looking to buy a new 1911 ?

I own two Springfield 1911, one a GI Champion with a 4" barrel and the other is a Loaded 1911 in black steel. I carry one or the other and both have been flawless in the several years I have owned them. I have no experience with other but ruger is turning out some nice ones as well, espcecially the Range Officer.

The GI champion is a bare bones pistol but it is a great shooter. I paid a gun smith $85 to do trigger work on mine and he got down to 3.5 lbs. This one will run several hundred below your budget. Good luck in your search.
 
rebs said:
which model range officer is recommended ? What is the trigger pull weight ?
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Whichever one you want. The Range Officer is a full-size pistol with a 5" slide and barrel. The Range Officer Champion has a 4" slide and barrel, which is IMHO sort of a mongrel, in that the Colt Combat Commander is 4-1/4". You can certainly carry a Champion in a Commander holster, but there's a quarter inch of empty space there, and eventually it starts to get crushed.

The Range Officer Compact is also a 4" slide and barrel, but with the shorter grip frame of the Colt Officers ACP and Defender. Slightly easier to conceal, but you lose one round in carrying capacity.

For range use, I'd go with the basic 5" range Officer.

Don't worry about the trigger pull -- it's VERY easy to tune the trigger pull on a 1911.
 
I am cheaper than you.

A Star Super B is a lot like a 9mm 1911. I love mine. The sights and trigger are great. You can still find surplus ones for about $250. Mine has never malfunctioned.

I wanted a 45acp 1911 and am cheap. I bought a Tisas 1911 from Bud's for $399. It is a very good pistol. The sights and trigger are great. It has also never malfunctioned.


I bought a double-stack 40 caliber RIA 1911 and it is a piece of junk. But my stepbrother has had an RIA 45acp GI version for five years or so and it is an excellent pistol. They go for around $350 last time I checked.

Here is my Tisas. You could pay a lot more and not get a better pistol, imho.

TISAS1911_zps2f156e47.jpg
 
Budget wise I would like to stay under $1000.00. I do want a good trigger and good accuracy. This would not be a carry gun but just a good range gun for target shooting.
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To be Captain Obvious, you should choose a gun to fit your intended use. Inasmuch as you are only interested in a range gun, you would want a full-size, all steel gun, not a Commander length or alloy frame. Furthermore, you will likely want some adjustment in the sights rather than G.I.
I suggest you look at a Ruger SR1911.
 
what about the new Colt competition model ? Has anyone shot one ?
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Yes, I’ve got one and it’s been a great gun so far. I put about 500 rounds through mine including assorted FMJ, hollow point and some 230 +P stuff I had. The gun has been flawless with zero issues while shooting. I did have one grip screw work loose, but a dab of loctite and all is well.

I want to believe this gun is more accurate with the national match barrel or maybe it’s just me taking a little more time, but either way I’ve shot well with it. The double recoil spring set-up seems to work fine and I guess we’ll see if the springs last longer than the older style. I know some folks don’t like the blue G10 grips, but personally like the way the look, but regardless of the looks they feel very nice and provide great grip while shooting.

While it hasn’t been an issue for me someone did mention that the blue fiber optic front site is hard to see. The gun did come with a bag of replacement tubes in other colors, so it can be changed if you wish. It also comes equipped with a Novak carry style rear site which is actually adjustable.

The gun features a flat black finish instead of some type of bluing. I’m not sure what the finish is or how it will hold up long term, but so far so good.

So, bottom line I’m very happy with this Colt which provides some very nice features for less than $900 bucks.

http://www.colt.com/Catalog/Pistols/Colt-Competition-Pistol
 
dahermit said:
Furthermore, you will likely want some adjustment in the sights rather than G.I.
I suggest you look at a Ruger SR1911.
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???

Ruger doesn't offer any models (not even the Talo pistols) with adjustable sights. Ruger's web site lists all models as having sights that are drift adjustable -- which means fixed. Even GI M1911A1 sights are drift adjustable.

For a range only pistol, a $1000 budget is plenty to get a Colt Competition Pistol or a Springfield Range Officer, and if you shop carefully might even get you a Colt Gold Cup. All of these have adjustable sights.
 
I believe I have narrowed it down to the range officer or the colt competition. Help me narrow iot down between these two ?
I already have a series 70 colt gold cup.
 
I already have a series 70 colt gold cup.
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I did not know that when I recommended the SA Range Officer.

Once can never have enough 1911's and EITHER the genuine Colt or the RO would be a worthy addition to your collection but I'm wondering if either one would be any kind of significant improvement over your Gold Cup. (The Series 70 Gold Cup is a gun I've always thought of as very, very nice indeed.)
 
I recommend the SA range officer if you want adjustable sights and rear only slide serrations, and a eighth only safety, or the loaded model of you want night sights, front and rear serrations and ambi safety
 
Personally I go with Colt if I have the budget. Because the long term value if you shoot it, or change things will always be there. I still haven't shot my new 1991 stainless. But I will and will also report my likes and dislikes if any.
 
I hate to be like this, but the Springfield Armory makes fabulous guns. I had a mil spec version and sold it. Then talked my dad into buying one. And I bought it and sold it. Anyway these are of the few other then some Colts I've owned which were solid out of the box without any failures for many rounds. And not silly small sights like my RIA mil spec which is running good now but took 100 rounds to iron out.
 
I realize there might not be any improvement over my gold cup, but I want another 1911 45 acp particularly with the beavertail grip safety, adjustable target sights and good accuracy for target shooting at 25 and 50 yds.
 
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Ruger doesn't offer any models (not even the Talo pistols) with adjustable sights. Ruger's web site lists all models as having sights that are drift adjustable -- which means fixed. Even GI M1911A1 sights are drift adjustable.
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I was referring to drift adjustable. It is usually all that is needed.
 
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