have to be new, or will you consider used?
Do you want GI style, or more modern features?
5", 4", 3"?
Lots of options available. Decide what you like the look of, and what fits your need.
Here is an outstanding article on picking your first 1911...the writer, Hilton Yam, really knows what he is talking about when it comes to non-fancy 1911s
Choosing-your-first-1911
...and here's one if you are serious about using it as a carry gun
1911_for Duty_Use
Choosing-your-first-1911
...and here's one if you are serious about using it as a carry gun
1911_for Duty_Use
, the pt 1911 is in my list purchase as well. but the 9mm version. my opinion is i doubt that it's what you referred it to as. aren't they used for competition? I want a 9mm for shooting range fun, 9mm is cheaper than .45acp.
the OP does say that he wants something for the range so ammo budget can be put into consideration. your opinion sounds like bashing too :/
as far as your pt, how many rounds have gone through and any malfunctions?
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belercous
Member
I'm not a big 1911 guy, but my Para GI Expert is one accurate shooter. Had to change the front sight for a lower one, but it hits good. Milk jugs at 50 yds get tagged regularly with cheap ammo, and for under $500.00, I cannot complain.
They don't make them like they used to anymore, and for that I am grateful.
They don't make them like they used to anymore, and for that I am grateful.
Jed Carter
Member
Best 1911 for the money is an STI Trojan at $999 it is a steal. Great trigger, great sights, great finish and features. For a CCW I use a SIG RCS 1911 it has an officer size frame with a commander length slide, plus Novak Tritium night sights. Here is a picture of my STI. I just bought a Para Ordnance GI Expert, Magazines are junk. the barrel/bushing fit is poor at best. Even at $450 unless you want to work on a pistol to get it to run and shoot straight I would pass. STI's entry level pistol the Spartan is a completely different story, it works and shoots like a much more expensive 1911. In your price range, SIG, S&W, Springfield & STI all make good examples, stick with these or a Colt and you will not be dissapointed
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clance
Member
I've found staying within my budget (cash in hand) I have never been happy with what I got! Most of the time I had to add things to the gun and by the time I'm done, I've paid more then if I had bought the gun I really wanted in the first place. :banghead:
In addition, while you may never think of selling, buy as if you're going too and get a make that others would want to maintain value. While Taurus, Rock Island, American Tactical, etc.... might be a great deal getting into a 1911. Later if you need fast cash or grow tried of it and want to upgrade, you'll take a beating that you won't believe!
I just sold to my son in law a Kimber Royal (series I) for what I paid for it used a little over a year ago. On GunBroker.com right now there is (2) series I Royals, one is asking $800 the other went as high as $800 but didn't make the sellers reserves and has been relisted starting at $550 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx). Needless to say my son in law got a deal in comparison to what these two are asking on GunBroker.com but it shows the value holding of a proven and recongized brand name with a strong following.
The short of it is, if you got a gun shop that has a lay-away program use it! This is free money for up to 6 months in most cases and while you might not be able to afford that 1911 you really want now. You'll regret buying one that you can afford but isn't the one you wanted!
In addition, while you may never think of selling, buy as if you're going too and get a make that others would want to maintain value. While Taurus, Rock Island, American Tactical, etc.... might be a great deal getting into a 1911. Later if you need fast cash or grow tried of it and want to upgrade, you'll take a beating that you won't believe!
I just sold to my son in law a Kimber Royal (series I) for what I paid for it used a little over a year ago. On GunBroker.com right now there is (2) series I Royals, one is asking $800 the other went as high as $800 but didn't make the sellers reserves and has been relisted starting at $550 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/SearchResults.aspx). Needless to say my son in law got a deal in comparison to what these two are asking on GunBroker.com but it shows the value holding of a proven and recongized brand name with a strong following.
The short of it is, if you got a gun shop that has a lay-away program use it! This is free money for up to 6 months in most cases and while you might not be able to afford that 1911 you really want now. You'll regret buying one that you can afford but isn't the one you wanted!
doc540
Member
Go COLT or go HOME!
.....
j/k
I own a 9mm Colt Combat Commander and absolutely love it.
.....
j/k
I own a 9mm Colt Combat Commander and absolutely love it.
