1911 springfield operator, Kimber TLE, or Sig TACOPS

T

teejhot.40cal

New member
So I am in the market for a 1911. These are what I have it narrowed down to. Wondering if anyone has any good bad or ugly to say about them. I would love the input and thank you.
 
I can't say that any would be my first choice but among the three I would absolutely choose the Springfield and it would 't be a tough choice or a close race. I have seen hands-on too many issues with either Sig or Kimber 1911 pistols and I have read tales of exponentially more.

Sig shows me QC nightmares and little care from customer service. Kimber has their Swartz safety which I loathe and their customer service may be worse.

Of course, you could buy anything and have a terrific experience -- of that I am certain.
 
I have the Springfield TRP Operator and have a current Sig Nightmare. Both are solid guns. I had a Sig Tacops and my daughter took a shine to it and she has it now. That gun has never failed and neither has the Nightmare. The TRP has never failed either and I shoot a bunch of different ammo through all of them.

I had a gritty trigger on the Springer that has been fixed and replaced the guide rod with a Dawson tool less guide rod. It is a superb shooter. I have never owned a Kimber.
 
I would look for something in a Dan Wesson, something without one of the fancy and expensive coatings. That's if I were 1911 shopping... something I don't do a lot of. ;)

On a slimmer budget, I have had good experiences with the S&W E-Series pistols and would prefer that over any Sig 1911 or Kimber.
 
I have a 1911 Springfield loaded service model & enjoy it. I've put some reloads through it as well as a number of off the self ammo through it & never had a problem with it. I've never operated a sig or a kimber before.
 
I have had good experiences with the S&W E-Series pistols
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I have one of those and it is a GOOD shooter. Funny thing though, a friend of mine has one and we got them about the same time. Followed the drill to take them down and clean them and put them back together. Followed the manual right down to the point where the manual had us install the recoil spring with the closed end forward. Neither gun ran worth a crap.

I called Smith and Wesson service and they told me the manual was wrong. Install the recoil spring with the closed end toward the recoil lug. I fixed my gun and it runs fine. The recoil spring rubbing on the guide rod slowed the slide down a lot and the gun wouldn't run.

Ran into the guy with the same gun at the range and asked him if he had the problem solved. He said he was ready to deep six the gun. I asked his if he fieldstripped the gun when new and followed the instructions to reinstall the recoil spring. He said he had and I told him that was the problem. We changed his recoil spring around and the gun is 100 percent. Smith and Wesson has since changed the manual. Some guns, like the Sig, the recoil spring can go in either way. I have had two and gave one to my daughter and replaced it with a Nightmare. Both of those guns have always run 100 percent.
 
I own a TRP. Fantastic gun with some hand fitting. Mine is accurate and 100% reliable with all kinds of ammo.

Springfield also has some of the best customer service in the biz if you ever have any problems.
 
Kreyzhorse,

I have to agree about the gun. Mine is outstanding. I have another Springer in 9mm and that gun is the same way.
 
Of the 3 you have listed I would get the SA Operator. Solid gun if you like the configuration which I assume you do since you put it on the list. SA customer service is some of the best in the industry if you ever need it.

I am not a Kimber fan because for the money you are not getting a lot of gun in terms of quality of parts. You get a nice looking gun but the $$$$ in terms of value is just not there it is in the advertising. LOL

I am not fan of the Sig because of the external extractor. It makes it a 1911 like gun instead of a 1911 pattern gun for me. YMMV. Plus the current Sig is Kimber Jr. Quality is not equal to the price. IHMO

At the sub $1000 price point in that style 1911 it will be hard to beat the SA. IF you can push the price point up to say $1500 there are other options like the Colt Marine CQBP or the SA TRP.
 
I would definitely consider a colt rail gun. The just is I want a quality 1911 with a rail. I kind of agree with the dislike of the external extractor, I feel it is one more place for dirt to get into. Also i will be removing the guide rod if there is one in the weapon. I have no idea why its needed on a carry 1911.
 
I would definitely consider a colt rail gun. The just is I want a quality 1911 with a rail. I kind of agree with the dislike of the external extractor, I feel it is one more place for dirt to get into. Also i will be removing the guide rod if there is one in the weapon. I have no idea why its needed on a carry 1911.
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For me the real issue that I have with the external extractor is it is not a user replaceable part. They will not ship you one if it is broken. They will not allow you to replace it yourself. If you manage to get your hands on one and install it you void your warranty. S&W is the same way.
 
I also have strong feelings on the external extractor... I used to be against them because they were NOT standard, outside the lines of what a 1911 "is" and also because a standard internal can be tuned and easily replaced, and also easily be set up for having a tuned extra ready for whenever.

I have evolved in my feelings for them. Frankly, there have been many alterations and "upgrades" to the 1911 since (pick whichever historical date you wish.) Doesn't seem quite right to me to attack one & skip over -SO MANY- others. Also, the external extractor works INCREDIBLY well on other pistols and has for years and years and millions of handguns.

