what do you think of a Citidel 1911 for a basic 45. http://palmettostatearmory.com/inde...tadel/citadel-m1911-fullsize-matte-black.html
Best and worst 1911 between $500 - $1000
- Thread starter k9cougar
- Start date
I would suggest something in the Springfield or Sig line of 1911's. There are several choices for either in your price range with these two companies. I have both a Springfield GI and a Sig Carry Scorpion that have both performed flawlesly with wilson combat mags. The Sig is one of the most accurate out of the box 1911's that I have shot.
I would stay away from anything Taurus made as I have never seen one in person that worked properly. I have seen a lot go back to the factory multiple times and still have problems.
I would stay away from anything Taurus made as I have never seen one in person that worked properly. I have seen a lot go back to the factory multiple times and still have problems.
TheDoubleDeuce
New member
Well, a buddy of mine just bought the Taurus PT1911 .45 rail gun, blued, and I just bought the Springfield Mil-Spec .45, blued. We both paid around $650, so they are on the lower end of your budget. When they come in and we take them for a spin I will let you know what we think of them.
EDIT: I suppose since a whole lot hasn't been said about the Remington R1, I will throw in what I know based on LIMITED experience (dry-firing and handling at LGS). The R1 does look nice, and feels pretty good in the hand. The one I handled had a tiny bit of wiggle in the slide and the trigger felt a little stiff. I would not be upset with it if it were my only option, but in the end I was swayed to the Springfield for the following reasons (whether they're important or not is your own opinion to form):
Lifetime warranty vs 2 years on Remington
Forged slide, frame and barrel on Springfield (R1 has a cast frame)
Series 70 on Springfield vs Series 80 on R1
I felt that the lettering style on the slide and the lighter colored trigger made the Remington look less GI. By comparison, the MODEL 1911-A1 CAL. 45 on the slide of the Springfield seems more GI style.
If everything else is pointless to you, maybe the lifetime warranty means something.
EDIT: I suppose since a whole lot hasn't been said about the Remington R1, I will throw in what I know based on LIMITED experience (dry-firing and handling at LGS). The R1 does look nice, and feels pretty good in the hand. The one I handled had a tiny bit of wiggle in the slide and the trigger felt a little stiff. I would not be upset with it if it were my only option, but in the end I was swayed to the Springfield for the following reasons (whether they're important or not is your own opinion to form):
Lifetime warranty vs 2 years on Remington
Forged slide, frame and barrel on Springfield (R1 has a cast frame)
Series 70 on Springfield vs Series 80 on R1
I felt that the lettering style on the slide and the lighter colored trigger made the Remington look less GI. By comparison, the MODEL 1911-A1 CAL. 45 on the slide of the Springfield seems more GI style.
If everything else is pointless to you, maybe the lifetime warranty means something.
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If you are looking for a range gun or one for home defense then I would agree with the folk recommending the Springfield Range Officer. It has the features I like (like adjustable sights) and has a reputation as a solid shooter without the bells and whistles that would drive the price up.
If you are looking for a ccw gun then I would suggest something else.
If you are looking for a ccw gun then I would suggest something else.
I have no complaints about my Taurus 1911 other than it has so little resale value. It is a good shooter and I have had no functional problems. If I had it to do over I would probably go with something from Springfield due to the resale aspect of the Taurus, but I will keep what I have despite the bad mouthing of others about Taurus.
