The Best 1911?

[silent one]

Pinned and Recessed,

I think the Springfield you were looking at may have been the PX915IL, which is a "loaded'' version. The one I was referring to was the base model G.I. Mil- Spec. These are basically what the original G.I. pistols looked like during WW-2. There are different versions of this weapon. The WW-2 version has low sights, small ejection port, and a lanyard loop on the end of the main spring housing. These are selling for approx $439.00 around here. The other version has the high three dot sights, larger ejection port, and no lanyard loop. These sell for approx $469.00. Both versions are nice, but the small sights on the WW-2 version, take a little getting used to.
As far as MIM parts, there is a plethora of opinions, and information on this subject. Personally, I haven't found a problem with any of my weapons that utilize MIM parts. Actually, I don't think there are many manufacturers who don't use them today. I don't think Springfield uses more, or less MIM parts than any of the other manufacturers. There are many posts on this subject. Some are nagative, and some are positive. You have to decide for yourself. There are many after market companies that manufacture replacement small parts made from steel, if you should care to replace the MIM parts. Personally, I'm one who believes, ''if it ain't broke, don't fix it".


good luck, and be safe.

SILENT ONE

P.S. If you want expert advice on the .45, you can ask 1911 tuner, or ol fuff.
If you wish to know about the Sig, or Para Ordnance, there's Ala dan. They don't call him "Mr Sig" for nothing

 

[Jim4003]

I like my SW1911. Good reliable gun with good features. Only thing I am not happy with is the SW1911 billboard on the slide, a nice rollmark like Smith used to use would look better in my opinion.

 

[schromf]

Old Colts, count me in that 1% in spades. They work, and work, and work.

You said dollars weren't an issue, look in this issue of Shotgun News, Look for Surf City Firearms ( there in Kali ) there are some interesting old Colts in the ad. They range from reasonable to a Singer with POR. Check out item #14 its an Ithaca, price isn't outrageous, interesting.....

Bang for the buck hunt down a Sistema, or get a NRM Colt. One is a $300 ish dollar option ( depending on condition), the Colt can be had for around $550 NIB. I own one of each both are very reliable. If you are wanting to shoot SWC's and HP, the NRM is a very good option.

 

[Jax]

How about Valtro?

I can't understand why the Valtro
clan hasn't chimed in yet.

I've only heard good things about their 1911.

I'm hoping to see one here in TX before I plunk down my money. If you are in SoCal, you can go visit them and see for yourself.

 

[1911WB]

Les Baer

Definitely Les Baer, definitely! I've had my Concept VI (full sized SS) about 5 years. I think it costs about $1600 retail now. It is very well-fitted, extremely tight (about the only valid complaint I've heard about Baers), fires everything with no malfunctions in the about 1500 rds. I've put thru it (includes ball, lead SWC's & Hp's). It is the most accurate 1911 & has the best trigger (slick 3.5 lbs.) I've ever experienced.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

RealHawkeye:

Who is yost?

And, what do you think about the mil-spec Springfield? The one I looked at had Novak type sights and ambidextrous safety. (I shoot left-handed.)

He's asking $650 and doesn't budge.

I don't know much about MIM parts but I've heard all firearms manufactured today used them. What about MIM in Springfield?

thanx

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Rob96:

You said: "I've seen them around here.."

There is one other store I've not checked. After Kalifornicate outlawed the 50BMG one of their salesgirls said the cartridge could shoot a plane out of the sky and she approved of the ban. THIS FROM A GUN SALESPERSON!!

Another person behind the counter said he could see the logic.

AND ALL THAT WHILE THEY HAD TWO 50BMG'S FOR SALE ON THE COUNTER!

I gave them a lesson about the 2nd Amendment and left in disgust. I then contacted the owner who was very surprised that two of his salespeople (who, I might add, are young Kalifoooooooooooooooornians) would say something......

THAT FREAKING STUPID!!!!!!!!!1

But, I guess I'll go back to see if they have any Colt 1911A1's.

 

[schromf]

Who is yost?