They can be very nice. If looking that way, try to get a new one with the Performance Center Extractor...they just started offering them this year in their regular production models. I think it is the "E" series
The overriding asset of owning and shooting the 1911 is the fact that every one has a sameness that allows you to pick up any of them blindfolded, and hit something with it. No fumbling around, wondering if it's a decocker, where's the safety, up or down, where's the mag release, SA/DA. Pick it up, down with the safety, pull the trigger. All 1911's pretty much feel the same.
Winkman822
Member
I've have or have had 1911s from Kimber, Colt, Springfield, Les Baer, and Wilson Combat.
My Wilson Combat CQB Compact is head and shoulders above the rest with my Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special being a close second. These, however are rather high end custom guns.
As far as production 1911s go, I've been nothing but happy with the various Springfield Armory specimens that I have and have had. I presently have a Springfield TRP which is my primary carry, however, it's very close to losing that title to the Wilson. I also have Springfield EMP 9mm that is my primary carry during the warm weather months. It's small, lightweight, easy to conceal, accurate, and VERY reliable. I also had a Springfield Armory Loaded Target that I parted with in favor of the Les Baer TRS. The Loaded Target was an outstanding gun as well and I had no problems with it.
The Les Baer, while an outstanding, reliable and accurate gun, is fitted almost unreasonably tightly...so tightly in fact that even having 1,500 rounds through it (it's still in its infancy), it's still difficult to rack the slide with a standard 16 lb recoil spring without first cocking the hammer. The barrel bushing is also incredibly tight. The tight fit of the gun has not adversely affected reliability thus far, but I'd still like to see the gun wear in a little more before it gets any belt time.
Of my Colt, it's an XS CCO and it has been 100% for me as well. I simply don't like that it doesn't have night sights, and that it's not particularly well suited to many of the various night sights out there without the rear dovetail being substantially modified. It's also not beveled off on the edges as well as my other 1911s.
On the Kimber front, I've had three and still have two. My three Kimbers were an Eclipse Custom II, a Custom Royal II and a Desert Warrior. I still have the two former and the latter was let go even though it was the most functionally reliable.
The Desert Warrior was 100% with hard ball ammo, but slightly selective of JHP loadings, it was also much more loosely fitted than either of my other two Kimbers. Accuracy was there, but I really did not care for the very slick Kim-Pro II finish coupled with the fairly aggressive melt treatment. The slide was difficult to rack with cold, or wet (i.e. sweaty) hands, and the grip wasn't the most positive due to the slippery finish and the lack of front strap checkering. What I liked about the gun was that it had an excellent trigger for a production level gun and it lacked the Series II Swartz safety system found on my other two Kimbers.
Both the Eclipse and Royal are decent guns, but I'm not sure that they were worth the price I paid for each respectively. I don't particularly care for the Series II Swartz safety and had issues with it on my Royal II requiring a trip back to Kimber. Apparently the push rod that disengages the firing pin block was slightly out of timing and wouldn't properly disengage the firing pin block every once in a great while (three out of 100 rounds approximately). The system on that gun now works, but I don't trust the gun for carry purposes because of this prior issue.
The Eclipse has been a bucket full o headaches from day one. The chamber had to be reamed out as it was too tight from the factory, the gun is highly ammunition selective and the same way with magazines. The long and short of it is I really want to likle this gun because it has great potential and I love the striking appearance, but thus far it's just not delivered.
The long and short of this rather lengthy post is your best bet in the $1,100 price range would be a Colt or Springfield. With a substantially higher budget, Wilson is the way to go. The gun is fitted tightly, but not overly tight as I feel the Baer is, the accuracy is far better than I can capitalize on, and the gun's dimensions are perfect for SD use.
YMMV.
My Wilson Combat CQB Compact is head and shoulders above the rest with my Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special being a close second. These, however are rather high end custom guns.
As far as production 1911s go, I've been nothing but happy with the various Springfield Armory specimens that I have and have had. I presently have a Springfield TRP which is my primary carry, however, it's very close to losing that title to the Wilson. I also have Springfield EMP 9mm that is my primary carry during the warm weather months. It's small, lightweight, easy to conceal, accurate, and VERY reliable. I also had a Springfield Armory Loaded Target that I parted with in favor of the Les Baer TRS. The Loaded Target was an outstanding gun as well and I had no problems with it.
