I am looking for something that looks fairly original. I would not like one that is tactical. I have been looking at the Springfield and the Remington as well as a Auto Ordnance. Let me know what you think, price doesn't really matter and it will be used as a regular shooter, and something to be comparable to what my Grandfathers carried in World War two and the Vietnam War. Thanks.
What is the best 1911
- Thread starter acman
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Stony
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I'd definitely go with the Springfield, they are tough and will stand up to a lot of use.
Ditto... the Springfield Mil-Spec is an excellent 1911 and is as good as it gets in that 'mid-price' range... backed by an excellent Company!
Had one for a couple years and it was a flawless shoot... eventually, sadly sold it to get a pair of Colts.
You will not be disappointed with this pistola!!
Had one for a couple years and it was a flawless shoot... eventually, sadly sold it to get a pair of Colts.
You will not be disappointed with this pistola!!
moxie
Member
the Colt series 70 is about as close to what you want as you can find:
http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols/ColtSeries70™.aspx
http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPistols/ColtSeries70™.aspx
Baba Louie
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How old are your eyes? The tiny sights used might be a PITA but they are more authentic than better white dot sights.
I enjoy my Springfield GI, small sights and all. No longer made and sold here by SAI, made in Brazil, tis a joy none the less. Springfield's MilSpec has the bigger better dot sights and a few other new additions useful or cosmetic. Good gun, good maker (IMBEL) great customer service.
Have only fondled a Rem R1. Roll mark was a bit off putting. Rest of sidearm was well built, but did not shoot it, so I got nothing there.
Auto Ordnance is getting good reviews as of late. Not always the case back in the day. Don't know anything about them other than they look "right".
You probably can't go wrong with any one of those three... or a Colt Series 70/80.
I can only attest to the Springfield variation (and the Colts as well). Both marques worthy of owning, (probably all four are actually).
I enjoy my Springfield GI, small sights and all. No longer made and sold here by SAI, made in Brazil, tis a joy none the less. Springfield's MilSpec has the bigger better dot sights and a few other new additions useful or cosmetic. Good gun, good maker (IMBEL) great customer service.
Have only fondled a Rem R1. Roll mark was a bit off putting. Rest of sidearm was well built, but did not shoot it, so I got nothing there.
Auto Ordnance is getting good reviews as of late. Not always the case back in the day. Don't know anything about them other than they look "right".
You probably can't go wrong with any one of those three... or a Colt Series 70/80.
I can only attest to the Springfield variation (and the Colts as well). Both marques worthy of owning, (probably all four are actually).
1911 Pistols
I've had several Springfields, including the Professional. I've had a Wilson, & several Les Baers. I've had several Colts. I've had several S&W, Kimbers, Paras, etc. A few full custom 1911's ie Rogers, Yost, Ten X, Cyl. & Slide, and several more I can't think of at the moment. All the "high end" 1911's have been shot quite a bit and traded off (trading is a sickness you know (grin). They are all gone.
Except the Les Baer Monolith Heavy and the Ten X. I'll keep the Ten X as it's a full custom designed and speced by me. Also has my name as the serial number.
As for 1911's overall. I've never owned a better 1911 than the Les Baer Monolith Heavy. Nothing I've owned has been more reliable. Nothing has been more accurate (or more easy to shoot accurately). The Mono Heavy really is a better "mouse trap" in my opinion. It's Patented by Baer. It's more than just a 1911 with an extended "dust cover". The Mono is a bargain too. It is, in my opinion, a full custom pistol. Only it's Les Baers idea of what a full custom 1911 should be.
Turns out he's was right with the Mono Heavy in my opinion.
I've had several Springfields, including the Professional. I've had a Wilson, & several Les Baers. I've had several Colts. I've had several S&W, Kimbers, Paras, etc. A few full custom 1911's ie Rogers, Yost, Ten X, Cyl. & Slide, and several more I can't think of at the moment. All the "high end" 1911's have been shot quite a bit and traded off (trading is a sickness you know (grin). They are all gone.
Except the Les Baer Monolith Heavy and the Ten X. I'll keep the Ten X as it's a full custom designed and speced by me. Also has my name as the serial number.
As for 1911's overall. I've never owned a better 1911 than the Les Baer Monolith Heavy. Nothing I've owned has been more reliable. Nothing has been more accurate (or more easy to shoot accurately). The Mono Heavy really is a better "mouse trap" in my opinion. It's Patented by Baer. It's more than just a 1911 with an extended "dust cover". The Mono is a bargain too. It is, in my opinion, a full custom pistol. Only it's Les Baers idea of what a full custom 1911 should be.
Turns out he's was right with the Mono Heavy in my opinion.
Dframe
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I'm a Colt guy so what did you expect? Colt of course.
il.bill
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My choice would be the Colt Series 70.
That is a dangerous thing to say. My answer would still be that you cannot go wrong with a Colt for your first 1911. Then you can go up and/or down in price from there.
InkEd
Member
Springfield Mil-Spec
If you're made of money, then go to one of the low-volume custom makers and get a personalized pistol of your dreams.
If you're a working guy with limited resources like me, then a Colt Series 70 is about as solid as it gets. I have two.