Probably in reference to Ted Yost, very top drawer smith. You might check his site and see if he has any already made guns available. He does on occasion.

 

[Dienekes]

FWIW, I plowed a windfall into a stainless Springfield Mil-Spec some months ago to get back to some .45 ACP shooting without putting more wear and tear on my old Colts--at least that was my excuse. Haven't had too much time to shoot it a lot but am now up to about 500 rounds through it. 90% of the ammo through it has been my old H&G 200 gr. SWC cast bullet, and in the initial 100 rounds with questionable mags I had about 4 failures to feed. It has been clear sailing since then and I expect it will continue.

The only things I have done to it were to change the front sight to a dovetailed unit to get a little more sight height, and to fit a matt hard-chromed lanyard loop mainspring housing (because I like them).

Thus far it is a good shooter and looks like it will be a serviceable piece. I like it.

Simpler is better.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Dienekes:

You said: "Simpler is better."

Tell me about it. I started off with your basic Mark 4/Series 70. Out of the box (circa, 1978) it jammed everything but 230 grain fmj.

I sent it to Jim Clark to have feed ramp and ejection port modified, Smith and Wesson sights installed, slide tightened for accuracy, mag well beveled, ambidextrous safety and ~3 pound trigger pull.

It fed everything fine. But sometimes the hammer follows the slide, probably because the trigger pull is too light.

I use nothing but reloads and use Unique powder. It's really dirty and because the slide to frame fit is so tight it jams after about 200 rounds.

Plus, the screw holding the sight in place has a tendency to back out and it's near impossible to find THAT EXACT SCREW! But after fingernail polish, loctite and super glue, I think the sight will stay in place. Especially since I rarely shoot it anymore.

Anyway, it's a fine gun......for the purpose for which it was designed, viz., informal target shooting.

But you're right. I want something simpler.

 

[saltydog452]

Pinned and recessed's Clark Series 70

If it was mine, (and I wish it was) and didn't have the large Bomar sights or heavy duty 'tiger tooth' stippling, I'd send it back to Jim Jr. and ask him to do a street trigger job.

salty.

 

[Berg01]

I can't find the SW1911 in either my Gun Digest (2004) or Shooter's Bible (also 2004). Is that what it's called? Or does it have a different model designation?How many variations are there? Is there a base model and then another model?

Ruger 357: That price you quoted, does yours have adjustable sights, etc?

I'm not Ruger 357 but I can answer your questions. It is called SW1911 on the Smith & wesson website. There is a base model with a fixed rear sight and rubber grips. There is an adjustable sight model with rosewood grips, and this is the one I have, and I paid $744.00 for it. There is also a Performance Center model that is awesome, but a lot more expensive. There is also a commander length model, that has scandium (sp?) in the frame I think.

One neat thing about the SW1911 is that it comes with 2 Wilson 8-round magazines, so you're saving @$30.00 right off the bat, sonce many of the new 1911s come with 1 mag. Based on my experience, I would recommend this gun to anyone interested in a decent 1911, but as expressed in this thread, there are many good choices in 1911s these days, so you can easily drive yourself nuts trying to settle on one. But they are great guns, and a ball to go out and shoot with. Good Luck.

 

[bountyhunter]

I can't understand why the Valtro
clan hasn't chimed in yet.

Because the waiting list is about a year long to get one.

 

[TK73]

Best 1911?

If you're speaking about factory or semi-custom 1911s that can be had within a reasonable time frame I have to agree with 1911WB that one of the LES BAER pistols is the way to go. Evaluate your requirements thoroughly, though. The features I prefer on a 1911 might not suit you and vice versa.

Regarding my Baer Premier II, it never had a single-malfunction till now and I shoot a lot of handloaded semi-wadcutter ammo at moderate velocity out of it. I have three other Bears, one of them chambered for the 9 mm Luger, and they seem to be equally as dependable. I haven't shot the Baers I acquired later as extensively as I have shot my old Premier II, though.

Certainly, there are a lot of great, equally gifted pistolsmiths in America that can build you a phenomenal 1911 match or carry gun out of a plain-Jane model like the Springfield-Armory 1911-A1 G.I. 45 Series or Colt 1991.

