Which basic 1911?

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Ironclad

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My 21st birthday is coming up here in a bit and I'm planning on buying my first 1911. I had my heart set on a parkerized Springfield GI but it seems like they are on back order everywhere I look.

Would I be losing anything in reliability or quality by going with a Rock Island and throwing on a set of diamond checkered grips and an arched MSH, or should I just hang on for the Springfield? Any other suggestions? I want something without a firing pin block and something that looks as close to the original 1911a1 as possible.

I'm a poor college kid so I'd like to keep this somewhere in the 5 or 600 dollar range, but I could spring a little more for something real nice.
 
I have a SA GI and a RIA compact tactical. If you told me to pick one and that I had to get rid of the other I'd take the GI without a second thought. It's fitment is better, the parts appear to me to be machined better, and I shoot MUC better with it.

My RIA is a fine little machine, but it just doesn't have the same feel as the Springer. I've also found that some of the parts in the RIA are not made to spec, and that makes the parts harder to replace.

Hope that helps.
 
Springfield GI is good, I have two and enjoy both. Maybe move up to the Mil-Spec instead of the GI (stainless one for $585 online). Just gets you a few extra options for not much extra money.

If you are open to other suggestions, I like the Remington R1, and the Para GI Expert looks promising as well.
 
Saying that you are a poor college kid you might want to look at the ria tactical in 9mm. The gun should run around $500 and the ammo will be cheaper.
 
I started looking at Springfield GI's too.

I too, did not find them in stock at any local brick & mortar store.

I did find an Auto Ordnance for less money, and a higher level Springfield Armory for more, and a Para GI Expert for about the same as the Springer I was looking for.

The Para GI Expert, when compared to the Springfield Armory GI, has:
  • Better finish. (powdercoat vs. parkerized)
  • Better sights. (bigger white dots, front is dovetailed in)
  • Better magazines. (Stainless 8-rounders instead of parkerized 7-rounders
  • Worse grips (basic black plastic instead of nice rosewood. I wound up putting finger groove Hogues on it anyway.)

I bought it for $550, and I'm happy with it.

259965d2.jpg

3a6f8c95.jpg

Think outside the box. ;)
 
If Para had a better reputation for consistent quality it would make a good choice.


I still think the best 1911 for the money is the STI Spartan.
 
I have to agree with the first couple post, Springfield, if that's what you want, I don't like the RIA's but I have a Remington R1 and wouldn't trade it for anything....except maybe 2 remingtons
 
The RIA is a good gun but not quite as nice as the GI. But you already said you want the GI so get on Gunbroker and getcha one! Always get what you want, if you settle it will cost you more in the long run after you sell the RIA and buy a GI.

Or do the right thing, eat Ramen for a few extra months and get you a Colt 70 Series or 70 repro :)
 
I liked my RIA better than my GI springer when they were new and unaltered.
 
Be patient. A Springfield is a much better quality piece, and 20 years from now you'll be glad you got it than a cheaply-produced import.


I see Colt Gov't models for sale often, and a gently-used Colt is within that price range. I've got a series 80, and it's head and shoulders above anything made overseas.
 
BullfrogKen said:
Be patient. A Springfield is a much better quality piece, and 20 years from now you'll be glad you got it than a cheaply-produced import.


I see Colt Gov't models for sale often, and a gently-used Colt is within that price range. I've got a series 80, and it's head and shoulders above anything made overseas.
Click to expand...
I keep hearing of these used $500 Colts, but I have yet to actually find one. I think in my area at least, everyone is way too proud of their beat up firearms to find any real deals.
 
It depends on what you want, what your future intentions are. This came from a slight different discussion, but I'll quote myself:

OK, here's my take as a guy that' been there, too.

Pass on the GI Springfield, either:

1) step up in $ a little and get the Springfield Mil-Spec. If nothing else, you want the lowered ejection port and beveled mag well. Added bonuses, though not "authentic", is the 3 dot sight and a stainless barrel.
2) For the same price get an RIA tactical. It gets you the milspec minus the stainless barrel, but adds a beavertail, commander hammer, ambi safety, and a skeletonized trigger (If that's stuff you'd do anyway).
3) Actually save money and get the Rock Island 1911A1. It has the lowered ejection port, beveled mag well, and standard GI sights. It's pretty much as close as you can get to a 1911A1 right now.

I wanted a 1911A1 and had no intentions of adding sights, beavertails, or anything else so I went with the RIA A1 and saved $150 OTD over what the Springfield MilSpec would have cost before taxes, and have been as happy as can be with it.

The main reason to go with the Springfield over the RIA would be the fact that it already has upgraded sights and is already dovetailed- this alone goes a long way to making up the price difference.
Click to expand...
 
