Looking for Recommendations on 1911

M

MichaelJay

New member
I am looking to add to my collection again: this time a low cost, low frills, 1911 in .45 ACP. It will be taken to the range probably 4-6 times a year for up to 750 rounds total for the year. The main purpose is to have one to introduce new shooters to everything from .22LR up to .45 acp (the only one I don’t have in auto). Then they can make an informed decision on what type of hand gun to purchase. Other than the above use, it will sit in the safe.

I am looking for new, not used. Full size, not commander. Something similar to the Kimber or Springfield Custom models.

Any suggestions on other brands or where to purchase?

Thanks,
Michael.
 
Michael,

The obvious choices in the high quality, low cost group are Springfield loaded or Kimber Custom/Classic models, either in stainless or in blue/ordnance steel. I believe both are excellent "basic" 1911A1s, but the Springfield is a better value.

You may wish to check our TFL archives re this subject -- literally hundreds of relevant threads and thousands of well-informed posts.
 
I don't know what you consider "low cost." There is no new decent quality 45 auto under $650.00. If you must have a 1911, the Springfield is the one I would go for. They are more reliable than the Kimbers. In fact, the new Kimber Mk II's are having major reliability problems because of the firing pin safety which is causing malfunctions & variations of trigger pull.
 
I currently own a Springfield Loaded,a Kimber and a Colt 1991A1.I whole heartedly recommend the Springfield.Best bang for the buck.tom.
 
Springfield it is!

Well it looks like the majority would go with the Springfield “loaded” model. So I started looking at some of the things that would make it easier for me to use. Here is what I would consider a necessity – ambidextrous controls. Parkerized or Blued really makes no difference to me; I don’t think I can swing a stainless for this purchase. I do have some budgetary constraints (an understanding wife helps!).

The local dealers will all have to order one in, (they keep the top of the line in stock and the compact one) so are there other options that I should consider. I understand that it will take about 2-3 weeks for one to arrive. Since I have to wait, why wait again to have stuff added to it after the purchase?

Let me know and thanks for the help.
Michael
 
What is low cost?

I forgot to add that I consider $800 or less to be low cost. Competition guns at $1500 and up to me are unreasonable for my intended uses.

Michael.
 
Springfield is the one I would go for. They are more reliable than the Kimbers. In fact, the new Kimber Mk II's are having major reliability problems because of the firing pin safety which is causing malfunctions & variations of trigger pull.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry; I can't let this go without replying.

Springfields are *not* necessarily more reliable than Kimbers. Ask a Springer owner whose slide split in two.

Kimber doesn't even make a model called the Mk II.

The safety you're talking about has nothing to do with the trigger pull.

The fact is that both Springfield and Kimber have problems getting rock-solid $650 guns out the door. At the very least, you'll need to break in either one with a dozen boxes of ammo before you can decide if you need to do anything to it.
 
1911

If you can get your hands on a Kimber Custom Series I then I'd go for that. Mine has 6000+ rounds through it and it works like a charm. Reasonably priced, reliable and fun to shoot!!! Can't go wrong with that. :cool: :) :D
 
Springfields are *not* necessarily more reliable than Kimbers.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

I have yet to hear a single example of a Kimber being inherently less reliable than a Springfield. My Custom Classic has offered nothing but flawless performance and every Kimber owner I personally know (which are several) are enjoying this same performance.
 
The Kimber or the Springfield would make a fine gun.

Springfields customer service is really good. I had a problem with a loaded model, and they fixed it and got it back to me quick. And since then that gun has been blessed with great reliability.

My personal opinion is that somebody who is new to the 1911 should probably start with a basic Kimber, or a loaded Springfield. After they shoot that gun for a while their opinions on how they want their gun configured will change. I just hate to see somebody new to the 1911 go out and drop $1600 on a custom gun, that isn't exactly what they want, but their friends told them about how they were the best out there.

The beauty of the 1911 is that you can do all sorts of wonderful things to make them fit to your personal tastes.

Currently I wouldn't purchase a Colt. I don't see the extra $200 or so being worth having the name.

If you are looking around $900 or $1000 check out the Trojan from STI. Very nice gun for the money.

If you are looking for pretty, the Valtro has got to have the nicest blueing I have ever seen. That thing is just goregous. It is around $1000. And it is still pretty rare.
 
