Im considering on buying a 1911 soon but would like some input on deferent brands and models. I want something with competion quality and accuracy and my buddget is around 1200. Ive been looking at both The kimber custom and gold match but Im not to famillar with any brands and just know kimber for the name but were I shoot they do have customs for rental so Ill definatly see how it shoots. I Looking to buy a new not used one.Thanks for the help.
Im looking to buy a 1911
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stans
Member
Kimbers are nice, but for my money I think I would go for a Springfield Armory or Colt. I hear so many complaints about the Kimber firing pin safety failing. S&W uses a similar system and they recalled all of their 1911's.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
1911 Buy
Ditto what stans said. The NRM Colt Government Model can be had for
under 600 bucks in most areas, and the other cash will buy a lotta good
magazines and ammo.
When you go lookin' and find a Colt, hold it sideways up to a good light,
grasp it by the grip and pull up on the end of the slide firmly. If you can
see any of the recoil spring between the frame and slide, ask to see another one. I've run into several NRM Colts with poor vertical slide/frame fit. Not many, but enough to feel that it's something to keep a watch for.
Luck to ya. Hope ya find a pearl.
Tuner
Ditto what stans said. The NRM Colt Government Model can be had for
under 600 bucks in most areas, and the other cash will buy a lotta good
magazines and ammo.
When you go lookin' and find a Colt, hold it sideways up to a good light,
grasp it by the grip and pull up on the end of the slide firmly. If you can
see any of the recoil spring between the frame and slide, ask to see another one. I've run into several NRM Colts with poor vertical slide/frame fit. Not many, but enough to feel that it's something to keep a watch for.
Luck to ya. Hope ya find a pearl.
Tuner
MrAcheson
Member
I've heard complaints about the kimber II safety, but nothing first hand or in real life and all from the start of II production. I'm willing to give kimber the benefit of the doubt on this.
JiminCA
Member
If you are just getting started with 1911's I'd recommend that you go with a base model (1991 A1) Colt, base model Kimber, or Springfield mil spec or Loaded model.
I would not recommend a Higher end model from any of these manufacturers. Kimber's upper end models just don't deliver much more for the money. At the 1K and up price point there are much better guns available.
Another thing to consider is a used Baer or Wilson gun. If you shop hard you can find a very nice used Wilson for that price (a Protector just sold here for 1200). Wilson will honor the warranty for you regardless of whether you are the first owner.
Stick with a 5" gun for your first 1911.
I would not recommend a Higher end model from any of these manufacturers. Kimber's upper end models just don't deliver much more for the money. At the 1K and up price point there are much better guns available.
Another thing to consider is a used Baer or Wilson gun. If you shop hard you can find a very nice used Wilson for that price (a Protector just sold here for 1200). Wilson will honor the warranty for you regardless of whether you are the first owner.
Stick with a 5" gun for your first 1911.
Thanks so far, I keep on hearing that kimber isant really one of the best options so Im probably ruling that out. Ive also heard good things about the valtro 1998a1. A little past my price range I belie but I can always go over my budget a little. The springfield also was looking promiseing. If possible does anyone have range reports of some of these. Id like to buy the pistol and not have to make to many modifcations on it afterwards.
It's good that you have a range you can try different guns.
I'd look at the Springfield "Loaded" models. If you want adjustable sights, they sell a model with those also, great bargin IMO. You can always add a trigger job and match bushing if needed down the road. That should cost you less than $800 with adjustables and $650 with fixed.
The other one, which I have no experience with, is the STI Trojan which seems to receive great reviews. I think they are in the $900 range. I would do a search on that one.
I'm not convinced there are many(any) big 3 production 1911's that are worth the $1,000+ IMHO.
If you were a "seasoned" 1911 shooter and real picky about trigger pulls and accuracy, I'd say add $300 to your budget and look at the Baer line.
Otherwise, you can buy some nice shooting 1911's for well under a grand and have fun.
Good shooting.
I'd look at the Springfield "Loaded" models. If you want adjustable sights, they sell a model with those also, great bargin IMO. You can always add a trigger job and match bushing if needed down the road. That should cost you less than $800 with adjustables and $650 with fixed.
The other one, which I have no experience with, is the STI Trojan which seems to receive great reviews. I think they are in the $900 range. I would do a search on that one.
I'm not convinced there are many(any) big 3 production 1911's that are worth the $1,000+ IMHO.
If you were a "seasoned" 1911 shooter and real picky about trigger pulls and accuracy, I'd say add $300 to your budget and look at the Baer line.
Otherwise, you can buy some nice shooting 1911's for well under a grand and have fun.
Good shooting.
First I recommend you spend some time at www.1911forum.com to get a good overview of the maket. With that said, I also sugest you look at an STI Trojan. With 1911s it is very easy to spend twice the Trojan's price (about $900) without geting any practical increase in performance or quality.
JAC
JAC
JiminCA
Member
Whoops just reread your post about accuracy. The Kimbers are out of the box very accurate - even the base models. In fact in my experience Kimber's higher end models are no better than their base model. Colts vary but are usually OK (although the Gold Cup is typically very very accurate), and I wouldn't recommend Springfield's entry level models for tack driving accuracy.
