good 1911

What features are you looking for in a 1911? For beaver tail, extended safety etc... I would suggest the new Colt Competition model. For a milspec style, Colt 1991.

I've owned five Colt 1911s and all have been great. My first was in 1996 but all four of the others were from the last three years and they were and are all excellent.

The three I still have are shown below. I plan on a few more in the next couple of months :D



 
I have a Colt and like it. If I had it to do over again I probably would have looked a bit closer at a Spingfield or like already mentioned a Ruger. My real complaint with the Colt is the bluing, seems a bit thin at best, at least mine is.
 
Targa, I am not the biggest fan of bluing in general. It really is not a very tough finish, as it is easy to damage or remove, and also I feel it isn't very rust preventative. It must be kept oiled or greased to not start oxidizing. I am a big fan of parkerizing, enamel painted, Tennifer/Melonite.

I'll tell you op, why I bought a Springfield 2 to 3 years ago compared to others at the time. I had a budget set at $900, so I was looking at the following models.

Colt 1991A1 blued
Kimber custom 2 black
Springfield loaded model/range officer/mil spec
Sigs


I went to 2 different gun shops handling all the 1911s they had from most manufacturers.

I had done some research and from what I am aware, only Colt and Springfield use forged slides AND frames, for me, I am picky about my steels. Whether in a knife blade or what my firearm is made out of. I would expect a forged part to be stronger and last longer than a cast part, of equal proportion and design. So I decided I would rather have forged frame. This limited me to Colt and Springfield. The colts I handled (new ones) seemed like they weren't fit as well as the Springfields as a general comparing equally precised items. Also I saw a few examples of very poorly fit and low quality materials used for triggers and mainspring housings. Something you wouldn't even accept on a pellet or airgun.

Anywho I decided I liked the springfields the best, and had to decide on a mil spec, RO, or loaded model. I liked the fancy features of the RO and loaded, and figures they worth $200 more over the price of the mil-spec. I decided I liked fixed style tritium night sights over the adjustable on the RO. I picked the loaded model as I thought it would be slightly better to carry with the sights. The only things I want to swap on it are guide rod for GI plug, ambi safety for standard safety, and swap bushings for w slightly tighter, black one.

Do your research and that will tell you which one you really want. They all have MIM parts but the Colt will have the least, however they will all be well built (or should be). I am old skool and like series 70 which would be Springfield, some colts, and......that's about it of the major makers. I believe sig, ruger, kimber, para, use a firing pin block/drop safety. Series 80 or schwartz
 
Remington R-1 Enhanced. Great trigger and sights, the fit and finish are top notch. I know Remington has its lemons, but this model works for me.
 
I am in a situation close to yours OP, I plan on getting into a 1911 this summer. I have it narrowed down to a Ruger SR1911 or a Kimber. I am leaning on the Ruger because of the 70 series style. I have a Remington R1 torn all the way down right now for a friend because it wouldn't fire. One of the 80 series bits broke and killed it. It's a nice piece other than that though.
 
Id go with these, in this order
Colt - any full sized
Springfield loaded
Kimber custom II
Ruger
Smith and Wesson (has external extractor)

But dont overlook the Dan Wesson if u dont mind paying a bit more
 
Dan Wesson is almost always my first choice in modestly expensive 1911's. They are very well made and generally have very good triggers out of the box. Colt would be my next choice. I haven't been overly impressed with the Kimbers I've purchased and have traded them off for DW or Colt.
 
Love my colt

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I just happened to run into a blog entry about out-of-the-box reliability of 1911s by Tim Lau with 10-8 Performance. Both are well respected.
Colt factory pistols may not have some of the fancy “custom” features that are common with competing brands, but the build and materials quality exceed any at the same price point. If you are determined to carry a 1911 for duty or defensive use, starting with a Colt 1911 will put you ahead of the curve in terms of reliability and durability.
Click to expand...
http://modernserviceweapons.com/?p=3948

He later responded to a comment:
Note we have had good experiences with the Dan Wessons we’ve seem, but also notice that they are quite a bit more expensive than a production Colt.
Click to expand...
 
O suggest you skip buying a new Kimber. I love my custom 2 but the new guns have a spongey trigger. SO you buy a gun with good trigger or get a trigger job done on the new Kimbers.
 
Yes, I have noticed lately some of the new kimbers have crappy triggers. Good guns, however, overall. Springfield makes a good gun as well. My personal suggestion....buy a Taurus PT1911, used...rip it apart or take it to a gun smith, and replace all parts and internals with Wilson Combat parts. Frame and slides are good, and come with match barrels. I have a PT1911 I tuned up that'll out shoot a Wilson.
 
Here's another vote for a Ruger SR1911...good, modern features, without the Mall Ninja crap, at a good price, backed up by a first rate warranty. Mine shot 2" or less out of the box with good handloads. I've owned a lot of Colts...a WWll Remington-Rand, and a Sig and that SR1911 is as good as any of my semi-tricked out Colts.

Another good choice, recommended by several here who's knowledge I respect, is the Springfield Range Officer.

This too,
suggest you skip buying a new Kimber.
Click to expand...
Pretty, but only skin deep and you'll need their ify CS dept.

The best to you and yours, Rod
 
I'd go with the Ruger, or an RIA. The RIA will leave you some funds to have it tricked out a little. I have three 1911's, a Para, Colt, and a Norinco. Ironcally, I end up shooting the Norinco most of all. If you can find a decent Nork I'd seriously consider buying it, as the frames and slides are very well made. The other parts can be replaced rather easily, as has been done with mine.
 
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