Should I Give the 1911 ANOTHER Try?

[BerettaNut92]

First 1911 was a Kimber Custom Stainless that had an untensioned extractor. I coulda fixed it myself but was too bitter about it not working and sold the gun. I was used to shooting my HK which couldn't break no matter how hard I beat it up.

Second '1911' was a KZ45 which feels completely different and I didn't shoot it well. So it didn't really count.

Now peer pressure and marketing have got me wanting another 1911. That and it's the fighting handgun of true tacticals and maybe I'll rediscover love for it once I shoot it again extensively.

I like my P7M8 but the itty bitty slide stop and tiiiiiight slide make it difficult to manipulate for things like class 3 malfunctions. Cleaning the gas system can be a pain.

The Beretta is my true love but it's become something that I must send out to get the configuration I want. I'm tired of screwing with my guns and want something that's good to go out of the box. But I'm worried about having to send the 1911 in for reliability 'issues' like I had to for my first two 1911s. (extractor on 1st 1911, sear on second 1911).

I need help!

(Too bad I just sold all my mags for it )

 

[Tropical Z]

If i had based my 1911 experience solely on the Sistema i once owned i would never have tried another one regardless of brand.Fortunately a Shooters Arms manufacturing full size 1911 practically fell into my lap and its a joy to shoot and utterly reliable at least with 230 grain FMJ which is all ill probably ever send down its barrel.Give another one a chance.

 

[MoNsTeR]

Yes you should.
But don't screw around, buy a really expensive one (and no, the KZ-45 didn't count), or send a bare frame or a basic Colt to a 'smith.

I'm sure all the Kimber and Springfield fans will crawl out of the woodwork to defend their favorite brand, and that's fine. But the fact is that a true quality 1911 makes a $6-700 gun feel like junk.

Think STI, Infinity, Triangle Shooting Sports, EGW, Brazos Custom, Briley, Pistol Dynamics, etc.

 

[Smoke]

Only you can answer that question.

 

[B27]

What MoNsTeR said.
Buy a high end gun from a company that gives great after sale service like Wilson, Baer or Brown and you will almost assuredly be happy.
My four Kimbers have all performed well but they are all older series I guns built back when Kimber was trying hard to build a reputation and impress the heck out of everybody.
This Wilson Classic two tone and this Kimber Gold Match have performed beautifully through many, many rounds fired-

I carry a SIG P220 concealed every day but if I knew trouble was definitely a'comin I'd be wearing that Wilson that day.

 

[garrettwc]

Skunk, you really have to decide for yourself, but it's hard to base it on just the two examples you gave. The KZ is sort of a hybrid 1911 and as you discovered just may not work the same way.

The extractor with the Kimber isn't a big deal IMO. I had an extractor break within the first 500 rounds on my Colt. It was aggravating as all get out, but not enough for me to get rid of an otherwise wonderful gun.

While getting a top of the line 1911 such as an STI, or Wilson, or Brown will minimize your chances of having a problem, it may not give you the best perception of the 1911. I started with a basic 1911 with no add ons (the Colt). After spending several hundred rounds with it I found what I liked and what I didn't and this helped me select a 1911 that fit my needs better.

I would recommend the same. Get a basic Colt Government model, or a Springfield Mil-spec and take the money you would have spent on add ons and buy a couple of cases of ammo. Then go to the range and spend some quality time with one. Then determine what you like and don't like about them and look into possible changes.

What works for one person, may not for another. But that's the beauty of the 1911. You can change out what you don't like and tune it to you, easier on a 1911 than with any other gun.

 

[USGuns]

Kimber Tactical for Mr. Tactical

Have you seen the new Kimber Tactical line?
http://www.kimberamerica.com/tactical.php

 

[sm]

Its your choice. Though I have no problems with the big names, I tend to think I want the gun to fit my needs, not what someone else thinks I need. Personally , yep I get to play with really expensive toys, fins, rods doodads and doohickeys. Hey a $ 15k race gun is fun...the owner doesn't CCW one though.

Personally the more one gets away from the basic... put it this way, Give me real Gov't 1911, I'm happy. I won't change sights, I won't do anything but maybe, just maybe bob the hammer a bit, skateboard tape and assure for me the trigger is crisp , 4 # ok. If the blue is worn, fine...means I've been using it.

Give me 2 basic like this , even without much blue and Ill be estatic!

 

[BerettaNut92]

Yep...thinkin' about one of those as the carry and a TLE as a beater. Not sure how I'm going to mount a light on them though.

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

dude, seriously, get a springfield milspec. you don't need a beavertail (unless you do), or uberhuge safeties or any of that other stuff.

a milspec has a bevelled mag well, lowered ejection port, and good sights.

it costs about 600, and is parked.

 

[sm]

Here ya go:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=43614

Made right, the way way they should still be made. You just shoot 'em, inspect and maintain. And hope you find another like it someday.

 

[asiparks]

Hey Skunka, I've already posted about the unnatural levels of affection I have for my Valtro, so you could go for one of them or you could post a WTB for a series 1 Kimber in OC, there's got to be some floating around out there. My '98 S1 Stainless Custom Classic has been absolutely faultless through 10K rounds and I'd jump at another one if I could get a P2P transfer. There's a whole bunch of Baers on the DOJ cert list now too. If your hands are not too small and delicate, you could try a BP10. The grip is quite different to the KZ and 14 rounders are still available should you ever be passing through Nevada.....

