Who Makes the best 1911 for the money?

[DJL2]

I prefer dovetailed sights for easy swapping in and out. I also like beavertail type grip safeties (true that the grip safety is on there for cav units that wanted to carry cocked/unlocked?). The finish must hold up. SIG owners grit your teeth with me. Other than that, all I require is that it be 100% reliable with anything I shoot and hold inside 3 inches at 25 meters from rest/prone supported. I know popular brands include Springfield, Kimber, Colt as sort of the big three. I personally like my Pare Ord P14 Ltd. but operate under the theory that you can never have too many good guns.

As an aside, what do you all make of the mods that are on the P14 from the factory: Full length guide rod, Integral feed ramp on barrel, and what seems like slightly different link and locking lug geometry than other 1911's I have handled?

 

[10-Ring]

Go w/ what has worked for you! If the Para has served you well, keep using /buying them until they prove you wrong or they keep you satisfied indefinitely

 

[TheFrontRange]

For my .02 worth, my Kimber Custom has been a good buy and a sound weapon. After about a 400-round breaking-in period, it has been utterly reliable with all the FMJs, JHPs, and Cor-Bon Pow'rBall I've run through it. (Edited to add..during that breaking-in period, it had perhaps 5 instances of the slide failing to fully close on the first round from a magazine...after that, no problems). Mine likes Wilson Combat 7- and 8-round mags, so that's what I've stuck with.

Mine has just that plain black finish of the entry-level Kimbers...it's showing some "character-wear" from holster carry but with frequent wipe-downs the finish has otherwise stayed strong. I've owned this pistol since early 2002 and I've run perhaps 1,400 to 1,500 rounds through it so far.

This is a "Series I" Kimber and I've heard some negative feedback on the newer Series II...but, on the other hand, I've heard far more GOOD comments from Series II owners than bad...personally, I've love to buy a Custom II as a match to my current 1911.

 

[jem375]

For the money, probably Springfield...........

 

[tex_n_cal]

on new guns, Colt 1991A1's...correct clearances for reliability, machined extractors, not MIM, forged frame, slide, and barrel.

They are usually less expensive than Kimbers, and the S80 safety is much better proven than the SII safety.

I like my Springfield Mil-spec .38 Super, but I think your odds of getting a good Colt are better.

 

[DJL2]

I really wish Colt, Kimber, Springfield, Para Ordnance, someone else making a reputable 1911, would chamber in 10mm and make my decision easy.

The best I can do for now seems to be an S&W 1006 I got NOS.

 

[adamsbomb]

You may look at Dan Wesson. Check the 1911forum.com. They have outstanding customer service, have a 10 mm available and in my opinion are making some great guns right now. I couldn't say enough good about mine. Have a look, ou won't be dissapointed.

 

[Sean Smith]

Personally? Colt.

 

[Byron Quick]

I'm in the process of breaking in a Dan Wesson 1911 10mm right now. I believe I'm going to love that gun.

 

[DJL2]

I would very much like to hear the results of that. What is mag capacity by the way? 8 rds?

The 1006 is alright, but the trigger is not spectacular and the ergonomics could stand improvement.

The 10mm seems to be slowly dying unfourtunately. It keeps getting harder and harder to find ammo in stock.

 

[farscott]

I think the STI Trojan might be the "best 1911 for the money". The pistol costs around $1k; however, it runs out of the box and comes with good parts inside, including the mentioned beavertail grip safety. You get your choice of fixed or adjustable sights. The only part I do not like is the polymer mainspring housing; the rest of the pistol is solid. Get it hard chromed and the finish wears like iron.

I bought a Trojan 5.0 in 9x19, and it has never choked. Today I picked up a used Trojan 6.0 in .40 S&W and decided to see if I could make it choke. I fed it PMC truncated cone ammo (I do not reload .40 S&W and plan to rechamber this pistol to 10mm Auto) and all it did was put them in a small group at twenty-five yards.

The Trojans may cost a bit more than other brands, but they seem to work.

 

[COK]

For me , a Dan Wesson.

 

[XavierBreath]

The most gun for the money is going to be one of the Springfield Loaded models. Just hold a Kimber, Colt and Springfield side by side and compare what you get for a given price point.

Colts will always be Colts, and Kimbers have the reutation of a fine weapon, but right now, Springfield is putting them to shame.

 

[Tacblack]

I have seen or had Bear, Wilson, STI, SV, Kimber, Nowlin, Caspian etc. And I would have the best gun for the money to me is the STI Trojan also. The ones I have seen have been great and half the money of other that didn't look any better to me. I was really surprised at the Shot Show when I could compare all of them in one day. http://www.dawsonprecision.com has them for $922

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I'd go with an STI Trojan.

Best.

 

[WonderNine]

How are the Trojans nicer than the new 70's series Colts? Do they have a 70 series type of firing pin system?

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Yes, they have no internal firing pin safety system at all. All I can say is that the two I have are dead-bang reliable, came with very, very good triggers and group exceptionally well.

Best.

 

[sm]

I value Mr Camp's opinion, I have no experience with STI other than a few 'race guns'...just wanted to shoot one.

IME the Basic models, ie Kimber Series I classic,s Colt and Springfield Mil-specs. I have shot a many with nothing more than the skateboard tape applied, trigger smoothed, and that silly ILS replaced. Bob hammer a wee bit, and just shoot the darn thing.

Caspian frame and slide basic guns are very good, one can get a very nice gun gun for less money than some, with someone's name on the slide and box. No silly safety stuff, just a gun that works-- everytime.

Gunsmith buddy built a 45ACP, two 9x23 (one is single stack for carry, other is a game gun.)..less $ than a "brand name".

 

[chaim]

Charles Daly.

Seriously my $450 (MD prices) Charles Daly has been both more accurate and more reliable than my best friend's $900 (MD prices) Kimber Custom Target II. So, both are accurate, both are reliable and for half the money mine is more so on both counts.

For overall value (and probably a lower chance of touble) I'd say the Kimber Pro Carry II is really starting to catch my eye. A regular Kimber Custom II generally runs $700 here, a SA Loaded is about $750 and the Kimber Pro CarryII is $750. For that you get a high quality gun with a shorter barrel and an aluminum frame (something that usually seems to cost extra in a 1911). In a full sized gun, the Dan Wessons seem to be really nice guns and the prices aren't too bad, the Kimber Custom and SA Loaded are pretty nice too.