+1 for the springfield RO, paid 850 it is probably the nicest shooter of my sub 1k 1911's..not for carry but for range use....if only it were made in the USA..... reciently picked up a remington R1 that has been a fantastic shooter out of the box for 650,,,100% USA made......also reciently picked up a ruger for 700 that is also a fine shooter and has been 100% reliable in the 200 rounds i have sent down range and is also USA made.... have to say though the fit on my remington is darn close to perfect where the ruger has just a hair of play in slide to frame fit...both fine shooters though, and if an adjustable sight were to be added like the RO has, i bet they would be just as accurate
on the cheaper end i would reccomend the RIA 1911, nothing special, good shooters, mine eat every kind of ammo i feed it....the taurus pt1911 is the only taurus i have ever owned and i wont bash it, but i will say my particular pistol gave me problems from day one...i no longer own it
on the cheaper end i would reccomend the RIA 1911, nothing special, good shooters, mine eat every kind of ammo i feed it....the taurus pt1911 is the only taurus i have ever owned and i wont bash it, but i will say my particular pistol gave me problems from day one...i no longer own it
TheDoubleDeuce
New member
K511, what evidence do you have that the Remington R1 is 100% made in USA? The general concensus I have seen online (including interpreting the "political" responses from Remington) is that at least 51% of the machining and fitting is done in the US but many of the parts are imported.
This is not a huge point of contention for me but I am interested to see if you have hard evidence that I have not been able to find. Feel free to answer via PM if you feel it's not pertinent to the OP.
This is not a huge point of contention for me but I am interested to see if you have hard evidence that I have not been able to find. Feel free to answer via PM if you feel it's not pertinent to the OP.
SauerGrapes
New member
No first hand experience with them. I compared it to a RIA at the gun shop. It's about equal in build to the RIA from what i could see.
Depends on what your want in a 1911.
Op, I've been impressed with my Colt, SA and Sig.
What do you want to use the gun for? Is it strictly a range toy? Gun Game? Concealed carry? How many rounds do you intend to shoot a year? There are way too many 1911s out there in this low to mid range to answer the question you have asked without more specifics.
Help us help you...... The devil is in the details and we need more details in order to intelligently answer your question IMHO.
Real world experience
I’ve been a bit of a 1911 fan ever since I field stripped my first one under the watchful eye of GM1 Smith back in 1966. The following list is an overview of the “Out of the Box” performance of 1911's I’ve purchased over the years. (May have missed a few, as memory is not what it once was.)
9MM Colt Commander (6)
45 ACP Colt LW Commander (5)
45 ACP Colt/Gov. Md.(original S70) (5)
45 ACP Colt/ Commander (1991 ORM) (4)
45 ACP Clot/Defender (4)
45 ACP Colt/LW Commander XSE (4)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (Blue) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (Hard Chrome) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Kimber/Clasic (3)
45 ACP Kimber/Royal Cary (2)
45 ACP Kimber/Custom Royal (4)
45 ACP Para-Ordnance/P12-45 (1)*
45 ACP Brown KC (1)
45 ACP Brown SF (1)
45 ACP Brown SF (1)
45 ACP Brown/Class A Ltd Commander (1)
45 ACP SA/TRP (3)
45 ACP SA/PRO (1)
45 ACP SA/Trophy Match (3)
45 ACP STI/Trojan (3)
45 ACP Dan Wesson CBOB (2)
45 ACP Taurus / PT 1911 (1)
45 ACP Valtro (1)
45 ACP S&W 1911PD (1)
45 ACP S&W 1911SC (E Series) (1)
Honorable mention “1911ish” guns
45 ACP Star/PD #1 (1)*
45 ACP Star/PD #2 (1)*
45 ACP Star/PS (1)*
9MM Star/BM (1)*
NOTES:
(1) 100% out of the box with all mags & ammo
(2) 100% with slight break-in, &/or mag change
(3) Reliable after break-in with specific ammo & mags
(4) Reliable after part(s) change &/or minor gunsmithing
(5) Reliable after major gunsmithing
(6) Never worked even after multiple returns to manufacture and gunsmiths
(*) Only OEM mags used
I’ve been a bit of a 1911 fan ever since I field stripped my first one under the watchful eye of GM1 Smith back in 1966. The following list is an overview of the “Out of the Box” performance of 1911's I’ve purchased over the years. (May have missed a few, as memory is not what it once was.)
