1911

[soccerguy83]

Thinking about getting a 1911.
What I'm looking for:
Under $1000 would prefer $700 (Don't mind used)
Full-size
Decent trigger
Thinking not a series 80 style (see point above)
extended trigger
single sided safety
three dot sights
match barrel and trigger if possible
would prefer front strap checkering
flat main spring housing
extended beaver-tail
stainless if possible

I really like the Remington R1 Enhanced, though I am not crazy about the series 80 design.
I don't need a high end gun hence the desire to stick around $700, but I don't want a budget gun either.

Suggestions?

 

[OldChief]

You might check Rock Island they have a few models that may fit your requirements. The biggest being, not overly expensive.

This is a bit expensive but here's my favorite, the Kimber Target II.

 

[rickflst]

Just picked up a Colt competition 70 for 850. A real nice gun.

 

[C Islander]

Ruger SR1911 fits most of your wants.

 

[joeintexas]

I have to agree on the Rock Island. You can get one with a lot of features for under $700. 3 dot Novak style sights, skeletonized hammer and trigger, good grips, you really do get a lot of gun for the money. For a bit more the Ruger SR1911 also offers lots of options and shoots very well. Moving up, the S&W 1911s are more pricey but the lines are slick and rounded and they shoot wonderful. If you look around a bit you can find used Rock Islands for $400 in good shape. Good luck and get ready to get hooked once you own a 1911.

 

[jimbo728]

I have had a standard Remington 1911 R1 for five years and can give mine a positive review. I was lucky to get mine at cost.
It is reliable, accurate and holding up nicely. Excellent trigger and good sights, fixed. If you see one below your price range, very likely, it would be a 1911 I think you would enjoy.
Good Luck on the hunt.
Jim

 

[Fishinfool]

There are a wide variety of quality 1911's available new for $1000.00 and under. Some have already been mentioned. Frankly, it is hard these days to find a 1911 that is not well made. Competition is fierce in the 1911 market, and sub-par guns don't stay around long.

Based on my personal experience, Colt, Kimber, RIA, Springfield Arms, are all quality makes available in your price range.

I would look at what is available from all the makers I and others have listed, paying particular attention to the features you are looking for. One is sure to float your boat. When checking a 1911 physically before purchase, pay particular attention to bore condition, trigger pull, and fitting (tight) of the barrel link / locking lugs, and the front bushing for maximum accuracy. Slide tightness alone is not a good measure of a potentially accurate 1911. For mostly range use, I would look at an adjustable sight gun like the Springfield Rangemaster, or the Kimber Custom Target. Depending on bullet weight and velocity, 1911's can vary where they place their bullets. Nothing (almost) is more frustrating to me than a handgun that does not group to POA with loads I like. If you go fixed sights, look for a model that has a dovetailed front sight. It makes it easier to change if a different height is needed to bring your favorite load to POA.

Larry

 

[Collo Rosso]

There are a wide variety of quality 1911's available new for $1000.00 and under. Some have already been mentioned. Frankly, it is hard these days to find a 1911 that is not well made. Competition is fierce in the 1911 market, and sub-par guns don't stay around long.

We had a thread not long ago about this and like fishinfool said, it's kinda hard to buy a bad 1911 now.
I've had a fair amount of 1911's go through my hands and the keepers for me are a Springfield R.O. in 9mm and 2 Sigs. Let us know what you come up with.

 

[reddog81]

I really like the Remington R1 Enhanced, though I am not crazy about the series 80 design.

Suggestions?

The series 80 design should have no noticeable impact on the trigger pull. There are many other more relevant variables that go into a good trigger. You can replace the series 80 parts with shims if you so desire. The only thing I dislike about the series 80 setup is that reassembly of pistol takes an extra minute.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Strongly recommend Ruger SR1911. Been shooting one in competition
for two years. Accurate and 100% reiable. It is a series 70 w/all you
need and nothing you don't. Never talked to an unhappy owner.
I started w/a new Colt series 70 but it did not have a lot of the upgrade
the Ruger has.

 

[GKC]

It might be difficult to find all of your requirements at or below $700, but there are a couple that meet most. The one I'd recommend is the Ruger SR1911. Not only is it a great pistol, but Ruger has excellent customer service, should you need it. The only thing missing from your requirements is the front strap checkering and a match barrel. I have a SR1911 CMD now and really like it. I've had the full size in the past.

I don't think you'll find a Colt in your price range with your requirements, except maybe used. I wouldn't recommend Kimber. You can also check Springfield. RIAs are good 1911s, but I don't know if they have a stainless model...nickle, maybe, but not sure about stainless.

