which 1911 would you choose between the two and why

[BrennanKG]

Springfield.

I dislike adjustable sights on handguns.
I prefer internal extractors.

The S&W does win points in my book for having a steel frame rather than alloy.

a show gun. what i mean by that is shoot about 100 through it and put it away

Do you mean a range gun?
Or do you mean more of an investment?
Neither choice ais what I'd call an investment grade firearm.
If you want a 1911 that's a good investment, buy a Colt.
If you mean a range pistol, either one will do, although I'd suggest a steel frame.


B.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

So an S&W is not a good investment?

 

[BrennanKG]

So an S&W is not a good investment?

Either I misstated myself, or you read more into my statement than I intended.

In my opinion, a new issue S&W 1911 is not a good investment choice (unless it's something from their Performance Center). I feel the same way about Springfield 1911s.

I'm in no way saying either is a bad choice for a handgun, simply not the best choice for an investment.

Just my opinion thought,
B.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

OK, i understand what you were trying to say. But basically your telling me to buy a colt regardless? Im buying a 1911 on Saturday, and i still havent made my choice.

 

[tc300mag1]

Colt is Good to colt also holds a higher resell value if you ever need to sell

 

[BrennanKG]

Joe,

Not necessarily.
What I'm really getting at is that most modern firearm are not necessarily "investment grade" items. For example, you buy a perfectly nice handgun, be it an HK USP, Glock, Sig, Springfield, etc. You take it home, then shoot and/or carry it for a year or two. You then decide you want to sell it. You're most likely not going to get your money back on it. But as tc300mag1 stated, Colts seem to generally hold their value.

That doesn't mean that Colt is always the right choice for anyone wanting a 1911. I still don't own a Colt1911 and probably won't until I find the right Delta Elite at the right price. S&W, Dan Wesson, Kimber, Springfield, and Colt all make perfectly good shooters.

B.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

OK, now i get what you are saying. So basically to me it doesn't matter then, because im not big on selling my guns anyway...It's got to be a POS for me to sell it.

 

[TC-TX]

In a 1911 - Springfield for me please...

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

Springfield Armory didn't sell out Chairman Clinton.

Besides I still remember Smith sold out. I have old Rev but nothing new.

S&W is under new ownership now, you can not fault the new owners for what the old owners did.

 

[vanfunk]

The Springfield you linked to is the lightweight model with an aluminum frame - did you really mean to link to it?

There's nothing wrong with aluminum frames per se, but if you're buying this strictly for a range gun (and only considering the aluminum framed Springfield as a competitor) I'd get the S&W between the two. The S&W has a steel frame and will be more controllable at the range. If you decide to carry it, a good IWB holster and belt will close the gap between a 40+oz steel pistol and a 30+oz aluminum pistol. If you're going lightweight, you might as well go lightweight and short (like a 3.5 or 4.25 inch barrel), so the 5" model wouldn't be my choice either.

Personally, I would get a Colt NRM (New Roll Mark) 1991A1 in your choice of blue or stainless as a first 1911A1. Second, and a distant second, I'd take the Springfield (but the steel-framed version, not the aluminum) only for the fact that it has an internal extractor. I find internal extractors easier to work on myself, and I'm a traditionalist (I'd prolly quickly replace the Springfield unit with a better one, i.e. EGW). There's nothing wrong with S&W and they make a great 1911A1 (and, I'd bet, no other American manufacturer knows more about internal extractors than S&W), but I just don't like internal extractors in 1911A1's and feel the geometry's wrong. I have an S&W 1911A1 and have had no malfunctions in approx. 3000 rounds. My older Springfield pre-"Mil-Spec" has approx 5000 rounds with only a few bobbles on SWC target loads. My '67 Colt Gov't has no malf's in 10,000 rounds and my Remington-Rand 1911A1 has no malf's in 125,000 rounds. Bottom line - get what you want and shoot the heck out of it!
vanfunk

 

[Snake Eyes]

1911's don't have external extractors.

Therefore, if you want a 1911, there is only one choice proposed.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

I have the standard S&W 1911 and it is the best 1911 .45 I've ever owned.

Sam

 

[ChuckB]

Internal extractor: traditional, and a piece of cake to clean and reinsert.
External 1911 extractor: non-traditional, and may give you fits trying to
reassemble.

Chuck, who loves his Springfield

 

[Magnumite]

There are not any new guns I know about which are good investments. You lose as soon as you take it home. Buy a new Pro then try to sell it. Less than you paid is what you get.

If you can find a good price on a good used pistol, there you can "invest".