Most Reliable 1911

[gwnorth]

Goodie. What would be best if a gunsmith were to slightly tune it?

I don't think the actual make would matter much, in the hands of a good gunsmith. As long as the pistol in question was a reasonably good made brand (decent steel, or alloy, proper heat treatment and well fitted parts, etc), any knowledgeable gunsmith can tweak it however you want them to.

That's one of the reasons for the 1911's popularity. Unless the manufacturer deviates wildly from the basic design specifications, a good gunsmith can take 3rd party parts and fit them into a gun, or modify the existing parts to mesh better if needed. Brand name doesn't matter, as long as it is reasonably true to the 1911 design specs.

Some things may impinge on that a bit - Kimber uses a Swartz type firing pin block, different from the series 80 Colt style, for example. I suppose it would be best not to take a Kimber to someone with no experience with that type of safety, but honestly, if the gunsmith knows his/her stuff, it should not matter.

 

[schmeky]

Something to ponder - all autos are at the mercy of the ammo manufacturers. You can't make millions/billions of rounds and not have a percentage of out of spec cartridges. For instance Amerc brass will not feed in any of my 45's, be a 1911 or non-1911.

Lastly, many people do not know you match the mag to the ammo, and there must be 10 zillion 1911 mags out there. Also, there are folks still trying to improve on the 1911 magazine after 100 years. Mags can range from outstanding to belongs in a hefty bag.

Take a perfect 1911 and throw in a crap mag and some out of spec ammo and well, you know . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

[CHEVELLE427]

i had to say SF1911-A1 as it was the first one i picked up in 1983 and was the only one till the PT1911 came home with me one day, so far no trouble out of either one.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

The slide would go to full battery just by laying it down softly

also crappy mag issue

mag follower was not lifting the slide stop up far enough for positive engagement

 

[AK103K]

I've owned multiple copies of Colt, Springfield, and Kimber, as well as a number of others. The only 1911's I ever trusted to carry, or for anything serious, were the Colts.

I wont ever own another Springfield or Kimber.

I think an unreliable 1911 is the exception, not the rule.

I've had a boatload of exceptions. Out of around 40 guns over the years, right around 30% were OK (Colts, GI guns, a couple of very early Springfields, and a couple of Caspian home builds) the rest had some sort of problem, from minor but annoying, to not feeding hardball out of the box, and beyond aggravating.

nighthawks are notorious for extremely poor QC.

Is this something new? My buddy has two, a .45 and 9mm, both of which I shot the day he got them, and quite a few times since, and they have performed flawlessly, and are very accurate. They both feel almost hydraulic when cycled by hand, and the .45 actually binds up sometimes when you try to disassemble it, but shoot it, and it runs like a top.

I always bitch at him for what he spent on them ($2500/ea.), but so far, they are the only one's I've seen in a very long time, that actually worked 100% right out of the box (and they had better for $2500!), and without any kind of fiddling. My Colts were really the only other ones I've seen do the same.

 

[sprice]

What kind of colts do you have?

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

Is this something new?

no. since ron phillips left them years ago to go on his own, their QC has been in the toilet. of course, they're not all bad, but why risk plunking down over 3 grand when you can't be confident in what will show up, as most are bought sight unseen.


this guy paid $2,600 for this NHC talon, and this is what arrived (2007):






have you ever seen a $500 1911 leave the factory like that?

 

[Jim K]

Hmmm. I know a fellow who spent some time carrying a .45 for serious purposes, not fun. He was part of a U.S. team guarding President Kharzai in Afghanistan, and he thought that an M1911A1 was just fine. As for brand, it was "none of the above" and not a shiny new, stainless this and that; it was a Remington-Rand, made in 1943.

Jim

 

[akadave]

I have had only 3 Springfield 1911's. One was a Limited Edition Commander about 15 years ago. It had an aluminum frame which cracked at the dustcover after about 500 rounds and when I sent it in they replaced the frame with a blued steel one. Then the ejector was throwing hot brass into my forehead. I had that fixed then promptly got rid of the gun.

Then I picked up a Springfield 6 inch long slide stainless in 45 mag. I only shot 45 ACP in it but it began to gall where the slide and frame met.

I traded it in and got a Springfield V-10 compact 45ACP. It was extremely unreliable. Sent it to the factory and even after it got back it sucked for reliability....Bottom line...buy US.

I have two S&W 1911's, one is a stainless 5 inch. 100% reliable after about 2k rounds. I have a 1911 SC Scandium 4.25 inch, 100% reliable after about 1k rounds. Last I have an original Kimber Custom Classic from 1996 (no firing pin block) and I have thousands of rounds through it and aside from a bad magazine or two it has been 100% reliable.

