Best 1911 for under $1500
- Thread starter Empe
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I have tne Commander model and it shoots better than my Para that I paid twice as much for.
Yup, 'zactly what i was gonna say! I've noticed several nice DW's in the price range on the Georgia Outdoors Trader in the last few months.
BTW, I've also seen a few deal-priced higher-end Springfield 1911's, that I think are worthy of consideration.
I picked up a S& W E2 45 acp about ten years ago and it’s one of my favorite 1911’s. It’s not a traditional 1911 it has an external extractor but it runs anything and is accurate. Otherwise I like Dan Wesson also but mine was used but I got it for 1100. Great gun, had good results with Kimber too. But there are so many good 1911’s it’s hard to choose. Most people honestly go by price.
Tons of good 1911’s, pick your roll mark or brand you like. 1911 are parts guns, assuming the machining is done correct and it’s already decently fit they can all do the same thing, otherwise the best smiths in the world would never touch a Colt or Springfield gi frame and slide.
Kimber is making good stuff right now, probably some of the best out of factory on the market for the big names, bul armory is another, Colt is colt, qc is all over the place for the 3rd decade in a row, a good one is good and a bad one may have you looking at upside down roll marks. Ruger is generally always a good choice, but Mac, Tisas, all solid, even the Italian brxia Charles Daly’s are nice.
Kimber is making good stuff right now, probably some of the best out of factory on the market for the big names, bul armory is another, Colt is colt, qc is all over the place for the 3rd decade in a row, a good one is good and a bad one may have you looking at upside down roll marks. Ruger is generally always a good choice, but Mac, Tisas, all solid, even the Italian brxia Charles Daly’s are nice.
mule69
US Veteran
Colt Commander 04691. If I were ever invited to a gun fight this would be my weapon of choice.
I know it’s a few bucks more but a Les Baer ultimate went for 1925 on GB
scattershot
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For $1500.00, you could buy five Tisas pistols. I have been pleased with mine.
afret
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The DS Warrior looks like a nice double stack 1911 made in the US and at a great price. Seems like the Kimber quality has improved a lot after their move to the South and new CEO. I recently picked up their 2K11s in 9mm and 45 ACP and they are extremely nice.
https://www.kimberamerica.com/1911ds-warrior
https://www.kimberamerica.com/1911ds-warrior
23669d
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I have three 1911’s a Nighthawk Talon, a Colt Gold Cup and a Remington R1 Enhansed. I recently took all three too the range with a Ransom Rest. Shooting all three with fixed mounted Ransom Rest at 25 yards with same box of new 230 grain Winchester ball ammo results as follows: Nighthawk 2.5 inch group. Colt 2.1 inch and Remington 1.75 inches. Least expensive gun tightest group.
rockquarry
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Testing one of each doesn't really furnish much in the way of useful and realistic accuracy information. Findings with a different three of the same gun types would probably vary enough from the first group to provide nothing more than inconclusive results.
rockquarry
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If you can get past the looks...
Mark_Mark
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I have a Nighawk T3 .45, always wanted one because of the name, I tried just about every load. I can’t get it to group like my 1975 Gold Cup. NH fit & finish is good. But I just can’t shoot that gun right
I saw one of those going for next to nothing at a nearby store. I only didn't buy it as I just really didn't need it.
I've been very pleased with my Kimber. It's been awhile since I bought it, but I'm pretty sure they are still in your price range. I also bought one of their 22 conversion kits (separate slide and mags). Let's me practice for cheap.
I would recommend a look at the Sig Sauer 1911. Very well built and super accurate. Also under the $1500 mark, I paid 900 for my last one new. They are top of the line with out going to a custom gun. Mine will shoot 2" groups at 50 yr and I am old and shaky.
rockquarry
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Good work. 2" groups at 50 yards with a non-custom handgun is very fine accuracy as you know. Is that from a benchrest or Ransom rest? If from a benchrest were you using open sights or optics?
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How well does the barrel bushing fit? Is the wear on the slide stop even vs. more wear on one end (side?) than the other?
Have you talked to Nighthawk?
Mark_Mark
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I should clarify, when I bench rest the gun it shoots very tight groups. But, when I freehand shooting the gun, my group go everywhere.