 

[22/22mag]

Hey SK, I have 2 newer kimbers .45s that shoot right on target ,but for carry without ever worry about performance ( you know the sometimes jam or stove pipe when not holding it just right) the Sig 220 .45 8 rounds with decocker is the way to go.
Sure the 1911s are fun to shoot and look great but under pressure the Sig is simple to use...point gun,pull trigger 8 times.DONE. (no cock + lock)

Down side not much needs to be done to gun so few after market $$$$$ can be spent to buy anything.Oh well.

 

[10-Ring]

Skunk...dude...remember not too long ago, you talked me off that ledge? I was all hot & heavy for a 1911 & you smacked some sense into me...remember?
Honestly Skunk I don't think you'll be happy w/ a production 1911. If you're gonna do it, you might as well go high end

 

[Soap]

Get a Glock! Go with what suits you, if the 1911 didn't work out so many times in the past it is highly unlikely that it will all of a sudden work for you now. How well did you shoot your first Kimber? Not knowing your primary carry is a pain in the butt. If I were you, I would get whatever you feel confident with, like an HK USP.

 

[jercamp45]

Hey Skunk......

Guess you know what I like to carry about!!
My 3 1991A1's worked fine outta the box and were very accurate, the 27 year old series 70 Mark VI the same.
I guess I have been lucky of the 20 or so 1911's over the last quarter of a century only one has been an unworkable lemon(AO).
I have never owned a high end model....bet they are sweet, but well beyond my budget when then Ones I have do all I need done.
And I have learned to keep it simple..my first Government got ALL the bells and whistles available in 1978!! While it a very sweet and reliable shooter......it is not my favorite anymore.
Simple high visibility sights, and make sure it is reliable. I like the new beavertail and extended thumbsafety, the tactical one of of course!!
Of course, you must decide....but I like the thinness and the big bullet, something very reasuring about it when I roam about at night. A most comforting friend to have!
Jercamp45

 

[Berg01]

O.K, the Glocks and Sigs are like brand new BMWs or Cadillacs, and the 1911 is like a '67 Vette Ragtop; we all know which ones win out on the reliability and practicality factors, but a lot of us feel that one wins out for sheer coolness and then some of us consider one a true classic. Be honest, each one has its place in the gun battery!

Why not consider something like a Colt Series 70 Repro Base Gun; shoot it out-of-the-box for a while, then get done to it what you want or what it might need (trigger, sights, reliability tune, or none of the above).

 

[DonGlock26]

Have you test drove a P-225 & P-220ST, or gone to the seedy part of town to be tempted by the dark side(G-19/17)?

 

[Ed]

I'm kinda partial to my springfield, but they have done new stuff to the newer ones. If you have the money go for the high $$$ stuff, you'll be able to get your money back if you don't like it. But to get to the point YES you should get one.

 

[Berg01]

Have you test drove a P-225 & P-220ST, or gone to the seedy part of town to be tempted by the dark side(G-19/17)?

Hell, I own a P228 Sig that I will never part with; I've shot a fair number of Glocks, some I've liked & some I didn't. But then I've had the chance to shoot a Colt Series 80 Gov't that Evolution Gunworks had waved its magic wand over, and let me tell you that was a shooter you could wet your sneakers over!

 

[CWL]

Get TWO base models (like Springfield), shoot one stock and slowly build up the other one. You'll be able to add carbon fiber grips, internal works, etc. as $$ and ideas become available, while you still have a reliable shooter for practice & carry.

2 base guns still won't come close to the costs of a semi-custom -which may not even be configured exactly the way you really want yours to be.

 

[Blueduck]

Now peer pressure and marketing have got me wanting another 1911. That and it's the fighting handgun of true tacticals and maybe I'll rediscover love for it once I shoot it again extensively.

I've always enjoyed your post Skunk, even visited your website. Your obviously an intellegent well rounded person so please don't take offense at this, but that has got to be THE dumbest reason to spend $2,500 on custom gun I've ever heard.

You've had two, they didn't float your boat (be honest if you really LOVED the Kimber one extractor problem would not have made you sell it now would it??). Step away from the ledge and move on. You mention your love of the Beretta, but the hassals of custom work. How many of your Burritos could you set up exactly the way you want for the price of one high end 1911...

PS John Moses Browning accidently invented Carbon Fiber but hated it so much he buried the formula deep in the desert sands from fear that someday someone would make a grip of it for his 1911. He also considered banjo music to be the work of the devil. If that don't get you over it nothing will

 

[Schuey2002]

Buy one,
Shoot the heck out of it,
Sing its praises,
Post Tactically- pics,
Find faults with it,
Post problems on THR, 1911forums,.. etc.,
Sell it,
Buy something else,
Repeat this process until you reach a state of Gun Nirvana, or when you've moved to a State of the Union, whichever comes first.

 

[LeonCarr]

Read the signature, and use the money you save buying a 1911, and the money you save shipping it all over hell's half acre to get it to run right, to buy lots and lots of ammo. I think that is much more tactical than having a gun that looks cool and doesn't run .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[BerettaNut92]

Schuey, LOL!!!

Not that I've ever done THAT before!

High end is $1000. Must come with night sights. Light rail preferable but not a requirement. External extractor a strong plus. Looking at the Kimber ....Tactical.

I better sleep it off.