Quality intro. 1911?

H

Higgins

New member
After having shot just about every more modern gun design out there, I've finally concluded that the original, the 1911 pattern .45, is still the best (for me).

So, help me choose a good introductory level 1911 pattern .45. I'm looking for something basic, but quality. On the inexpensive side (for 1911's), but not crappy or cheap. Something accurate, but not a race-gun. Something I can upgrade as I go or need/desire.

I've looked at the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec's (full size and ultra compact) and the Kahr/Thompson Mil-Spec. All pretty basic 1911's.

Can anyone recommend any other quality introductory/mil-spec 1911's out there in the $400-$550 price range?

Any suggestions much appreciated.

(Would like to stay with new production and stay away from stuff like Ballester Molina's or 1927 Systema Colts. )
 
I suggest purchasing a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec. The new ones have the contoured frontstrap. It's an excellent shooter. This also serves as a great platform for customizing at a later time if you choose to.
 
In that price range, you can't beat the Springer Mil-Spec. I suggest you eat bulk cereal for two weeks and save another $50 or $100 for a basic Kimber Classic or Springer Loaded. It's well worth the difference.
 
By the way, I have not heard good things about the Dan Wesson Pointman Minor. (The Major is supposed to be much better, but is twice the price.) Try to stay away from those tempting "bargain" 1911s out there.

Also, for any 1911 in the $450 to $650 range, expect to need to run through a dozen boxes of ammo (and a half-dozen good strippings and cleanings) before it runs like the well-oiled (very well-oiled) machine it should be.
 
Higgins,
I would stongly recommend The COLT 1911A1. The price is reasonable (about $599), it is very close to mil-spec, it has the series 80 firing pin block, (that I particularly like for carry),and the quality and construction is very very good. And besides all thAt it is a COLT. The original, no copy. In my opinion, and that of others, the parts and constructon is far superior to the other makers. Don't cheat your self get the best.:cool:
 
I don't mean to sound like a party-pooper, but for less than $500 you're not going to get a 1911 that doesn't have at least some "rough edges". The cost of making a 1911 has gone up dramatically in the last 20 or so years, unfortunately. Competing gun designs are all using plastic and stamped steel to keep their costs around the $500 range, while still maintaining high quality. The various 1911 makers have all resorted to some manner of cost control, such as imported components, cast/MIM/stamped parts, and lower degree of final fitting and finishing. As a result, a really good out-of-the-box 1911 will typically cost you as much as a grand or more these days. That isn't to say you can't find one for less that's good, but it will likely be a crapshoot. My $875 Colt Series 70 (new production model) was nearly perfect right out of the box. Others who have bought one, or else one of the $950 WW2 repros are also reporting good results. But my $550 blued Series 80 on the other hand had a whole host of problems, and is clearly not put together as well as the Series 70 is.
 
I don't own nor have handled/fired a 1911 model, but Rock Island has them for 319.00 or so depending on the model. I believe they are made in the Phillipines. Any know about their reliability or finish?
 
You get what you pay for!
Click to expand...

Up to a certain point, definitely. I'd say that point is in the low $1000s. You can get a Rock River Arms (*not* Rock Island) for $1250 or so. After that, the return on your investment dimishes significantly.

1911s are addictive and the hobby is not cheap.
 
dsk, you have voiced some of my own concerns. From my experience - and what I've read of others' experiences - as great as the 1911 design is, it has a number of design factors which require tweaking to make it a reliable pistol. Hence, lots of 1911's right out of the box need tweaking to make them serviceable/dependable - more so than some other more modern pistols. That is, 1911's can be just as good as any modern pistol, but it seems to take some additional attention and gunsmithing to make them so. That additional work alone can run the price up many hundreds of dollars.

I still want the 1911 as my main pistol. But, I may wait to get one until I can afford more than Mil-Spec.
 
It has nothing to do with the 1911 design needing "tweaking" to work properly. Any such "tweaking" is supposed to be done before they ever leave the factory. It's called quality control.

Back in the days when skilled labor was cheap, Colt did indeed build 1911s that were always reliable out of the box. Nowadays only makers like Wilson, Les Baer, and Rock River Arms make 1911s with that kind of hand fitting, assembly, and out of the box reliability. And of course look how much those guns cost! The last two Kimbers and one Colt I bought had extractors that had not been correctly fitted to the guns. Apparently nobody is actually fitting the extractors these days at either company. Of course being an amateur gunsmith I spotted the problems and fixed them right away, but I can see where a first-time 1911 owner would have been upset and have to send each of these guns back for warranty service.
 
It doesn't matter which one you get, you're going to spend more money on it almost as soon as you get it. Different grips, maybe a trigger job, more magazines, new sights, yadda, yadda, blah.;) :D
 
I always love the Enough Said line...
Yeah, sure... you could roll the dice on a Colt. Some people are having some very good luck with them.:rolleyes:
 
I always equate: "Enough said!" w/ "I really spent a lot of money on mine but can't think of a reason that would make you buy one too.".
 
Springfield Mil Spec or Colt 1911A1

If you're thinking about stepping it up a little with one of the factory "customs" research the various models and make sure you get one "customized" with the parts you want. I rushed into buying a Kimber and regret it. Their basic "Custom" doesn't have any parts I want other than the frame and slide, which they ruined with their goofy logo and butt ugly serrations. But then, I wasn't exposed to the variety of 1911 flavors till after I purchased the gun :( .
 
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