Need a 1911: best sub $1000 combat sight out of box?

S

snolden

New member
I am getting ready to buy a .45 acp 1911. What's the best one?
My conditions:
Fixed sights, single stack mag, no jams with ball or most hollow points, under $1000 with tax and can be new or used. But I don't want to add anything other than sights
Uses:
Range and BBQ gun only.

I have owned 2 Springfield Armory 1911's in the past. I traded away my last .45 and need at least one.

I will reload for this, probably XTP bullets and Berry's plated.

No frills just some good John Moses fun.

If you have one for sale in AZ, let me know.
 
Get a used LNIB or new Dan Wesson Heritage. Dan Wesson makes the best production 1911s and the Heritage is their entry level gun. Everything you need nothing you don't.

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/646456477

You could do fine with a Colt 70 Reproduction or Colt 80 series but you are not going to get a beavertail or modern Novak cut/style dovetailed sights.

Both are better than SA IMHO.
 
What do you consider "combat sights" that you expect to have to change them?
That is, you can get just about any kind of sight you could possibly want, right from the factory.
 
I completely agree with the above posters : the Colt Combat Elite and the Dan Wesson Heritage are outstanding choices at the $1000 price point.
My personal combat elite has well over 20K rounds through it and it is easily my favorite go to 1911.
I have a dan wesson pointman and a valor and they are excellent 1911s. I would not hesitate to get the heritage.
 
smee78 said:
I would get a Ruger but that's just me....:D
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I love mine... and was $660 back when you could barely find them. Don't look at prices now, so unsure what they go for, but sure it is well under $1,000.

The standard sights are fine, I just tossed on Heinie Straight 8s... being I wanted to try them out.

It isn't a $2,000 1911, but it works very well for the price. I do like the plunger tube being a part of the frame. Eventually, I want to swap out all the parts for stainless, but more for looks than anything else. It is my only 1911, so no issue investing $300 to make it unique... still well under $2,000.

Don't get me wrong, if you have the money and want a $2,000+ 1911, I'm sure they are nice. I just don't have a reason to own one... but wanted a 1911 for my collection. My father was happy with his Remington... but this was before the R51 fiasco. Unsure if I'd trust them.
 
snolden said:
I will reload for this, probably XTP bullets and Berry's plated.
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So with this being said what is you intent by reloading ? Are you going for maximum accuracy or just an attempt to lessen the cost of shooting ? If you are looking for max accuracy I suggest you get a 1911 that has adjustable sights. Remember fixed sights are just that fixed. They are adjusted for a specific weight bullet at a specific velocity to hit a target at a specific distance. What that is you won't know until you shoot it. If you don't like the elevation POI, tough luck either find an alternate velocity ammo or just hold over to your POI is accurately achieved. I handload for accuracy and I prefer a 6 oclock hold so I fine tune my "fixed sight" handload velocities to achieve this at 50' distance. My 1911 is a SA RO chambered in 9mm. I love the fact I have the adjustable sights. I have a lot more versatility achieving accuracy with any combination of bullet weight and velocity.
 
I will reload mostly for cost, in order to shoot good bullets at target ammo price.

I can drift and file or install different height sights as needed to dial in for my final load(s).
 
Ruger Nightwatchman 1911. Between $800 and $950 nib I believe. Comes with Novak style night sights. Though personally I'd get the DW if I could find a good example for less than $1000.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the heritage. Even at $1150-1200 it stilll looks like a good buy. Any one know the date of serial number they started using forged frames if I find a used one?
 
I paid slightly less than $1,200.00 for my Dan Wesson Valor, far & away the best gun I own. I'd also consider a used Springfield TRP
 
Dan Wesson Heritage for sure. I believe 2009 was the only year they made the Heritage with cast frames; they started using the forged frames in the Heritage in 2010. You can tell based on how the frame is finished; the 2009 cast frame models had polished sides on the frame and slide, whereas the 2010 and later forged frames have more of a "bead blasted" matte look to the frame. Almost all of the Heritages you'll find are forged.

You can sometimes find these new for under $1000. Buds gun shop, a few months back, had some really cool versions with black slides and OD frames for under a grand but those are gone.
 
In that price range I would look at the Colt & Springfield models....and buy the one that has the best trigger...features you want.

I don't like adjustable rear sights on my 1911's either..../ I'm still old school and carry a full sized 5" 1911 ....and have recently gone to a fixed rear sight with a square notch...and a green fibre optic in front...( wilson combat ) ..and i like them a lot over more traditional night sights.

Adjustable rear sights in and out of a holster ...are not your best option, in my view.

I have fired a few of colts competition models ...one in 9mm and a couple in .45 acp...and they were pretty good guns....springfield loaded should be in your budget range....but at least look at their TRP model as well, its more money, but has a lot of the features i would want - speed chute, ambi safety, checkered front strap...its a lot of gun for the money.
 
I'd probably get a Colt Competition, which is a much a $900 pistol as the DW or Combat Elite are $1000 pistols.
That leave a little $$ for the three or four additional mags you'll want.
 
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