1911 Questions... Want some opinions...

G

Guyon

New member
I've just begun doing my homework on .45 pistols. I think I'd like to go for the classic 1911 style in my next handgun purchase. I certainly like the feel of the 1911s, and one of these would match up nicely with my Ruger 22/45.

Which leads me to my questions:

What would you say are the top three makers in terms of quality on the 1911 models?

Which 1911 pistol is the best value today?

Who makes the most affordable 1911?

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Guyon
NRA & GOA Member
Vote for your rights!!!
 
These questions are difficult to answer.

The top three makers would probably be custom 1911 gunsmiths like Richard Heinie (a 7-year wait) and others. You can get an idea of the top pistolsmiths by visiting www.1911forum.com

For production or semi-custom guns it would probably be (in no special order) Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Rock River Arms, STI, Briley, Ed Brown, Nowlin, and a few others.

The best 1911 "value" depends on how much you want to spend. A $3000 1911 made by a big name gunsmith can be a good value if you have that kind of money.

On the other hand, Kimber makes a decent gun for between $600-700. It depends on what you want (bells and whistles) on the gun.

Charles Daly makes the cheapest 1911, but a lot of owners report problems with them. The most reliable and affordable guns are Kimber and Springfield. Colt made (and still does) a good gun but you have to carefully check the quality of the individual gun since in my experience it varies from gun to gun. The Springfield "loaded" model is a good buy but then so is the Kimber Custom.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Guyon:

Which leads me to my questions:

What would you say are the top three makers in terms of quality on the 1911 models?

Which 1911 pistol is the best value today?

Who makes the most affordable 1911?

[/quote]

1)Wilson, Kimber and Springfield.
2)Kimber Classic Custom
3)Charles Daley.
 
I recommend (of the stock non-custom 1911's):

1. Kimber (the best moderate priced 1911)
2. Springfield (a close second)

I don't know enough about the expensive custom 1911's to advise...

But, I have enough experience with moderate priced 1911's to discount 2 makes as well: Definently stay away from Colt and Para-Ordnance-- major quality problems with these two manufactures.
 
Hi Guyon. Brian Bilby over at Advanced Combat Pistols makes a very fine custom combat gun. You can check out his wares at: www.1911.com You also might try Steve Clark Custom .45's at www.user.supernet.com/taos.clark.htm
You can find these guys over in the 1911 forum in the gunsmithing section also.

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***Torpedo***
It's a good life if you can survive it!
 
Guyon, I just recently got into the 1911 style myself. I am not as experienced with them as a lot of folks here, but I will pass my $0.02 opinion on . I bought a Daly and a Kimber within the last month. The Kimber is hands down my favorite but the Daly is a good feeling quality pistol that shoots reliably and accurately and the price is reasonable. If I knew then what I know now, I would have just bought the Kimber, mainly because I like the lighter weight and it's a compact model but I also think the melt down finish of the CDP Kimbers have a real fine feel to them. They make several variations of Dalys and mine is the basic field grade model so you might look at one thats in the Empire Grade or Superior grade before you consider one. Good luck on your choice.
 
Well, everybody has the stock 1911's and a couple of good smiths covered. I'll throw my .02 in about semi-custom 1911's. In my personal experience, I would rank them as follows:
1. Wilson Combat
2. Les Baer
3. Ed Brown

I placed Wilson first because of the outstanding combination of customer service and quality. Their guns are top knotch.

Les Baer make the tightest 1911's and their accuracy is great. However, their customer service sucks. Plus, quality on some pistols are begining to lack.

Ed Brown makes a no thrills 1911. It functions and functions very well.

I would also like to add that Steve Clark Custom builds some very NICE 1911's. People that went to the EOSM, they can vouch for that after shooting one of his guns.

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Son
1911 Addiction
"The tree of liberty will grow only when watered by the blood of tyrants."
 
One thing all the custom folks ignore, is that only a tiny fraction of the shooters are good enough to gain significantly from all the mods.

If your 1911 is reliable with your ammo of choice,has sights YOU can see, grips that fit YOUR hand,a trigger that YOU can release cleanly, and groups into a large saucer at 25 yards, your next purchases should be ammo and range time. Not bells and whistles , fender skirts and fuzzy dice. After burning up a carload of ammo,THEN get any mods and addons your heart desires.The list is likely to be way shorter...

Technology is a poor substitute for expertise...
 
How much money you got?

For under 600, you can get a Springfield Armory, and Charles Daly and possibly Colt. For 600 - 1000, you can get Colt XS Series, Gunsite GSP, Kimbers, Wilsom Combat (polymer version). For over 1000, you can get Cylinder slide, Wilson Combat, Les Baer, and so on.

For my money, get the base line mil-spec Springfield Armory or Colt. Send it to a gunsmith to have the extras put on. You'll save some cash and have the exact gun you want.
 
