My first 1911
- Thread starter cwduke08
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Skylerbone
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To answer the CA question for the OP any pistol for sale in California must pass drop testing. Once the manufacturer has passed certification it goes on the approved list.
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robctwo
Member
I bought a Springfield Loaded, Black Stainless Target for my first 1911. idled around with it, replaced the ignition parts with Ed Brown stuff. Reduced the trigger from about 8 pounds down to about 4. Nice gun. It runs my Ciener Platinum .22 conversion full time now.
Bought a S&W 1911 PD Commanderwith Crimson Trace laser sights. Very nice trigger. Light weight is good for carry, not so much fun for 300 rounds at the range.
I lucked into an Ed Brown Executive Target, lnib while looking for a Les Baer PII. Then I immediately found the Baer used for an outstanding price. 1.5" guarantee. The Brown and Bear are great. Buy one. Buy one used if you can find one for a reasonable price.
I like the adjustable sights. I shoot a lot of reloads and play some games. The S&W is the only one with combat sights.
The S&W
Bought a S&W 1911 PD Commanderwith Crimson Trace laser sights. Very nice trigger. Light weight is good for carry, not so much fun for 300 rounds at the range.
I lucked into an Ed Brown Executive Target, lnib while looking for a Les Baer PII. Then I immediately found the Baer used for an outstanding price. 1.5" guarantee. The Brown and Bear are great. Buy one. Buy one used if you can find one for a reasonable price.
I like the adjustable sights. I shoot a lot of reloads and play some games. The S&W is the only one with combat sights.
The S&W
fatmanonabike
Member
I'm very happy with my SR1911. I've been reloading now for a month or so and it even likes my LSWC reloads. This was my first ever firearm purchase. I know virtually nothing about pistols. I purchased the SR1911 because 1) it was Ruger's first 2) the anniversary 3) I like the way it looks 4) It comes WITH a lowered and flared ejection port, beaver tail grip safety and a polished feed ramp 5) every nut, every bolt every spring is AMERICAN made 6) It comes WITHOUT series 80 firing pin block 7) I paid $700 for it. All things considered I thought it an exceptional feature set at that price point. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better value.
I posted this reply in the other 1911 question thread but it fits here too so here it goes:
I bought a rough, rattly, worn out springfield gi for 400 bucks. Then I bought springs, pins, ext slide stop, ext safety, ed brown grip safety, hammer, disc, etc etc and with a new set of grips all in all I spent about $400 on parts and tools, including a sear jig, and a checkering file. I welded up the barrel lugs and hood, recut them on the mill, (most of the barrell work could have been hand done with a file honestly,) and then welded up the rails and re-cut them to make the slide tighter on the frame. Fitting the slide after the weld/cut work took 2 hrs., the checkering all took 5 hrs, the hammer/sear/trigger work took 4 hrs, the bead blasting and polishing took 4 hrs. and oh yeah, I bob tailed the gun using the original main spring housing which required welding in the old spring hole and smoothing then checkering the flat, polishing the round edge, that alone took 5 or 6 hours.
What's my point? If you just want a gun to buy cheap and go shoot, do the 400 specials and go shoot. You'll end up with a gun that isn't special to anyone, and shoots about a three inch group at 25 yards, but hey, it's cheap, and that's okay.
If you want a reall project gun and have the tools and skill, (or desire to spend time learning to fullfill the project and enjoy earning the pride that goes with diligent work,) then do like I did, spend $800 bucks and about 40 hours of your free time after work on the project. If you do your homework and take pride in your work, it'll look nice when your done, be special to you and those in your club as they watch you learn and adore the process, and if you know how to tighten it up it'll shoot like mine, which is to say about an inch and 3/4 at 25 yards.
If you want the best, and want a status symbol piece drop 2500-3 grand or more on the name brand premium guns, and though you won't have any personal pride in its creation it'll be worth more as a status piece, and it should probably shoot under an inch and a half at 25 yards.
Now, you must decide what is important to you, and enjoy the decision, whatever it may be. I don't make any recommendations or insinuations on which path you choose, only that you do it safely, and with the constitution in mind.
I bought a rough, rattly, worn out springfield gi for 400 bucks. Then I bought springs, pins, ext slide stop, ext safety, ed brown grip safety, hammer, disc, etc etc and with a new set of grips all in all I spent about $400 on parts and tools, including a sear jig, and a checkering file. I welded up the barrel lugs and hood, recut them on the mill, (most of the barrell work could have been hand done with a file honestly,) and then welded up the rails and re-cut them to make the slide tighter on the frame. Fitting the slide after the weld/cut work took 2 hrs., the checkering all took 5 hrs, the hammer/sear/trigger work took 4 hrs, the bead blasting and polishing took 4 hrs. and oh yeah, I bob tailed the gun using the original main spring housing which required welding in the old spring hole and smoothing then checkering the flat, polishing the round edge, that alone took 5 or 6 hours.
What's my point? If you just want a gun to buy cheap and go shoot, do the 400 specials and go shoot. You'll end up with a gun that isn't special to anyone, and shoots about a three inch group at 25 yards, but hey, it's cheap, and that's okay.
If you want a reall project gun and have the tools and skill, (or desire to spend time learning to fullfill the project and enjoy earning the pride that goes with diligent work,) then do like I did, spend $800 bucks and about 40 hours of your free time after work on the project. If you do your homework and take pride in your work, it'll look nice when your done, be special to you and those in your club as they watch you learn and adore the process, and if you know how to tighten it up it'll shoot like mine, which is to say about an inch and 3/4 at 25 yards.
If you want the best, and want a status symbol piece drop 2500-3 grand or more on the name brand premium guns, and though you won't have any personal pride in its creation it'll be worth more as a status piece, and it should probably shoot under an inch and a half at 25 yards.
Now, you must decide what is important to you, and enjoy the decision, whatever it may be. I don't make any recommendations or insinuations on which path you choose, only that you do it safely, and with the constitution in mind.
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