Looking for New Target 1911

[straight-shooter]

I found that the best range 1911 for bang for the buck and reliability is a Springfield RO. I have one in both 9mm and .45acp and nary a hitch with either one. Then a step up I favor the Springfield MC Operator in .45acp. The one I always lusted after was a quality Dan Wesson. Last week i filled that void with the Dan Wesson Bruin 10mm. While the wallet had to be pryed wide open the gun leaves nothing left out that I wanted in a 1911. Not to mention this thing shoots lights out.



I wouldn't hesitate again to buy another RO in your price range tho. Excellent shooters.

 

[mdauben]

I found that the best range 1911 for bang for the buck and reliability is a Springfield RO.

I just got a copy of Davidsons June sale flyer, and they have a half dozen pages of nothing but 1911s on sale this month, including the Springfield Range Officer. I'll definitely take a close look at this gun.

 

[1911 guy]

Colt has always made a very good pistol but wanted too much for them. Notice the past tense. Prices right now are consumer friendly for the quality of the gun. If you have ever wanted a Colt 1911, now is the time.

Springfield has a well-deserved reputation. Overall quality is high, specs and tolerance are correct, frames are milled and drilled square. If you ever need a gunsmith, he'll thank you.

RIA guns are the Volkswagon of the gun world. Reliable as a baseball bat, but you'll never confuse them for a high dollar pistol. I like them, but am fully aware of what they are.

Ed Brown makes some of the best 1911's and 1911 parts available, but they cost.

less than 4 1/4 inch barrel is rolling the dice on reliability.

Anything else would be just repeating things I heard second hand.

 

[Milt1]

Just my experience with M1911s so do not take it as gospel.

With my 1980 through 2000 or so service grade 45ACP M1911s, I could never get them to run reliably with semi-wadcutter bullets. 230 gr FMJ and similar shaped HP bullets worked fine. I’ll admit, I did not try very hard to make the semi-wadcutters work as I felt 230 grain FMJ provided all the punch I’d ever need.

Recently, I aquired a Gold Cup and a Gold Cup Trophy and both operate very well with 200 grain semi-wadcutters. I’m happy but have not tried to determine what’s different.

The point is, the M1911 can be tuned to many different types of ammunition and it will be as reliable as a light switch. But, without a little tuning, it may not run certain bullet shapes.

The second point is, tuning is not difficult but it is still easy to hack up a pistol with some mis-applied dremel and file work so procede only from a position of knowledge. There are many little nuances to tuning, some as simple as trying different magazine feed lip configurations.

Your response is very accurate is describing how to get a 1911 to run. Too bad that some of the critics on my first response to this post don't fully understand what you've described. Your response is much appreciated!

 

[RA40]

The Springfield Loaded and Range Officer keep calling me. Resist...resist... Told the Mrs. the other day that what could be more important than ammo and something to send them off with. The home insurance and DMV renewal statements came in that day's mail. That kind of timing sucks the fun out.

 

[Doublehelix]

I own a Dan Wesson Silverback, and I can say it is completely awesome. I have had exactly ZERO failures so far with both factory and reloaded ammo, including the SWC that I load myself.

Dan Wessons are premium-like guns for a production price.

At least take a look...