Low- to mid-range 1911 battle. The best "pound for pound" (dollar for dollar?)

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italianbreadman

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OK, so I did a little searching and reading to go along with my previous knowledge of 1911s, but found that people often ask more specific questions or leave out considerations that I'd love to see the more knowledgeable weigh in on.

So I'll present this task to you: let's figure out the best low- to mid-range (in terms of price) 1911 that would be an excellent platform for a starter gun in this genre. The guns I routinely read about (or am at least interested in learning more about) are as follows. Hopefully this will be a good starting list to add and subtract from with facts, opinions, anecdotes, etc.

I don't know much about pricing on these, but I'm pretty sure I've kept the prices reasonable with these models. Once we hit Kimber territory or the upper-level Springfields, the guns are disqualified. I also think it makes sense to shy from models that are not full size or that have rails or blatant modifications to the 1911 design. This is a standard platform we're working with.

- Turkish guns: Tisas, Girsan, Regent (I read that they are not perfectly to spec, so maybe not as customizable. True?)
- Filipino guns: Rock Island Armory, Citadel, ATI (I've felt triggers on some of these, as well as the Turkish guns. Not so hot compared to higher-end 1911s I've felt. Kinda defeats the purpose.)
- STI SPARTAN (not Trojan, my mistake)
- Taurus 1911s
- Ruger SR1911
- Springfield Mil-spec



Let the knowledge pour in!!!
 
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Ill chime in on behalf of my shooting buddy. He bought a Tisa in the "Rush of 2013". He didnt care for the standard GI style sights, so off it went to be milled. I dont like it because I got a hammer bite and what I think its the most uncomfortable grip safety. But for 425$ and if you have small hands and need a beater? Why not.
 
You say small hands because of the hammer bite, I presume. But the Tisas have those bulky smooth wooden grips if I'm not mistaken. The RIA I held had them, too. Would those rounded ones be easily swappable for the flatter double-diamond-style slabs?
 
It's probably not so much hammer bite but grip safety chafe. The top flange of most GI, model 1911s have a significantly sharp edge where it meets the web of your thumb. My Springfield with a GI grip safety would draw blood pretty quick. I have soft skin. On a stainless gun you could easily sand the bottom edges. My springer was parkerized and such I would have needed to refinish the bare carbon steel. If that chafe/ bite is an issue I suggest you move up to a slightly higher gun. IE. A Springfield loaded is cheaper to buy with ALL the mods, than it would be to buy a GI and then change everything.

I suggest a Springfield Loaded. Or the STI
 
If it were me here is how I would go in order of most preferred to least:

STI Trojan
Ruger
Springfield Mil-Spec
Filipino
Turkish
Taurus

My reasons:

STI has a lot of features that I would want in a 1911 and there is really nothing I would change
Ruger has most of the things that I would want on a 1911 and very few things I would change, has had some teething problems but every example I have shot or held has been fine
Springfield Mil-Spec has good quality and a great company behind it but doesn't have all the bells and whistles that I would want, it does provide a great base gun for a custom project though
Filipino guns are not bad and I have had some but while they can have some "upgraded features" that I would like they just don't do it for me, triggers weren't that great and neither were the sights, but that is my personal opinion and I am in no way bashing them.
Turkish guns I have no experience with and would not go with one until I can get one in hand and get a feel/shoot it before purchase.
Taurus I will not buy but that is based on my experience with their products not necessarily with the 1911s but they are a company I will stay away from.

Now a couple of other suggestions for you since your list is a little wide.

There are numerous other quality 1911's that you are missing out on that would fit in the price ranges you have listed (cheapest being the Turkish and most expensive being the Trojan)

STI makes the Spartan which is a step up from the Filipino and cheaper than the Mil-Spec.
Springfield makes the Range Officer which is a good quality product that is cheaper than the Trojan.
Kimber makes some that are cheaper than the Trojan as well.
Remington R1 has been suggested and that can be a contender.
Desert Eagle 1911 is also one that is getting decent marks and would have some upgrades and fall within the price range.
And of course there will be someone that chimes in and says get a Colt since they are the original blah blah blah, but I will say I feel that their price tag is more for the name than anything else.
 
I will throw in that you can purchase a Sig Sauer 1911 for around $750 these days, they are worth considering.
I have been very happy with the Sig nitron railed 1911 tacpac I purchased recently, found it for $650 NIB.
 
Oops. I think I meant the Spartan, not the Trojan. My mistake.

I'm assuming a price point below $700 or $800.

That Trojan is not really part of this set. Editing my original post.

Are any of the others priced above that threshold?
 
Dollar for Dollar/Pound for Pound. I'd have to say Rock Island. I love my Rock GI 45 it just flat out works, and has performed 100% since shot #1. Shoots JHP's, FMJ's, a reloaded FMJ target rounds with no problems. I'm quite sure it's more accurate them my ability to shoot it more accurately and I do not shoot it to badly.
 
I consider a Springfield Loaded mid priced. I don't know what cost today. Mine was $740 a few years ago. It shoots nice ragged groups and feeds any bullet shape reliably.
 
Pound for pound for what?

If I wanted a beater 1911, something I could just enjoy and not worry about messing up, I'd buy a Rock Island no question.

If I wanted something a little nicer while still sticking to a budget, then we can talk Springers and Rugers and whatnot... Springfield definitely having the edge in my book, they know how to build a 1911 and their customer service is great.
 
italianbreadman said:
So that one is more of a mil-spec gun, right? Where does it stand in terms of trigger and price?
Click to expand...

Gallery of Guns is showing $729 blued or $789 stainless. It has a fitted match barrel even in the lowest-price models which are decidedly GI in profile.

Not sure what you mean by trigger. You pull it, and the hammer drops. :)

I bought it because Colts go well over a thousand, here.

Tom
 
I'm always surprised when we get this deep into a 1911 thread, and no one has yet mentioned Smith & Wesson. Their basic non-railed 1911 Government models can be found in the $700-750 street price range. My first and only 1911 is a S&W Stainless that I bought about 8 years ago, before many people even knew S&W made 1911s. It has been a fantastic gun and I have no complaints. Of course, I prefer "working guns" to safe queens or collectors.

This is going to cause a stir, but...I have shot my FIL's Wilsons and Nighthawks, and I just don't see what they can do better than a $750 1911 (for the average shooter using average range ammo at medium distances).

Anyway, give S&W's 1911 lineup a look.
 
Your list is fine. I'd prefer to go with a Springfield Armory Loaded or Range Officer model. More features within these models for reasonable price. The real benefit is SA customer service and life time warranty.
 
I didn't even realize S&W makes 1911s.
Click to expand...

That's probably pretty common in the gun community. S&W spends most of their advertising and energy on their M&P line. But they've been making 1911s for at least 8 or 9 years. If you include their E-Series 1911s, they probably have a total of about 20 different variations/models.
 
OregonJohnny said:
That's probably pretty common in the gun community. S&W spends most of their advertising and energy on their M&P line. But they've been making 1911s for at least 8 or 9 years. If you include their E-Series 1911s, they probably have a total of about 20 different variations/models.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I checked them out. They look pretty nice. A little out of the price range I was thinking, though.
 
I'm going to have to go with a gun I own, the Magnum Research aka "Desert Eagle" 1911. I have around 1400 flawless rounds through it and it has the best trigger from a sub-1k 1911 I've ever felt. They are under $700 NIB.
 
I have an STI Spartan and its a very good gun, compares very well to my Les Baer.
 
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