If you had to choose a 1911 in each of the following price ranges which would you

R

Rich_357

New member
I’m seriously considering purchasing a 1911 as my next fire arm (Next Year). I know the pros and cons of the 1911 and yes they are pricey.

If you had to choose a 1911 in each of the following price ranges which would you pick and why?

< $600 ?
$600 - $800 ?
$800 - $1000 ?
$1000 -$1200 ?
> $1200 ?
 
Colt

My first - two years ago, was a Colt. Because every collection should have a Colt. So...$800 - $1000. They're not considered the best, but that's A-okay with me. Next, I purchased a Ruger SR1911 full size. I like it's looks, performance, and the series 70 firing system. It's a great shooter and a darn good value for about $700.00 or so.
 
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<600 = None
600-800 = Springfield Armory
800-1000 = Colt or Springfield Armory
1000-1200 = Colt or Springfield Armory
>1200 = Dan Wesson, Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown
 
$800-$1000

I have had my first and only 1911 for about 2 or 3 years now. I would say once you get to $800 is when you really get into decent quality 1911s. In my opinion the guns below $750-800 are lacking In Quality and fit. The rugers, remingtons, taurus', and others in that price bracket just don't cut it.

For your first 1911 I would either go big or go home. Unless you are on a serious budget then I would recommend a RIA 1911 at about 500 but only if you are limited to about 500 for any handgun.

Sprinfield and Colt are the most trusted (at about $1000 or a tad less), followed by sig, then kimber. CZ or Dan Wesson would probably better than any of the other brands but DW start at about $1400
 
Personally, I've read really good reviews about the improvements in RIA's 1911's. I'd go with them under $600

In the $600-$800, I'd want stainless, a nice trigger, accuracy and reliability. I was browsing at the Ruger SR1911, Springfield MIL/Range Officer and Remington R1.
 
< $600 - SA XD45
$600 - $800 - Colt 1991
$800 - $1000 - Colt
$1000 -$1200 - Dan Wesson RZ-45
> $1200 - Dan Wesson of your choice
 
< $600 ? - - - - - - Rock Island
$600 - $800 ? - - - Colt
$800 - $1000 ? - - Colt
$1000 -$1200 ? - - Colt
> $1200 ? - - - - - Guncrafters 50 GI Model 1
 
The only 1911 I would buy for shooting would be a Rock Island.
Why??? I have thousands of trouble free rounds through mine. Dont need to pay more to do the same thing.

For collecting I would love to have a War relic. Price.... What ever I can get away with out the wife finding out...:rolleyes:
 
1911 <$600 - Rock Island (Citadel) - Owned with over 1000 rounds

$600 - $800 ? None, $800 - $1000 ? None - Not interested

$1000 -$1200 ? - Sig 1911 Scorpion - IDK, it speaks to me every time I see one.
 
<$600 Auto Ordnance, cheapest made in USA I know of, and mine has been trouble free.

All the rest I'd get a Colt.
 
I would suggest a Ruger 1911 right from the get go. They seem to provide the best bang for your buck and they come standard pretty loaded. I would not hesitate to get one and will to add to the collection when the opportunity presents itself.
 
<600 -- gently used Norinco but, for new guns, a RIA

600 to 800 -- Colt (a couple of available models) or Springfield Range Officer or Loaded

800 to 1,000 - Colt

1,000 to 1,200 - Dan Wesson Heritage

>1,200 -- way too big a range; towards the lower end, a Dan Wesson; toward the upper (for a semi-custom) then Ed Brown or Nighthawk

This is the last 1911 I purchased (not the best photographs):



 
<600 - RIA
600 - 800 - RIA
800 - 1000 - Ruger SR1911
1000 - 1200 - Dan Wesson Heritage
>1200 - any other Dan Wesson
 
< $600 - Rock Island
$600 - $800 - Ruger
$800 - $1000 - Colt Competition model
$1000 -$1200 - Colt XSE model
> $1200 - Dan Wesson or Colt Special Government Model
 
There are a lot of subtle differences in many 1911's.../ and in features...

As you add features the price goes up.../ that's why a gun like the Springfield TRP - that comes with a mag well, is checkered on front and back strap, ambi safeties, night sights..at around $ 1,400 or so in my area is a lot of gun for the money.

Can you go cheaper - and get a decent gun...maybe, maybe not.
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In my opinion - Wilson Combat ... makes the best 1911's on the market but the entry price to play in that category is around $4,000 .../ I've had Les Baer's, Ed Browns, Nighthaws and Kimbers...and none of them were as good a gun as my Wilson's ( 9mm full sized wilson all stainless - Protector - 8 yrs old about 110,000 rds thru it now .../ CQB full sized .45 acp armor tuff black has about 30,000 rds thru it )...and the 9mm full sized is my primary carry gun now.

Buddies that shoot Springfield TRP's like them a lot ...and some of them have 50,000 rds thru them...and counting..
 
<600 = None
600-800 = Springfield Armory
800-1000 = Colt or Springfield Armory
1000-1200 = Colt or Springfield Armory
>1200 = Dan Wesson, Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown
Click to expand...

That's about where I am, though I don't think I'd spend $1200 on a pistol that I couldn't spec myself.
"Factory customs" (Baer, Brown, et al.) are just like other production pistols, but built to a higher standard, and most production pistols aren't spec'd the way I like them.
I would shy away from guns that stray very far from the original specs, such as proprietary parts that replace common, widely-available equivalents. No external extractors or contours that require a special, non-1911 holster.
 
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