Ok all you shooters Iam in the market for a 1911 in 9mm or 45 9mm is my preference. I have several S&W revolvers,M&Pc9, Sheild 9, Khar CW9, Khar CM9, Ruger P89-9, LCP, Glock 32-357 sig. Now all that being said Iam looking for a 1911 accuracy is my first priority and reliability, S&W, Colt, Kimber, Sig, Ruger whats your experience?
WHAT 1911 FOR YOU
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Kadonny
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Dan Wesson. Accurate, reliable, reasonably priced and overall just a great gun for the money. You get an almost custom made gun for far less than the custom guys. They make a full size 5" in 9mm (Pointman 9) and an officer sized bobtail in 9mm (Guardian).
Great guns for the money.
Great guns for the money.
They all seem to be pretty good these days,but I always come back to Colts.
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Ruger doesn't currently make a 1911 in 9mm...which is too bad, since they are great guns.
What is your budget? Do you want to spend a little or a lot? You said that accuracy was your first priority...do you intend this to be a range-only gun? Does that mean you are looking for a full size gun?
I've owned 26 1911s of various makes, including three in 9mm. I am personally biased against Kimber, because I owned three and found them to be problematic, and Kimber's CS was poor. I owned three compact 9mm 1911s: a Colt Defender, a Colt New Agent, and a Springfield EMP (some argue that the EMP isn't a 1911, but a 1911-style pistol; semantics, I say, since almost all of what we have today are not true 1911s.) The rest of the 1911s I've owned have been 45s.
The best and most reliable guns I've personally owned were (in no particular order) S&W (FS and compact), Ruger, Rock Island Armory (FS and compact), and Springfield (FS and compact.) My other 1911s were not problematic, other than Kimber, but I just wouldn't rate them as high as I did the four I listed first: Colt, SIG, Magnum Research/Desert Eagle, Remington, and Taurus. Of those I'd rank Taurus last...mainly because they don't hold their value and they use some non-standard parts. I wouldn't recommend a Kimber to anyone. They are pretty, if you just want to look at them, but if you want a gun to shoot, buy something else.
What is your budget? Do you want to spend a little or a lot? You said that accuracy was your first priority...do you intend this to be a range-only gun? Does that mean you are looking for a full size gun?
I've owned 26 1911s of various makes, including three in 9mm. I am personally biased against Kimber, because I owned three and found them to be problematic, and Kimber's CS was poor. I owned three compact 9mm 1911s: a Colt Defender, a Colt New Agent, and a Springfield EMP (some argue that the EMP isn't a 1911, but a 1911-style pistol; semantics, I say, since almost all of what we have today are not true 1911s.) The rest of the 1911s I've owned have been 45s.
The best and most reliable guns I've personally owned were (in no particular order) S&W (FS and compact), Ruger, Rock Island Armory (FS and compact), and Springfield (FS and compact.) My other 1911s were not problematic, other than Kimber, but I just wouldn't rate them as high as I did the four I listed first: Colt, SIG, Magnum Research/Desert Eagle, Remington, and Taurus. Of those I'd rank Taurus last...mainly because they don't hold their value and they use some non-standard parts. I wouldn't recommend a Kimber to anyone. They are pretty, if you just want to look at them, but if you want a gun to shoot, buy something else.
I can't make up my mind. Colt, Kimber, Springfield Armory - large, medium, or small. Decisions, decisions!
John
John
eagle359
Member
I have just been shooting a Ruger 1911 for a short while. So far so good. Dan Wesson Valor and a Springfield TRP are my current shooters. And I like them. A Les Baer can be had for a few more bucks. If this is your first 1911, I would say try a Ruger to see if you like the pistol and then spring for a more expensive one.
Ranger98
US Veteran
The Smith & Wesson 1911 in 9mm is very accurate
Dominus_Lex
Member
Love my Smith and Colt, but in the end my Kimber is a dream. Note I have not purchased a Sig yet, and really want to.
tacreload
Member
Have owned this since new.Not one malfunction ever.Round count maybe 5000,not really sure but I still need the original aka Colt.Maybe some day.
11e40
Member
I like colt,springfield armory & ruger in that order. you might give some thoughts to a .38 super. hth.
I have a Para Ordnance Warthog that i adore. Its been very reliable for me and i bought it used, and i liked the Colt 1911 as well.
JJEH
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Colt Commander all day, every day...