 

[ky wonder]

ruger night watchman, picked up one last week used in lnib condition for $550, love it great trigger,ships with tri nite sights
Ruger SR1911 Night Watchman Commander 45ACP Centerfire Pistol (TALO Exclusive) | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore)

I own and enjoy my kimbers, Sig 1911s, as well as my colts but I like the little ruger as well

 

[Packgoat]

Just picked up a Springfield Armory Mil Spec 1911 A1 used for $600. It is a blued gun with dovetailed front and rear 3 dot sights. It is marked Springfield Custom on the slide. The trigger is real nice. What you want is out there.

 

[Funflyer]

This

Kimber America Stainless II .45 ACP 1911 Handgun

 

[Hairtrigger]

I think you are making too big of a deal out of the 80 series, Not like it has a mag disconnect or chamber indicator

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Why not get an S&W 4506? It is a newer design than the 1911. It is harder to find than a 1911. And though it does not have the history, it is a better gun than the 1911.

 

[American1776]

I would get the current Colt basic government model. Every new Colt 1911 I've owned, including the short Defenders, worked flawless from the box. I can't say the same for other brands 1911 I've owned.

You could get a basic blued 1991a1 new for around 800. Not a bad deal, and it's heirloom quality.

 

[Warren Sear]

Get a Colt. You will not regret getting the real deal.

 

[vonn]

Get one and you will get more!

 

[soccerguy83]

Wow, so many good responses in such a short time, first off, thank you guys!

I'll respond to a few particular posts below, please don't feel slighted if yours isn't picked haha.

I have had a standard Remington 1911 R1 for five years and can give mine a positive review. I was lucky to get mine at cost.
It is reliable, accurate and holding up nicely. Excellent trigger and good sights, fixed. If you see one below your price range, very likely, it would be a 1911 I think you would enjoy.
Good Luck on the hunt.
Jim

There is a very nice stainless R1 (not enhanced) with box, three mags, and holster at my local range under my price range that I'm considering.

There are a wide variety of quality 1911's available new for $1000.00 and under. Some have already been mentioned. Frankly, it is hard these days to find a 1911 that is not well made. Competition is fierce in the 1911 market, and sub-par guns don't stay around long.

Based on my personal experience, Colt, Kimber, RIA, Springfield Arms, are all quality makes available in your price range.

I would look at what is available from all the makers I and others have listed, paying particular attention to the features you are looking for. One is sure to float your boat. When checking a 1911 physically before purchase, pay particular attention to bore condition, trigger pull, and fitting (tight) of the barrel link / locking lugs, and the front bushing for maximum accuracy. Slide tightness alone is not a good measure of a potentially accurate 1911. For mostly range use, I would look at an adjustable sight gun like the Springfield Rangemaster, or the Kimber Custom Target. Depending on bullet weight and velocity, 1911's can vary where they place their bullets. Nothing (almost) is more frustrating to me than a handgun that does not group to POA with loads I like. If you go fixed sights, look for a model that has a dovetailed front sight. It makes it easier to change if a different height is needed to bring your favorite load to POA.

Larry

Thank you for the wonderful response!

The series 80 design should have no noticeable impact on the trigger pull. There are many other more relevant variables that go into a good trigger. You can replace the series 80 parts with shims if you so desire. The only thing I dislike about the series 80 setup is that reassembly of pistol takes an extra minute.

Agreed that I could shim, just if I don't need to from the start the better. Though I agree that it may not have an effect on pull, it also adds unneeded parts to an already proven design.

It might be difficult to find all of your requirements at or below $700, but there are a couple that meet most. The one I'd recommend is the Ruger SR1911. Not only is it a great pistol, but Ruger has excellent customer service, should you need it. The only thing missing from your requirements is the front strap checkering and a match barrel. I have a SR1911 CMD now and really like it. I've had the full size in the past.

I don't think you'll find a Colt in your price range with your requirements, except maybe used. I wouldn't recommend Kimber. You can also check Springfield. RIAs are good 1911s, but I don't know if they have a stainless model...nickle, maybe, but not sure about stainless.

I am giving the Ruger a hard look, it does seem to meet most of my wants and comes highly recommended here and other places.

Why not get an S&W 4506? It is a newer design than the 1911. It is harder to find than a 1911. And though it does not have the history, it is a better gun than the 1911.

There is actually one for sale at my LGS for about $800 or there was last week. Though I would love to have one one day, this current itch is for a 1911. Thanks though!

 

[yeti]

Plenty of good suggestions here already. In that price range I would say look at lightly used stainless 1911's and let condition be your guide. With most of the features that you want the list could include the following in no particular order, but I would jump on the Colt first, if I saw one in good condition. Let condition be your guide.

SA Range Officer Stainless
Kimber Stainless II or Target
Ruger SR1911 Standard or Target
Colt S70 Govt Stainless
S&W E-Series (yes, external extractor but they run)

 

[GKC]

Why not get an S&W 4506? It is a newer design than the 1911. It is harder to find than a 1911. And though it does not have the history, it is a better gun than the 1911.

