lusting for 1911 again

h518may · May 20, 2007, 10:35 AM

what is the best 1911 out there for around $ 500 or less ? would really like to find a good springfield. also, being a traditionalist, would like to find a good colt, maybe. i grew up shooting my uncle's colt commander. LOVED IT. had been a revolver guy for a while but discovered glocks and LOVE THEM. now i miss shooting 1911's. any suggestions?

whitebb · May 20, 2007, 10:45 AM

Go for a Colt. Worth waiting for. I found a 1991A1 for $500 without too much looking around. I couldn't decide at the gun shop, so I walked away. 2 hours later a friend emails saying he has a Colt for Sale. I jumped on it.

hdawson228 · May 20, 2007, 11:09 AM

Go for the NIB Springfield "GI" or the Milspec. Great guns and affordable. Fits your budget. I have the "GI" in stainless and it's flawless.

Officer's Match · May 20, 2007, 11:17 AM

Either or, you won't regret.

nobanforme · May 20, 2007, 01:59 PM

I'd go with a Springfield. I'm always lusting after another 1911

nemoaz · May 20, 2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu41_4.htm

This is the kind of thing that will make anyone lust.

hdawson228 · May 20, 2007, 02:18 PM

Certainly not this anyone.

Sturmgewehre · May 20, 2007, 03:11 PM

Going with either the Colt or the Springfield you'll be happy. The Colt will cost you a little more and I'm kind of fond o Springfields myself. But both are the best made 1911's out there which are known for their outstanding out of the box reliability.

Sturmgewehre · May 20, 2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Certainly not this anyone.

I agree, that's one fugly 1911... tiger stripe? Terrible.

varoadking · May 20, 2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Quote:
Certainly not this anyone.

I agree, that's one fugly 1911... tiger stripe? Terrible.

Yeesh...what a mess! :barf:

Dobe · May 20, 2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

This is the kind of thing that will make anyone lust.

I'm just not into the camo gun thing.

**Shane Tuttle** · May 20, 2007, 05:52 PM

If you are going to keep it original, I'd look for a used 70 series Colt.
If you're going to do some work to it, I'd get a Springer GI. Then, you can do whatever you want to it beginning with a good base.

Like most have said already, either one of these won't disappoint. There are other brands that may fit the bill, but these are my choices...

allenomics · May 20, 2007, 07:13 PM

NIB, I'd check out the Taurus 1911, $499.

5whiskey · May 20, 2007, 10:39 PM

There are numerous forums on 1911s you may want to check out.

I love TFL and this is the forum I post on primarily, but sometimes its worth your time and effort to go to a specialty forum. For savage rifles its savageshooters, for ARs you can find alot at the AR forum, and there is a 1911forum (or several).

I'm looking to build two themed 1911s, one for me and one for the future wife, and I've been asking around there lately. MOST seem to be pretty knowledgeable, though TFL is still by far the best general firearm forum in the universe.

A lot of the guys on the 1911 forums recommend a Rock Island 1911 as a good entry or base gun for the price.

From what I've learned if you want to do any kind of mods or semi build then springers are probably the easiest, and the GI is not much more than a RIA.

I have a RIA, bought it before I knew what I was doing with pistols, but I don't regret it. It's a good old pistol that hasn't given any grief so that or a Springer GI gets my vote. If I could do it over I would probably go with springers though, not that I've had any problems with the RIA I just prefer buying American. Yes that's American with a capital A.

5whiskey · May 20, 2007, 10:42 PM

Oh yeah, one more thing.

TIGER STRIPES!!!

Some are into camo guns and whatnot. I don't hate it. I'm more of a good "one color" camo job. You know, coyote tan or OD green. I think that can be done with style, grace, and class... but TIGER STRIPES!!!

ulflyer · May 21, 2007, 07:01 AM

Get a Nork.

tegemu · May 21, 2007, 07:10 AM

It's hard to beat the value of a Taurus PT1911.

h518may · May 21, 2007, 10:58 AM

thanks for the input, guys. i hadn't thought about the taurus but i'll look into it. and i have checked out several springfields and i'll still consider those, too. but a colt would be cool. choices, choices!

**Shane Tuttle** · May 21, 2007, 07:11 PM

"choices, choices!"

Yep, a beautiful thing!

