Seeking opinions on current production Colt 1911's

[old&slow]

The two targets below were shot (outdoors) recently at 50 feet - 7 rounds of 230 grain RNL each target. They were both shot with my Colt Gold Cup Series 70.

WOW ! None of my 1911's ,, Colts ,, Kimbers ,, Springfields,, etc. ever shot like that !!
of course I think it had more to do with the nut behind the trigger ,, than the firearm.

Excellent shooting sir !

 

[tlmetesh]

Short answer: Get a Colt!

Long answer: I was in the market earlier this year for a 1911. I looked at every different maker out there at a large gun show. I came to the conclusion that I should just fork over the extra couple hundred bucks and get an actual Colt 1911 ... otherwise, I'd regret it the next day. Here we are about 8 months later and I have no regrets buying the Colt.

 

[Wee Hooker]

My LGS now carries a selection of the sub $1000 Colt 1911's as of two weeks ago. They also just started to carry the newly approved Springfield Armory 1911's in the same price range. Lastly, they carry Sigs, RIA, S&W, Ruger and Remington. I've had a good opportunity to handle all .
Personally, I think all these companies have stepped up their game in the use of high tolerance CNC machining. Fit and finish in all of them is excellent ( especially as compared to production just 10 years ago.). It's really hard to find a bad new production 1911 in any of these brands.

All that said, I've historically been happy with S&W and Sig 1911's. If I were to buy a new to our market branded 1911 today, I'd opt for the Springfield over the Colt by a small margine. I would suggest you handle both/ all before buying on name alone.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Back in the day, and I’m talking 40 years ago, if you bought a Colt 1911 the odds that it would actually work were only about 50/50. I owned several that couldn’t be counted on to feed a full mag of hardball. I owned one Series 80 that wouldn’t even fire straight out of the box. Colt didn’t care ‘cause they were the only game in town. Once they began to get some competition they started to get better and, IMO, the Colts made in the last 10 years or are the best ever. They aren’t necessarily the prettiest or the most finely finished but they WORK. I currently have a Lightweight Govt Model, a steel Commander, a Series 80 Govt model in 38 Super and another in 45 ACP. All of them are 100% for function, and I would count on any of them for daily carry. If you want a Colt, go for it. I think they’re the best they’ve been since the end of WWII.

Back in the day we called the series 70's "good starter kit's". You are right about the newer Colts they are a lot better.

 

[chief38]

WOW ! None of my 1911's ,, Colts ,, Kimbers ,, Springfields,, etc. ever shot like that !!
of course I think it had more to do with the nut behind the trigger ,, than the firearm.

Excellent shooting sir !

Thank you! This was my best Gold Cup target from this afternoon at 50 feet. I had a real great day today. Also shot my Marlin .38-55 and a CZ 452 while I was at it. The weather was sooooo goooood today I just didn't want to leave. Even after shooting we hung out and smoked a Cigar too!

My standard Range Hand-load is Dardas Cast 230 grain RNL bullet over 4.3 grains of W231. Gives me just over 700 fps which is a light and accurate load but always reliable and never any FTF.

 

[Jessie]

I have a new Combat Commander and it's every bit as good as any other year Colt .45 you can compare it to.
They have not slacked in their manufacturing of the 1911s.

 

[old&slow]

This was my best Gold Cup target from this afternoon at 50 feet. I had a real great day today.

I had a Gold Cup I purchased new back in the 70's. In a moment of extreme stupidity , I sold it.
Then in the late 80's , I got into USPSA shooting and now into shooting local steel plate matches. Both of which will make you a sloppy in a hurry.
Kind of miss the old bullseye matches. one handed at 50 ft. made you focus a bunch.
My eyes aren't as good as they use to be and the last time I shot bullseye I used a red dot on my Marvel 22 conversion .
I've seen a few folks that could hold groups like your ,, but I'm not one of them. Good Shooting!