If you're a working guy with limited resources like me, then a Colt Series 70 is about as solid as it gets. I have two.
Nickb45
Member
If you don't mind the wait or cost then my vote goes to a Springfield Professional. (It's on my list of must have pistols) there is nothing wrong with a production model Springfield either.
Ruger is putting out a good made in America pistol, I'm very happy with my CMD.
There are soooo many choices, it really depends on how deep you want to dig into your wallet.
Ruger is putting out a good made in America pistol, I'm very happy with my CMD.
There are soooo many choices, it really depends on how deep you want to dig into your wallet.
gunsablazin
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Another vote for Springfield here, I don't think there is a better 1911 made in that price range. If money is no object, look at Wilson Combat.
ForumSurfer
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Once someone says their _____ is the best, I usually stop listening to what they're saying and pay them no mind.
Seriously, it depends entirely on purpose since there are so many on the market.
Are you going to shoot it often?
What do you consider often?
Are you going to ever carry it concealed?
Are you going to shoot it in some competition?
Is it ever going to be used in a home defense role?
For me a government sized colt 1911 in just about any flavor fills all those roles. You might shoot 5x the amount that I do and then my advice means absolutely nothing. You may want a carry gun that you send a couple hundred rounds a month through and practice on other guns so you might be ok with a lightweight officers model. You may never put more than 1000 rounds through it in which case any 1911 will do. Then you get into the nit-picking stuff. Like I prefer a single sided safety and no FLGR. Your preferences will vary.
But the best...that doesn't exist. It's all very subjective based on what we are going to do with it. You wouldn't get a ferrari to haul wood nor would you get an f-150 for auto cross. What do you want to do with it, how often and what size do you prefer? And do you want fries with that?
Seriously, it depends entirely on purpose since there are so many on the market.
Are you going to shoot it often?
What do you consider often?
Are you going to ever carry it concealed?
Are you going to shoot it in some competition?
Is it ever going to be used in a home defense role?
For me a government sized colt 1911 in just about any flavor fills all those roles. You might shoot 5x the amount that I do and then my advice means absolutely nothing. You may want a carry gun that you send a couple hundred rounds a month through and practice on other guns so you might be ok with a lightweight officers model. You may never put more than 1000 rounds through it in which case any 1911 will do. Then you get into the nit-picking stuff. Like I prefer a single sided safety and no FLGR. Your preferences will vary.
But the best...that doesn't exist. It's all very subjective based on what we are going to do with it. You wouldn't get a ferrari to haul wood nor would you get an f-150 for auto cross. What do you want to do with it, how often and what size do you prefer? And do you want fries with that?
fallout mike
Member
If money were no object for me I might would get a Wilson.
jfrey
Member
The best 1911? The one in your hand if you ever need it. Aside from that, Baer, Wilson, Briley, and Colt.
Sergei Mosin
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Seems like a lot of folks are missing what the OP is after. Baers and Wilsons and such are fine pistols, but the OP is looking for a GI-style gun, not a custom.
There are a couple of current offerings from Colt that would probably be the highest quality among GI-style 1911s. They've also made a couple of WWI and WWII reproductions that are quite good, but tend to command relatively high prices, as the collectors have gotten hold of them. The Springfield guns are next in line; their basic GI model is out of production but the Mil-Spec is pretty close and it's a quality weapon - I have one that's seen a fair number of rounds and a lot of use as a carry gun.
After that you're into Remington, Rock Island, and Auto-Ordnance. They're all decent guns, maybe lacking a bit in fit and finish, but quite serviceable. The current iteration of Auto-Ordnance (run by Kahr) makes a fairly faithful replica of a WWII 1911A1 at a price much lower than that of a Colt reproduction.
There may be a few other companies making GI-style 1911s, but those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.
There are a couple of current offerings from Colt that would probably be the highest quality among GI-style 1911s. They've also made a couple of WWI and WWII reproductions that are quite good, but tend to command relatively high prices, as the collectors have gotten hold of them. The Springfield guns are next in line; their basic GI model is out of production but the Mil-Spec is pretty close and it's a quality weapon - I have one that's seen a fair number of rounds and a lot of use as a carry gun.
After that you're into Remington, Rock Island, and Auto-Ordnance. They're all decent guns, maybe lacking a bit in fit and finish, but quite serviceable. The current iteration of Auto-Ordnance (run by Kahr) makes a fairly faithful replica of a WWII 1911A1 at a price much lower than that of a Colt reproduction.
There may be a few other companies making GI-style 1911s, but those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.
EXACTLY! I was just about to say something. There have been recommendations for the Ruger SR1911, Kimbers, Les Bears, etc... But the OP wants the original GI look. Stainless steel, lowered/flared ejection ports, front cocking serrations, beavertails etc... don't really fit into that.
I'll throw in my vote for the old Springfield Armory GI. If you are willing to live with a few minor updates, the Mil-Spec is a fantastic pistol for the price.
My carry gun and HD gun is a very basic Colt 1991A1. Minus the Hogue finger groove grips I've added since this picture was taken, it would probably fit your bill as an original looking piece.
It is unbelievably reliable, and will even load empty cases from the mag. The more I shoot it, the more I like it. I don't think you could possibly go wrong with a colt 1991A1 or series 70.
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