Best 1911 Value

[dosjoel]

Please vote on what you see as the best value in a full size 1911 .45 acp in the $1000 or less price range. Lets us know your model preference as well.

Some issues to consider include;


Reliability - shoots every time
Accuracy
Workmanship
Appearance
Warranty
Price

and others of your choosing.

Please do not vote unless you own, have owned or used at least one of the 1911s.

I believe we would all appreciate the votes and comments of those professionals such as gunsmiths, those who carry for a living, and regular shooters.

I have a sellfish reason for the poll. I am going to buy one and am interested in your thoughts. :)

[jdc1244]

I’ve owned only Colts and they’ve performed flawlessly. I own and can recommend the S 70 reissue, it’s been accurate and reliable out of the box. Colts also tend to retain their value well.

[rogertc1]

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309178


I have all these in my 1911 collection for now:

Detonics MK 1-NIB
Llama Min Max Hi Cap Sub Compact
Norinco GI
Kimber Ultra CDP 2 aluminum frame
Kimber Polymer Pro Carry Hi Cap-BUL M5 plastic frame
Springfield Stainless GI
Taurus PT1911ALR aluminum frame with rail
S.A.M. Blue Thunder Commodore
Remington US Property parkerized GI minty
Colt Double Eagle Series 80 kinda 1911

Every thing listed is under $1000 except maybe the Remington GI which cost my dad $17.00 in 1963

[JWT]

Dan Wesson CBOB.

[oldcspsarge]

Having owned and shot all of those listed....I would vote Smith & Wesson 1911's for those exact reasons...quality, features & warranty.

[wjkuleck]

+1 oldcspsarge, for the SW1911.

Best of the breed for under $1K.

Regards,

Walt

[Playboypenguin]

I think that when you look at features, build quality, and aesthetics as a whole Springfield gives you the most for your money with their Loaded series. That would make them the top value by that criteria.

If you look at which guns give you build quality, reliability, good looks, and will hold their value the best then Colt would be the winner.

[SV_shooter]

I voted other as my choices for "budget" 1911's are the Rock River Arms 1911's for around $500. For $150 more you can get an STI Spartan. It has the most features: adj. Rear bomar style sight, fiber optic front, 3lb trigger, and tightest fit/finish for the money, hands down. I strongly recommend you check them out.

[crashm1]

I have to agree with PBP I love Springfield 1911s and the loaded series are really nice pistols. I am planning on buying a Colt XSE commander or a Special Combat as my next 1911.

[joegator]

Based on the criteria listed I agree with PBP and pick the SA Loaded line.

[hoytinak]

S&W and Springfield for the features your looking at sub-$1000. I own both and have been very pleased with both.

[JZ06]

For right now, I'm voting Springfield. I had one and it was fantastic! I picked up a Taurus PT-1911SS and will see how that goes. A good friend had one and it was solid as a rock. We'll see how it goes.

[mdell2]

Smith and Wesson. Great price, goes bang every time, many options, and did I mention great price.

[Officer's Match]

Dan Wesson near $1000, Taurus near $500.

[SV_shooter]

I guess you guys never shot a Spartan... I agree S&W, SA, Make great $1000 pistols. With the Spartan you get even more gun for about $350 less . :)

[HK123]

Dan Wesson CBOB.

Agreed

[Un_lucky]

The basic Kimber custom is still an outstanding value.

[HK123]

The basic Kimber custom is still an outstanding value.

I don't equate Kimber with value at all. Maybe after a couple hundred bux and replacing Kimber's crap parts maybe.

[sdj]

I voted Springfield, but would follow with S&W.

[brif]

STI, trojan

[darkgael]

Rock River.

[Old Gaffer]

I've only shot a few 1911's and those were mostly Les Baer bulls-eye guns with trigger jobs, Ultradots, etc, shooting handloaded rounds. I've shot a Colt or two, and a couple of Taurus PT1911s

So what I'm saying is that I have v-e-r-y limited expertise in this.

And I bought a used Taurus for $450 that I'm having turned into a poor-man's bulls-eye gun.

For HD use I think I'd go with the Para 14 45; I really like the way it fits my hand, and almost everything else on a 1911 is adjustable.

All the best,
Rob

[natjohnb]

+1 S&W, and go with the stainless finish.

[alloy]

i paid a buck under 1000 recently for an older NIB 5" Colt. no bells, whistles, or high tech gidgets, just Colt 45.

maybe not the best, i dont know, but it works perfectly so far so i got no complaints. 3 boxes so far every shot went bang.

[DocDizz]

+1 for Kimber.

[Bowhunter57]

I voted for Springfield, but recently shot a Taurus PT-1911 and Rock Island Armory Tactical and was very impressed with the accuracy of the R.I.A. Tactical, which was a near 50% improvment over the PT-1911. :rolleyes:

Good luck with your choices!:)
Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[GetYerShells]

What about the SIG 1911's?

