My 2nd 1911

Colt had a lot of quuality issues from the 70's thru the 90's or so....until they were able to improve their tooling in the last 15 yrs or so....

Colt is an interesting company ...and cloaked in nostalgia...but in many cases, in my view, their semi autos never quite lived up to the legendary status of their revolvers.

I think - in the last 5 yrs or so, Colt has done a lot better on their 1911's ...and are priced well as decent entry level 1911's.
 
Colt had a lot of quuality issues from the 70's thru the 90's or so....until they were able to improve their tooling in the last 15 yrs or so....

Colt is an interesting company ...and cloaked in nostalgia...but in many cases, in my view, their semi autos never quite lived up to the legendary status of their revolvers.

I think - in the last 5 yrs or so, Colt has done a lot better on their 1911's ...and are priced well as decent entry level 1911's.
Click to expand...

I have been hearing similar from many people....that when compared side by side to another maker in the same price range, Colt didn't quite match up.

Being granted a military contract doesn't mean that the gun is top shelf. When I was in the navy, I was issued a Beretta M-9 which we all dubbed the Jam-o-matic. So when we deployed for non-compliant and opposed maritime interdiction, our chief lobbied for us to get a new sidearm, and we thankfully were issued Glock 22's. ...Same with the crappy Mossberg breaching 10" shotgun I threw in the ocean because the safety and pump jammed, and got a special 870.

Anyway, A stainless Springfield TRP without rails looks good...one for sale at Bud's for about $1100
 
A TRP, I think, will serve you very well.

If Colts history is important to you....look at buying a Python ...or one of the SAA's..../ they're historic --- more than any of their 1911's in my view. ( 1911's were stll the handgun in my military era ).../ ...and I'm not surprised to hear your opinion on the M9's -- its shared by my son who was a Marine from 2000 - about 2012 ...

Go for the TRP....but I encourage you to find a local supplier ...where you can test the trigger, etc...and buy locally if you can.
 
I have 3 Colt Government Models from the 70s and one from WWII.

There ain't a damn thing wrong with any of them and they are still original.
 
My 1st was purchased new in 1976 (Series 70, of course).

I shot no less than 300 rounds per month for close to 8 years. That figgers to be approximately 28,000 rounds.

The other 2 were maybe half that much.

Since then, range time is sproadic because of other life obligations and job requirements.

I would guess a total of 50,000 rounds over 40 years for the 1st one with the other two somewhat less. This is all guess work on my part because I normally don't keep track of usage. I just know what I started out doing with my Dad back in the 70s and 80s.

I have almost always shot 100% cast bullets and I realize the pistol was designed to shoot a 230 gr FMJ at approximately 830 fps and I don't subscribe to the +p hoopla. Don't believe in it.

I qualified for my CCL with it back in 1995, the 1st year the CCL was offered in my state.
 
Its good that you have been shooting them ...and happy to hear that your guns are holding up and performing well for you.

I put a lot of rounds thru my primary guns.../...2 or 3 range trips a week to practice my tactical shooting ( in and out of holster, speed reloads, TAC reloads, etc )...and then a buddy match once a week, where we shoot 100 rds to a published course of fire, timed, that I change every week...and 90% of it I use my primary carry gun ( 5" 1911 Wilson in 9mm) ...( retired guys need hobbies, so in winter I shoot a lot more handgun )...

I'm not a plus P guy either...I don't see the point -- but everything I put thru my gun in 9mm is 115gr FMJ ...or 230gr FMJ in .45 acp ( but I also reload everything, to keep my costs down / which means I don't save any money, I just shoot twice as much with the same ammo budget).

If you like the GI spec'd guns then that is what you should stay with...while I used them for many years....I'm very happy to move on in the last 20 yrs to more custom guns, and while I have had guns from Les Baer, Ed Brown, Kimber, etc...I will stack my Wilson's up against any 1911 made ../ and since I invested with the Wilson's ...no other mfg's have enticed me to take a chance on them again - and not everything Wilson Combat does, like their new EDC line of guns...( I have fired them ), is appealing to me vs a more traditional 1911 --although upgraded with high ride beavertails, better sights, checkered front and back straps, etc....

I am fortunate that my local range rents a lot of guns...and I know a number of guys at the range with other mfg's 1911's ..including some GI spec'd guns...that I have the chance to shoot and occasionally evalute. I'll stick with my 5" all steel Wilson's ...until my skills diminish to the point where I can no longer carry ...( maybe in my 80's or 90's...if my hands and eyes continue to deteriorate ...).
 
BigJim: Glad that you have enjoyed a great deal of success with your Wilsons. If not for having an abundance of Colt pistols, I think I would go Wilson too.

I have shot them (SIL has one that he competes with as well as a Colt Series 80), I have a niece that works for STI International in Georgetown and have shot a few of those, and my favorite 2 ranges have rentals (even machine guns rentals), so I have compared.

My 1976 Series 70 still looks almost new and my 2 used ones are almost as good.

Hopefully Stats can choose a 1911 full size 45 ACP that he can enjoy for as many years.

I purposely stated that I have mine still in original condition as that is what he wanted....a no mod gun that is a shooter right out of the box, and that is what I have.
 
Dan Wesson even if the price hurts, one of the few really well made 1911 production guns.
Rather than pay $1300 for a MIM though I'd buy two RIA's that are just as good IMO, better because you get two. No stupid trigger safety either.
 
new plan!!!

Bought a Dan Wesson Heritage....$1200 OTD , New.

I figured buy once cry once. I will be carrying this pistol too.


thoughts?
 
I've got Colts, SAs and Wilsons with Dan Wesson on the short list for my next gun. I suspect you did pretty well.
 
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