Best and worst 1911 between $500 - $1000

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k9cougar

New member
I am looking to pick up my first 1911. Willing to spend between $500 - $1000. So.......
What 1911, in this price range would you recommend, and, if you have the time, why?
What 1911, in this price range, should I stay away from and, if you have the time, why?

Your advice and counsel is appreciated..
 
Stay away Taurus.
I bought Springfield 1911 mil spec SS model, very nice gun for the price $750.
 
I have a basic Springfield in stainless, nothing fancy and it has worked flawlessly with factory and handload ammo. Even in hot powder fine dusty conditions when other guns were jamming.

This would be my starting point and then see if I could find something even nicer. I bought mine used several years ago for $450.

At $1,000 I would consider a Colt. I was out browsing yesterday and pretty sure I saw several Colts in the $1,000-$1,200 range.

I don't know their quality these days but in that range of yours were Remington, S&W, Kimber, Springfield to name a few
 
STI makes two fine 1911s in your range. The Spartan can be picked up for $650 and the Trojan for $1000. The Spartan IMO is the best package for the price. I own the Spartan and it comes with some of the more popular upgrades with great fit and fantastic trigger.
 
The Springfield Armory Range Officer has several nice upgrades from the Mil-Spec, and should still be well under $1K.

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My experience with Springfield Armory 1911's has been that they require minor tweaking and/or replacement of a part or two, and then they run great.

My experience with the Remington R1's has been that they run great out of the box.

YMMV!
 
I have the Para Ordnance GI Expert -- love it. Took a few rounds with a few FTE's (only with the factory mags), but once it got past that first range trip, it's fed flawlessly. Nicely appointed gun and very affordable. Very good sights.

I had the Springfield GI, which I traded in a fit of stupidity a few years ago. it was a very good gun, too. Sights were poor, as is to be expected on a GI type, but the gun ran flawlessly out of the box, and was a lot of fun to shoot. Occasionally would eject straight up, putting a hot piece of brass on your head, but other than that it was good. Nice to look at, too.
 
The price range of $500-$1000 covers so much ground in the 1911 world, that your question would be like asking, "What's the best car for $20,000-$150,000?"
There is no such thing as a "good, cheap" 1911, but that doesn't mean there aren't good ones that don't cost $1000.
I think the Springfield Range Officer is a great deal, in the $800 price range. I even saw one locally for $820, and I'm used to seeing guns priced 25% more here, than just about anywhere else.
A similar gun, at a lower price point, is the STI Spartan. Most of the same "features", and done well, but less expensive.
 
Anything from Smith and Wesson in their cheaper line. They never get enough credit for their accuracy, reliability, and value. I have a 1911PD 4 1/4. Beautiful gun, accurate, light, and about $850. Super trigger I might add.
 
Springfield, Sig, Colt, S&W.

I've personally seen too many (two so far) Taurus 1911's fail on their first shot out of the box (even after a cleaning) to ever recommend it.
 
For a little over a grand, I recommend the SIG Model TTT: accurate, reliable, checkering on the back-strap as well as the front of the grip, no slop in the fit and comes with some really nifty compact, but adjustable, night sights. The best bang for the buck out there, imo.
 
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