[rogertc1]

Rock River Arms 1911's for around $500.

Try more in the $2000 ...you must mean Rock Island Arms...the Phillipine copy?

i CouLd have got a Colt this week end for around $700 but not really interesting to me. just another 1911

BTW did you see S&W has a rebate for $100 off their 1911's?

[Sturmgewehre]

Another vote for Springfield.

[SV_shooter]

I'm mistaken on the rock river. I won it on a prize table. It is the philipine gun. RRA-RIA.... $1500 difference. I don't know:o I know sti is using the philipine frame on the Spartan, and after winning such a nice pistol, I opted for the STI with all the bells n whistles I need to shoot singlestack/limited 10 for a backup gun to my custom SV single stack(not that I ever needed a backup as it has never really malfunctioned in 10k+ rds. I really enjoy shooting both ph. Framed guns they are much tighter than my custom II or my Springer loaded, and their around half the price of them. I know Colt 1st produced the 1911. I inherited a standard gvt series 70, gold match and my favorite a custom combat commander. I own pre ban AR's, I can't stand their customer service and every gun is OEM from someone else. They all need to be dehorned and polished or you will cut yourself! I hate guns with out unsupported bbls and that's what colt used for a hundred years. It's time they got with with the times and added a Clark/Para cut ramped bbl.

[Rinspeed]

STI Trojan.

[dchi]

I'll vote another for S&W 1911. I was a kimber, colt and SA fan until I got 2 bad kimbers, 2 bad SA and one bad Colt gold cup. My buddy bought a S&W 1911 2 years after mine. His is every bit as tight, reliable and accurate as mine. Both feed everything with out needing polishing or breakin or after market mags, and both can cut clover leaf groups at 20 yards. :)

[dchi]

BTW I still own 2 norincos and a Para. There good but not as good as the smith. I found the older pre-loaded/Mil-spec SA were good as well as the older Kimbers and 70-80 series colts but the smith is a better value if you compare fit, accuracy, no work needed feeds anything. Nothings pisses me off more when you shell out $600 or more dollars on new pistol and you have polish the feed ramp, tune the extractor, buy wilson mags and run 500 rounds just to make sure it works. Just imagine if that started happening with GLOCKS, they would go under is just a few years.

Who knows, Smith may try to cut corners and their product will suffer like the rest. But until then I'll stay with them.

[spodwo]

Smiths...

[Watarski]

*Flame suit on*

For $400 - $500, the RIA Tactical is hard to beat.

[sholling]

Please vote on what you see as the best value in a full size 1911 .45 acp in the $1000 or less price range. Lets us know your model preference as well.

Some issues to consider include;

1. Reliability - shoots every time
2. Accuracy
3. Workmanship
4. Appearance
5. Warranty
6. Price
First choice any S&W SW1911, second choice Springfield Armory "Loaded".

Both are dead reliable
Advantage S&W - a supremely accurate 1911
Advantage S&W in fit, finish, and trigger pull
Tie - advantage S&W for fit & finish, but some don't like the looks of the external extractor
Both have lifetime warranties - slight advantage S&W
Tie at roughly $800

[Te Anau]

I'll go one further and say that the best sub $500.00 1911 are the guns made by Shooters Arms Manufacturing.That's your best value.

[8t6gt]

I voted Kimber. IMO its by far the best 800 dollar 1911 out of the box

[Kreyzhorse]

I've got to go Springfield followed by Smith & Wesson.

[Un_lucky]

I don't equate Kimber with value at all. Maybe after a couple hundred bux and replacing Kimber's crap parts maybe

I spent $550 on a Kimber Classic Custom in 1997 it has been shot over 85,000 times the only parts I have replaced are springs, but that's not value aye.

[HK123]

I spent $550 on a Kimber Classic Custom in 1997 it has been shot over 85,000 times the only parts I have replaced are springs, but that's not value aye.

No because every Kimber I've ever known of has failed. Then Kimber won't look at it until it has 500 rounds through it. Well, when you bust a MIM part at 50 rounds and they won't fix it and you have to pay out of pocket...no that is not value at all.

I'll say it again, Kimber is no value. it's not even that MIM sucks, even Springfield uses it and STI to some degree. It's that Kimber's QC really bites. I will not waver from this position regardless of what anyone says. I've seen them fail enough to make me swear off of the brand forever.

[orionengnr]

ah, I see the Kimber-bashers are out again. :rolleyes:

I've owned seven Kimbers and still have six of them (wish I had not sold the seventh). Over half are alloy framed, all but two sub-5", and one is external extractor. Never had the first bit of a problem with any of them. At least one accompanies me to the range each week. I've had close to a dozen first-time shooters firing them in the last year (and so far, two offers to buy one from me). :)

I've had three Colts, and had trouble with two.