I'm not sure, but is S&W still supporting the 3rd Gen pistols? Since they are no longer in production, parts might eventually become an issue. The thing about 1911s is that even if the specific gun is no longer in warranty, 1911 parts are universal and widely available from a number of vendors.

 

[soccerguy83]

Went to Cabela's on lunch and handled the below (all full size):

Springfield Range Officer
Wonderful trigger! Really liked everything about it other than the sights, the black on black was just not something I'm crazy about. If I were to get it, the front sight might be painted.

Ruger 1911
This was a very nice gun that checked off a lot of boxes in my want list. Trigger was very nice. Over all there really wasn't much to not like! May have been just me, but it seemed noticeably lighter than the Springfield RO.

S&W E series engraved
Very nice looking gun, had a nice presentation box. The trigger was clean and crisp. I know it's nothing but in my head, but I don't like the external extractor. Not on the top of my list.

RIA GI
Not a bad gun, really smooth slide had nice three dots, decent trigger. Had a bit of rattle to it, but nothing unexpected for a GI 1911. Not bad, but prob won't go in this direction.

RIA Tactical 9mm
Really was amazed by how smooth the slide was and how well it was fit to the frame! Liked the aggressive grips and front strap serrations. Didn't like the ambi safety, nor the full length guide rod.

 

[GKC]

RIA Tactical 9mm
Really was amazed by how smooth the slide was and how well it was fit to the frame! Liked the aggressive grips and front strap serrations. Didn't like the ambi safety, nor the full length guide rod.

I'm with you on this...I've never liked ambi safeties nor FLGRs (full length guide rods.) I've always changed them on 1911s I've owned that came with them.

The FLGR is very easy to change to a GI guide rod and plug (assuming this model doesn't have a "bull" barrel that won't accept a GI plug.) The ambi safety can be changed to a single safety, but if you aren't proficient in doing so, get a gun smith to do it for you...it's pretty easy for someone who knows what they are doing, but if it's not done correctly, it can lead to some problems.

I wouldn't let these two things stand in the way if you like everything else about the pistol.

 

[ky wonder]

I was just on wikiarms they were showing the sig tacops available at a vendor new for 716

 

[BigBill]

First Remington is in financial trouble. No way I'd buy. I don't like Remington's quality.

My last 1911@1 purchase is a colt series 80 in 45acp used in nickel. It's awesome.

I couldn't understand why so many buyers put a number out there on how much they want to spend. There are a lot of great buys, way cheaper new or used. Just inspect it to make sure bubba didn't work on it.

Now I could find a new decent 1911@1 for under $700. Is this your first 1911? I'd go entry level. A SA mil spec, usgi, would serve you well. The auto ordnance ww2 US Army is another good one. They both will function right out of the box.

 

[Mdclinks]

Went to Cabela's on lunch and handled the below (all full size):

Springfield Range Officer
Wonderful trigger! Really liked everything about it other than the sights, the black on black was just not something I'm crazy about. If I were to get it, the front sight might be painted.

You can get the stainless model. It'll have pretty much everything you are looking for and the front sight will be a red fiber optic(green if you change it out yourself, extras come with the gun). The hand fit match bushing & barrel seem to be pretty accurate. Available in 9mm or 45acp.

 

[GT_80]

I have a Auto Ordnance 1911A1, and a friend just bought a Springfield Armory, Range officer. Both fullsize, both functions perfectly, the range officer has a better trigger, better sights... The Auto Ordnance was $450, the Range officer was around $799. You can get many GREAT pistols with better sights and better triggers for the $600-$800 range and above mentions Rugers, Springfield Armory, even Sig I think has some really good ones inder $800... Try a bunch, buy what you like and feel comfortable buying.

I got the Auto Ordnance cause I wanted a Steel old looking GI model 1911 that was reliable and didn't care about the sights or a improved trigger. I wanted an old mil spec pistol, and Auto Ordnance has Kahr Arms fit and tune them, so they are great value for the money.

For the time I have shot this, it has been 100% reliable, has little recoil because it's a full size 5" all steel gun. It has the curved back strap and thick Rosewood laminated grips, so for me I have to shift my hand to release the magazine or slide, yet It is exactly what I wanted.

 

[soccerguy83]

You can get the stainless model. It'll have pretty much everything you are looking for and the front sight will be a red fiber optic(green if you change it out yourself, extras come with the gun). The hand fit match bushing & barrel seem to be pretty accurate. Available in 9mm or 45acp.

Now we may be on to something here!

 

[soccerguy83]

I think it's down to the stainless SA Range Officer (would need to find it used) and the Ruger SR1911. I will say though I want to try the trigger on the R1 Enhanced and my LGS has a used SA Loaded in Stainless that I may go look at.


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