Start with a standard 5" "Government" model.
.45 ACP.
Before buying, dry fire it. If the trigger doesn't feel great, don't buy it. A 1911 should have a great trigger.
Beware: 1911s are like Lays potato chips, you probably won't get just one.
Not sure about the advice to start with the 5 inch version but my experience with my Ruger SR1911 CMD has demonstrated that the shorter versions of the 1911 can more ammunition sensitive and need a bit of breaking in before they become reliable. In my case the CMD had a real preference for loads a bit on the "hot" side and as a result I am now loading my 45 ACP 230 grain range loads with 0.2 grains more SR7625 that what was reliable in my 5 inch SR1911's.
As for the advice about 1911's being like Lay's chips I have to agree with that 100% because I currently own two 5 inch SR1911's, one Stainless SR1911 CMD in 45 ACP, and one Lightweight SR1911 CMD in 9mm. Yeah, all of my 1911's are Rugers, because IMO you just cannot do any better in terms of the balance between quality, accuracy, and cost.
Now, concerning the Ruger 1911's. All but one of mine had a trigger with a 4.5 lbs. break out of the box and it was easy for me to tune the trigger on that one oddball that broke at 5.5 lbs. BTW, the 5.5 lbs. trigger was a very early production pistol so IMO Ruger did a bit of learning with the first 6 months of production and since then the triggers have become very consistent. There is a small bit of Sear Creep (about 0.03 inch) with a very clean break.
I will also say the Ruger's are a bit loose in fitup between slide and frame so they will rattle. However I have two Sig P239's that could be described as baby rattles wheich have proven to be 100% reliable over nearly 10 years of use and accurate enough to shoot 1.5 inch groups at 50 feet when I am shooting well. Both of my 5 inch Rugers have been 100% flawless in function and accuracy is in the range of 2 inches at 50 feet. The Stainless CMD in 45 ACP was a bit unreliable at first but it's been over a year now without any function issues.
Note, at times I have wondered if my SR1911 wasn't intended to be a sample for some magazine reviewer. Because even though it does rattle it's accuracy has actually started me on many occasions. Been way too many occasions where I've been taking my time at 50 feet to test myself where I have been rewarded with a near perfect center hit on the bullseye. Basically, it's a No Excuses pistol because it shoots exactly where the pistol is aimed when the trigger breaks. If I have a day where I am flinching and pulling left it shoots Low and Left and I know darned well the fault is with me. Because when I concentrate on Technique it shoots exactly where I have it aimed.
As for the 9mm, to be blunt the Ruger 9mm magazines just do NOT measure up, the feed lips are about 1/16 inch too short and double feeds were a constant problem. My response was to spend the money for Wilson Combat 9mm magazines and it has only had 1 double feed with the Wilson magazines about 3 months ago. BTW the 9mm is so much fun to shoot and gentle in terms of recoil I plan on slowly building up a stock of 12 of the Wilson 9mm magazines. Accuracy of the 9mm is good but does not measure up to my 45 caliber CMD, it's basically as accurate as my 5 inch 45 caliber 1911's. I also had to replace the front sight on my 9mm because even with 115 grain ammunition it was shooting a good 2 inches about the sight at 10 yards. Fortunately I had a spare sight for the 45 ACP SR1911's and that put the sights dead on perfect for 147 grain 9mm loads. Anyone else finding the same sight regulation issue should look for a front sight with a height above the base of 0.220/0.230 inch. IIRC Ed Brown and Wilson Combat both offer front sights at this height that fit the Novak Dovetail.