Four Paras, trouble with one.

Two Springfields, trouble with both.

When I say "trouble", I mean failures serious enough to warrant sending the pistol back to the factory (or requesting replacement parts from the factory).

Well, just one man's experience.

[Brasso]

Dan Wesson....by far. Usually cost around $900, but you can't beat it without going over $1500 in another brand. It's basically a production line Ed Brown. It has NO mim parts. Most of them are in fact Ed Brown components. Kimber mim-ber.

[HK123]

Dan Wesson....by far. Usually cost around $900, but you can't beat it without going over $1500 in another brand. It's basically a production line Ed Brown. It has NO mim parts. Most of them are in fact Ed Brown components. Kimber mim-ber.

The only down side is that they have a limited lineup of pistol choices. Not that it's necessarily bad, but If you're looking for something specific you might not find it in a DW gun. Unless you wanna make a few mods to one of their models to get what you're looking for.

[5Wire]

I only have a PT 1911B but features for price was a big factor in my selection and I haven't been disappointed in the gun. I paid $515.

From Shooting Times: (http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/pt_080505/index1.html)

TAURUS PT 1911 FEATURES AT RETAIL VALUE
Full length guide rod & reverse plug $35
Heinie Straight Eight Sights 150
Serrated slide rear and front 100
Checkered 30-lpi trigger guard 50
Checkered 30-lpi mainspring housing 60
Checkered 30-lpi frontstrap 150
Ambidextrous safety 125
Beavertail grip safety with memory pad 120
Skeletonized hammer 60
Skeleton serrated trigger 100
Trigger job 100
Custom fit barrel (air-gauged bushing) 100
Custom slide to frame fit 100
Polished feedramp and barrel throat 50
Lowered and flared ejection port 60
Custom internal extractor 75
Extended mag release button 35
Beveled mag well 100
Extra 8-round magazine 30
SUBTOTAL 1600
Basic Mil-Spec Model 1911 pistol 500
TOTAL 2100
NOTES: Prices are average of parts, installation, and fitting charges from five leading U.S. pistolsmiths based on a Mil-Spec basic Model 1911 pistol as the starting point.

[SV_shooter]

don't believe everything you read in a gun add. I too was thinkin "wow" then I fired one. 3 mags and 5 ftf's later I realIzed that Taurus spends a lot on branding/marketing! I bought the ex a Taurus PT 92 (because she liked Uma Thurman holding one on the cover of pulp fiction) it is nicer than my 92f. It breaks less too but I can't shoot a group w it to save my life. The Beretta is a little more accurate.... Ok a lot more, but I would much rather shoot my RIA than either of them and I didn't pay a dime for it.

[dosjoel]

Going with COLT.

Either an XSE or a Combat Elite XSE.

The Elite is a beutiful Gun for under 1K and is feature rich. Based on your feedback from the poll it will hold its value as well or better than any.

37143

For those in the know - Is there any reason I should make a last minute change and go with the XSE over the Elite?
________
Proud Vet

[Playboypenguin]

I would personally go with the XSE over the Elite just for the fact that it has a stainless slide and not the blued carbon steel one. I might even just get the regular Commander in all stainless and upgrade the trigger and sights to the ones you pick out yourself. I like the looks of the slide on the regular Commander better. :)

[bclark1]

I'll go with S&W.

[Blackhawk Doc]

Please vote on what you see as the best value in a full size 1911 .45 acp in the $1000 or less price range. Lets us know your model preference as well.

Some issues to consider include;

1. Reliability - shoots every time
2. Accuracy
3. Workmanship
4. Appearance
5. Warranty
6. Price


I have a Rock Island Armory 1911 A-1 .45 that I bought around 2003 and it was my first gun ever and I LOVE IT :D it is the BEST.It is very reliabable,shoots great w/tight grouping and really accurate.It has a good warranty and is comproable to the other models.I bought it for $350.00 plus tax and everything.The workmanship is excellent and a friend of mine is a blacksmith and has worked on guns for 30+yrs and it says that it is one of the best guns that he has ever see,worked on,& shot next to his which is a "parts" 1911 A1.He said that if he were going to buy another one he would defentally get the Rock Island.Good Luck

[NYH1]

I didn't vote in the poll, and here is why. Last spring I finally got around to getting my first 1911. I looked at a Kimber Stainless II (IIRC) and a Smith & Wesson SW1911. I ended up getting the SW1911. The price on both pistols were pretty close, the exception being that S&W had a $100 rebate.

I'm extremely happy with my SW1911. It's been great so far. I'm sure I would be just as happy if I went with the Kimber!