Steelharp
Member
Get a Colt. After you've handled it and shot it a while, you'll understand why so many folks jumped in on manufacturing 1911's; it's just the greatest pistol ever... at least, so is the opinion of a lot of folks.
Which 1911 under $800?
- Thread starter Dollar An Hour
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I had the SA Loaded in stainless and could not shoot it accurately, nice looking gun, but if I can't shoot it good, don't want it. I just recently picked up the SA G.I. model, and even though it has the smaller sights and is not as refined I shoot it very well and am very satisfied with it and it didn't cost but around $500.
I prefer the Colt.
The last Colt 1991A1 I bought was excellent out of the box. Internals were clean and the small parts fit right. It hit at point of aim and hasn't malfunctioned yet. What more can you ask?
I had a Springfield loaded and was disappointed. Yes, it had a lot of extra's added, but the gun wouldn't run. I sent it out for a trigger and action job and ended up paying a lot more to get it right. It's a nice gun now.
I've never held a S&W 1911, but some of the parts are not standard such as the external extractor. It may be a great gun.
The last Colt 1991A1 I bought was excellent out of the box. Internals were clean and the small parts fit right. It hit at point of aim and hasn't malfunctioned yet. What more can you ask?
I had a Springfield loaded and was disappointed. Yes, it had a lot of extra's added, but the gun wouldn't run. I sent it out for a trigger and action job and ended up paying a lot more to get it right. It's a nice gun now.
I've never held a S&W 1911, but some of the parts are not standard such as the external extractor. It may be a great gun.
chakup
Member
I'd go springfield. excellent guns, nice quality. I've had nothing but good luck with them, and when needed they have excellent customer service.
I like the S&W 1911. I admit I don't have too much experience with 1911s (this is the first one I've owned) but I'm happy with mine. I looked at some Colts and they didn't impress me, and the SAs are made in Brazil, which offends me a little. So, when I was shopping for a 1911 in about the same price range, I picked the S&W and I'll tell you why:
1) The blued model looks very nice, and is quite "clean" with wooden grips and no front serrations on the slide. The external extractor was a bit of a turn off but it works real well.
2) On the various forums I checked, there were by far fewer people complaining about problems with S&Ws, as a percentage of the posts, than other comparable models.
3) The blued model with adjustable sights cost me just $702.
4) S&W support. Mine came with the slide all scratched up and the dirtbag internet seller (That's KsTactical on gunbroker, aka "Wilson & Associates.") wouldn't take it back. S&W paid for next-day shipping both ways and replaced the slide and did an action job it for $25. Even threw in an extra eight round mag. Whole thing took about five weeks.
And it looks good
1) The blued model looks very nice, and is quite "clean" with wooden grips and no front serrations on the slide. The external extractor was a bit of a turn off but it works real well.
2) On the various forums I checked, there were by far fewer people complaining about problems with S&Ws, as a percentage of the posts, than other comparable models.
3) The blued model with adjustable sights cost me just $702.
4) S&W support. Mine came with the slide all scratched up and the dirtbag internet seller (That's KsTactical on gunbroker, aka "Wilson & Associates.") wouldn't take it back. S&W paid for next-day shipping both ways and replaced the slide and did an action job it for $25. Even threw in an extra eight round mag. Whole thing took about five weeks.
And it looks good
Think used market
I've seen Kimber Pre Series II's for a good price from time to time. These were excellent 1911's with great accuracy and outstanding relaibility. Look for the Custom or Custom Target. You will bet a lot of extras with these 1911's for a great price.
Dobe
I've seen Kimber Pre Series II's for a good price from time to time. These were excellent 1911's with great accuracy and outstanding relaibility. Look for the Custom or Custom Target. You will bet a lot of extras with these 1911's for a great price.
Dobe
Tom Servo
Member
S&W 1911PD has been 100% for me. Don't listen to the horror stories about the external extractors; Smith's been making them for years, and mine's never hiccuped. Should be around $750 street for one of the Scandiums.
cbsbyte
Member
Smith for me.
For what its worth. I would recommend Smith & Wesson 1911s. I have shot a few of the models and I really like them. They seem well made, accurate, and work well right out of the box. Everyone that I know who owns one, raves about about them. Of course I live in Mass and we have a very limited choice on 1911s we can buy new. We are allowed to buy all the Smiths, some RIA, a few STI, several Para and hopefully soon Sig models will be added to the list.
For what its worth. I would recommend Smith & Wesson 1911s. I have shot a few of the models and I really like them. They seem well made, accurate, and work well right out of the box. Everyone that I know who owns one, raves about about them. Of course I live in Mass and we have a very limited choice on 1911s we can buy new. We are allowed to buy all the Smiths, some RIA, a few STI, several Para and hopefully soon Sig models will be added to the list.
