Wanting to buy a 1911

[Tomahawk674]

Hello everyone, I am interested in getting a 1911 soon for range/fun. I have not had one before and I have settled on the Springfield loaded model in 45.

I wanted to check if Colt made something that was asthetically similar, but I could not find something that combined the following elements: 3 dot sights, skeleton trigger,and hammer, extended beavertail and wood grips.

Colt's website shows their competition model, but it doesn't have 3 dot sights and the grips are rubber. Does anyone know of a model that maybe they retired that would have all the features I mentioned?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I had a Loaded with the 3 dot sights. It was a good gun. I sold it when I bought a Colt National Match. I like the elevation adjustable sights has. I believe the Loaded Target will get you similar sights.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Not a Colt, but the Ruger SR1911 has all those features-


Ive been looking at them since they first came out and gotta say, I am not disappointed. Ruger really did a great job with this gun!

 

[THEWELSHM]

I bought a Remington R1 in 1911, one of the original manufacturers that helped with the war effort...

Thewelshm

 

[Lo-Profile]

I've got 11 1911's currently, in 5 different calibers.
My Dan Wesson Guardian in 9mm is my favorite to shoot.
If your just going to shoot it at the range a RIA FS Ultra will work just as well, with money left over for ammo.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

Taurus PT1911 isn't too shabby either.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 in 45 ACP and I really like that gun. It would be nicer if it had 3 dot sights like the one you are looking at.

 

[Atavar]

Any number of Kimbers match your list. I love mine. Look at the pro series.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

The discontinued Colt XSE series had all of those things.

 

[Riomouse911]

For the price, the SA Ronin or Ruger SR 1911 are great guns, as is the SA Loaded 1911. The Kimbers are usually a couple hundred bucks more, but still easily within reach compared to boutique or semi-custom + pistols.

My Loaded is the 5” .45 ACP model. My SR 1911 is a 4.25” .45 ACP. Both have been 100 pct reliable and very accurate out of the box using the factory mags with Win 230 gr FMJ and 230 gr SXT and Rem 230 gr Golden Saber JHP. (I have some aftermarket mags that are hit and miss… no fault of the guns.) Of these two the Ruger is a bit more accurate in my hands, but I did drop in a Cylinder and Slide kit to improve the trigger pull (It went from a factory 5.25 to 4.5 lbs.) SA was 4.25 lbs out of the box Sights on both are Novak-inspired carry sights with 3-dots.

My 9mm 1911’s are a Kimber Stainless Target II 5” and a Ronin 4.25” but these guns also come in .45 ACP. The Kimber has adjustable target sights with a black blade rear but a fiber optic front that really stands out. Ronin has the 3-dot sights and a fixed rear with a “tactical hook” for one-hand racking on a boot or belt. (Not a bad idea for a SD/HD gun, IMHO) These 9mm guns have also been 100 pct reliable, I have no reason to doubt the .45 versions would carry on this tradition.

Stay safe.

 

[bannockburn]

Tomahawk674

I have an older Colt Lightweight Government (aluminum alloy frame), that has most of those features you listed. I believe they also offered it in an all steel version as well. However these guns have been discontinued for some time now, replaced by the Competition Series in 9mm., .38 Super, and .45 ACP.

 

[Slamfire]

You have so many options now. I remember when the only 1911's were Llama's (poor and inconsistent quality), AMT's (horrible reputations), and Colts (unobtainable at any price).

My new series 80 Colt rattled, and so did new series 70 Colts that I handled, rattled also.

Just this weekend, at the range I showed shooting buds my 2017 acquisition of a Rock Island GI Pistol. It was a $400 pistol. It is tight, it is a tight as the old, expensive, custom target 1911's made on Colt frames and slides. The trigger is creep free. The sights are the awful GI sights, and the barrel is taking forever to polish out. It heavily jacket fouled when new, now, not bad.



Also at the range I handled a Turkish 1911 that the owner said he paid $300 for, and it was very tight. And had all the bells and whistles.

Today's CNC machining are producing 1911's that are the best that have ever been. You can purchase a very serviceable 1911 at a decent price. Look for the features you want, handle the weapon. I recommend grabbing the slide and frame and feel how much movement there is. No movement is my goal. If you can, handle an older, say 1970's or earlier Colt, you want your pistol to be as tight, or tighter. Press on the chamber end, no movement is preferred, put your finger on the muzzle, when the slide is closed, and you should feel no movement. Then, does the trigger break without movement. If all of this is true, the pistol has the features you want, and the price is good, the pistol will be good. Mostly, there are always something about every 1911 I have owned that needs tweaking. Minor stuff is taller rear sights to get the thing to shoot to point of aim,



\

Shot low with factory sights, taller sight brought group up





or grips that fit the hand better. I play around with the things to get the ejection pattern I want, which is non critical for function. Stuff like that.