It is easier and less costly for a gun maker to manufacture them. You could argue that keeping their costs down get YOU more gun for your money.

My only "1911" with an external extractor is my Coonan. Certainly, it is not a true 1911, but it runs all the time, always. And I have a slew of 1st, 2nd & 3rd Gen S&W pistols and they runs lights-out.

Sig uses a different contour on their slides... the Colt Rail Gun mentioned has a damn RAIL on it. (hurl!) Forward serrations? Adjustable sights? FLGR? 8rd Mags? Ambi safety?!

None of that stuff is standard 1911, just like an external extractor or a firing pin lock.
 
I also have strong feelings on the external extractor... I used to be against them because they were NOT standard, outside the lines of what a 1911 "is" and also because a standard internal can be tuned and easily replaced, and also easily be set up for having a tuned extra ready for whenever.

I have evolved in my feelings for them. Frankly, there have been many alterations and "upgrades" to the 1911 since (pick whichever historical date you wish.) Doesn't seem quite right to me to attack one & skip over -SO MANY- others. Also, the external extractor works INCREDIBLY well on other pistols and has for years and years and millions of handguns.

It is easier and less costly for a gun maker to manufacture them. You could argue that keeping their costs down get YOU more gun for your money.

My only "1911" with an external extractor is my Coonan. Certainly, it is not a true 1911, but it runs all the time, always. And I have a slew of 1st, 2nd & 3rd Gen S&W pistols and they runs lights-out.

Sig uses a different contour on their slides... the Colt Rail Gun mentioned has a damn RAIL on it. (hurl!) Forward serrations? Adjustable sights? FLGR? 8rd Mags? Ambi safety?!

None of that stuff is standard 1911, just like an external extractor or a firing pin lock
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True 99% of the guns being called 1911s are really 1911 pattern guns these days. The external extractor is IMHO for fundamental than other replacement parts. Again my real issue is that they took an easily serviceable part which could be replaced and tuned by anyone into factory only serviceable part.

When they fail and like anything they do fail they have to go back to the factory. :(
 
I really don't agree. It's three parts and not a one of them relies on being bent properly and holding a perfect temper to allow itself to get bent, spring back AND still continue to work. And in my own personal tens of thousands of rounds... i have ended up with an out of tune internal twice and continue to have flawless operation from my externals.

I think both work very well, the internal is more likely to give trouble - but then is a bit easier to fix on the fly. I would definitely not agree at all that trouble with an external means a trip to the factory... it is simple to swap out and takes less finesse than tuning an internal.

While this doesn't apply much to gun forum types who tend to be much more advanced with their handguns... the external is also MUCH more resistant to improper handling -- specifically, when a novice drops the slide on a round rather than stripping properly from a magazine. The external is much more tolerant of this misuse.
 
Again my real issue is that they took an easily serviceable part which could be replaced and tuned by anyone into factory only serviceable part.
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To look at it another way, S&W took a part which probably accounts for more 1911 functioning problems than everything else put together (magazines excepted) and made it stupid-proof. I own two SC1911s (one older, one newer) and they both work perfectly.

Between the wife and I, we have had three Springfield 1911s, and two of them went back (one of them more than once).

We have also owned (between us) eight Kimbers. She currently has one and I have two. We have never had occasion to use their CS, and I regret selling several, but you can't own 'em all (not at once, anyway).

We all have our anecdotal data. And yes, I am purposely combining those two contradictory terms as an exercise in irony. :)
 
I've never owned a Kimber so I really can't say too much about them. The ones I've shot have been okay but there's nothing about them that makes me want one.
I have owned S&W 1911s and have to say that they do have the external extractor thing completely sorted out and the guns run great but so do my Colts and Springfields, so the S&Ws are worthy of consideration but not in my top 5 brand choices.
I own a Springfield MC Operator that I use as a house/nightstand gun and I have no complaints other than the smooth front strap and I fixed that with grip tape. The gun shoots great, has a good trigger, and is reliable. I like the MCO because it has a traditional bushing barrel, I'm not really a fan of bushingless 1911s.

Based on my personal experiences, if I was buying today I would go with the MC Operator again.
 
Sig uses a different contour on their slides... the Colt Rail Gun mentioned has a damn RAIL on it. (hurl!) Forward serrations? Adjustable sights? FLGR? 8rd Mags? Ambi safety?!
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It is ugly but I want to have the option to mount a weapons light.
 
It is ugly but I want to have the option to mount a weapons light.
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Why do you want to mount a weapon light? IMHO unless you kick down doors for a living you are better off with a hand held flashlight. YMMV
 
I'd choose the Sig or the Springfield except I would pick a model without the rail. I don't like the way a 1911 with a rail balances.
 
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