Dollar An Hour
Member
You guys aren't making this easy! Springfield is obviously popular, but nary a negative comment about S&W. Colt also seems to have a big fan base.
I'm not crazy about Springfields being made in Brazil - would rather have an American-made 1911. Guess I'll handle the Colt and S&W and go from there.
BTW, anybody checked out the Sig 1911?
I'm not crazy about Springfields being made in Brazil - would rather have an American-made 1911. Guess I'll handle the Colt and S&W and go from there.
BTW, anybody checked out the Sig 1911?
cbsbyte
Member
The Sigarms 1911s are made in the New Hampshire plant. So they are 100% American made. But they cost more than $800.
neoncowboy
Member
I won't ever buy another Kimber...too hit/miss on the quality control.
My Springfield is my favorite 1911 and I can't wait to get more of them. I especilally love no firing pin safety and a 'locking device' in the mainspring housing that can easily be replaced with a non-locking/standard mainspring housing.
Excellent features. Excellent quality. Excellent price. Excellent customer service.
My Springfield is my favorite 1911 and I can't wait to get more of them. I especilally love no firing pin safety and a 'locking device' in the mainspring housing that can easily be replaced with a non-locking/standard mainspring housing.
Excellent features. Excellent quality. Excellent price. Excellent customer service.
Dollar An Hour
Member
Can you tell me the advantage of no firing pin safety? Does it make the weapon easier to disassemble?
Also, don't all Springfields have the titanium firing pin which serves as a drop safety? Anything wrong with that, or do these tend to get light strikes?
What do the more feature-laden models such as S&Ws, and Springfield's Loaded offer that the basic Colt M1991A1, Springer G.I. or Mil-Spec do not - and what does these features add to the shooting experience?
Is it better to jump right into my first 1911 loaded with features, or just start with a basic Colt or Mil-Spec and add to it if I want to later?
As far as the Kimber goes, yes sometimes assembly after disassembly is a potential problem. The Colt is not a problem when field stripping. The reason that traditionalist do not like the FP safety is that we feel it is not needed. Its just another part to cause potential problems. In reality, the Series 80 Colt demonstrates little or no problems. I do not like the Swartz on the Kimber. I feel it is a little touchy. I have one Series II Kimber, which will not allow me to pull the trigger unless the grip saftey is applied 100 %.
Don't know this one.
The most obvious is the external extractor on the S&W. The standard traditional type 1911 has an internal extractor. Both will work equally well when both are properly built, tuned, and installed. Kimber has screwed the pooch on this one several times. The Loaded will offer extended beaver tail and better sights, adjustable trigger, etc. See below link.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-pstl-feat.shtml
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...1&parent_category_rn=15708&top_category=15708
An advantage to having an internal extractor is that the owner can tune and replace the extractor himself/herself. This is really a big deal, if you consider the new-comers to the 1911 world of manufacturing. Will Sig and S&W be making their version of the 1911 in five years? If not, where will you get extractors? A commonality of basic parts is what makes the traditional 1911 so attractive. You can find parts just about anywhere.
It depends on your budget and what you want. To me, good sights are a must. I also like the beavertail with the speedbump.
Check out the link.
Dobe
tegemu
Member
I have a Springfield GI-45, a Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail, a Kimber Ultra Carry II but far and away my Smith & Wesson Scandium Commander that I had bobtailed by Jess Gypin is my favorite. Carryability, weight, feel and reliability put it in my #1 slot and #1 carry gun. You may have seen pictures of it on this and other forums.
OK so you don't like the Colt S80 safety which is pretty much bulletproof and has been proven for many, many years.
But you do like the Swartz style FP block in the S&W that is known to be problematic? My best friend has a stainless S&W 1911 and it has been back to S&W because it had a tendency to go "click" when it should have gone "bang." BTW, Colt was the first to use the Swartz style safety many, many years ago. They decided it was a flawed system and stopped using it long before Kimber and S&W adopted it.
The Colt S80 FP safety on my 1991A1 pistols has been very good. it adds ~1/4# to the trigger pull, but if the trigger is set right you won't notice it. If you have a light target trigger you might feel it, but I keep my 1911 triggers at a smooth, crisp 5# and the S80 FP safety has gone unnoticed. If you field strip a Colt 1991A1 and squeeze the trigger you'll see that teh FP safety lever engages very early in the trigger movement and is complete long before the sear releases. I went without a Colt for a long time because of the BS about that safety; it's really a non-issue while shooting -- very reliable. I do not like the Schwartz safety on the Kimber and S&W 1911's. That design has had problems, Colt was wise to set it aside. $.02
stiletto raggio
Member
neoncowboy
Member
No firing pin safety means nothing can go wrong with the firing pin safety. The firing pin safety disconnector wont' get snagged and cause the gun to fail to return to battery (like in my $1000 Kimber..go figure).
