Looking to get a decent 1911

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DubC-Hicks

New member
So far, I've narrowed it down to the SR1911, likely a nitrided TALO version, and the Kimber Custom II.

I've been seeing the Kimber on sale recently for $600 or so, but I'm not the biggest fan of the Swartz safety or the finish on the lower end Kimber's. I've heard the bluing doesn't hold up the greatest. It'd likely get sent to Robar or Club Custom Guns for a new finish.

The TALO and Night Watchmen SR1911s, rail or no rail matters not to me, go for $700-750. So more expensive, but I like the series 70 and finish better.

I know the Swartz stuff can be removed from the Kimber, effectively making it a series 70. But as far as quality and reliability, is one better than the other?
 
I’m not a Kimber 1911 fan, but I thought they had ditched the Swartz safety of late.


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If I were looking at 1911's, I would look at Springfield Armory Models like the Range Officer. Also take a look at Smith & Wesson's and Sig's. I am not a Kimber fan either.
I own a Colt Stainless Full size XSE that has been tuned up with quite a bit of custom work.

Bob R
 
My SR1911 has been great. I have close to 10,000 rounds through it, and it has been perfectly reliable.

For an entry level gun, the SR1911 is hard to beat. Plus it comes free of charge with Rugers excellent customer service.
 
Friends have brought 4 Kimber 1911's out to our farm range over the years that just didn't perform well. Multiple malfunctions. In all 4 cases, Kimber told them to put more ammunition through the gun before they'd take a look at the problems. For a defensive gun, that's unacceptable in my view, but YMMV. There are responsible posters here, whose opinions I respect that like Kimbers, but the four that I had contact with were pretty, but certainly not shooters.

My sons and I have owned just under a dozen Colts between us, over the pasts 50 years. As well as a Remington-Rand WWll 1911A1, a really great Sig RCS, and both of the all steel Ruger offerings, (in 5" & CMD). Taken from that two-gun sample base and the posted remarks of others here on TFL, the Rugers are far and away the best value for the money. The following is a run-down on our experience with those two Rugers.

Accuracy has run right at 2" at 25 yds from a rest with FMJ's by WWB, PMC,as well as my 200 gr TWC target grade handloads. Triggers have been good at 45 to 6 lbs. out of the box.

Features fulfill what I desire in a carry gun: good combat sights (Novaks), flare mag well, two mags furnished, SS construction, beavertail humped safety for ease of hand placement in the holster, checkered steel back strap, all with a throatted bbl. and ported ejection port. About the only thing I add to them is checkering on the front strap and tritium night sights...and of course for the same price! LOL

But I'll opine that if you intend to carry the piece, as opposed to using it as a range gun, I'd opt for the alloy frame model...the weight difference is significant. I speak from experience in that regard. I'll offer that an even better gun for carry is Sigs C3 or RCS model. This latter is no longer in production but can be found on gunbroker. Either may be a bit more $ than the Rugers but are worth the price.

In a word, the Rugers are about as perfect as I could ask in an all steel production gun. And with them, you get first rate customer service from a company that stands behind its products from day one, not some bogus "break in" regimen that's really designed to see if you'll just go away!
 
Between the Kimber and a Ruger, I'd go for the Ruger. My SR1911 has been flawless since I bought it in 2014. Ruger is one of the few manufactures that consistently give you more for your money. Kimber seems to be overpriced for what you get.
 
My first 1911 was a Kimber TLE, loved that gun. Replaced it with a Colt only because it started to have ejection malfunctions. After a good 15,000 rounds down the pipe. So it wasnt a lemon, it just had wear/tear that was not able to get figured out. I took it to two different gunsmiths, and having been friends of both of those smiths, I think that made them not do their job with 100% effort. One of them simply replaced recoil springs and claimed to have taken it to the range for a function test, saying it didnt have any problems, but when I took it the next weekend, the problem had gotten worse.

So I traded it in for a Colt.

The finish on my Kimber was wearing, but I liked how it looked. If a gun could age gracefully, mine certainly was doing just that.
 
Not hard to find a decent 1911...plenty of companies make them.

And, that includes Kimber...ours have been perfect for a lot of years...but then all of our 1911's from several manufacturer's have been.
 
I have a Kimber ultra crimson carry II and it gets carried quite a bit.
That and my Colt xse lightweight comamder magnum, are my best two 45's
I have three others but these get carried the most.
 
I have heard too many Kimber horror stories to take a chance on one. I am sure that many Kimbers are fine pistols and they certainly look nice.

But I would go with the Ruger, myself. If you ever need warranty service, Ruger is hard to beat.
 
A Sig 1911 Emperor Scorpion Carry has been my EDC for a couple years now. Other than holster wear (which gives my pistols "character"), I've had ZERO problems.

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I think I've pretty much decided on a Ruger of some sort. Wanting to stay $750ish or under, along with traditional internal extractor setup.
 
The quality of the internal parts is what you need to worry about...Ruger isn't a quality gun.../ but neither is the Kimber....

I would recommend you take a serious look at Springfield and Colt offerings...in terms of triggers and fit and finish ...and internal parts ...they are a much better entry level 1911 - than the options you are looking at. Find the gun youy like the best with the features you want...and the best trigger you can find...( most of the entry level guns are not very good triggers and not quality components ).

Springfield TRP is one of the best guns out there for the money ...but its around $ 1,500 now.../ but it has most all of the features you would want in a solid 1911. It is not the quality of the higher end ...semi-custom guns like Wilson Combat...but the TRP is a very nice gun.
 
I know Springfield makes good 1911s, but Springfield themselves put a bad taste in my mouth. As well as many other people's. I'm also not going to spend a grand or more on a 1911 that is going to be only a range gun.

The cheaper Colts might be an option, but I've heard QC horror stories with them lately too.
 
A Ruger 1911 will serve you well. I used to have a stainless full size and it ran like a scalded dog. Not sure why I sold it, but I sure wish I hadn't.
 
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