Best Regards!

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

schromf:

I did a google on Ted Yost and got a bunch of hits of people referencing his name. But I couldn't find a site for Ted Yost.

His name is used in connection with Gunsite guns. Is that the one?

 

[andrew17]

I think this is it.

http://www.yost-bonitz.com/

 

[davek]

Old Colts, count me in that 1% in spades. They work, and work, and work.

Count me in too. I've got two of them. A 1911 made in 1913, and a 1911a1 made and customized in 1959. The 1911a1 (my nightstand gun) works flawlessly. The 1911's only hangup is that it only likes one particular magazine. Reliable and accurate as hell with that one mag, but spits out every other I've tried.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Yeah, that's the Yost I meant. If you ask him to leave out the magazine (I am assuming you already have a few) and the front strap stippling from the *1 package, I think it would come in at just a little over a grand (Before, I had estamated it at just under a grand, whoops), even including the price of the Springfield WWII GI Model. At any rate, it's a great value. He has a great reputation. I intend to get the full *1 package on my Springfield GI Model, including the polished flats, which is a nice extra he offers. Just have to recover from recently buying the Scandium S&W Commander-sized SW1911 Sc. The Yost *1 package will be my very next investment in 1911s.

 

[ruger357]

PinnedAndRecessed,
Sorry I didn't get back to you, but it has fixed Novak three dot sights.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

After extensive consideration I've decided to purchase a Sig 220ST. I had my heart set on another 1911 but then I checked out the Sig at a gun store. The ergonomics are unbelievable. I've owned several Sigs in the past and they were all top notch.

Maybe another 1911 in a month or two. Out here on the left coast we can only buy one handgun a month.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

The Sigs are nice, and very reliable. I used to have three of them, and never had a problem function-wise, but a while ago I made a choice in favor of the 1911 design, and haven't looked back. Starting off with a double action shot and then switching to a single action shot is a formula for disaster in a lethal confrontation.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Hawkeye said, "Starting off with a double action shot and then switching to a single action shot is a formula for disaster in a lethal confrontation."

Why?

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

Maybe I'm over stating it just a bit. My point, however, is that going from a light single action shot to another light single action shot promotes consistancy, while consistancy is harder to achieve when you must switch from double action to single action, especially during the high stress of a life and death confrontation. In that context, consistancy can save your life. Inconsistancy can get you killed. The mechanics of a double action shot and a single action shot are very different, and require a change in grip and finger position. This takes much more concentration, which is a commodity in short supply during a life-threatening confrontation. KISS, "Keep It Simple, Stupid," is a good philosophy to follow for combat preparedness. Expect your IQ and motor skills to drop by about 50% when someone starts shooting at you. That's why you should "keep it simple, stupid."

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Hawk.

I understand. I'm not looking for a carry gun. If I could carry it would be a revolver. But I'm on the left coast and haven't jumped through their hoops to get a CCW.

I mostly buy because I admire a particular piece. Time doesn't even permit much shooting so I just open the safe periodically and admire the wares.

But I have heard your point about sa/da before. I think the appeal comes in because there have been some cases of police officers w/single action weapons accidentally shooting a suspect. The LEO's were pumped full of adrenaline and didn't realize how much pressure they had on the trigger.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

That's bad training. If a person is not willing to put in the hours for correct training with their weapon, perhaps a traditional double action auto is a better choice for them than the 1911.

As for your situation, I now understand. You are a collector. I am too. I have all kinds of handguns, including reproductions of blackpowder revolvers, and antique Colt revolvers. You could defend yourself with them quite well, of course, but that's not why I have them, as there are much better choices nowadays.

Considering your purpose in buying handguns, the Sig is not a bad choice. It wouldn't be a really bad choice for self defense either, but, in my opinion, there are better choices. That's all I'm saying. Apparently, this question is not relevant for you, though. In which case, the Sigs are very cool guns. You might want to look into an old Luger too, or a broom handle Mauser. Those are really cool. Have fun.