Wanting a 1911, which brand is best? - Page 3

WVsig · July 1, 2013, 06:06 PM

Sure... Wild West Guns Custom CCO care of Jim West & Ken.

Stevie-Ray · July 1, 2013, 07:25 PM

Can't go wrong with a Colt.

Old Stony · July 1, 2013, 08:14 PM

A Springfield will pretty much give you everything you will need, and last you for many years. You can just pick the model with the googaws you want on it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one if I needed it.

erob3 · July 1, 2013, 08:27 PM

I would like to throw in one other consideration for your 1911 purchase -- ammo availability. Unless you reload or can find it at WalMart on somewhat of a regular basis, .45 ammo is impossible to find. Come to think of it so is every other caliber!!

Even if it were available the .45 ammo is expensive compared to 9mm, that's why all of my 1911's are 9mm. I also like "tactical" versions as well; beavertail safety, combat trigger, combat hammer, adjustable rear sights, extended slide release but NO Front slide serrations or rail. I hate those.

$400-$450 - Rock Island Armory 1911 9mm Tactical

$600 -$650 - Spartan (Rock Island makes the frames and slides)

$750 - Colt 1911 9mm ( have only found a Gov't model)

$950 - $1100 - S&W Pro Series 1911 9mm Tactical

$1100 - $1300 - Dan Wessom PM9

If you absolutely want a .45

$400 - $450 - Rock Island / American classic - both made in Phillipines

$650 -$750 - Ruger SR 1911

$750 - $800 - Springfield /// Great pistol but the worst "out of the box" trigger I've ever had. After I did a trigger job it was great.

I haven't gone above that so I can't comment further. I hope this helps. Good luck.

HKFan9 · July 3, 2013, 01:04 PM

I don't consider a Sig 1911 or especially a Magnum Research one as "high end"... In fact I would put Kimber and Springfield above each of them.

Most first 1911 buys I tell get a Springfield, they make a good product for the price and come with a lifetime warranty and one of the best customer service departments in the industry.

Eight_is_enough · July 3, 2013, 03:20 PM

Tucker1371 (or anyone else who knows), what is the brand/model of your holster?

http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/i...492F8F6F46.jpg

jimbob86 · July 3, 2013, 03:31 PM

Ruger's sR1911 is on my list ...... as is Remington's new offering.

CJ7nvrstk · July 3, 2013, 03:46 PM

I have an old Llama copy of the 1911 that I bought 25 years ago, have put several thousand rounds thru and have had zero problems with. It's a great gun and I would have no problems buying a lower end copy again. I think it's just such a perfect design that it would be extremely difficult to muck it up. BTW, I know both my brother and his son are very happy with their RIA 45s.

Garycw · July 3, 2013, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKFan9

I don't consider a Sig 1911 or especially a Magnum Research one as "high end"...

I'm not sure about MR and Springfield and especially Kimber internals, fit and finish are excellent , but Sig is high end to me considering what I just paid for one. I could have bought any although I chose the Sig and presently my most expensive 1911 I own.
I realize there's alot higher end and expensive ones out there.
I do enjoy my RIA's too though.

HKFan9 · July 3, 2013, 09:18 PM

Yea SA and Kimber used MIM internals but so does Sig.

In 1911's I owned / have owned.

Springfield;
-Mil-Spec Stainless
-GI Parkerized
-Two Loaded Series
-Champion Operator
-Trophy Match
-TRP

Kimber;
TLE Ulta
TLE RL
Custom Covert
Desert Warrior
Custom Raptor

Sig;
Scorpion

Colt;
Few Series 70's

RIA;
5'' Tactical model 45

STI;
Tactical SS 5.0 9mm

Para;
Double stack .40SW

And a few custom built guns.

All have been great guns. The only issues I have had with any of them is the Para's sear wore down which resulted in it going fully automatic, luckily I only had a few rounds in the mag. The other was one of the SA Loaded models, the slide stop was fitted a little loose so it backed out while shooting and caught the slide, SA repaired it no questions asked, in about 2 weeks.

There are a lot of good guns on the market at all prices.... however when I think the term High End... and 1911... I consider things like STI, Dan Wesson, Wilson, Baer, Nighthawk, Fusion, and other custom builders.

Ky/windage · July 21, 2013, 12:38 AM

I was in the same boat not knowing much about 1911's and wanting one so I did some research and the only thing I found was that they have a lot of reliability issues I for one am not spending $1600 for a pistol to then have to take it to a gun smith. The 1911 I liked was the Springfield trp operator. Bad part is I shoot better with a 1911 then my glocks.

