1911 ... Which One Would You Buy?

[Flattop5]

My first choice for a 1911 is a Colt.

If I couldn't get a Colt, I'd save my money until I could afford one.

You are 100% correct. A Colt is your best bet.

I have two Colt 1991A1 "GI"-type pistols in .45 ACP. Both are "matte black" and both function flawlessly. One has a stainless Wilson Combat barrel, the other one is stock. You can find 1991A1s for sale at reasonable prices on the internet or at gun shows.

Mine look like this one:

http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/9082173606/11847439/2013-02-17-011.jpg_thumbnail0.jpg



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[oneflycowboy]

STI makes some very good 1911's

I have a STI Edge and it has been a pleasure to shoot.
They are kind of pricey in the $2000 dollar range.

I also have a Remington R1 Enhanced. It's a solid 1911 at a pretty good price. $800-$900 dollar range.

Another really good 1911 is the Springfield Armory TRP.

It's a very nice 1911 for around $1500-$2000.
Here is my Springfield 1911 TRP Operator Full Rail.

 

[legelegel]

I think the Colt 1991A1 Series 80 is out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuxH_FLWDtg

 

[Flattop5]

I think the Colt 1991A1 Series 80 is out.

Why? It's easy to remove the firing-pin safety.




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[Watchdog]

The 1911 has a natural point of aim and all that weight helps reduce felt recoil.

That's very true, and I agree. I was just mentioning a few things like size, weight, and concealibility that some people (not me) might consider to be negative factors.

The only drawback of the Colt 1911 for me is the fact that I can't afford to buy every one of 'em I want.

 

[Watchdog]

I too would stay away from Auto Ordnance 1911's.

Shouldn't be hard to do. I've never seen one at an LGS or a show. I've asked at LGSs if they ever stock them or order them. They just shake their heads no. It's almost a roll-their-eyes kind of thing, like how could I be so stupid as to even ask. Matter of fact, the only place I've even seen one is on the Internet. Right now, I wouldn't touch one, especially if it came out of the Para shop.

But now I hear that Kahr Arms has redesigned them (whatever that means) and quality may be better. So who knows.

The only thing I like about them is that they look authentically G.I.

 

[Bozz10mm]

I'd have to go with one of the 4506's. I love those 3rd gen S&W's.

 

[ScubaSig]

I think I may be biased in my recommendation

[IMG_04311.jpg.html]

 

[Engineer1911]

A dozen 1911s in 45 ACP

I've bought most of them because the price was right at the time, and there was money in my pocket. My choices would be:

#1 S&W target match stainless steel with adjustable sights, Mine is an early production model.

#2 Rock Island (Phillipines) target match with adjustable sights.

#3 Remington R1 with fixed sights

There are 3 Colt Gold Cups (2 series 70, 1 series 80 stainless), 3 Para Ordnance (all double stack), Colt gov model, 2 custom match built target guns, Springfield series 70 so I suffer from variety and diversity. There is nothing special about a Colt 1911 compared to other manufacturers other than the horse stamp.

I owned 1 S&W non-1911 45 acp semi and sold it after owning for about 7 months, -- glad to see it go to a new home .

 

[MyDads38]

When I decided to buy a 1911, one of my requirements was it had to be Made in the USA! When I did my research (and I did A LOT of research), I finally decided on the Ruger SR1911 FS 5" (no commander version at the time).

I cannot say enough good things about this 1911! Accurate right out of the box. I have not had ANY issues with feed/function/reliability. It shoots anything I run through it - 185 & 200 gr. Lead SWC, 200 gr. Lead RNFP, 230 Gr. Lead RN, 230 gr. plated & jacketed FMJ. Factory ball from every manufacturer. It doesn't seem to make any difference, everything shoots accurately through this pistol!

Prices have been coming down on these as of lately. I paid $680 + 7% tax. I have seen them as low as $630 for either model. All I'm waiting for is Ruger to offer it in 9mm!

