Author Topic: $1000.00 to spend...which 1911?? (Read 1571 times)

CrusteeRusty · « **on:** May 29, 2004, 04:34:58 PM »

I just "found" a bit of cash and was thinking of getting a 1911. I have no experience with a 1911. I do however have extensive experience shooting handguns, reloading, etc.

I want to use this gun primarily at the range and for plinking and home defense. I desire extreme reliability and accuracy(who doesnt).

Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated

handgunhuntr · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2004, 03:04:53 AM »

Take a look at the Kimber, very reliable and welll built. You wont be disappointed.

chuckles · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2004, 03:29:09 AM »

Buy TWO Springfield WWII 1911s. Take the leftover $200 and buy ammo!

These are the best buy I've seen in handguns in a long time. Mine has been flawless, accurate and fun. I even bought a couple to save for later! :-D Check out the 1911 Forum. www.1911forum.com

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2004, 06:51:23 AM »

I just bought a Kimber and it has trigger problems. You might want to ask the retailer how they handle that sort of thing. The folks at Target Masters East in Stockton, CA told me it was my problem. Imagine that, they took over $1200 of my money for a supposedly top notch gun and won't lift a finger to help me with a problem that came with the gun right out of the box. Guess where I WON'T be buying my next gun.

Nanook 450 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2004, 04:21:07 PM »

Get a Springfield TRP - comes with tritium and ambi safety - get the black one. Can't beat their lifetime warranty.

KN · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2004, 05:39:55 PM »

Check out the Para Ordinance line with the LDA trigger. I picked one up to look at the other day and they are sweet! KN

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2004, 06:53:41 PM »

I have stuck with Colt all these years and the CGP is the best yet.

Mikey · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2004, 04:36:04 AM »

Gotta go with Chuckles on that one. Mikey.

Questor · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2004, 06:19:51 AM »

Mikey: What do you think about this pet theory of mine? ...

If I were buying an old 1911 like a WWII vintage gun, I would want to have the gun checked for cracking in the slide. I think the process is called magnafluxing. I'd hate to be hit in the face by flying slide parts.

Mikey · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2004, 08:20:13 AM »

Questor: Your pet theory is quite sound my friend and it is good advice for anyone who finds one of the older handguns. It is one thing if you have had that particular sidearm in your family since Dad came back from the great one in '45 but if you don't know the history on a particular piece, having the slide (and frame) magnafluxed, as well as gone over thoroughly by a qualified gunsmith, is a very sound idea that should be considered by all who purchase an older pistol.

I like that kind of theory. Thanks. Mikey.

paladyn · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:00:50 AM »

I saw a used Colt competition model of some type at my local shop last night for around a grand. I don't have a grand right now though. <sigh>

Mikey · « **Reply #11 on:** June 04, 2004, 04:21:34 AM »

Questor: Dang, I forgot the most important part of my response to your pet theory - and I apologize for my short-sightedness. The most important part I forgot was to have the barrel magnafluxed as well. I think an older barrel might come apart more readily than the slide would and magnafluxing should tell you if there are any weaknesses there. Sorry about forgetting that part. Mikey.

paladyn · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2004, 09:08:40 AM »

I picked up a used Commander at this past weekend's gun show, so I am no longer Coltless.

Questor · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2004, 09:16:37 AM »

Mikey:

I was discussing the slide cracking with a former Marine armorer and he gave me a "funny you should mention that" response. He was an armorer when the 1911s were being phased out. Some of the guns dated back to World War II. They had been used heavily since. An officer was practicing with one of them and the slide came apart, flew into his head, and killed him. After that, they went through all 300 of the guns they had on hand and were able to build about 30 decent guns out of them. The rest was junk.

Mikey · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2004, 04:09:10 AM »

Questor: Ouch! Dang good reason to have that 1911 checked out. But, to be honest I would think that you would see some indication of near catastrophic failures before they happen. I mean, even if the steel is old and the piece has seen considerable use, there should be a crack somewhere that would have indicated a problem pistol. I can understand the chamber area of a 1911 coming apart and creating some shrapnel but to have the slide fail so drastically tells me something was radically wrong with that piece before it came apart and someone should have noticed.

I have seen cracked frames that just kept on tickin' - in fact, in two 1911s in particular, they even shot more accurately than before the frame cracked - must have tightened up the slide to frame tolerances a bit but even then, nothing came apart. When one finally stopped working it just stopped, period. There was too much pressure on the slide from the cracked frame (lengthwise crack from the magazine well to the sear plunger hole) and that seized up the slide. Mikey.

Questor · « **Reply #15 on:** June 09, 2004, 05:36:26 AM »

Mikey:

That story did seem a little fishy, but I shoot with the guy regularly and he's not a BS'er.

Getting a more accurate pistol by cracking it sounds like an unexplored market for gunsmithing services. I should start up a "stress relieving" service that involves wailing on people's competition on my anvil until something cracks. No guarantees of results, of course, but it could help. As a side line I could do a refinishing service that takes carbon steel guns and refinishes them with "a durable combat brown finish" that is applied by dunking the gun in salt water for a couple of days. This would go well with my firelapping service in which I dust the bore with carborundum powder and shoot a few hundred rounds. The disclaimer might turn a few people away, though. I suppose I'd have to warn them that the results may be a rusty, worn out, and broken gun.

Mikey · « **Reply #16 on:** June 09, 2004, 08:41:50 AM »

Questor:::: :-D , :-D , :-D . Mikey.