If you own a 1911, how does the craftmanship, durability and reliability compare to your 1980-present revolver?

Did you pay more to get the same or even less with either, or are both high quality and about a 1:1 cost ratio vs performance.

Model 25-2 and Colt Cup '70 series. Payed around the same money each and like them both about the same for different jobs.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Honestly, by the time I got the AMT home I was tired of it, and my brother owned it a few days later. I still have the others, but all of these guns pretty much did the same thing at ten yards. I can cover a paper plate, rapid fire, at that distance with all of them.

I have an assortment of both and they are two different animals in terms how they handle, what they feel like when fired, shooting accurately, cleaning, etc. I've had nothing but semi autos (including multi 1911's) and have recently expanded my revolver collection.

It is easier to be accurate with the revolver than the 1911. I find the 1911 requires a different hold and some practice. Don't get me wrong, I am very accurate with the 1911 but it will take some practice on your part. The 1911 is very capable. The feel is quite different with the movement of the slide to cycle the next round into the chamber.

Quality wise, it will depend on the manufacturer. The fit and finish on my Kimber is first rate. The Colt Gold Cups are nicely done but not to the level of the Kimber in my opinion, but again that's just my opinion.

Revolvers are old school and quite refreshing with the tons of black semi autos on the market these days. Like I said, I just expanded my collection, one of those being a S&W model 29 in 44 Mag. The Model 29 holds a place of distinction since it is unlike any other firearm I own.

In regard to reliability, my Gold Cup(s) will feed and shoot just about anything. I've owned one of them for over 25 years and it has only failed to cycle once.

Cleaning... I find the auto much easier to clean since you can remove the barrel. The revolver has all those cylinders that need attention.

Bottom line... everyone should own at least one 1911 styled handgun.

I have both and they each have their merits. The 1911 (in commander size) is light, powerful and easily concealable and the ones I have are completely reliable. The revolvers share the same merits as the 1911s and I like them for their history, accuracy and workmanship.

Whose 1911? Most of the off-the-rack 1911 makers like Colt, SW, kimber, springfield, para, and the rest of the usual suspects have about the same quality: variable. If you get a good one, it's great. If not, you have a new hobby (working on your gun to try to get it to feed/cycle/shoot etc). Most new revos shoot but come complete with various defects.

You can pay about $1000 for an STI and get a semi hand made 1911 gun. IMHO, the STI Trojan is the best 1911 for the money paid.

all I have is 1911's and smith revolvers...oh and a naa mini...all are well worth the money and love all of them...scaled down all I could and this is the cream of the crop...

I have 15 1911's right now (some are very high-end models) - and 25 revolvers -- I love them all and shoot most of them regulary -- But -- all the guns I have around the house for defense are S&W revolvers except for one Ruger GP 100 I've had for years -- I started with revolvers back in the 60's and a firm believer in "six for sure"

I've got both and I wouldn't trade any of em! I carry my Kimber 1911, but when I shoot in competition I always shoot a revolver. If it came down to it though and I had to chose one or the other I would go with a revolver.

I own a Kimber and a Smith, both are excellent guns and both have their own distinct qualities and drawbacks. The workmanship in both are excellent and worth the $ put down on them.

Carried a Commander for +30 years on and off the job. Last year, I got an Ed Brown Kobra full-size. I have many S&W's that are equal in quality to the Commanders and, frankly, only one pistol equal to the Ed Brown - a Python. Overall, I like S&W's more than Colt's, but the Python was a different animal.

I have a military Colt 1911 and Remington Rand 1911A1 and a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup. The military contract guns are flawlessly dependable and the Gold Cup is very accurate. I'm pleased with them all. Don't want any part of a modern 1911 clone.

Most revolvers here predate 1980. I only have a couple of 1980 or newer Smith & Wesson revolvers. A Model 10 bought new in 1996 is one of the best K-Frames I have. A Model 642-1 is ok for its intended purpose but I'm not enamored of the breed. I don't much care for alloy-framed revolvers.

In my part of the world. the S&W 1911's are highly thought of. I have a Smith 945 which I love. My Kimber is also great, and my Springfield is good, but not great. Revolvers are tried and true, and you carry them with more confidence, at least IMO. Basically, I'm a S&W fan at all levels.
paperboy98

Well, since I have a S&W 1911 and a 625 5" Bbl. both in .45 ACP
and matte finish stainless steel and both have Guy Hogue grips in Rosewood I'd call it 1:1

Price hmm....

SW1911 $720 + $ 25 transfer & $20 S&H
swapped out the MSH for a Les Baer vertical serrations
SS matte finish MSH add $50 GH smooth rosewood grips add $ 50
add $865 Do the 5 Wilson Combat Mags add an extra $175

S&W 625 5" Bbl. $625 + $25 transfer
Guy Hogue checkered/finger grooved Rosewood Grips $125
S&W Perf. Center Master Revolver Action Job $150
add $25 for a bunch of full Moon clips
Total $ 925

Love em both.

R-

I have S&W double actions, Ruger single actions and 2 Kimber 1911's. One is a Compact 4".

The Rugers are for hot loads. The Smiths are just smooth. The Kimbers are fun. All of them are accurate. I won't own a inaccurate gun. All are reliable. All are well made.
I need to thin them down to a more manageable number but am having a hard time deciding on which one to get rid of.

Probally the Kimber Stainless Compact will go as I rather have a Smith DA for personal protection. Although the Kimber has never failed me.

