Ruger 1911-A good choice for 1st 1911??

After owning several - If you have 2 grand to throw at a 1911, I'd toss it right at a Dan Wesson, or les baer.

Now as a starter, I started with a Ruger SR1911, and I have to say its one of the best decisions I made. Mine's got over 10k through it and still runs like a champ. it's been very accurate, and very reliable. only issues were with my ammo. never had a hiccup with factory stuff.

My deicison for the ruger was simple. I am not a fan of front slide cuts. I like my 1911's with a more classic look, yet I want all the enhancements too. When you compare models - all the other makers have slide cuts on their "enhanced" models. Colt has now discontinued theirs. which leaves only ruger, and sig in that level for me.

I also have had great luck with the Sig entries Their style is a little different, but every one I've shot has been fantastic.

Recently I took the plunge and bought the third option I saw from the beginning. a Dan Wesson. I can't rave enough about it. It's exactly what I've wanted from the first time I decided to get a 1911. It's been worth the wait.

Others here have had far far more experience with 1911's and more years under their belt shooting them too. I've owned a total of 9 different ones (7 under the $1000 mark when they were purchased), and the DW is my favorite so far. But - it's also only my second foray into the $1k+ category too.
 
You won't go wrong with the Ruger, for all the reasons many in this thread have alluded to. I would suggest that you also consider the SIG Model TTT (if they still make it). I really like the compact ("tactical" sized) adjustable night sights this pistol comes with and it can be had for under a grand. However, after buying the Ruger you would have about $400.00 left over (as opposed to spending a thousand dollars) to buy ammunition with.
Having so many good choices when deciding which one might be best for you can be a curse...:)
 
Rock River Arms is back in 1911 production

RRA built some beautiful 1911's going back a few years, but they dropped their 1911 production a while ago to concentrate on their AR-15 product line. Looks like they are back building some nice 1911 guns now;

http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=704

If the new RRA 1911's are as good as they were before they suspended 1911 production, then these guns are definitely worth considering.
 
If it take $2000 to get a accurate and reliable 1911, I would buy something else. There are a lot of 45s out there. I think Ruger makes a nice 1911.
 
Don't currently own a 1911 pistol of any make. I've shot and handled enough to know that the Ruger Commander series will be my next handgun purchase. I'm no 1911 authority. I look at price point and realize that I might shoot another 45 ACP 400-500 times a year at best. I can't or won't argue with those that have stated the Ruger is made cheaper than say a Dan Wesson. The price tag says that. No need to argue it. What the price tags don't compensate for is the fact that it is a Ruger. If, IF, you have a problem show up year one or year ten, Ruger fixes it. Fixes it fast and, fixes it well. We aren't talking about a $300-$400 stryker fired range pistol. We are talking about a high end pistol made by an American company, for the American consumer expecting quality.

It is your choice. Buy accordingly. But, how would one know what to customize if they have never owned a 1911? And these theories of durability are just that. Theories. I'd buy the smart choice, than upgrade when you desire. You might find the Ruger is everything you want. In my opinion, it fits the bill well. God Bless
 
It is your choice. Buy accordingly. But, how would one know what to customize if they have never owned a 1911? And these theories of durability are just that. Theories. I'd buy the smart choice, than upgrade when you desire. You might find the Ruger is everything you want. In my opinion, it fits the bill well. God Bless
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There is an easy answer to this. Buy a stock 80 Series Colt and shoot 1000 rounds through it stock. Then note what you like and don't like about it and adjust from there.

Only change what needs to be changed nothing more nothing less.

As for the theories on reliability there are guns which have been shot for 20,000+ rounds and others which have not. It is not theory it is empirical evidence and hands on experience.

Do you have any reports of a Ruger with 20,000 rounds through it? I am not trying to be rude but a person who does not own a 1911 is not really in the position to comment on long term reliability of the 1911 platform. Some will last a lifetime others are built with the "Pinto" principle in mind. More often then not the price point is a tell.
 
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I would highly recommend that you read this thread. It was written by a 1911 addict who has one of about everything on the market, and has done an indepth review on each.
 
Sig, until the reviewers try and shoot some Ruger 1911 20,000+ rounds to see if they consistently fail, you are simply expressing a hypothesis based on your opinion. You said the same thing earlier when you addressed the price point/use issue of perspective buyers. So did I by explaining my current situation and my decision. I get it. I really do. So do you. We are in agreement on most everything.

I may not own one NOW. But, having owned one in the PAST and, shot quite a few rounds through others, I'm more than qualified to say as I did. Read my friend. Stop assuming and read. I'm not being rude either. We were saying the exact same things. We just expressed different opinions on which gun WE would buy. God Bless
 
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I already said I would probably choose the Ruger in your last thread... But considering your available funds, I might consider a Dan Wesson Heritage. My first 1911 was a Dan Wesson Valor. I paid about $1800 for it with the black ceramic finish. I could have gotten it in regular stainless for about $1500, now I have my eyes on the Heritage because it's every bit as good of a gun as the Valor minus a few small things, like front strap checkering and no night sight on the rear, although it does Abe a night sight up front. They can be had for UNDER $1200 and every bit of the gun, frame, slide, and internals are all forged steel and precision machined and fit. I don't know that there is a better quality 1911 out there for the money. My vote goes for the Dan Wesson Heritage if you want a great 1911, and for the Ruger if you want a good one.
 
I'd say the Ruger 1911 is your very best bet...I've owned Colts for the better part of 50 years now, but the two Ruger 1911's that I own are every bit as good. They have all the features I'd like in a good defensive pistol: checkered main spring housing, Novak sights, SS construction, a match grade barrel (both of mine will easily stay in 2" or less with good handloads from the 25 yd line), a match trigger, beavertail for the hammer, extended controls, flared mag well....and none of the mall ninja crap.

They're just good reliable 1911's right out of the box...mine are virtually 100% reliable over the several years I've owned them. You can't go wrong...Ruger's CS service is great...and you don't have to "put a cpl hundred rounds through it before calling us again 'cause we fit them so tightly". A defensive pistol should be 100% right out of the box....and now that they also make an alloy frame 'Commander' length model, you should have all the choices you need.

I've got both of the all steel models and love them, but had the alloy frame been available, I'd have gone that route...just for ease of CC.

About my only improvement on mine, would be checkering the front strap, and adding tritium night sights. Other than that, they're really good.

Rod
 
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