I have a friend who needs a handgun to protect his home and family. He wants a 1911 framed. 45ACP. Like many nowadays, he has only a few hundred dollars (300-400) to spend. Since I only know Colts and Kimbers, I thought I'd ask here for suggestions in his price range. Used is fine, and I thank you!

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Term limits!

A 1911 for $400, I have a Springfield Mil-Spec that I really like,might find someone thats needs money willing to sell one for that,if your lucky, I heard the ATI 1911 are about $400 new,Hickok45 did a nice review on them,check it out on you tube.

He could get a Hi Point .45 for less than $200. It is an affordable gun for those with limited funds. They are found in many gun stores or pawn shops.

I doubt he will find a nice 1911 for $400, even well used.

The good $400 1911s are about 20 miles back in the rearview mirror. I like 1911s as much as anyone but they're not the only game in town.

Not too much wrong with a M10 or M64 with the FBI load--plus the savings will buy some practice ammo.

If your friend only has $300 - $400 bucks to defend his family I would not waste it on a 1911, because for that amount of money he will not get a good quality or reliable firearm to bet his and his family's life on. The money would be better spent on a new Remington Model 870 pump shotgun which is utterly reliable and a quality made gun for the money. If he insists on a handgun, he would be better served with a S&W M15, M19, M10, M66, 65, 67,etc. which he can easily buy used in descent and more importantly reliable condition. Just my .02 cents of course.......

Chief38

Here's a Rock Island Armory for $419, Rock Island Armory Officers 1911 45acp $419.00 SHIPS FREE Made in the same factory in the Philippines as the ATI IIRC.

And another for $409, Rock Island Armory GI M1911A1 Mil Spec .45 $403.00 SHIPS FREE

But don't plan on getting anything made in the USA for under $600, even in clean used condition. An old beater gov't model with no provenance might be found in private party transactions.

I have a mil spec RIA .45. It's a ball of fun, and plenty good enough for household defense. I think I paid $395.00 for it new. The only thing I've replaced is the magazine. (hey, when you have 7 of them, magazines are laying all over the place). Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to spend $1000.00+ to have a working .45.

Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

OP:
Bud's has model 10 tradeins for less than 300.

Discount Guns for Sale - Buds Gun Shop

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Incoming fire has right of way

Sounds like it's his first gun...a 1911 isn't the best first gun. Steer him to a revolver.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

You beat me to it Sip... Unless your really familiar with
" Cocked and Locked " and comfortable with it..

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

It has been said that the 1911 is not a beginners gun. If he's new to guns, get him a revolver.

Heck, get him a revolver anyway. Might be easier for the wife to use if she needs to.

If I could have only one gun, it would be a revolver.

Revolvers are equal opportunity!

May I Suggest a Used Mossberg 500
and an NRA Home Defense course

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Compact 9mm Just my $0.02

Sir, IMHO the guy's budget is unrealistically low for a 1911. Yes, you can get one of the import jobs in that price range, but I wouldn't trust my life to one. I'd suggest he either up his budget or look into other gun types.

If he insists on a 1911, he needs to about double his budget to get a good one. A Springfield Mil Spec runs around $650 new, and their other models go up from there. FWIW, I prefer at least a Colt for "social work," and there you're looking at probably $750 to $850 for new, maybe $100 less for used.

If the guy can up his budget to $500 to $600, any number of new polymer guns (Glock, XD, M&P Smith, etc.) are in that range. Other possibilities might include police trade-in Sigs, maybe a decent used 1911 at the high end, and lots of good used revolvers.

Within his price range, a good pump shotgun can be had, as well as some good used revolvers, maybe a used Glock at the high end.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

I love my various 1911s...but my bedside gun is a 3" S&W Model 65, loaded with .38+P 125 semi-jacketed hollow points.

I agree with other Forum members: I would definitely urge your friend to get a shotgun or a revolver, as either one would offer more bang for the buck (sorry, I couldn't resist it) than a 1911.

For that price, I would buy an S&W 4506, and save up for a nice 1911 later.

yeah and probably something of the .38 and 9mm variety and lower if he's a begininger.

that being said if he MUST have a 1911 tell him to go for an old series 70/80 colt, not the new ones as they've chepened them as of late

Colt's New Gold Cup National Match 45 Pistol - Gunblast.com - YouTube


finish isnt as nice as my series 80 NM, my first colt and 1911 and that one has blocky novak sights, cheeze grater trigger instead of the nice old NM trigger and overal seems well not as well made.

http://www.imfdb.org/w/images/2/20/C...tMatch1911.jpg

kind of ironic given that I've been thinking of getting rid of it for the never gonna happen vltor BT and then the 645 just to make space for it and have a little bit of extra money.

so I might have made the right move listening to my father and keeping the thing after all.


now if he can be disuaded from going this route and down to a 9mm you could get him to go for a 639, 659 or a 669, solid non SAO smith pistols that are at a minimal of half the price in 9mm.