Here's my experience. I own 3 Kimbers - all very accurate. One Baer, very accurate, two Wilsons, very accurate. Colts (6) vary from mediocre to very accurate. Springfields (4 Loaded models) - only one was accurate out of the box, and it was in .40 S&W. Ended up buying 2 barrel refits and one new front bushing to tighten up the groups on the remaining Springers.
Your accuracy requirement ind of pushes you back to used Wilsons and Baers. I don't have experience with STI but they have a very good reputation. An inaccurate gun is very frustrating to me. I like to know that the miss is my fault without a doubt.
And btw, don't let anyone tell you accuracy and reliability are inversely proportional - you can have both in the same gun
Here's the Wilson that just sold for 1200 bucks
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60661
it was a good deal and did not last long.
Here's my experience. I own 3 Kimbers - all very accurate. One Baer, very accurate, two Wilsons, very accurate. Colts (6) vary from mediocre to very accurate. Springfields (4 Loaded models) - only one was accurate out of the box, and it was in .40 S&W. Ended up buying 2 barrel refits and one new front bushing to tighten up the groups on the remaining Springers.
Your accuracy requirement ind of pushes you back to used Wilsons and Baers. I don't have experience with STI but they have a very good reputation. An inaccurate gun is very frustrating to me. I like to know that the miss is my fault without a doubt.
And btw, don't let anyone tell you accuracy and reliability are inversely proportional - you can have both in the same gun
Here's the Wilson that just sold for 1200 bucks
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60661
it was a good deal and did not last long.
Pendragon
Member
Your best bet, if you can go over your budget, is the Valtro.
I own one as do several other very vocal people on this board.
Do a search on Valtro and see what turns up
Essentially, you get a semi-custom 1911 with custom quality at upper production prices.
Jardine does the final fitting and the guns are extremely tight, reliable and accurate - some people think you can't have all three, but you need a master pistolsmith to get all three.
Jardine guarantees 1"@25yards and I think 3"@50yards if not mistaken.
The primary disadvantage of the Valtro is that it is the Model T of semi-customs - you can have it anyway you like, as long as its the way it comes
I personally like the stock config although I may pay for the chrome later - but some people insist they want differen features - fine, but you gotta pay for it.
I have well over 2000 rounds through my Valtro with no malfunctions (some minor problems before I picked it up - but I think it may have been bad ammo - lots of failure to ignites)
I am sure all of the other guns mentioned are very nice - but I doubt any of them will get the special treatment from a true master that the Valtro gets.
Oh, the other problem is actually finding one. I underwent a pretty serious quest to acquire mine - but it was worth it.
I own one as do several other very vocal people on this board.
Do a search on Valtro and see what turns up
Essentially, you get a semi-custom 1911 with custom quality at upper production prices.
Jardine does the final fitting and the guns are extremely tight, reliable and accurate - some people think you can't have all three, but you need a master pistolsmith to get all three.
Jardine guarantees 1"@25yards and I think 3"@50yards if not mistaken.
The primary disadvantage of the Valtro is that it is the Model T of semi-customs - you can have it anyway you like, as long as its the way it comes
I personally like the stock config although I may pay for the chrome later - but some people insist they want differen features - fine, but you gotta pay for it.
I have well over 2000 rounds through my Valtro with no malfunctions (some minor problems before I picked it up - but I think it may have been bad ammo - lots of failure to ignites)
I am sure all of the other guns mentioned are very nice - but I doubt any of them will get the special treatment from a true master that the Valtro gets.
Oh, the other problem is actually finding one. I underwent a pretty serious quest to acquire mine - but it was worth it.
Josey
member
NRM Colt or used M1991A1. I actually bought a M1991A1 and a Llama for my first 1911 platforms. I wish I still had the Llama for a beater.
PCRCCW
Member
Two recommendations from my OWN experience..........a mid level Kimber and the STI Trojan.
The Kimbers are good guns. Everyone can say what they want about them...I love em. The guns use the exact same parts as the high end guns, barrels, links, bushings etc......so what you get are more bells and whistles.
The STI Trojan is a STELLAR gun.....I wished I still had mine. The fit and finish was very very good as was the accuracy.. The one I miss and let get away......
Shoot well..
The Kimbers are good guns. Everyone can say what they want about them...I love em. The guns use the exact same parts as the high end guns, barrels, links, bushings etc......so what you get are more bells and whistles.
The STI Trojan is a STELLAR gun.....I wished I still had mine. The fit and finish was very very good as was the accuracy.. The one I miss and let get away......
Shoot well..
I was in the same boat you are in about 6 months ago. I was choosing between SA and Kimber. Both manufacturers had their own problems so I did research here and 1911 forum. I eventually went with a Kimber Eclipse Pro 2 with the internal extractor and have been happy ever since. No malfunctions feeds factory, reloaded, and hollow points effortlessly. So just do some research and go with what you like.
ReadyontheRight
Member
Others here have more experience with the high-end 1911s, but you may want to at least check out the Dan Wesson line.
There is a Dan Wesson forum at http://www.1911forum.com/forums/ when those forums come back up.
There is a Dan Wesson forum at http://www.1911forum.com/forums/ when those forums come back up.
BluesBear
member
Put your money on the Thoroughbred
Colt
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