Which 1911 to buy

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bill111444

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I've decided to buy a new 1911. I've narrowed my choices down to two; either the sig 1911 or a kimber, in 45acp. I've herd good and bad about the kimber, but I believe it to be a top quality piece. I haven't herd anything about the sig. If they are anything like the quality of their P220s then they would be a good choice too. Does anyone own the sig? How do you like it? How would you compare it to the kimber? Or would you recommend it? Thanks for the input.
 
kimbers are fine pistols. extremely tight. they also have great customer service.

cant comment on the sig as ive never owned or shot one.
 
If you excluded the S&W SW1911 series you missed good value and customer service.
 
I did a similar search recently and ended up finding Kimber or SA's 1911 "Loaded" model to be the best choice for the $700-1000 budget. On a lighter budget, the Taurus PT1911 is very competitively-priced for the features (match grade, ambi-safety, etc). I've been told it's a great "starter 1911" from quite a few sources.

As for Dan Wesson - they were great pistols but I've heard they may have dropped QC since being bought by CZ. Even if that is 100% rumor, they did drop their warranty from Lifetime to 5 years, which is a deal breaker for me. If they run 99/100 guns perfectly, all it takes is that one not covered after 5 years to bite you.
 
Let's just say that Sig is well known for some amazing weapons: the P220, P232, P226, and the P229 just to name a few. However, the name Sig and 1911 just don't go together very well. It's an okay firearm, there are just so many more better choices out there.

+1 SA Loaded
+1 S&W 1911
+1 Colt
 
i have a taurus, love it, no problems yet at lust a tad over 200 rounds... i just wish i could afford to shoot it more...
 
At the range... the 1911 I see malfunction the most... Kimber.
Cant say which is the least... I dont really notice the guys not having issues.


Jim
 
i currently own everything mentioned minus the sig, not that i would'nt own one just have'nt gotten around to it, my experience is as in life, for the most part you get what you pay for, i dont think you'd have an issue with a kimber or sig, there all quality well thought out pieces, another brand i'd look into is a para, i just picked up a brand new para ssp, at academy's for about $629.00+tax, ..very good 1911 it hangs with all the others mentioned...imo....
 
I think Kimbers look pretty, but are not as likely to run as some other brands. They do look nice, so if you are mainly going to look at your gun, and shoot it very little, then Kimber would be a good way to go.

I think S&W and Colt 1911s are more likely to run reliably out of the box, without a break-in period, or obligatory return to the factory to be made functional.

I only own one Kimber now... and I finally have it running reliably after changing the recoil spring to an appropriate weight (this is a 10mm gun), tweeking the extractor, and changing the slide stop.
 
Well I had my choices down to two, then I run across the sig220 carry SAS and that's one step above any 1911,so I believe that's the one for me. Thanks for your advise too.
 
Between my Sig TTT and my Kimber TLE, there is no comparison. The Sig is a much finer made pistol. If you head over to any 1911 forum, you will see that while SIGs have been improving in their products, the same can not be said of Kimber sadly. Either one I would trust my life to, but the Sig is better machined, better fitted, and shoots better than the Kimber.
 
i haven't shot a sig, but i've heard negative things about them. i've heard negative things about kimber too, but the one i shot (a friend's) worked great (it was a warrior model). of kimbers, i've heard most bad things about their series II (has a schwartz safety i think?). the warrior is a series I...which utilizes a titanium firing pin and stronger firing pin spring in lieu of the schwartz safety...i think. i might be incorrect and too lazy to check myself :p i own a smith and wesson 1911 and agree with other posters, it's excellent...just a little uglier than the kimbers, but hey...beauty is in the eye of the beholder and just one criterion in gun selection for some.
 
Just picked up a Colt XSE about a week and a half ago.

Only taken 'er out once for 100 rounds, but so far this gun blows away the SA Loaded I had a while back, and I did like that gun.

Honestly, I think that right now Colt and Dan Wesson offer the best value right now with SA and S&W not far behind. Kimbers are a very polarizing brand. Folks seem to love them or hate them. I have heard very mixed reviews about the SIG's as well.

Either way, good luck with your decision.
 
I have a lot of Colt 1911's, old and new, and I really like what they've been doing with the late issues. The "enhanced" versions are out of the box accurate, reliable, and good looking too. They've quietly put the second series Kimbers with all of their colors and weird designs to shame on the firing line.

I do have one Kimber but it's a series I Custom, plain and simple along with absolute reliability and accuracy as good as any production gun can give.

I think that Smith & Wesson makes a fine 1911 too, but I can't get past the nanny warnings imprinted on the side of the frames so have not bought one.

I have an old Sig 226, a cop surplus gun, that is completely reliable and tough as nails. Like my Glock 19 I can toss the Sig into a box of rocks in the back of my truck, drive 300 miles with it bouncing around, and KNOW that it'll function like a new one when I get where I'm going.
 
im gonna throw in my vote for a smith and wesson...mine is the performance center black model, for which i saved for quite a long time, and which spoils me beyond belief in every aspect of the gun. it is not what i would describe as "affordable," but then again lots of people have $2000 baers and others, and mine came in around $1400. not chump change, but shoots with the best of them. what i really cant get over is how great it feels when i shoot it-and this is not unique to my s&w, as i have shot some of their other models at their range here in taxa...er i mean...massachusetts...they are outstanding products and values, and i recommend them to everyone i know who is looking for a 1911. my only complaint with mine is that it is on the heavy side, which is fine because im really not looking to carry it, but one of the PD models, made of their scandium alloy, really cuts the weight down, and the guns are still easy to control when shooting. im actually saving for one of these as we speak. also, i've not needed their customer service, but i have heard nothing but good things about that, and they will back the pistol for life should anything go wrong with it. theyre accurate, well-made, competitively priced (plus made in the USA), and just a complete joy to own and shoot. i will certainly be buying more after this experience, and i doubt very much you will have a bad experience if you choose s&w as well. the only reason i would chose a sig over one of these would be concealability with the sig "compact" group of 1911s. the have a commander length slide with a shortened grip, which would be great for a carry pistol. unfortunately not available in my state, yet at least, so my decision not to buy that one has been made for me. good luck in your search!
 
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