Which 1911?

which fighting 1911 would you bet your life on?

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possum

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alright i am in the market for a 1911 and i have narrowed it down between the sa mc operator, kimber warrior, and the kimber tle ll. my requirements are: i want a fighting 1911 that will go anywhere and do anything, i am willing to trade a little accuracy for reliability, but if i don't have to that, that would be great. the one that i get is gonna be used and abused and needs to be able to take a licking and keep on tickin. i would like of course reliability, good trigger, accuracy all in one. the rail isn't a necessity because later in the future i will have more some with and some without, but this will be my first 1911 that i have owned.

i appreciate the great 1911 makers like les baer, wilson combat, nighthawk custom, ed brown etc but these are not even on the table as being ones that i would want to buy as they are way to pricy for my blood, and i know that i can get quality for a good price, from some of the other makers.

so please vote and help me decide which you would go with and a description of why would be really good to! i am open to other options as well but i would prefer to keep them under $1100 thanks in advance.
 
I choose none of the above, especially for a GA resident. I would suggest buying a used SA GI or, preferably, Mil-Spec, and send it to John Harrison in Kennesaw for some reliability/action work and better sights. If you spend $450 on the base gun (which is high), that leaves you with $600 for the work, which is more than enough. You will get back a gun that is reliable to the extreme, accurate enough, and easy for you to shoot.
 
Another one to look at is the STI Spartan. Costs $600 and would only need different sights to be a great carry gun. I am just starting to wring one out and I have been impressed.
 
Another one to look at is the STI Spartan. Costs $600 and would only need different sights to be a great carry gun. I am just starting to wring one out and I have been impressed.
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thanks for the sugsestion, and well within my price range. thanks i will look in to em!

Colt.
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wow! very informative. any particular model?
 
I have the Warrior, and so far it has been reliable and accurate. second choice would be the Operator.
 
I have (and still do) routinely bet my life on this one, for the last 4-5 years.It has never failed to fire, feed, or eject anything I've put in it.I know Llama isn't very well thought of at all, and it is possible I got the 1 in 1,000,000 that works great, but all I know is in my personal experiance with this particular gun, Its accurate and dead-nuts reliable.YMMV.

P.S.-for what its worth, whatever the finish is, its pretty freakin' durable.Nary a scratch on it after 4-5 years of shooting and regular carry.

Firestorm (Llama) .45acp "Compact" (4.5" bbl)
firestorm45.gif
 
I may not offer a qualified opinion cause I have not owned all those pistols but I do own a PT1911 and have two Sistema Colts which I have rebuilt and they are all seem pretty much dead-nuts reliable.

The latest Sistema was 225.00 plus another 100.00 or so in parts and 100 hours of my labor. I just finished it and it gobbled up the first 100 rounds of WWB like a champ. I can't afford 1,000 for a pistol so I have to do what I do. I have 1,100 in the three 1911's I own but I'm very happy with them. They go boom when you pull the trigger.

The Sistema's I bought were the Gander Mountain variety that had no finish on them. It was an enjoyable project and I actually went into a Gander Mountain looking for another even though I knew it would be insane for me to get a third. Working on guns can become a sickness.
 
I'd trust my life with my $425 Rock Island 1911 Tactical. It has been flawless since day one. I would spend the rest of the money on ammo and range fees.
 
Any of those should be quite good. And for what they cost, they darned well should be.

That said, I'd probably go with the Springfield over the Kimbers for one reason: lifetime warranty.
 
Possum, I agree that the SA Mil-spec is a super base gun. I'd opt for someone other than the SA Custom Shop to do upgrades just due to your budget. I've got nothing but good to say about the customer service. Mine is my main carry 1911 out of my other 4 shooters.
 
I have 2 Kimbers, one a Raptor II custom shop that I love and a Custom II. The difference between the Warrior and the TLE II are negligable. that said I'd get a custom shop Kimber for around the same price as the warrior. Springfield is one of the top four companies I would buy a 1911 from the others being S&W, Kimber & Colt. Ed Brown, Les Baer are the BEST manufacturers but cost twice as much.

Customer service is ok with both companies Springfield comes witha lifetime warranty and Kimber 1 year on parts and labor.

So...between the ones listed I'd choose teh springfield just because of the lifetime warranty eventhough I think Kimber makes Great 1911's
 
Any Les Baer
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did you read the original thread at all? probally not!:banghead:

i do like the sa warranty and with the personal experience i have wih them that leans me even more in that direction.

sounds like there are quite a few people that are pushing the custom built gun and using a nice sa as the base gun, that is an idea i didn't even consider until you guys brought it up. that way it would 100% custom made and just the way i would want it. thanks again guys ya'll are awesome.
 
..

If I were in the market for a 1911 I'd look at the best Springfield I could afford.
 
I would try to get the extra cash together to step up the TRP Operator over the MC Operator myself. A couple of nice touches (magwell, checkering, finish) extra. My second choice would be the Kimber Warrior (good enough for Hilton Yam, good enough for me - if I wasn't set on a Colt).

The Spartan isn't quite the same kind of pistol - adjustable rear sights and all.
 
springfield mc operator

mine has never given me any trouble, 1200 rounds and counting.
if it ever does, springfield will fix it for free with the lifetime warranty.
also, the fitting is tight, and accuracy is there.
for a defensive gun, i think the pachmayrs it has on is perfect. i bought other grips but i keep putting the original grips back on.
with the mc op you will also get a coupon from springfield which will let you buy mags for $9, usually $23.50. these mags are great, i have 10 of them.
you wouldnt regret getting the springfield bro.
goodluck.
 
firestarter,
thanks for the review, and it sounds like you are a happy sa customer and happy with the mc op.

with the mc op you will also get a coupon from springfield which will let you buy mags for $9, usually $23.50.
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really? nice very nice! thanks, i had no idea, is that like thie "loaded coupon"?thanks again.
 
have heard and read very good things about the Springfeld Operator. Also the Marine Corps MEU(SOC) has placed an order for them as well. Don't know why they didn't go with the Det. 1 gun that Kimber built for MARSOC.

Currently my Mil-Spec is at the Springfield Custom Shop for a skeleton hammer, beavertail grip safety and 4.5# trigger job and long trigger.
 
is that like thie "loaded coupon"?thanks again.

yes it is. the coupon also has other stuff like holsters, range bags, cleaning kits, etc. all for a discounted price.
no prob, glad to be of help.
 
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