I'd say Baer, Wilson, and Rock River Arms.

You can get a very nice 1911 from any one of them for $1500 (plus or minus a couple of hundred bucks) which will have all the bells and whistles you'd want, great accuracy, crisp 4 lb trigger, and it's almost certain to be reliable out-of-the-box. (Have to say "almost" since nothing is absolute.) IMHO, once you start paying more than the above for a 1911, you're paying more for the "name" of the guy who built it than for any improvement in fit, finish, or features. (Baer and Wilson make a couple of high-buck models, but I think they're designed more to improve the maker's bottom line than anything else.) Old law of diminishing returns.

Best value/most affordable would probably be one of the basic Kimber models from current production. (Some early ones had problems.) You may get lucky, but there's a greater chance that your cheaper Norinco, Daly, or Colt won't work right "out of the box" and you'll be out the $$$ you thought you saved in gunsmithing charges.
 
Greeting,

I agree completely with Icopy, and would advise specifically that you get something like a Springfield Loaded for your first 1911 and just shoot it without modification for a year or so. After you become familiar with the design, you will know better what you want/need in the way of additional enhancements, if any.

If you buy one, you will eventually want another one anyway. Start with something economical from a quality manufacturer.

Good luck with your choice.

Ledbetter
 
To correct the above website address, Brian Bilby of Advanced Combat Pistols can be reached at www.1911custom.com

As far as production pistols go You've got Colt, Springfield, or Kimber. Unless you want a milspec featured 1911 then it's a Colt or Springfield option.

Of the three above I would pick the Springfield if I wanted the gun out of the box with enhanced features i.e. beavertail, extended thumb safety, nice sights, reliable out of the box with different ammo. I also like the fact that the Springfield doesn't come with MIM parts in critical areas (slide stops/sears/disconnectors/bushings). The Springfield also comes with a metal mainspring housing.

The only place where a Kimber beats a Springfield, for me, is that the Kimber has a dovetail front sight and is dehorned whereas the Springfield does not come that way. Also, the Kimber doesn't come with a two piece guide rod that can loosen up and tie up the gun.

Even then I still pick the Springfield. I have seen too many people get Kimbers that needed reliability work as compared to the Springfield. Most of the time the chambers are too tight, slide stop doesn't work right, and the extractors have improper or NO tension.

For a Milspec one to customize or leave as is I pick the Colt over the Springfield. Personal preference mostly, just like with the enhanced type guns above.

The reason I didn't mention the Colt X guns in comparison to the Kimber's or Springfields is because I have no personal experience with them and don't know anyone who has one that is shooting it to get any feedback.

Not only that but since Colt just raised their prices about 30% and at the local gunshop you pay roughly the same price for a 1991A1 as compared to a Springfield "Loaded" or Kimber Custom there is now no comparison. The Colts are priced to high now unless you can find a used one for a good price....
 
MHO.

1: Springfield, Baer, Wilson. I've seen too many problems, percentage-wise, with Kimbers to be comfortable recommending them.
2: Springfield.
3: Norinco (Dave McC, don't look at me in that tone of voice!). Or if you have a C&R, you can get a Sistema for well under $200.
 
My Brothers' box stock Colt Stainless 1991A1 Government has never failed and freehand produces 1 hole groups at 15 yrds. Less than $600.

Saw one today just like it, same price. Tempting.

My Defender, which I bought used, is another story. :(

My 2cts,

Sgt.K
 
Your best bet in a 1911 is any full-size Kimber. To spend less than a standard Kimber costs ($500-600) is just wasting money.

Other superb (but more $) choices are Les Baer, Ed Brown, Rock River, STI, SVI/Infinity, Nowlin, Briley, and hand-built.....

...my 1911 is Caspian, of course.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"
 
Oustanding answer, HowardK...
Guyon, for a great deal, go with the Kimber. On the cheap side, if you can find a Norinco anywhere, they actually work. Seriously!

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Ronnie
 
I know that this post will sound like an echo but here goes:
1) Top Three are Kimber, Springfield Armory, and Paraordinance.
2) I have a Springfield Loaded in lay-a-way so I can't judge so I have to say the best out of the box is a Kimber.
3) The best entry level 1911A1 is a Norinco. You can put the politics aside as they are no longer imported. If you want to upgrade you have an accurate pistol after doing only the sights, trigger, and a match barrel bushing. I own two and they shoot with the best.

Regards,

Richard
 
I'll jump in too. Siting the same reason that Coinneach does, I would veer from Kimber because of a high percentage of reliability problems. If their repair shop was better, and the warrantee was longer, then they would eb top notch, because of their nice looks. My advice is to get a slightly uglier, but much more reliable Springfield and maybe get a de-horn job when you save up for it, or possibly a Norinco, and plan on tweaking the trigger and barrel.
 
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