What's the Best 1911?

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Phil DeGraves

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Maybe this has been asked before, but I'm relatively new here. Which commercial make and model of 1911 do you feel is best? I am not talking custom race guns like the Les Baer or Wilson. Just go to the guns store and buy it 1911s. Please speak from experience.
Colt
Kimber
Springfield
SIG
S&W
Dan Wesson
Auto Ordnance
Taurus
Norinco
LLama
Star
Ballester Molena

Did I miss any?

In my experience, the Colt and the Kimber win hands down. The Kimber generally comes with more features standard, but Colt is now coming out with ones to compete. The Springfields are good and have good customer service, but I shouldn't have had to find that out. The SIG GSR is a good shooting piece but not terribly reliable yet. The Dan Wessons had some real quality control issues, but I haven't tried one out since CZ took over.
 
Haven't shot the S&W but they look pretty good. Not fond of the external extractor though.
 
Smith and Wesson is the best. Colt is second.

I have had very bad luck with Kimbers and Springfields, and will not buy another one of them. If I got one for free, I still wouldn't want it. I have had appallingly bad customer service from both of those companies as well.

Others will disagree, but I think they are wrong.

On the issue of the external extractor, I like them and think they are a good idea considering the manufacturing techniques currently used to cut cost. The original design of the 1911 called for the internal extractor to be made of spring steel so it could be properly tensions. Today, most internal extractors are not made of spring steel, and therefore will not maintain proper tension long term, leading to failure to extract properly. The external extractor can make up for this.

If they would make internal extractors out of proper spring steel, I would have no problem with them.
 
There was a time when I bought and sold guns a bunch, and had several 1911's (Kimber, Springfield, Wilson Combat, STI, S&W, SIG GSR). I sold them all except for the Kimber, and that's because I had a lot of money tied up in that gun. The only gun I've sold that I regret selling is a SW1911SC.

I don't have time to do all of the research I used to before buying a gun, so if I had the inclination to buy a 1911 again, I would go straight for S&W. Period.
 
I think Colt is best, especially the pre Series 80.

Just my opinion, I don't think the others are tresh, I just like Colt the best. You should get the one that you like the best, you will enjoy it more and have more confidence in it, and that my friend is the name of the game.

Ron
 
The best non custom or semi custom 1911 I have ever owned is my Springfield Armory TRP 1911. If you shop, you should be able to get a new one for around $1400, maybe a little less. This puts the TRP in the midrange price category, as the semi customs go for $2000 and up, custom jobs for $2500-3500 and up.

I have fiddled with several Kimber Warriors and Desert Warriors, which is roughly Kimber's equivalent to the TRP. IMHO, the TRP is hands down a better 1911.

My TRP has 700 rounds through it with not one malfunction of any kind, and has exhibited outstanding accuracy. One of the first groups I shot with it was 7 rounds into one hole at 7 yards, fired offhand.

You can't go wrong with a Springfield Armory TRP, I'm tellin' ya!:D
 
This question gets asked all of the time and it is all a matter of opinion. Different brands all have their advantages, so you need to figure out what you want it for, and how much you want to spend.

I quote, "the search engine is your friend" someone told me this and I never looked back.:D Do a quick search and just type in 1911, and you will have all of your questions answered and all the opinions you could ever need.

Also, if i had a dollar for every time ive heard this id be rich, but it all comes down to what fits your hand and what shoots well for you.
 
I already have what's best for me (4 Colts, 3 Kimbers, 1 Springfield). Just wondered what everybody else liked.
 
Personal Experience is limited to Dan Wesson, I have two and feel they are the most Bang for the Buck of any 1911 on the market. 100% Built in US. New ones are all Ed Brown/Sti/Greider small parts. Available in 45 & even better, 10mm. I have both calibers. The 45 is nice, but the 10mm is much more satisfying to shoot.
 
Yeah, you're right, you're right, this has been asked a couple times before ;) In my humble opinion, Colt rocks :cool: I've owned a few others, but I keep going back to the 1911 w/ the Pony :cool:
 
The best 1911 is the one that costs a dollar more than I can afford. :D I make do with a Para SSP which has never had a hic up and two Custom Norincos and a STI Trojan in 9MM. Trust my life with any of them.

Take Care

Bob
 
Based on my experience, this is how I view them:

Ist string:

Colt
Springfield
S&W

Second string:

Dan Wesson
SIG
Kimber

Scrubs:

Ballester Molena
Auto Ordnance
Norinco
Taurus
Star
LLama

I would never consider one of the scrubs...

My TRP has 700 rounds through it with not one malfunction of any kind, and has exhibited outstanding accuracy. One of the first groups I shot with it was 7 rounds into one hole at 7 yards, fired offhand.
Click to expand...

7 yards is not much of an accuracy test for any handgun...IMHO, of course...
 
My 2 Norincos were more reliable than my Colt.

My Kimber Classic Custom is better fitted and finished then my Colt XSE.

I have heard nothing seriously negative about the Smith & Wesson 1911's, which I have never owned. Kimber, Smith, Colt, or Springer would be good choices.
 
I would personally prefer an STI Eagle 6.0: double-stack longslide. Need I say any more? :D
 
Your choice...

Phil looks like to me your minds made up that it is going to be a Colt or a Kimber. Look around and see if you can rent one or borrow one from somebody and try it out for yourself. That will tell you a hole lot more than all of us telling you about our favorites.:)
 
My experience with 1911s is that you get what you pay for. However, I owned a Rock Island Armory 1911 and it thoroughly impressed me. The pistol was stolen from inside my jeep here in florida. However, I'd say precision and reliability are two main factors. If you want your pistol to be more precise, then you won't be able to pick it out of the dirt and fire it. As goes for if you want to be able to drop it around and still have it fire, it won't be extremely accurate, either.
 
varoadking,

So what exactly is "your experience" ? I take it you've owned ALL of those 1911's, so you can give some opinions on all of them?

I'm being serious. I'd like to know.
 
so who's the best for reliability out of the box, no gunsmithing, no tweaking with extractor, no problems ever? :p
 
I guess the best way too sum up "what's the best 1911" is to say "too
each his on". And, with that said I own 1911's made by Springfield,
Kimber, Smith & Wesson, and a semi-custom Les Baer Thunder Ranch
model. All have functioned flawlessly; and I can shoot them accurately.
What else could one ask for from a 1911~?:eek: :cool: :D
 
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