 

[JDBoardman]

Like Fishinfool, I like the Kimber. I have a Pro Carry 2 that I have had for 4 or 5 years. Never a misfeed, failure to eject, or failure to return to battery (maybe I got the good one...). It is Commander sized, with an alloy frame and stainless steel slide. I replaced the main spring housing with an SS arched housing because the flat housings are not comfortable to me, and I removed the Schwartz safety. It came with Meprolite night sights, and I am quite happy with it. Previously, I have had a Springfield GI, which got stolen, a Charles Daily - can't beat the price; I was offered much more for it than I had paid for it so sayonara, and a Colt Combat Commander, which my wife commandeered. Seems like 1911's are a family affair.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Springfield or Sig Sauer . . .

 

[shawn mccarver]

I have had a Star PD (25 oz.)for many years.

I have wanted to buy a 5 inch barrel 1911 for a long time.

Which one of these 3 pistols would you buy and why?

Auto Ordnance 1911A1 (39 oz.)
Ruger SR1911 (39 oz.)

Smith & Wesson 4506-1 (41.6 oz.)
Smith & Wesson 4506-2
Smith & Wesson 4506-3

What are the differences in these 3 versions of the S&W 4506?

What were the 20 design changes made between the 4506 and 4506-1.

What other 1911 would you recommend considering and why?

The quality of products out of Colt in the last few years has been absolutely outstanding. The biggest problem is in finding a new one, but the distributors seem to have them now in both blue and stainless.

I think you will not go wrong buying a Colt 1911. You will likely always get your money back. The Ruger SR1911 is nice, as is the S&W 1911.

 

[steamloco76]

I have an inexpensive Philippines manufactured 1911 which is surprisingly good. Got lucky because I've handled a few more that didn't impress me. My Springfield .45 Range Officer has been a wonderful pistol. Not one gun related jam and it is accurate, well fitted and well finished. S&W makes a darned fine 1911 too. The more modern external extractor design has a lot going for it. Sig uses the external extractor too.

The 4506 is a great pistol, however with its double action trigger, bushing-less barrel and magazine disconnect, it is hardly a 1911.

 

[legelegel]

Is the Star PD considered a 1911?

 

[GtownGeorge]

What do you want to do with the gun? I bought a Rock Island because they were inexpensive and got some good reviews. I wanted a gun I could take apart a play with the internals and if I screwed it up I wouldn't be out big bucks. I have had way more than $430 buck worth of fun with it and it shoots great and is very reliable.

 

[rxbrew]

Colt IV series 70. Function, reliabilty, fit, finish
done

 

[pew222]

My vote is the Ruger sr1911. Its all steel, based on the model 70 with no block and 100% made in America. Theyre going for at or under $650 now so you could upgrade all the parts and still be at $1k. My next choice would be a DW cbob. That would be my first choice, but theyre not as common these days and you can have the same work done to the Ruger for the price of a used one.

 

[78Staff]

Lots of good responses here - there was another recent 1911 thread where i typed up a longish and detailed response, but for summary's sake

For a "budget/entry level" 1911 I don't think you can beat the Ruger or the S&W 108482. Both should be close in price, with the Ruger as low as $599 at times but normally around $650, and the S&W in the high 600/low 700's. I'd take either over a SA Range Officer (unless I could find a US serial) or Loaded. And I would choose the S&W over the Ruger, but that's personal preference.

Next, in the $1000-$1200 more or less range I would be looking at the S&W TA if I wanted a rail, or a PC model, the Springfield TRP, or the Wesson Heritage.

Nothing wrong with a Colt of course, I recently almost purchased a Combat Elite, but went with a S&W TA instead. Some with say Colt or nothing, but I'm not one of those guys. If dead set on getting a Colt, I would look at the 70 series as somebody already posted... again just my preference.

 

[Rpg]

Is the Star PD considered a 1911?

No.

The web site needs more letters.

I'm not sure why a simple answer to a simple question requires a dissertation, but I don't make the rules.

Is that enough?