May 20, 2007, 10:35 AM	#1
h518may Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2007 Location: louisville, ky Posts: 188	lusting for 1911 again what is the best 1911 out there for around $ 500 or less ? would really like to find a good springfield. also, being a traditionalist, would like to find a good colt, maybe. i grew up shooting my uncle's colt commander. LOVED IT. had been a revolver guy for a while but discovered glocks and LOVE THEM. now i miss shooting 1911's. any suggestions?

May 20, 2007, 11:17 AM	#4
Officer's Match Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2007 Location: LANCASTER,OHIO Posts: 3,944	Either or, you won't regret. __________________ REAL EYES REALIZE REAL LIES

May 20, 2007, 05:52 PM	#12
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 9,443	If you are going to keep it original, I'd look for a used 70 series Colt. If you're going to do some work to it, I'd get a Springer GI. Then, you can do whatever you want to it beginning with a good base. Like most have said already, either one of these won't disappoint. There are other brands that may fit the bill, but these are my choices... __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting

May 20, 2007, 07:13 PM	#13
allenomics Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2007 Posts: 1,536	NIB, I'd check out the Taurus 1911, $499. __________________ NRA Benefactor Life Member Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power!

May 21, 2007, 07:10 AM	#17
tegemu Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2005 Location: Orange Park, Fla Posts: 1,019	It's hard to beat the value of a Taurus PT1911. __________________ People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence in their behalf. - George Orwell

May 20, 2007, 10:45 AM	#2
whitebb Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2006 Location: ga Posts: 313	Go for a Colt. Worth waiting for. I found a 1991A1 for $500 without too much looking around. I couldn't decide at the gun shop, so I walked away. 2 hours later a friend emails saying he has a Colt for Sale. I jumped on it.

May 20, 2007, 11:09 AM	#3
hdawson228 Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2006 Posts: 1,301	Go for the NIB Springfield "GI" or the Milspec. Great guns and affordable. Fits your budget. I have the "GI" in stainless and it's flawless.

May 20, 2007, 01:59 PM	#5
nobanforme Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 389	I'd go with a Springfield. I'm always lusting after another 1911

May 20, 2007, 02:18 PM	#7
hdawson228 Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2006 Posts: 1,301	Certainly not this anyone.

May 20, 2007, 03:11 PM	#8
Sturmgewehre Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,212	Going with either the Colt or the Springfield you'll be happy. The Colt will cost you a little more and I'm kind of fond o Springfields myself. But both are the best made 1911's out there which are known for their outstanding out of the box reliability.

May 20, 2007, 10:39 PM	#14
5whiskey Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,652	There are numerous forums on 1911s you may want to check out. I love TFL and this is the forum I post on primarily, but sometimes its worth your time and effort to go to a specialty forum. For savage rifles its savageshooters, for ARs you can find alot at the AR forum, and there is a 1911forum (or several). I'm looking to build two themed 1911s, one for me and one for the future wife, and I've been asking around there lately. MOST seem to be pretty knowledgeable, though TFL is still by far the best general firearm forum in the universe. A lot of the guys on the 1911 forums recommend a Rock Island 1911 as a good entry or base gun for the price. From what I've learned if you want to do any kind of mods or semi build then springers are probably the easiest, and the GI is not much more than a RIA. I have a RIA, bought it before I knew what I was doing with pistols, but I don't regret it. It's a good old pistol that hasn't given any grief so that or a Springer GI gets my vote. If I could do it over I would probably go with springers though, not that I've had any problems with the RIA I just prefer buying American. Yes that's American with a capital A.

May 20, 2007, 10:42 PM	#15
5whiskey Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,652	Oh yeah, one more thing. TIGER STRIPES!!! Some are into camo guns and whatnot. I don't hate it. I'm more of a good "one color" camo job. You know, coyote tan or OD green. I think that can be done with style, grace, and class... but TIGER STRIPES!!!

May 21, 2007, 07:01 AM	#16
ulflyer Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2004 Posts: 154	Get a Nork.

May 21, 2007, 10:58 AM	#18
h518may Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2007 Location: louisville, ky Posts: 188	thanks for the input, guys. i hadn't thought about the taurus but i'll look into it. and i have checked out several springfields and i'll still consider those, too. but a colt would be cool. choices, choices!

May 21, 2007, 07:11 PM	#19
Shane Tuttle Staff Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 9,443	"choices, choices!" Yep, a beautiful thing! __________________ If it were up to me, the word "got" would be deleted from the English language. Posting and YOU: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting