Need a 1911

Gather App
Guns.com Vault

Best Value 1911 (45acp full size)

  • SW1911 E-SERIES

    Votes: 12 6.8%

  • Remington R1

    Votes: 11 6.2%

  • Rock Island

    Votes: 39 22.0%

  • Springfield Armory

    Votes: 38 21.5%

  • Colt

    Votes: 47 26.6%

  • None of the above (please post rec)

    Votes: 30 16.9%
  • Total voters
    177
M

md_shooter_rick

US Veteran
Joined
May 25, 2012
Messages
42
Reaction score
15
City & State/Province
Marylandistan
I'll admit i'm a S&W M&P fan but when i sell my Motorcycle i'm going to get a 1911 in 45acp. I've been interested before but never prioritized it. Now i think i'm going to. Obviously i'm considering S&W 1911 since i'm posting here :D . From what i've been reading the SW1911 E-SERIES has great reviews. Now i need to know if it should be the one i get or one of the others i've been reading about, ie Remington R1 (enhanced?), Rock Island, Springfield Armory, or Colt. But wanted to get rec's from you all. I'd prefer to stay under $1000 but will go over if it is the best option.
 
1911

I just have one, and that's all I want. No interest for
owning more. For my just plinking at the Range......

Mines the Best Stock Made, Best Buy, Most Reliable,
Weather Resist, Most Accurate, Excellent Stock Trigger
Circa 2008 Ruger SR1911 (Model 6700) 45ACP Full Size.

I can't shoot it very accurately, so I had a Friend that
is Highest Level 1911 Target Shooter, try it once.

Wow! He shot the smallest group that I will never do.
He was quite impressed that it was Stock and said the
Trigger was Excellent for a Stock Trigger, his small group
at 50feet sure showed it.

Back in the day I bought mine for $629 (no tax) at the
AAFES Gun Shop. I think you can find them for around
$700 now.
 

Attachments

  • WIN_20180611_06_43_54_Pro.jpg
    WIN_20180611_06_43_54_Pro.jpg
    65.5 KB
I have four Colts and a Springfield Armory. Recently bought a Kimber Lightweight in .45 on sale for $599. So far it has digested 100 rounds of FMJ and 250 of my SWC lead handloads without a single malfunction. I am impressed with the fit and finish. Very snug slide to frame, positive safety off and on, no Series 80 firing pin safety. Looks good, shoots good. Check one out.
 
I've had quite a few. Right now I have 2 S.A. A range officer in 9mm and a lightweight champion in 45acp, a Sig 5" in 45acp and a original S&W 1911Sc in 45acp. I'd recommend any one of them. It's kind of hard to buy a bad 1911 these days. I shoot with guys that have RIA's with thousands of rounds through them.
Don't discount a 1911 in 9mm. The range officer in 9mm is probably my favorite.
 
I own 29 pistols of 1911 type beginning with a pre-WW1 Commercial Model Colt and progressing through the two world wars and into the 1990's. Colt, Springfield Armory, North American Arms, Remington-UMC, Ithaca, Union Switch & Signal, Remington-Rand, a couple of large safe deposit boxes full of great stuff.

I also carry a 1911-style pistol daily and have done so as a retired cop, active cop, and soldier in combat during Vietnam.

For overall value, selection, features, function, quality, and customer service I recommend Kimber very highly. My current Kimber Custom CDP has been with me for long enough that much of the frame finish has worn away and the night sights have been replaced once; it still gets the job done every time I ask it to do so.

Yes, I know this is the S&W Forum. I am fluent in heresy.
 
I'm a big Rock Island fan considering the price but I also love my Springfield Defender 1911 Mil Spec and it was under 500 bucks. If you want to spend more money I would suggest either the Springfield Range officer or the Ruger. You can then buy a Les Baer that is guaranteed to shoot 1.5 inch 10 shot groups at 50 yards but you'll be over $2,200.
 
Last edited:
My only experience with 1911s is with full-size Colts, and if I were going to get a 1911, more than likely I'd probably get a Colt Government Model, maybe a Commander. I believe you can get their standard models for around $1k or less, depending on model.

With that said, for the best value, I'd probably go with something from Springfield Armory. Their full-size Loaded and Range Officer models give you a pretty good bang-for-the-buck. I'd probably be more inclined to go with their Mil-Spec, but the Ronin Operator is quite appealing (I have a thing for two-tone 1911s). My preference would be towards non-railed models. I believe each of these would go for under $1k.

I'm not saying your other options are bad, this is just what I would go with if I were in your shoes.
 
I've got a Remington r1, the carry edition, has a wonderful trigger, night sights, stippled front and rear of the grip, and very high level of fit and finish. I would wholly reccomend it to anyone else.... available in government or commander size. As for price, I paid $700 for mine.
 
Last edited:
Farmer17 said:
I'm a big Rock Island fan considering the price but I also love my Springfield Defender 1911 Mil Spec and it was under 500 bucks. If you want to spend more money I would suggest either the Springfield Range officer or the Ruger. You can then buy a Les Baer that is guaranteed to shoot 1.5 inch 10 shot groups at 50 yards but you'll be over $2,200.
Click to expand...


Want to spend more money, NAH. i don't think i'll get more than one so i'm willing to. BUT over all i want a shooter.
 