I would say save 42 bucks and go all out and get the RIA Match it's fit is going to be twice as good as the Springfield GI and the standard RIA because the parts are hand fitting instead of machine fitted.

Comes with

Rock Island Armory 1911-A1 Match .45 ACP 5 Inch Barrel Parkerized Finish 8 Round

Adjustable rear target sight, dove tail fiber optic front sight. Ambidextrous safety, beaver tail, skeletonized match trigger and commander hammer. Checkered front strap, 20 LPI. Checkered mainspring housing. Checkered wood grips.

Caliber: .45 ACP

Magazine Capacity: 8

Barrel Length: 5

Finish: Parkerized *

51457.jpg


It looks to be out of stock at buds but they seem to get stuff in pretty fast or you could always get it somewhere else. Great handgun for the money and get my Vote for the .45 if your going to go 9mm which would be cheaper on ammo I would say CZ75b.

With either one of these you will not be disappointed
 
I kinda thought about just scraping up the money for a Colt Series 70 reissue, but they're sold out most places too.

I don't want any of those tactical or match models. I like the look of just a bare bones mil spec. Also, I have nothin against 9mm, but to me a 1911 has got to be a .45

I see the Springfields on gunbroker all the time, but it hurts me to see used ones going for new prices, and new ones going for over msrp.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for my Springfield, but when push comes to shove, I don't think I'll be able to make it a week past my 21st without a 1911 in my sweaty little palms.
 
Ah didn't see that
original 1911a1 as possible.
Click to expand...

Is this going to be just a range gun? the original 1911 wasn't designed to take hollow points or be concealed not that you can't do both with it.
 
I do not care for the GI. The sights are tiny, and the Mil Spec has a lowered and flared ejection port, as well as a beveled magwell.

The one pistol I miss is a Springer Mil Spec... I got it used for $450 out the door, swapped in a flat MSH and long trigger out of a Colt 1991A1 so it fit my hand better. The staked front sight is nice (IMO) because you don't have an existing dovetail to find a sight for, simply have a Novak cut and install the sight of your choice.

The Para front dovetail is harder to find sights for, however I still feel the Para GI tempting me...

As mentioned, a used Colt should be in your price range. I picked up a used 1991A1 in stainless for about $550 several years ago, saw a parkerized one with light holster wear not long ago for about the same price. I would have got it, if I had the money and wasn't out of state. Well, to be honest, if I had the money, I would have probably paid for it and found a local FFL to do the transfer. Note that the 1991s are series 80, which IMO, just makes reassembly a little more complicated.
 
I picked up a Para Ordnance GI Expert at a LGS for $459 + tax. Good price for a not so good pistol, magazines are in the trash, had feeding issues, a lot of feeding issues, even after the mags were changed. After a lot of polishing to the frame/slide rails, feed ramp and still more work to be done, it functions well almost every time. I cannot recommend the GI Expert, Cast frame and slide, tooooo much paint where it is not needed, and a trigger not worth mentioning. I bought this pistol as a test mule, to do trigger work and test various recoil spring weights, so far I have spent all my time just trying to get it to work. I did call PO and they did send a prepaid shipping label and agreed to fix the problems. I kept it and don't regret anything but the purchase, I will fix this myself. Pass on the GI Expert and get an STI Spartan with adjustable sights, for a first 1911. For the money it is the best 1911 out of the box in my experience.
 
American Classic Commander - if you have the chance to get you hands on ria, citadel, and american classic do so.

I prefered the fit and finish of the american classic to the other. standards were things I was looking for and things I didnt know I wanted (stole that from another poster here but it is correct). throated barrel, feed ramp, novak type sights, with a very tight fit. I have a very low tolerance for things do not work so I changed out the recoil spring and firing pin spring to the wolf commander springs as soon as I opened the box.

I have as of this morning 2k rounds thru her with zero issues.
 
I would say get the Springfield GI. I own one, and the only mods I have done to it were night sights. Mine is accurate, hitting pieces of broken clay pots at 40-50 yards. Sure, it's not impressive to someone who has a tightened high end 1911, but it is impressive to me.

For me, the warranty and customer service of Springfield makes it worth it, and why I choose Springfield products. I've never had to use either, but it's a nice safety net should something go wrong.
 
Ironclad,
You might want to look into Cimarron's 1911. It has no firing block and is available with a parkerized finish. I was looking for nearly the same gun earlier this year (also a poor college student) and I've been very happy with my choice on a Cimarron. You can find a favorable gunblast review of them online if you'd like to learn more or feel free to shoot me a PM. It has become my everyday carry. If you wanted the 1911a1 set up, you'd just need to throw an arched main spring housing on. I went with the high polish blue finish (as I found a great deal on it) but I'd originally been looking at the parkerized version as well.

Here's mine:
DSC01462.jpg
 
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