I have not checked the WEARon the slide stop, I’ll do that a little later this week and post photos
Well said. Yeah, Colt's are great. But Ruger's are too, and like you I have heard good things about other brands. All well within the $1500 range. Heck you could probably get 2-3 of some brands for that and figure out which you like best, or like some just keep them all. The only thing I have learned is I like the old fashioned barrel bushings better. Don't need a paper clip or some tool to field strip them. I've heard I may be sacrificing a bit of potential accuracy but not at the distances I would expect to hit something at.
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How is the grip size and shape different than the Gold Cup?
Does one have a roll trigger vs. a crisp break? Trigger weight similar?
Sights different?
Something in the gun-shooter interface maybe?
rockquarry
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If you're consistently getting tight groups when benchrested at reasonable distances, at least 25 yards, there's nothing wrong with the gun.
GSP Fan
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I recently bought a Springfield Armory Prodigy this is a 9MM but it is such a nice gun and accurate that I just bought a Emissary 4.25 inch barrel in 45 ACP. Springfield has several models that fit into your price range.
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Four letters... starts with a "C"...
No Rugers. EVER.
No Rugers. EVER.
That is what I thought until I loaded some Nosler 185's and shot 25 yards off of a sand bag with a SR1911
The Ruger SR1911 is a really good buy for the buck.....
Just be sure you have a fiber-optic front sight and adjustable rear sights (allow you to shoot semi-wadcutters for accurate target work or ball for plinking and hollow points for personal protection) these loads require a sight change..
I love the S&W M&P 45...it shoots everything well...but it is NOT a 1911...
Springfield makes a great 1911 for under $1500 with adjustable sight.
THE BEST 1911 (ALMOST) I HAVE EVER SHOT IS THE S&W 945...and I have shot literally all 1911's. I have owned Clark's, Les Baer, Ed Brown, and Colt Gold cups (these are now running about $1200 used and are a great buy).....
I shot .45s in Competition for 50 years....945 was my favorite...
Remember you need a good set of sights or RedDot on the gun....and grips(Stocks) are important...a .45 has some recoil and you really must grip it properly. I really like LOK grips that have a palm swell for accurate shooting with follow-up shots.
I still have lots of 1911s....including my 6" Les Baer ..45, Performance Center 1911(see for sale listing today), S&W SC1911,' Dan Wesson Kodiak in 10mm.. Shot 100 rounds yesterday with the Baer 6"...all in one ragged hole...
Just be sure you have a fiber-optic front sight and adjustable rear sights (allow you to shoot semi-wadcutters for accurate target work or ball for plinking and hollow points for personal protection) these loads require a sight change..
I love the S&W M&P 45...it shoots everything well...but it is NOT a 1911...
Springfield makes a great 1911 for under $1500 with adjustable sight.
THE BEST 1911 (ALMOST) I HAVE EVER SHOT IS THE S&W 945...and I have shot literally all 1911's. I have owned Clark's, Les Baer, Ed Brown, and Colt Gold cups (these are now running about $1200 used and are a great buy).....
I shot .45s in Competition for 50 years....945 was my favorite...
Remember you need a good set of sights or RedDot on the gun....and grips(Stocks) are important...a .45 has some recoil and you really must grip it properly. I really like LOK grips that have a palm swell for accurate shooting with follow-up shots.
I still have lots of 1911s....including my 6" Les Baer ..45, Performance Center 1911(see for sale listing today), S&W SC1911,' Dan Wesson Kodiak in 10mm.. Shot 100 rounds yesterday with the Baer 6"...all in one ragged hole...
You can say that again, I now own 3 Standard Manufacturing 1911's. The color case hardened #1 engraved has only been shot once (too pretty, lol). The Blued is the latest, and not had time to shoot yet. My go to is a prototype HPX with an added Kensight DAS 1911 Defensive Novak Adjustable Night Sight Set. This has a matte finish, target grips and is fun and highly accurate to shoot. They are addictive, and only the Color Case hardened and engrave was over the $1500 mark.
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rockquarry
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How did your 6" Les Baer shoot? Any advantages over a 5"? I have a 5" Les Baer with the 1.5" 50 yard guarantee and it may be the most accurate 1911 I've owned. It will stay with and may beat my Clark-accurized Gold Cups. I've considered the 6" Les Baer.
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