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The key issue with the 1911 is reliability, and there is an envelope in which the .45 ACP and the 1911 platform run best without excessive service or spring change needs, and that is the original 5 inch barrel. The Commander length will do nearly as well, but shorter than 4 1/4 inch, you get into tool-required field stripping, spring changes sometimes as often as every 750 to 1,500 rounds, etc. My advice is that if you want something with a barrel shorter than the original 5 inch or the 4 1/4 inch Colt Commander length (not the Kimber or Springfield 4 inch), then you should go to a different platform.
You said accuracy is your prime concern. If so, the S&W Performance Center pistols are capable of outstanding accuracy with reliability, as are the Springfield Custom Shop and Les Baer, although Baer's pistols are very "sticky" in the sense that they are so tightly fitted that press checking is not realistically possible by any traditional method. I will say, however, that even though when you first get one, they are so tight you will think it will not work, a Baer will work reliably. If you like Baer, go ahead and pay the extra fee for the 1.5 inch/50 yard guarantee. Ed Brown pistols have the rear sights fitted so loosely, allowing easy adjustment by drifting, that they are only held in place by the little set screw, rather than a proper "interference tight fit" that will hold up to rough handling. As such, the Ed Brown pistols are not serious fighting or carry pistols, but they will do fine at the range - unless your loctite gives way during a match and you have your rear sight fall out of its dovetail.
The S&W Performance Center is just as good in the accuracy department and it is not "sticky" like a Baer. You will have to decide if the aggressive slide cuts in the newest S&W PC 1911s are for you. They are not for me, but everyone has different tastes.
Personally, the latest Colts I have handled are exceptionally well done, and they always hold their value, barring any after-market modifications.
I think, therefore, that a 5 inch 1911 from the S&W PC, the Springfield Custom Shop or from Colts will be the best for your needs.
Every Kimber I have shot suffers from "snake eyes" which is that annoying tendency to not lock up in the same position every time, resulting in two distinct groups on the target during a single string of fire. I also cannot recommend the Kimber version of the "Swartz" Safety, and if you are set on a Kimber, be sure to get one without the unfortunate feature. Note that S&W, Springfield, and some Colts do not use firing pin block, instead achieving drop safety by the use of light, titanium firing pins, which do not develop the inertia of the standard all steel firing pin if the weapon is dropped on the muzzle.
My answer has assumed you want match accuracy of 3 inches at 50 meters. If what you mean by accuracy is simply "combat accuracy," often defined as 4 inches at 25 yards, then the basic, rather than PC, Custom Shop, or similar, will do. For that purpose, simply get the basic 5 inch S&W E- Series, Colt 1991 or 70 Series, or Springfield Mil-Spec or "Loaded."
You said accuracy is your prime concern. If so, the S&W Performance Center pistols are capable of outstanding accuracy with reliability, as are the Springfield Custom Shop and Les Baer, although Baer's pistols are very "sticky" in the sense that they are so tightly fitted that press checking is not realistically possible by any traditional method. I will say, however, that even though when you first get one, they are so tight you will think it will not work, a Baer will work reliably. If you like Baer, go ahead and pay the extra fee for the 1.5 inch/50 yard guarantee. Ed Brown pistols have the rear sights fitted so loosely, allowing easy adjustment by drifting, that they are only held in place by the little set screw, rather than a proper "interference tight fit" that will hold up to rough handling. As such, the Ed Brown pistols are not serious fighting or carry pistols, but they will do fine at the range - unless your loctite gives way during a match and you have your rear sight fall out of its dovetail.
The S&W Performance Center is just as good in the accuracy department and it is not "sticky" like a Baer. You will have to decide if the aggressive slide cuts in the newest S&W PC 1911s are for you. They are not for me, but everyone has different tastes.
Personally, the latest Colts I have handled are exceptionally well done, and they always hold their value, barring any after-market modifications.
I think, therefore, that a 5 inch 1911 from the S&W PC, the Springfield Custom Shop or from Colts will be the best for your needs.
Every Kimber I have shot suffers from "snake eyes" which is that annoying tendency to not lock up in the same position every time, resulting in two distinct groups on the target during a single string of fire. I also cannot recommend the Kimber version of the "Swartz" Safety, and if you are set on a Kimber, be sure to get one without the unfortunate feature. Note that S&W, Springfield, and some Colts do not use firing pin block, instead achieving drop safety by the use of light, titanium firing pins, which do not develop the inertia of the standard all steel firing pin if the weapon is dropped on the muzzle.
My answer has assumed you want match accuracy of 3 inches at 50 meters. If what you mean by accuracy is simply "combat accuracy," often defined as 4 inches at 25 yards, then the basic, rather than PC, Custom Shop, or similar, will do. For that purpose, simply get the basic 5 inch S&W E- Series, Colt 1991 or 70 Series, or Springfield Mil-Spec or "Loaded."
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