 

[md7]

I’ve enjoyed my SA Mil Spec immensely. Would happily make room for the SA Garrison or Loaded.

Most Ruger owners report being happy, as are Dan Wesson and Colt owners. If you’re set on a colt and can’t find one to your specs you could always snag a series 70 and then have the other things added later as time and money permit

Lots of folks use a series 70 or SA Mil Spec as base guns

 

[Tomahawk674]

Thank you for all the helpful replies guys. I'm hunting on GB to see what I can find. The reason I'm somewhat interested in the Colt is that I like the history of the company. I know the Springfield Armory is better value and the same if not better quality.

The XSE that someone pointed out is exactly the setup I would like. I have to keep looking to see what I can find.

 

[md7]

Thank you for all the helpful replies guys. I'm hunting on GB to see what I can find. The reason I'm somewhat interested in the Colt is that I like the history of the company. I know the Springfield Armory is better value and the same if not better quality.

The XSE that someone pointed out is exactly the setup I would like. I have to keep looking to see what I can find.

Nothing at all wrong with wanting a Colt my man. The XSE is certainly a nice one, too.

We’re fortunate to have so many many good production class options these days. Ruger, Colt, Springfield…. Just about can’t go wrong!

 

[Mark_Mark]

1911 look so good! 100 years from now, it will still look good!

Buy one and smile

cock, lock, ready to rock

 

[bannockburn]

Tomahawk674

When I bought these three Colts ten or more years ago, the owner of the gun shop I was at was also a gunsmith who specialized in building custom 1911s. After showing me how close the tolerances were on the guns he went on to say that these were some of the best built Colts he had seen in many, many years.

 

[HisSoldier]

When my gunsmith (Who handled the transfer) took my DW Marksman out of the box he looked it over and said "They sure are making 1911's better than ever now." I never heard him say anything like that about any other pistols I bought.

 

[3Crows]

My RIA GI-FS:




I have some proper slotted stainless grip screws on the way. I installed the WC skeleton hammer and WC hammer strut, WC sear, WC (drop in) beaver tail, WC trigger, WC extended magazine release and a WC main spring cap. It was a good shooter out of the box but I decided to play with it some. I got it for $429 with an additional $60 off with an included gift certificate so that was $369! This pistol was very tightly built and now with a few hundred rounds through it with no malfunctions it is getting very smooth. With all the WC parts, basically replaced the entire fire control system, it has a wonderful trigger break, it was pretty decent to begin with. And, again, yes, those horrid allen screws are on the way out as soon as my slotted screws get here hopefully tomorrow .

3C

 

[CapnMac]

Of the three things you desire, the wood grips are the easiest to skip over.
So, really, all you are looking for is a skeleton trigger and three-dot sights.

There's a huge variety in wood stocks for 1911 models, and the frames are all nearly identical, too, to make that easier.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Tomahawk674

When I bought these three Colts ten or more years ago, the owner of the gun shop I was at was also a gunsmith who specialized in building custom 1911s. After showing me how close the tolerances were on the guns he went on to say that these were some of the best built Colts he had seen in many, many years.

I don’t know if it’s the lighting or camera angles… but these Colts LOOK GOOD! Would love to carry one if those!

 

[Mark_Mark]

When my gunsmith (Who handled the transfer) took my DW Marksman out of the box he looked it over and said "They sure are making 1911's better than ever now." I never heard him say anything like that about any other pistols I bought.

DW just feel good and not too tight… Les Baer -love you

 

[bannockburn]

Mark_Mark

I don’t know if it’s the lighting or camera angles… but these Colts LOOK GOOD!

That's what I thought too when I looked at them! Not only were they put together nice and tight, they all had really great fit and finish.

 

[Spats McGee]

There are LOTS of good choices in 1911s out there. OP, don’t worry about the grips. Even I can change grips on a 1911, and if I can do it, so can you.

 

[Mark_Mark]

There are LOTS of good choices in 1911s out there. OP, don’t worry about the grips. Even I can change grips on a 1911, and if I can do it, so can you.

change the grip is not that easy, they have that 2 part screw thing. Yes… I always learn the hard way