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

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I would have to say the Ruger is right at or the best at it's price point. Easily found for about $700 and if you shop hard enough closer to $600. I put a Wilson Bullet Proof sear spring in mine not because it needed it but because I had the spring on hand and I was amazed at the results. 3.4#, very consistent and clean. It's been the envy of many shooters at the range with higher priced 1911's.
 
Go with Rock Island or Cimarron. Cimarron has a much nicer finish but is basicaly the same gun made by the same folks and have great stateside customer svc in Nevada. For the record the R1 Remington is about as far from mil spec as a Schwinn from a Harley. Rock Island guns are series 70 guns made to original specs.
 
RIA Tactical IMHO sets the bar for bang for the buck with good customer support thrown in.

If you want a little better for a couple hundred dollars more, get the STI Spartan which is the same base pistol with some "higher quality" internals and a bit more fit and finish.


For your first 1911, IMHO you are better off getting the RIA Tactical and spending the savings on ammo.
 
I paid $639.00 for my Ruger SR1911 Commander length and I know this is the best gun deal I've gotten since I picked up a NIB Hard Chromed Browning Hi Power for $385.00 four years ago
 
Bufford t. Justice said:
For the record the R1 Remington is about as far from mil spec as a Schwinn from a Harley. Rock Island guns are series 70 guns made to original specs.
Click to expand...

Other than the Remington being Series 80, I find this statement to be remarkable. What, exactly, is not "mil spec" about it? Mine sure looks "mil spec".

Tom
 
Jaxondog said:
You just cannot go wrong with a Rock Island
Click to expand...
I tend to agree to a point. I've had a couple of RIAs and they were good shooters and ran well. With that said, don't take your RIA or any Filipino made 1911 and add some Wilson, Cylinder & Slide, Ed Brown, EGW or 10-8 Performance parts to it and expect it to be worth all the money you have dumped into it.

If you do this, then enjoy tinkering with your 1911 and shoot it a lot.................but when you want to move on to a higher grade 1911, don't expect to be able to sell it for any more than you bought it for. This is a trap I see a lot of 1911 newbies get themselves into.
 
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Another vote for the RIA Tactical as being a decent buy for the money. If I were looking for a well euipped entry level priced M1911, this is what I would go with.
 
Just bought a stainless springfield mil spec today. My first full size 1911. The quality shows and it is a value at the asking price in my opinion. The springfield has a forged frame, not sure of the others on your list. Put 50 trouble free rounds through it today out of the box. I'm pleased so far.
 
The great news is that you have a ton of options for a sub-$1000 1911. Most seem to have a good reputation, although Kimber and Taurus have their share of detractors.

I went with the SR1911. I felt like it was the best combination of features for the price. While my next 1911 will probably be in the $1000-$1500 range, if I wanted another sub-$1000 model for the collection I'd probably lean towards Springfield.
 
Sub $600 - RIA/Citadel/Metro Philipino gun. Having said that, $600-$800 will get a nice step up in the form of a Ruger SR, Kimber Custom II, or a Sig. Of the three, I think best of the Sig (although I have more Kimbers than Sigs).
 
I have a Turkish made Regent that is a great shooter. The only problem I have with it is that doesnt drop the mag freely. Other than that, great shooting full size 1911. The finish is really thin, though. However it does what a 1911 is supposed to do.

My RIA is a much better gun. The Regent is my loaner/beater for my gunnless buddies at the range. Nothing wrong with it, just not as nice in my hands.
 
My votes by price point:
$800 - Springfield Range Officer
$600 - STI Spartan
$700 - Ruger SR1911
$500 - Taurus 1911
Sub-$500 - Rock Island Tactical

The Taurus has more features than other guns above and below its price point and therefore some 'upgrades' are not the costly variants. An example of this would be front strap checkering. It's not the same league as the Ruger or Springfield but it can be a nice 1911. I own a couple that although they didn't need it, I upgraded a parts on both. Both are real nice shooters, tight, accurate, and reliable. In my smithing on the Taurus I did find some things that were not 100% in spec, but they were easy to correct with a little file/stone work. Although I like both of the Taurus', I still prefer the SR1911.
 
I love my Rock Island GI 45 and would like to get a Ruger SR1911 someday. One I think you left out for the true WW2 experience would be the Auto Ordinance. American made by Kahr arms and about $500 around here.
 
I've owned a Rock Island Tactical and a Kimber. Kimber had a slightly nicer trigger, but wasn't reliable at all. My RIA was perfect with FMJ. Not so happy with JHP, but that wasn't a huge concern. I ended up carrying my RIA and selling my Kimber.
 
One of the magazines I read, "American Handgunner"?? i think,
did an article "Beer Budget 1911s"
The writer had like five 1911s that he reviewed.

The winner, which he bought, was the American Classic II.
I happen to have one also.

Just today I put 2 boxes thru it.
Had some balloons, 8 shots took out 7 targets, so it's VERY accurate.
The grips are REALLY chincey, but that's the only negative I have.
Cost about $500-$550

http://www.metroarms.com/american-classic.html
 
I love 1911s, just bought a Ruger sr1911, paid 760 for it at Cabelas. most of the 1911s mentioned, even the STI lower end pistols are made in the Phillipines, glad my Ruger is American made.
 
American Classics have some great reviews, but damn their roll marks are getting obnoxious.
That and the little black peg sticking out of the skeletonized triggers makes me wince everytime I see it.
 
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