The Les Baer, while an outstanding, reliable and accurate gun, is fitted almost unreasonably tightly...so tightly in fact that even having 1,500 rounds through it (it's still in its infancy), it's still difficult to rack the slide with a standard 16 lb recoil spring without first cocking the hammer. The barrel bushing is also incredibly tight. The tight fit of the gun has not adversely affected reliability thus far, but I'd still like to see the gun wear in a little more before it gets any belt time.
Of my Colt, it's an XS CCO and it has been 100% for me as well. I simply don't like that it doesn't have night sights, and that it's not particularly well suited to many of the various night sights out there without the rear dovetail being substantially modified. It's also not beveled off on the edges as well as my other 1911s.
On the Kimber front, I've had three and still have two. My three Kimbers were an Eclipse Custom II, a Custom Royal II and a Desert Warrior. I still have the two former and the latter was let go even though it was the most functionally reliable.
The Desert Warrior was 100% with hard ball ammo, but slightly selective of JHP loadings, it was also much more loosely fitted than either of my other two Kimbers. Accuracy was there, but I really did not care for the very slick Kim-Pro II finish coupled with the fairly aggressive melt treatment. The slide was difficult to rack with cold, or wet (i.e. sweaty) hands, and the grip wasn't the most positive due to the slippery finish and the lack of front strap checkering. What I liked about the gun was that it had an excellent trigger for a production level gun and it lacked the Series II Swartz safety system found on my other two Kimbers.
Both the Eclipse and Royal are decent guns, but I'm not sure that they were worth the price I paid for each respectively. I don't particularly care for the Series II Swartz safety and had issues with it on my Royal II requiring a trip back to Kimber. Apparently the push rod that disengages the firing pin block was slightly out of timing and wouldn't properly disengage the firing pin block every once in a great while (three out of 100 rounds approximately). The system on that gun now works, but I don't trust the gun for carry purposes because of this prior issue.
The Eclipse has been a bucket full o headaches from day one. The chamber had to be reamed out as it was too tight from the factory, the gun is highly ammunition selective and the same way with magazines. The long and short of it is I really want to likle this gun because it has great potential and I love the striking appearance, but thus far it's just not delivered.
The long and short of this rather lengthy post is your best bet in the $1,100 price range would be a Colt or Springfield. With a substantially higher budget, Wilson is the way to go. The gun is fitted tightly, but not overly tight as I feel the Baer is, the accuracy is far better than I can capitalize on, and the gun's dimensions are perfect for SD use.
YMMV.
Armedleprechaun
Member
I love my Springer Mil Spec! It's a good 1911 to start with. Plus, it's a great platform for future customization. Hope this helps.
Evan
Evan
dcarch
Member
For $1150, go with an STI Trojan or an STI Duty One. Those are truly top notch guns. But, I also dearly love my Kimber Custom II. Those would be what I recommend Have a good day!
ichiban
Member
Dude! That's like saying all women are the same - everything's in the same place and they all act alike. Note - sorry for sounding sexist and I sure don't want to open that can of worms.
In that price range you can get something with a few more amenities. I'm not a big fan of "entry level" or "the way JMB designed it" 1911s. I like things like beaver-tail grip safeties, commander hammers, extended safety, three-dot or night sights, front strap checkering, etc. Manufacturers that will serve you well include (but are not limited to, and in no particular order) Springfield, Colt, Smith & Wesson, STI, and Kimber. Go to a gun store (with no intention of buying this trip) and handle as many as you can. Check weight, balance, control operation, and overall feel.
Take your time and get something you are happy with. After all, it's your first 1911.
Caution: 1911s are highly addictive.
Thorgrim
Member
Find a brand with a good reputation for reliability and customer service.
Choose a fairly basic model with sights you like and a comfortable trigger.
Shoot it! Most of the bells & whistles can be added on later if you decide you need them.
Choose a fairly basic model with sights you like and a comfortable trigger.
Shoot it! Most of the bells & whistles can be added on later if you decide you need them.
deerhunter61
Member
I would recommend a Kimber and yes I do own one. I have shot other 1911's the last of which was a Springfield and I can tell you as far as accuracy it was not even in the same zipcode as my Kimber. They are a bit pricey but mine shoots incredibly well. The trigger is as smooth as any I have ever fired. I love it.
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