I just have a preference for leaving the 1911 as close as possible to the way JMB designed it...they seem to work better that way.
Zen21Tao
Member
- For between $600 and $800 I would go with a Kimber Custom/Custom II or a Springfield "Loaded."
- For between $400 and $600 I guess I would go with the Springfield GI
- For less than $400 I would go with a Norinco 1911 if you are lucky enough to find one. They may be Chinese made but they are made from solid forged steel (as opposed to cheap alloy) and have match grade accuracy that many Norinco owners (myself included) compare to the accuracy of many $2000+ 1911s.
- For between $400 and $600 I guess I would go with the Springfield GI
- For less than $400 I would go with a Norinco 1911 if you are lucky enough to find one. They may be Chinese made but they are made from solid forged steel (as opposed to cheap alloy) and have match grade accuracy that many Norinco owners (myself included) compare to the accuracy of many $2000+ 1911s.
Dollar An Hour
Member
Kimber - The Custom II and TLE do look nice. The comments on the Swartz FP safety concern me a little bit. On the forums, Kimber seems to have more naysayers than other brands. Taking that with a grain of salt however because people with negative input are the most vocal about it. I know there are tons of happy Kimber owners and their CS is said to be terrific.
S&W - I like everything I've heard about the S&Ws, EXCEPT the Swartz FP safety. They *must* have the external extractor dialed in - nobody complains about it. Free 2-way shipping for CS is a plus.
Springfield - No Swartz safety and good CS. The Loaded looks like a good value although some think the Ti firing pin is prone to lighter-than-ideal primer strikes.
Colt - The M1991A1 Stainless looks like a nice pistol for about $700. It looks like it might need a dehorning job though, pretty sharp-edged.
I'd better look into this...
The Reverend
Member
S&W
The Colt 1991, while a nice gun, is not in the same league as the others mentioned. Now the Colt custom 1991/1911 are a different story. Compare the 1991 to a SA mil-spec as they would are closer in features.
The S&W 1911s are excellent and in my opinion are better than the current Kimbers and are typically less expensive.
Blessings
The Colt 1991, while a nice gun, is not in the same league as the others mentioned. Now the Colt custom 1991/1911 are a different story. Compare the 1991 to a SA mil-spec as they would are closer in features.
The S&W 1911s are excellent and in my opinion are better than the current Kimbers and are typically less expensive.
Blessings
stiletto raggio
Member
In terms of "features" the Colt may not be as nice, but fit and finish are quite good and accuracy is more than accepatble. For home defense, I wouldn't get something without either night sigthts or a rail attachment (preferable both) but my Colt serves me well at the range. There is something fun about a stock gun; though mine is engraved, the hammer and grip safety are in basically original configuration. Love it.
Dollar An Hour
Member
Checkering & bumps...
Got out and handled some 1911's today.
I learned that I'm not crazy about the 'speedbump' on the grip safety found on S&W's, and Springfield's Loaded model. It feels like it'd irritate the palm of the shooting hand in a hurry under recoil. Anybody else not like these, or do you not even notice it when firing?
I notice that Kimber, Colt, Springfield's Mil-Spec and the Sig GSR don't have the bump.
Also not crazy about the front strap checkering I found on the Kimber TLE, not sure if this would get irritating. The Custom II with the smooth front strap felt nice.
I'm looking at the Colt 1991 or Series 70, S-A Mil-Spec and Sig.
The Sig felt slim, comfortable and well built. I love the factory dehorning job, the gun feels very sleek. Don't really care for the non-traditional slide profile though. It doesn't look like a 1911.
Got out and handled some 1911's today.
I learned that I'm not crazy about the 'speedbump' on the grip safety found on S&W's, and Springfield's Loaded model. It feels like it'd irritate the palm of the shooting hand in a hurry under recoil. Anybody else not like these, or do you not even notice it when firing?
I notice that Kimber, Colt, Springfield's Mil-Spec and the Sig GSR don't have the bump.
Also not crazy about the front strap checkering I found on the Kimber TLE, not sure if this would get irritating. The Custom II with the smooth front strap felt nice.
I'm looking at the Colt 1991 or Series 70, S-A Mil-Spec and Sig.
The Sig felt slim, comfortable and well built. I love the factory dehorning job, the gun feels very sleek. Don't really care for the non-traditional slide profile though. It doesn't look like a 1911.
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