9MM Colt Commander (6)
45 ACP Colt LW Commander (5)
45 ACP Colt/Gov. Md.(original S70) (5)
45 ACP Colt/ Commander (1991 ORM) (4)
45 ACP Clot/Defender (4)
45 ACP Colt/LW Commander XSE (4)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (Blue) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (Hard Chrome) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Norinco/1911A1 (park) (1)
45 ACP Kimber/Clasic (3)
45 ACP Kimber/Royal Cary (2)
45 ACP Kimber/Custom Royal (4)
45 ACP Para-Ordnance/P12-45 (1)*
45 ACP Brown KC (1)
45 ACP Brown SF (1)
45 ACP Brown SF (1)
45 ACP Brown/Class A Ltd Commander (1)
45 ACP SA/TRP (3)
45 ACP SA/PRO (1)
45 ACP SA/Trophy Match (3)
45 ACP STI/Trojan (3)
45 ACP Dan Wesson CBOB (2)
45 ACP Taurus / PT 1911 (1)
45 ACP Valtro (1)
45 ACP S&W 1911PD (1)
45 ACP S&W 1911SC (E Series) (1)
Honorable mention “1911ish” guns
45 ACP Star/PD #1 (1)*
45 ACP Star/PD #2 (1)*
45 ACP Star/PS (1)*
9MM Star/BM (1)*
NOTES:
(1) 100% out of the box with all mags & ammo
(2) 100% with slight break-in, &/or mag change
(3) Reliable after break-in with specific ammo & mags
(4) Reliable after part(s) change &/or minor gunsmithing
(5) Reliable after major gunsmithing
(6) Never worked even after multiple returns to manufacture and gunsmiths
(*) Only OEM mags used
I bought the SA Range Officer as my first 1911 also. I paid $750 for it 1 1/2 years ago. I love it. My wife bought a Taurus pt1911 9mm parkerized for $475 at the same time because she liked the feel of mine, but didn't like the recoil. It has been flawless as well. It is under the $500 minimum though. Plus many people dislike Taurus. Buy a Range Officer if you want a nice shooting gun that few people dislike. Buy the Taurus if you want a gun that shoots well and is little trouble...except the guns that are trouble and have to get repaired at Taurus, sometimes more than once. It happens enough that it always becomes part of a Taurus conversation. Keep that in mind...
I've seen several STI Spartans at various gun shops and Cabelas at that price, too.
Adamantium
New member
I own one 1911 and shoot it competitively. Not to be too anti-climatic but obviously you want a 1911 that shoots a bullet out of it's barrel. Every 1911 has you covered there. The real question is, what more do you want it to do? Do you want to shoot modern JHPs? It would be better to look at enhanced models. What about upgraded sights? There are fixed, adjustable, target, glow in the dark, etc. Are you worried about rust? Stainless is a good option if you are. What about accuracy? We all want an accurate gun but do you have some real and defined accuracy criteria?
When people ask me what 1911 they should look at first I always recommend a Armscor or Metroarms enhanced model. They have almost everything people want, cost around $450 locally and never wear out. I know people who have been shooting competition for years with their filipino 1911s without a problem. I think the #1 reason to go with something more expensive is because you want stainless and the #2 reason is because you want adjustable sights out of the box. I think there are some Armscor 1911s that even have those these days.
I think you are going to see a lot of people recommend you buy what they bought. Listening to satisfied customers is a good thing but it isn't at all very objective either. Good luck in your search.
When people ask me what 1911 they should look at first I always recommend a Armscor or Metroarms enhanced model. They have almost everything people want, cost around $450 locally and never wear out. I know people who have been shooting competition for years with their filipino 1911s without a problem. I think the #1 reason to go with something more expensive is because you want stainless and the #2 reason is because you want adjustable sights out of the box. I think there are some Armscor 1911s that even have those these days.
I think you are going to see a lot of people recommend you buy what they bought. Listening to satisfied customers is a good thing but it isn't at all very objective either. Good luck in your search.
Madcap_Magician
New member
The Armscor guns are excellent for the price. Very well built. I have seen them in the gun store with better parts fit than Colts, Springfields, Sigs, and Kimbers, sad as that is to say.