John

Older revolvers, blue and nickle, and even my model 41 seemed more refined to me. That is, until I got this one.

/c

This is a question about apples and oranges. That said, back in the day when I felt I had to have the best handguns I could afford (and had access to some out-of-the-norm gunsmithing opportunities) I had a 1911 expert build me the ultimate 70 series Colt using an Ace frame and a Gold Cup slide. For a revolver, I took a police trade-in Model 66 (dash nothing) and "blue printed it" by careful parts matching, then added a new 6" barrel to replace the original 4", and added the smooth combat grips that were in vogue then. Since I was marginally in the trade at the time, price would be a little hard to establish, because of unusual access to parts and skilled labor (in addition to my own.) If I had actually paid the real freight on both of them, which I didn't, the Colt would have cost more by a factor of about 2 or 3. As to the work done to each to make it like I wanted, the Colt required real gun smithing; the Smith was something I could mostly do myself with parts swapping. The quality of the finished products, however, was equal in my estimation. I've never felt the need to move up from either of these, but each has its purpose... they complement each other without competing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Froggie

I am not really sure how they compare since they are two different animals all together. I have several collectible S&W revolvers and started my LE career with S&W revolvers. I have owned some fabulous 1911 Semi Autos, 5 to be exact that were custom built for me. A couple of them were $2600+ as well as 2-3 Kimbers. I carried a .45 1911 of some sort for over 25 or my 39 years as an LEO. I love 1911's over all the plastic fantastic's that are on the market at present but I also love my S&W revolvers. They are not the same thing but both are great to own and shoot.

T

I've had Colt Combat Commander and Springfield Loaded 1911's, along with a couple other semi-autos. The 1911's jammed from time to time. The Loaded model was very expensive (to me), but some of the Wilsons cost more than a car. The Colt used to sling the brass straight back into my forehead. I thought the Springfield construction was good, but I have sold all the semi's and now only shoot revolvers. I understand that semi's have their place, I just don't much care for them.

As for the revolvers, I've had several. I had a few IL locks that I sold, and am slowly getting a few pre-lock guns, and I have found that getting the ones that you want may cost you some money. The last one I got was a 686-4 Plus (seven shot) and I got into a bidding war on an auction site to get it. But it was the one I wanted...cost about the same as a new Springfield Loaded, but I like it a lot more. The guns I have now are keepers that I won't ever sell unless I'm at the end of my rope. I will probably stick with S&W pre-lock revolvers from now on. Quality is very good, but cost is getting higher every day. B

I've got a 70 series and a customized (by me) 80 series Colts, and M29, M586, M17 and M18 Smiths, all pre-lock.

To me, the Colts seem crude by comparison. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but they just don't seem like fine examples of craftsmanship the way the Smiths do.

I bought a 25 Classic, 6.5" Nickel .45 Colt this past year. Paid right at $830 otd. Excellent gun. Great accuracy, which means I can hit an 8.5x11" target at 50 yards with regularity. Fit and finish is good. I changed out the mainspring and rebound spring with a Wolff pack.

I have a S&W1911PD Commander from a few years ago. Excellent gun. Fit and finish and reliability top rate. It is a lighter frame, good for carry, not so much fun for the second, third or fourth hundred rounds at the range. It is nowhere near as accurate as the revolver. Paid a couple hundred more, but it has the laser grips, which is nice for a bedside night defense gun.

I have two 1911s that shoot as well or better than the 25 Classic. An Ed Brown Executive Target and a Les Baer PII with the 1.5" guarantee. I bought both used, lnib, and they each cost over twice the S&W. Fit and finish are extraordinary. Totally reliable.

I also have a couple 1911s as well as several revolvers. The 1911s are in 45 and 40 calibers, which i carry time to time. Otherwise i "always" have a revolver on me. My mostly carried 1911 is my Ed Brown Executive Carry pictured below. Usually the revolver i'm carrying is either my 686-4 or 627-5 snubby.
Carl

This is an "apples or oranges" thing. As far as a carry piece, it's got to be my Colt Compact; but when it comes to revolvers, my 625-2 is a work of art. The "N" frame (5") will eat anything you feed it, fire with every drop of the hammer, and shoot more accurately than my feeble self can do. The 625 is a bit bulky and heavy for a CCW, but guns is guns. No matter which I use, there are positive attributes. If I should have to decide on one or the other......gotta be the 625.

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Horacesmiff. 625 Shooter

I like 1911's. But over the year I simply have preferred good quality S&W and COLT revolvers. I sold off my SA Mil-Spec. the other day. In function it was infallible. But my 625-2 is equally perfect in function, and it shoots rings around any 1911 that I've ever seen.

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Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. A. Einstein

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Horacesmiff. 625 Shooter

I have several of both but the COLT series 80 combat elite and my 4 screw S&W 28 6" stand out as the most accurate combat guns.

the comment at near the begining of this thread about it being easier to be more accurate with the revolver than the 1911 type guns .... for me ...NOT !

for me, the 1911 is one of the easiest if not THE easiest of all guns to pick up , and with minimal instruction, to be able to get decent accuracy with. i have instructed some family members and a couple of friends to my 1991 colt ( they all had zero experience with 45 acp auto's ) and their being able to hit and hit with really good accuracy , was very good.

all that being said , in revolvers i strongly prefer s&w models 19 and or 586 's and their model type variations. with the exception of my ruger sp101, the smiths stand out for their factory triggers. fairly light pull weights and smoother overall actions make them the choice of many , myself included .

by the way , the ruger has had factory help on the trigger.