 

[CajunBass]

I can't tell you which on the list is "most" reliable since the only ones I've ever owned are Colts. The only problem I've ever had came from a bad magazine and that would have happened with any gun.

So I voted for Colt.

 

[BlayGlock]

Ive owned many brands and any reliability problems have been due to bad mags and one tight extractor on an STI. I had a P.O.S. Para that had lots of stuff wrong.

My favorite brand is Nighthawk.

 

[Ala Dan]

Box, stock production - my vote goes to Smith & Wesson~!

 

[AK103K]

this guy paid $2,600 for this NHC talon, and this is what arrived (2007):

That is pretty sorry looking. My buddys look nothing like that. Fit and finish are what you'd expect for the money (I suppose, I wont spend that much).

 

[TonyT]

Personally, I believe you should also consider the Dan Wesson Pointman series. I have one in 45 ACP, another with both 9mm and 40 S&W uppers and the newest a PM-9 in 9mm. All come with great factory triggers, undercut frame, full length slide rib, tight slide to frame fit and excellent accuracy.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

So far, my Dan Wesson CBOB and Springfield have been flawless (aside from a failure or two with the CBOB that was mag related).

 

[jim243]

Can't afford 3 Kimbers only one. Never had a FTF or any other problem with it in over 700 rounds not even one FTF and I use HPs.

 

[possum]

like most threads about reliabilty, someone will say that thier 1911, or gun "x" is 100% reliable, in "y" amount of rounds, which is normally a really low amount. ie 700rds in a handgun and no malfunctions is good, but that is still not alot of rounds. I put 5k thorough a 1911 before i decieded that it wasn't for me. Maybe my idea of reliability is different than others. if i have a gun that won't run through a 2 day training course without major issues that are the fault of the gun then I don't want it. Say 1,200rds in 2 days, now you might ask is that realistic? is anyone going to shoot defensivly with a handgun for 1200+ rds in 2 days time in thier life? no, however it does give the operator of that weapon system alot of confidence when they know thier gun will run above and beyond any sittuation that it would ever be used in. If it can't run for 1200+rds in multiple days of training then I know i can trust it on the street. i push myslef, my gear, and my guns. if they continue to run then they are kept otherwise i have no use for them. again my sig line pretty much sums this thread up pretty well. If you shoot enough you are going to have malfunctions, you are gonna have parts breakage, no matter what wonder gun, magazines and ammo you use it will happen, everything that is made by man wil fail one day for some reason or another. but most people are "gun owners and or collectors" and this wil probally never happen to them.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I don't own a Colt, Springfield or Smith 1911.
I have never seen any reason to buy anything but Kimbers since my 5 work so well.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Maybe my idea of reliability is different than others. if i have a gun that won't run through a 2 day training course without major issues that are the fault of the gun then I don't want it. Say 1,200rds in 2 days

This is actually a pretty good standard of reliability. If your new gun, after a function/breaking/sight in, won't last through a 2-3 day, 1000-1500 round course without malfunction, I'd have some reservations about carrying it for defensive purposes.

It is not just the number of rounds through a gun, 12k rounds in a year is a different function test than 2k rounds in a weekend

 

[BushyGuy]

Springfield is one of the best, possibly the best there is. I like RIA but its no way as close as reliable as a Springfield.

 

[Clarence]

Out of the bunch listed I would pick Springfield.

Other than that I would pick Ed Brown.........based on my experience.

 

[possum]

It is not just a number of rounds through a gun, 12k rounds in a year is a difference function test than 2k rounds in a weekend

too true, as well most gun owners will never put 12k through anyone gun in thier life.

Springfield is one of the best, possibly the best there is. I like RIA but its no way as close as reliable as a Springfield.

MY MC Operator did not perform to the levels that i would want out of a gun that cost over $1000. the extractor broke at 3,500rds and was replaced with an ED Brown "Hardcore" extractor, and the rear sight came loose and drift almost all the way out of the dovetail in a 700rd training session. If i was going to go 1911 again, it would not be a Springfield.

 

[TexasGunbie]

GLOCK 1911 is very reliable in my opinion.

 

[Echo9]

Does that include the very top of Kimber's and Springfield's custom work?

Yep. Although I've heard you can order a Springfield TRP with no MIM.

This is the run-down as I understand it.

Colt:
Magazine catch
Sear
Disconnecter

Springfield:
Slide stop
Grip safety
Hammer
Sear
Disconnecter

Kimber:
Hammer
Sear
Disconnecter
Firing pin stop
Grip safety
Thumb safety
Slide stop
Front sight
Rear sight
Plunger tube
Magazine release
Ejector

That seems a little ridiculous, even for a Kimber. Someone correct me if you have better information.

As far as I know, those lists go for all of each company's pistols, except, like I said, specially ordered TRPs.

 

[skoro]

I've never had a single problem with any of my three Colts.