Scratch the 1911 idea for that money. Tell him to look around for some of the S&W auto police trade ins. There's some great deals to be found.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

When you look at 1911's you'd be surprised at American named guns that are imports. If you look underneath the dustcover you'll see "made in Philippines" rollmarked on Remington, some STI's, Cimarron markets a beautiful 1911 (not A1) an on and on. RIA makes a nice gun. I'm gonna buy one of their nickel .38 supers one day. Some used 1911 style guns have been worked on by kitchen table gunsmith's so be careful of used. Stick with a 5" full size gun for your first 1911. It probably would be wise to rent a 1911 with some instruction on the firing line if it's a first gun.

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SOS USA

Yesterday I was at the LGS working a deal to buy a nice older S&W 28-2. He had in stock new 1911's by Rock Island Armory. I have one of the pistols. It has been very good. New ones are about $450. I bought a used one for $270. It is accurate. It feeds and functions very well. It came with one magazine. I bought another used magazine for $5 that works well. I am well pleased with it. If I had not been able to find one used, I would ultimately have put a new one on layaway and paid it out as I was able. Maybe that would be a good route for your friend to take. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

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<><

I also vote for the Rock Island, a 1911 style pistol is no harder to learn to use than any other firearm.

My Lavoisier wheel lock was very difficult to reload on horseback. "Sacre blu" I would always drop my balls.

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SOS USA

HUMMMMM. I can understand budgets.
It does not have to be a .45---but I would stay with that thought and get a revolver--perhaps even a Ruger single six used---aught to be able to find one in that range.
I like all of my 1911's but I have much more into them in order to make them good shooters and reliable than his budget allows.
I understand all who like RIA's---but since this is to be used for protection in the home---I would look for first bang reliability.
Having been in a situation where I WAS concerned about this possibility with no chance for a back-up--though it never came to pass--it made me re-think what I was doing.
I like to have guns---though they may fail no matter what kind or who touches them (too include rollers)--which leaves me with confidence.
Ammo is another subject also---it can fail as quickly as the gun.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

No way I can recommend a $400 1911 for defense. I couldn't sleep at night. Tell your friend to get a model 10-5 or newer (for price, not desireability) and four boxes of ammo, a holster, and two speedloaders. This is about $400.

I bought a Rock Island Commander a while back for $300. It came with most of a box of ammo, the original box and paperwork, two sets of grips, and a Blackhawk holster.It is in like new condition, and I expect the missing dozen rounds were all that were fired in it. Much to my surprise, it shoots great, is very accurate, and has become one of my favorite handguns. I can definitely recommend a Rock Island.

i also have an RIA in 45 acp,i had heard horror storys about them and swore i would never own one,then got the 'to good to pass up' deal on one,it eats everything i feed it,its VERY accurite and yes its my ccw gun,on the other hand my wife got me a kimber pro carry compact,have had issues with it from the getgo,it is sitting in the safe now

The RIA offerings are (IMHO) THEE BEST deal in a 1911 < Period.
Go to the 1911 forum and read up on them. A factory rep used to hang out there and may still...

BUT - For home defense a 1911 is a VERY poor choice. During the day is one thing, but waking up at 3am and trying to clear a jammed semi-auto in the dark (it does happen) may well get your friend killed if he's not super familiar with the gun.
A nice short (legal short) Shot Gun is a way better choice for home defense anyway and even better as a first gun.
If a handgun is his only choice try to steer him toward a revolver. The manual of arms is MUCH simpler and when your adrenalin is pumping, you're half asleep, and scary, a gun without a bunch of moving parts and no safety is really a good thing.

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In dog years I'm dead.

Show me a picture of that Remington 1911R1 with a "Made in the Phillipines" rollmark underneath the dustcover. Mine sure doesn't have it.

Or a 4566, if not going for the revolver.

Got one of these for Christmas:
Cobra Force Pump Shotgun - Spring Loaded Forearm
http://www.tristarsportingarms.com/p...tactical.html\

$294.00 + 7 % Sales Tax. = $315.00
TriStar's Cobra Force Pump Model offers the most features of any home defense shotgun on the market for a fraction of the price. The Cobra Force was designed for close quarters with a 20" barrel. Add the fixed pistol grip stock, picatinny rails on both the top of the receiver and the forearm, bridge front sight, and you get the ultimate in home defense.

I have other shotguns, also have two 1911's. This is what I will grab when things go bump in the night.

Guy22

For a starter 1911, let me highly recommend the Rock Island Tactical in a Government or Commander size. Excellent guns that run right out of the box if your friend does his part.

Rule 303

The man wants a 1911 - good for him. Maybe he has plenty of experience with one.

I agree with the Rock Island Armory advice. They seem to be good guns, and he should be able to get the gun and a couple of boxes of ammo for under four bills.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”