View Poll Results: Which 1911 for a noob to 1911's?
High end brands (Sig, Desert Eagle, etc)?	13	14.77%
Mid-price (Springfield, Kimber)	51	57.95%
Low price (ATI, Armscor/RIA, Chiappa?).	13	14.77%
Play it safe and stay away from 'em altogether?	11	12.50%
Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

July 1, 2013, 06:06 PM	#51
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: NC Posts: 5,309	Sure... Wild West Guns Custom CCO care of Jim West & Ken. __________________ -The right to be left alone is the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by free people.-Louis Brandeis -Its a tool box... I don't care you put the tools in for the job that's all... -Sam from Ronin -It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle Last edited by WVsig; July 1, 2013 at 06:35 PM.

July 1, 2013, 07:25 PM	#52
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	Can't go wrong with a Colt. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

July 1, 2013, 08:27 PM	#54
erob3 Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2010 Location: East Tn. for 56 years Posts: 540	I would like to throw in one other consideration for your 1911 purchase -- ammo availability. Unless you reload or can find it at WalMart on somewhat of a regular basis, .45 ammo is impossible to find. Come to think of it so is every other caliber!! Even if it were available the .45 ammo is expensive compared to 9mm, that's why all of my 1911's are 9mm. I also like "tactical" versions as well; beavertail safety, combat trigger, combat hammer, adjustable rear sights, extended slide release but NO Front slide serrations or rail. I hate those. $400-$450 - Rock Island Armory 1911 9mm Tactical $600 -$650 - Spartan (Rock Island makes the frames and slides) $750 - Colt 1911 9mm ( have only found a Gov't model) $950 - $1100 - S&W Pro Series 1911 9mm Tactical $1100 - $1300 - Dan Wessom PM9 If you absolutely want a .45 $400 - $450 - Rock Island / American classic - both made in Phillipines $650 -$750 - Ruger SR 1911 $750 - $800 - Springfield /// Great pistol but the worst "out of the box" trigger I've ever had. After I did a trigger job it was great. I haven't gone above that so I can't comment further. I hope this helps. Good luck. __________________ If something is worth doing well, it is worth failing at to get there. Last edited by erob3; July 3, 2013 at 08:28 PM.

July 1, 2013, 08:14 PM	#53
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	A Springfield will pretty much give you everything you will need, and last you for many years. You can just pick the model with the googaws you want on it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one if I needed it.

July 3, 2013, 01:04 PM	#55
HKFan9 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2008 Posts: 3,057	I don't consider a Sig 1911 or especially a Magnum Research one as "high end"... In fact I would put Kimber and Springfield above each of them. Most first 1911 buys I tell get a Springfield, they make a good product for the price and come with a lifetime warranty and one of the best customer service departments in the industry.

July 3, 2013, 03:20 PM	#56
Eight_is_enough Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2013 Posts: 168	Tucker1371 (or anyone else who knows), what is the brand/model of your holster? http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/i...492F8F6F46.jpg

July 3, 2013, 03:31 PM	#57
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Ruger's sR1911 is on my list ...... as is Remington's new offering.

July 3, 2013, 03:46 PM	#58
CJ7nvrstk Junior Member Join Date: June 9, 2013 Posts: 8	I have an old Llama copy of the 1911 that I bought 25 years ago, have put several thousand rounds thru and have had zero problems with. It's a great gun and I would have no problems buying a lower end copy again. I think it's just such a perfect design that it would be extremely difficult to muck it up. BTW, I know both my brother and his son are very happy with their RIA 45s.

July 3, 2013, 09:18 PM	#60
HKFan9 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2008 Posts: 3,057	Yea SA and Kimber used MIM internals but so does Sig. In 1911's I owned / have owned. Springfield; -Mil-Spec Stainless -GI Parkerized -Two Loaded Series -Champion Operator -Trophy Match -TRP Kimber; TLE Ulta TLE RL Custom Covert Desert Warrior Custom Raptor Sig; Scorpion Colt; Few Series 70's RIA; 5'' Tactical model 45 STI; Tactical SS 5.0 9mm Para; Double stack .40SW And a few custom built guns. All have been great guns. The only issues I have had with any of them is the Para's sear wore down which resulted in it going fully automatic, luckily I only had a few rounds in the mag. The other was one of the SA Loaded models, the slide stop was fitted a little loose so it backed out while shooting and caught the slide, SA repaired it no questions asked, in about 2 weeks. There are a lot of good guns on the market at all prices.... however when I think the term High End... and 1911... I consider things like STI, Dan Wesson, Wilson, Baer, Nighthawk, Fusion, and other custom builders.

July 21, 2013, 12:38 AM	#61
Ky/windage Junior Member Join Date: July 20, 2013 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5	I was in the same boat not knowing much about 1911's and wanting one so I did some research and the only thing I found was that they have a lot of reliability issues I for one am not spending $1600 for a pistol to then have to take it to a gun smith. The 1911 I liked was the Springfield trp operator. Bad part is I shoot better with a 1911 then my glocks.