You want something that will only be shot 750 rounds /year divided up into 6-7 sessions so some other person(s) can decide it that is a "style" or "model" of handgun they like???

Spend half that and get a Systema. It will run and I would hate to have a newbee dropping my Kimber or SA in the dirt or on a cement floor at the range.

S-
 
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Shmacky, Please check out "Gun Tests." They tested the Kimber II with firing pin safety & had many malfunctions & also measured trigger pull shot-to-shot. When the staff at "Gun Tests" contacted Kimber about the problems, they were IGNORED. I also have read many posts about the $$$$"Eclipse" having reliability problems. I have also read about an epidemic of Kimber's night sights that stop working after 1-2 months. Kimber probably got a great deal buying Meprolight's old night sights & decided to install them on their pistols. I personally owned $1,200.00 Gold Match that wouldn't always function & after I also got the runaround from Kimber, I traded it for a $650.00 HK USP that works PERFECTLY 2,800 rounds so far. If you want a totally reliable bedside/defensive pistol, I suggest you don't make it a 100 year old 1911 design. For target shooting where your life won't depend on reliability, a tuned 1911 can't be beat.
 
Any of the Big 3 (Kimber, SA or Colt) are good choices for say $550-650 depending on where you shop for their basic models. ALL of them have spotty QC, however. The 1911 design is fine, but the companies' are way behind SigSauer or HK, for example, in the consistent quality of what they deliver. That said, the most reliable gun I own in terms of trouble-free round count is... my Colt Delta Elite. :D
 
Hit, all guns malfunction. I have seen just about every major brand of gun malfunction one time or another. If you haven't seen a type of gun malfunction then you haven't been around one enough.

The 1911 design is a reliable platform. Sure there are some that have problems, just like anything else.
 
Kimber and Springfield are both good guns, but I have to take up for Kimber here. Despite what some Gun rag says about there sites and safties etc. They are great guns. Their customer service was excellent, the one time I used it for custom work not repair. My Eclipse has performed flawlessly in 1500 rounds and the nights sites still glow. Oh and it of course has that nasty series II to saftey. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the help!

I would like to thank everyone who gave input on this topic. I have looked at several of the alternatives given. My thinking at this point is as follows:

Since I will be using it infrequently for target practice and to loan to others to “try out” I don’t think an outlay of near $1000 is justified. Yes, they are nice but really not what I want. Good point about having one dropped at the range.

It won’t be a home defense gun; I prefer a good .357 revolver and 12 ga shotgun for that need. So a few FTF or FTE or stove pipe jams at the range can be taken as “cost of doing business” for purchasing a lower cost “starter” gun. I really don’t mind.

Being left handed, ambidextrous controls would have been nice, but jacks the price up too high. So I will learn to shoot right handed or always switch hands to run the controls. Again, infrequent use so not a problem.

Several advised (wisely) to get the basics then add do-dads and frills after some time passes. I think I will follow this advice.

Of the guns I have researched, there are two that come close to what I would like: both are from Springfield Armory the Mil-Spec and Loaded. Yes, I understand that Kimber makes a good product as well, but their prices are higher for similar features.

The Mil-Spec is about $499 and the Loaded goes for $775. At this time I am leaning to the Mil-Spec. If you have experience with either of these please add to the thread. Is there really a $275 difference in the two after reading my wants and wishes above?

Would I regret the lower priced one quicker and need some feature of the higher right away?

Again, thanks for all of your help and insights. I really appreciate having this forum to find out things a local dealer just won’t say.

Michael.
 
How important is it for you that the gun be brand new? If you're considering a milspec, you might want to look into a surplus Argentine Sistema. It's a truly milspec gun for $300. If you do some searching in the archives, you'll find that nearly everyone who gets one loves it. I sure do like mine.
 
Holy moly that is quite a jump in price between the mil-spec and the loaded. I have seen loaded models around for a whole lot cheaper than that!

And the Systema is a really nice gun for a mil-spec.
 
Michael,

If it's just to teach newbies, they won't be able to tell the difference between a Springfield Loaded and a TRP, a Kimber Eclipse and CDP. Heck, they may not notice the difference between the Loaded and Mil-Spec...

I think you should just get the gun you want, and teach them on it...if they don't like the Mil-Spec, chances are they won't like an $1800 Wilson CQB either.

My opinion only...FWIW
 
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