For a first 1911 I don't recommend you buy a GI, get a Mil-Spec if you like the Springfield or a Loaded,
but please don't buy a GI, the sights are just way too small and it comes with a really heavy trigger.
These three are really nice entry level guns, high quality, very accurate and they come with factory; Beaver Tails, good sites, good triggers, if bought new, the factory will stand behind them 100%, both Springfield and Kimber have excelent customer service. Compare the pictures of the top 2 guns to the bottom 2 and see what you're getting for your money.
Kimber Custom II is around $620 - if you buy used make sure the Kimber has an Internal Extractor
Springfield Loaded is around $680 - Very good Pistol
Springfield Mil-Spec is around $590-but you'll soon be wishing that you had the features the loaded model has.
See the problem with the GI Sights?
Strech it out to $800 to include tax & reg and you'll have a nice gun, that will last you a life time, with out ever seeing the Gun Smith, for anything major. You can tell by the pictures what you're getting for the price.
I'm seeing alot of people buying GI's lattely and then thier jaws drop when they find out what the Gun Smith is going to charge them to turn it into a Loaded model. I'm guilty of this too, I'm building a Mil-Spec into a Target Pistol, in the long run it isn't worth the money, it has personal touches and feelings because you build it or had it build, but that's about it. Some of the GI build ups I've seen, could have easily paid for Baer or Ed Brown pistols.
1911's and AR-15's are not LEGO's or Honda Civics. Buy a quality gun, that's set up, if you get into shooting IDPA or another sport latter, you already started off with a better platform and you know you'll be makeing it into a money by that time.