Looking for a good 9mm 1911 for under 650

I am very happy with my 1911 Citadel in 9mm. It runs perfect, the trigger is decent and it is well made.It is far more reliable than the Kimber I used to have.
 
It sounds like you have set your budget and plan to stay within it.

For your budget, my first choice would be Rock Island Armory. They have an excellent reputation for performing, and the few times they dont, their customer service gets excellent reviews.

I would look at American Classic or Citadel also. People like them but I’ve seen missed reviews on CS.

For me, the only drawback on the RIA is that most of their offerings come with a full length guide rod, which I don’t like. Just a preference.
 
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If you can find a good STI Spartan V (5” barrel) 9mm you might be able to get one in your price range. These have been out of production for a few years now so your have to search hard & get lucky to find one.
 
From just nosing around on the internet and with no 1st hand experience, Rock Island looks like the best new choice in your price range. If it were me, I would handle as many 1911's as possible. I'd pick the one that felt the best, had the best trigger, and had a fit and finish I could live with. Then I'd research my favorites QC record etc. and save my penneys. (just my humble opinion)
 
Yeah I’ve decided on either the rock island 1911 in 45 caliber at local gun store or a TP9SA 9mm. Currently waiting on background check. Guy at counter was insisting j research 1911s more saying they’re a cult following and either love or hate em. Also claimed they jam a lot. Doing more of my own research I think I’m glad background check got delayed and would rather have a 1911. Guns with plastic bodies just look meh and easier to break. The TP9SA does feel good in hand but still not sure why this guy was pushing it. It has rest reviews for price online but dunno why he’d push over 1911 aside from 9mm ammo cost being lower than 45 for target practice. Questions would be do you find 9mm and 45 calibers 1911s to be of equal quality? Also this guy at gun store rambled about how he thinks they jam but research shows most 1911s jam from limp wristing.
 
Sorry for such noobish and maybe repetitive questions, I’ve not much experience with guns outside a few shotguns growing up and a nagant revolver I bought cheaply years ago. I guess another question would be would a noob have that difficult if a time adjusting to a 45 caliber over 9mm(ammo cost aside), are the 9mm 1911 models any different in realizability issues opposed to 45s and is there any reason to pick the TP9SA 9mm over a rock Island 45 1911 like gun store owner claims? I’m open minded but hesitant about picking plastic polyimer over full metal guns as I feel they could break. All the education I can get would be nice
 
Of the 1911s mentioned IMO, the best overall quality, fit and finish, performance, and potential long term reliability is probably going to be the Magnum Research 1911. Two of my buddies have the .45 version and I've put both through some paces over the years.

Magnum Research builds these things like tanks with tight but not-too-tight tolerances, accurate barrels and pretty good triggers with little if any slop right out of the box. The only two things I could gripe about: one, they are bushing-less (I'm old school about the bushing thing). Two, they are all steel, so they're a bit heavy for EDC. Otherwise, at under $700, I don't think you can beat MR for sheer bang-for-your-buck. YMMV of course.
 
How’s recoil of 9mm vs 45 for someone new to handguns? I had a relatively rough year health wise and keeping weight on, the would the recoil of a 45 be that burdensome? Kind of a weird question I know. Still young but health issues are a concern
 
I don't think recoil of the 45acp in a Government(full size) sized 1911 is bad at all. It's more of a push than a violent snap.
9mm recoil in the same sized 1911 is very mild. My wife and daughter have no problem with my 9mm Springfield.

If you have health conditions than I say go with the 9mm. Ammo is cheaper also.
 
For 9mm the debate is now between the rock island 1911(if I can find it under 500 would be amazing) or a Canik TP9SA. I really want a 1911 no matter what later down road but have this paranoia that if i don’t buy now government is gonna raise price or make em harder to get in the the next few years. If I know for sure I’ll be able to to get a 1911 in 1-5 years legally I’ll settle for the TP9SA. Another reason worried is even if they remain legal I fear tighter regulations might keep me away personally since I once voluntarily went to a psych ward. I’m no longer in need of medications but still worried that with debate of mental health and gun rights that if I don’t get what I want now it will be impossible in future
 
Just throwing this out there, if you're considering the Canik TP9SA, don't get the SA. It's striker fired with a decocker. If you decock it somehow, you have to rack the slide again to cock it. The TP9SF or TP9DA are better options.
 
I love my Springfield Range Officer (9mm), with upgraded trigger and sights. It eats any ammo (even my reloads) and has minimal recoil.
 
As to the recoil difference, 45 is not bad but in 9mm it is almost non existent. Best of both worlds, the magic of the 1911 feel with very little recoil.
 
I got my 9mm RIA Rock "formerly tac 1) through Gallery of Guns for just under $500 put the door. 800-1000 rounds later, it has been flawless and is the most accurate gun I have. Very little recoil.
 
You don't have to only buy local. You can buy online and have it shipped to a local FFL (possibly/probably a LGS giving you bad advice). 9mm 1911's can be perfectly reliable. There is nothing wrong with the RIA. If there is, they will fix it for free and pay shipping both ways. Again, the Star BM is a very good choice and is inexpensive right now. I own a lot of handguns. My three Stars are all steel and made to extremely high quality standards.

I own five pistols that are 1911's or very similar to them. One was a lemon that had to go back to the factory three times. The other four have been completely reliable. The 9mm's have worked just as well as the 45acp.

In a full-sized steel 1911, recoil is NBD in 45acp. A 9mm in a similar pistol has very mild recoil. My 13-year-old daughter doesn't like recoil, but I and my FiL own 1911-type 9mm's and she will shoot them NP. She recently shot my smaller aluminum-framed 9mm ONCE and set it back down. She said, "That sucks. I only want to shoot the big one."
 
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