Say you want a single action .45.....

J

Jack19

New member
Okay, so say you're looking for a single action.45.

Must be "Government Model" size (5" barrel) or "Commander" size (4-4.25" barrel,) must come with a dark finish, and be under $1000 net. And it needs to be reliable out of the box.

I was thinking about a Kimber but the reviews on TFL have been about 50/50. Springfield? Colt?

Any suggestions? What do you buy?
 
I would make 2 recommendations:

First, a Kimber Custom, just the basic model. I think the higher end models give you less for your money. I mean, the higher end stuff is nice, but a $1000 Kimber isnt worth $350
more than the custom.

second recommendation would be for a Colt XSE or XS. Very nice guns, probably the best Colt has ever built.

I dont think you will be making a mistake with either
 
Rock River Arms if you can wait (1 year waiting list). Unbelievable good deal on a pistol that is every bit as good as a high-end Wilson or Baer. My Standard Match cost $1000 (including lowmount Bomars and 30LPI checkering).

Colt if you don't want to wait. I never liked all the gee-gaws or the "melted" stuff on the Kimbers, but thats a personal opinion. I've seen some pretty bad parts on them as well, with broken or weak/soft parts.
 
Used to be kinda lukewarm on Springfields...

...but here of late I've had such good luck with them (as well as several shooters I know) that they get the "Bang for the Buck" award in my book.
 
Kimber first, Kimber last, Kimber in the middle.....

Go with the basic black oxide Kimber, at somewhere in the $600 range you can't go wrong.
 
For utterly reliable out of the box, you'll have to hit that $1000 mark quickly. Rock River is the correct answer.

If you have an extra month, you should get a Kimber, Springer, or Colt, give that plus a few hundred bucks to your smith, and call that "out of the box." Maybe your smith can give you a box to make it official.

I love my Kimber but I'm not going to pretend it was perfect.
 
I've got 2 Kimbers, 1 Colt, 1 Springfield, and 1 ParaOrdnance. If I could buy another one (and it wasn't a custom or semi-custom), I'd buy a Kimber. If I absolutely had to sell one tomorrow (only if a relative's life was threatened -- a relative that I care about, that is ;)), then I'd sell the ParaOrdnance.

And no, the Kimber might not be 100% reliable out of the box. Typical issues are 1) need to get Wilson 7 round mags, 2) need to polish the breech face, and 3) need to properly tension the extractor. Some nice to haves include changing the sights, adding an ambi-safety (or not, depending upon your religion), having the front-strap checkered or stippled (again, depending upon your religion). YMMV.

I can live with that. If you can't, there's lots of quality guns out there to choose from.

M1911
 
New blued Colt Government Model. I've seen them for $550. Add some nice wood grips & you'll be cooking with gas. :D

Kimber and Springfield Armory are supposed to be quite good (I had a Kimber and had no complaints) but I like the feel of the Colt better, and the new ones really seem like the real deal again. Must be the return of the pony. ;)
 
Single Action .45

Shop I frequent took in a Norinco 1911A1 in trade. Owner showed it to me before tagging it and putting it in the case with other .45's. Offered it to me for $299. Friend offered to do a few things to it, $80 later it had new Chip McCormick hammer & sear, new extractor, tightened slide to frame fit, & lowered flared port.

At gunshow weekend before last found pair of reddish (Rosewood, I think) full checkered grips for $25, added $7 hex head grip screws, and put in a 20lb recoil spring.

Next will likely be Trijicon night sights.

What I have is a gun I have about $405 in that chambers rounds positively, shoots to point of aim, and has not malfunctioned since the extractor and recoil spring were changed. Feels great in the hand and looks pretty nice.

The one I carry is a used Colt Mark IV Lightweight Commander Model I picked up at a gunshow for $575 at a time when we thought there might be no more Colts.

This one has never failed to chamber & fire. Finish is worn quite a bit, the Series 80 parts had been "gutted" (I ordered new from Brownell's and replaced them), and it didn't pattern well at all on target. ($40 for a bushing and some machining on the barrel cured that) and after adding a pair of LaserGrips I already had on hand I now have what many of my friends and most of my students call my "never miss gun".

You can have some fun shopping used and don't necessarily have to shell out serious big bucks.

Bruce Foreman
 
I vote for Kimber. I bought a Kimber Custom Classic and I have to say I love that thing. It's more accurate than I ever will be and in the first 500 rounds I've fire through it with only one ftf.
 
Kimbers are arguably the best bang for the buck.The fit and finish is a cut above Springfield's standard line. But you pay for it.

Springfields are great values. Mine cost a little over $500 a couple of years ago. It punches the same ragged holes my friend's Kimber does, is reliable, and... Well, if affordable, accurate, and reliable aren't good enough then I don't know what is. ;)

If a thousand bucks was sitting in my pocket, I'd probably try to find a Springfield TRP, a RRA, or a something along those lines. But I already have my first 1911. If I didn't, I'd be happy with a Kimber Custom, a quality holster, and more than a few boxes of ammunition to send down range.

Regardless of what you decide on, enjoy it and let us know what you opted for.
 
EASY ANSWER (to very hard question) BUT IT'S GOTTA BE A 5"

For IMMEDIATE OUT-OF-BOX reliability suggest a basic Springfield tuned-n-tweaked by the superb Springfield Custom Shop.

Only way I know for you to get what you want.

Contact the Custom Shop directly for a frank discussion of your requirements.

Done..........
 
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