Tubbsy said:
I've got a Remington r1, the carry edition, has a wonderful trigger, night sights, stippled front and rear of the grip, and very high level of fit and finish. I would wholly reccomend it to anyone else.... available in government or commander size. As for price, I paid $700 for mine.
Click to expand...

This was a leader for me when i looked before. But a lot of others really seemed to like the RIA and the price allowed for other purchases
 
I have, at last count 17 1911's, so I am a fan. Have carried Springfield Micro Compact daily for the last 16 years. A custom full sized Colt in 40 S&W for 15 years before that. I have Colts, Kimbers, Springfields and a Sig Sauer. Some are complete custom builds and others are basically stock and they have to be as close to 100% reliable as I can get them or they go away. I would like to try one of Smith & Wesson's and Ruger's examples. My suggestion, get with as many people as you can, that have 1911s and try as many as you can. While all are similar they do have their differences and can have a myriad of features. You won't know what features you want until you experience those features.
The 1911 is almost like an AR15 in all the various options that are available.
 
I’d suggest an alloy-framed Commander length as a first one, since it’s a full size frame for shoot ability but also a tad shorter and lighter for practical carry. Could go 9mm, but 45 is more classic.

Ruger has the Series 70 type trigger, but there are a lot of good choices. RIA stands out at the low end and Dan Wesson at the upper end.
 
mckenney99 said:
I have, at last count 17 1911's, so I am a fan. Have carried Springfield Micro Compact daily for the last 16 years. A custom full sized Colt in 40 S&W for 15 years before that. I have Colts, Kimbers, Springfields and a Sig Sauer. Some are complete custom builds and others are basically stock and they have to be as close to 100% reliable as I can get them or they go away. I would like to try one of Smith & Wesson's and Ruger's examples. My suggestion, get with as many people as you can, that have 1911s and try as many as you can. While all are similar they do have their differences and can have a myriad of features. You won't know what features you want until you experience those features.
The 1911 is almost like an AR15 in all the various options that are available.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the info. I wish i had people to go shoot with. Used to shooting on my own. The club i'm a member of has friendly people (shot a guys VZ58 last time out and let another shoot the sks i had with me) but my time is pretty rare. Makes it hard.
 
HOUSTON RICK said:
For value, you cannot beat Rock Island/ATI, but it is all about getting what you like. I like the Springfield and Remington 1911's as well.
Click to expand...

The Springfield Mil-Spec is sure moving up the list. I'd have to say my top 3 right now look like Remington,Springfield and the SW1911. I'll definitely have to handle a few to see how they feel.
 
md_shooter_rick said:
Not sure if i mind or not to be honest. Not sure what the major issue is.
Click to expand...

No issue AT ALL with an external extractor. The gun was originally built with an internal extractor so some prefer it for that reason. That's fine with me but that doesn't make it better. MHO is that you don't make your choice based on the extractor. FWIW I have S&W's and they have been 100%. I'm sure you'll have fun with whatever you choose.
 
md_shooter_rick said:
JJEH said:
I'd consider a Dan Wesson. Second would be a S&W if you don't mind an external extractor.
Click to expand...
Not sure if i mind or not to be honest. Not sure what the major issue is.
Click to expand...

Just my opinion, but it's been my observation that the people who don't like external extractors on 1911s tend be more of the "purist" persuasion, as an external extractor can be seen as straying too far from the original design. Some others may point out that some of the early external extractor 1911s had reliability issues related to the extractors.

Personally, I think the external extractor is an improvement over the internal extractor, so long as it's set up correctly and functions properly. But internal extractors have been around a long time and have been well-proven. So I could go either way, and internal vs. external extractor would probably be down on the list of attributes I'd be looking for.
 
md_shooter_rick said:
The Springfield Mil-Spec is sure moving up the list. I'd have to say my top 3 right now look like Remington,Springfield and the SW1911. I'll definitely have to handle a few to see how they feel.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with the Springfield 1911. I had the 'Loaded' version and never had any problems with it, but I ended up selling it to a buddy. After owning several different models of Colts over the years, Kimbers, and Sig, (and the mentioned SA), I ended up back with Colt. Not a darn thing wrong with any of the others that I've owned, I figured if I'm going to own only one 1911, it's going to be a Colt....just because..:D Any of the Remington 'R1 Enhanced' models would be a nice choice, too.
 
Last edited:
It's hard to beat the value of an ATI or RIA, for certain. Heck, I'd recommend one of those in GI style, no matter what else you get down the road. We're talking under $400 out the door for a new gun with a lifetime warranty, and the ones I own run flawlessly.

I recently added a pair of LNIB Para Experts, came across them for $399 apiece, went ahead and bought them both. I wasn't actively looking at the time, and probably wouldn't have picked out a Para if everything was the same price; but the reviews I've read tell me I didn't do bad at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

max503
Need advice on replacing 1911 extractor
2 3
Replies
67
Views
2K
Thaddeus Beauregard
T
J
2011 vs a modified M&P
Replies
28
Views
868
M1A4ME
M1A4ME
Tanners Owner
S&W E series 1911 out for a spin
Replies
4
Views
171
Tanners Owner
Tanners Owner
Silver-7
  • Locked
Sold locally - Springfield Armory Garrison 1911 5” .45acp(reduced to $699)
Replies
1
Views
916
Silver-7
Silver-7
Smoke
Time To Put The Guns Up.
2 3 4
Replies
97
Views
5K
sniper
S

Latest posts

Back
Top