Which 1911 under $800?

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Dollar An Hour

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This will be my first 1911, I'd like it to be a good experience. :D Something reliable out of the box. It'll serve as a range gun, fun gun and home defense.
Who knows, if I like it enough I may carry it... :uhoh:

I'm open to suggestions but some quick online shopping has yielded the following choices, prices are out the door, opinions appreciated:

-Colt M1991A1 stainless $717

-Springfield Mil-Spec Parkerized $606

-S&W SW1911: various models under $750, some with Novak sights.

What 1911 would you recommend and why in this price range?
 
Get the Colt.
It is the original. The other 2 are good guns from what I have read but at that price point you may as well get a Colt.

I'm sure someone will post an opinion counter to mine, but if it were me I would get a Colt.
 
well I would lean toward the colt stainless over the springfield GI

you should consider the more enhanced models if you want something for home defence. Night sights would certainly come in handy.

sorry not familar with the s&w model 1911(s)
I own a kimber classic custom which I bought about 6 years ago. I am not sure what they go for now but it must be higher that your price range.
 
With that list, I would go with the S&W.

Colts are fine, but not too many extra features and not everybody likes the series 80 firing pin safety.

Springfields are good guns. I would prob. get one of those before the Colt- same feature level, lower price, good customer service.

You can prob. get a S&W with a nice amount of value-added features (better sights, beavertail safety, etc.) in that price range. S&W also has good customer service, and I have heard very good things about their 1911s.

Some people put great stock in the name on the box ("If it's not Colt, it's crap"). I am not one of those people. If I can get a good gun at a good price and have the manufacturer stand behind it, then nice alliterative slogans just don't mean squat.
 
The Para SSP Royal is an option. It's in your price range. Also GunTest's magazine ranked it over Sig's and STI's comparable guns. I own a Para that is a very nice pistol. You've shorting yourself on possibilities. There are quit a few 45's out there in your price range. Hope you find what your looking for and congrat's on your choice of the 1911 platform. :) Don't forget Dan Wesson's. With CZ in control they seem to be making nice reasonably priced 45's again.
 
Kimber Custom II in Stainless -- I own one, I love it. I got one with the extractor problem and Kimber came through so fast they flew.

This pistol shoots much better than I can. Less than $800 at a store near you.
 
I would get the S&W.

Sorry, not a colt fan. I was all set to buy one last year - the ones I saw were pretty crappy. Quality control is poor. Trigger was terrible - many other issues. There are some 1911 diehards that will take this as if I am insulting their religion. But, I believe Colt quality is not as good as it used to be.

I have seen some of the cheaper Sig 1911 models for less than $800 recently too.
 
get the springer... great gun, good customer service, LIFETIME WARRANTY, very easy to add-on custom pieces like beavertail, hammer, trigger, ... by EB, Wilson, and others...

my first 1911 was a Rock Island Armory (~$350'ish) and has been nothing but AWESOME in reliability, consistency and ability to upgrade... and also the .22LR conversion kit bolts on in 10secs and is a blast to plink and practice with :D

Good luck...
 
I've been well pleased with my Springfield Milspec. Has functioned flawlessly with 7 different factory ammos and my 200gr SWC handloads. That may be the going price in your area but I bought mine for $539 about 6 weeks ago and the dealer had to order it.
 
I don't think any of your choices would be bad at all. Personally I would go with the SW as they are making some very nice 1911s lately and have a good reputation for out of the box accuracy and reliability. My full sizes fall outside that price range (one low, the other high) but my Commander sized SW remains one of my favorites. I have shot their stainless full size quite a bit too and found it to be an excellent midpriced option. I suspect my next 1911 will be a Colt just because I think a 1911 collection should have one and their Defender is reputed to be amongst the most reliable of the smaller 1911s, but a Colt is not necessarily the first choice I would make for a first or only full size.
 
questions

Thanks for the replies. A couple pro-Colt, a couple pro-S&W, a couple pro-Springfield... Guess I can't go wrong here? ;)

Are Mil-Specs made in the USA?

Doesn't the Colt M1991 have more basic sights than S&W, Kimber or Springfield in the same price range?

How's customer service from Colt? I know Springfield and S&W are terrific.

What's the scoop on Kimber - are you paying for a name? I know Kimber is a little smaller operation, what are they doing that the other guys don't do. Seems like I see alot of love 'em or hate 'em comments on Kimbers. :scrutiny:
 
All the 1911s you listed are good values for the money. All are good, durable 1911s, and all will outshoot most folks.

If you are a traditionalist, but the Colt. You eventually will anyway.
If you want a swoopdedoo 1911 with curvy high speed stuff, get the S&W.
If neither of the above matter to you get the Springfield.
 
I agree with XavierBreath.

If you are a traditionalist, but the Colt. You eventually will anyway.
If you want a swoopdedoo 1911 with curvy high speed stuff, get the S&W.
If neither of the above matter to you get the Springfield.
Click to expand...
 
DW?

How have the Dan Wessons turned out to be? What's their deal, sortof a factory custom using some aftermarket parts? Looks like a Pointman 7 goes for about $800.

Does anything in this price range stand out as far as trigger quality, or are 1911s about the same in this price range?

Any reason to look at the Commander size, or is full-size the way to go for the first one?

Are the scandium S&W's a handful in terms of muzzle flip?
 
Springfield standard 1911 'loaded model' retails for $678 and at that is a good deal. It has Novak combat sights, adj trigger, full-length guide rod, nice wood grips. Check it out on Springfields sight or better yet go hands on with one at a gunshop.

Good luck!
 
$/hr,
In your price range you can buy a solid forged 1911, or you can buy a pistol with a lot of inexpensively made factory "upgrades". Colt, S&W and Springfield all make good pistols in that price bracket. You will find that most people simply recommend what they own. That is of course what I am doing as well. I own Colts, S&Ws and springfields when it comes to 1911s. I used to own others, but now I own Colts, S&W and Springfields. I am satisfied with them all.

Whether you buy Government or Commander or even scandium, depends on what you want the pistol to do. I would avoid scandium unless I was going to carry the pistol. Only then is it an asset. For some people, a Commander simply balances better than a Gov. You don't know unless you handle them a bit. The Commander does allow for easier carry when seated, for some folks and some modes of carry.
 
I recently was at a gun show, saw a Kimber Classic with night sights, for $725. I own a Classic Royal, bought it for about $650 six years ago, love it, very tight gun and smooth. I would highly recommend a Kimber. My second choice, a Springfield.


Semper FI
 
SW1911 is IMHO the best high volume mass produced 1911 right now. They are good to go out of the box (very few user reported problems) and the customer service from S&W is in most people's experience first rate.

You won't regret getting one. :D

James
 
The wife's SA Mil-Spec has been very reliable out of the box with probably 1500 rounds through it. The only thing we had to dial in was what magazines it likes. Too bad it turns out that it likes Chip McCormick's ($$).

If I buy a 1911, I will get one with an enhanced set of sights on it. The Mil-Spec ones just don't do it for me.
 
S&W first, in particular the stainless scandium 1911~!:D Then, the
Springfield Mil-Spec with three dot sights, lowered and flared ejection
port. I don't own the Smith, but I do own a Mil Spec and I'm here to
tell you its a very nice weapon~!:D My Springfield G.I. Mil Spec was
purchased NIB (06 package) for $421~!
 
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