1911 Ranking

[smokepole06]

List from high to low the $700 and less blue, parked, or ss 1911.

[williamlayton]

This is just my opinion and a carryover from the other thread.
For a potential fighting weapon you have two options (IMO):
STI for agrand, give or take, is an excellent option--out of the box.
For any others you can get some excellent weapons from Baer, Wilson, Brown, Nighthawk--a several others--at semi-custom prices and excellent reliability. While they have exceelent options--they have their options.
OR--you can purchase any and do a build/upgrade the way you want it, or, have a Smith do the same. The cost including the purchase price of the weapon can run between $1100 and $1500, depending on the original price of the weapon AND if you can do the work yourownself.
The end results, IMO, will be a weapon that you can put your confidence in.
Blessings  

[1911crazy]

I wouldn't look for a certain price range, i would ask which one will work right out of the box flawlessly in the model/style you want.

You can't put a price on out of the box reliability and dependability.  Meaning just because its a higher price it doesn't mean its going to be dependable or reliable right out of the box "new". I've seen the low budget ones work flawlessly and the top of the line colts that didn't work right out of the box when they were brand new.

To me a break in time is a joke, its because the parts weren't fitted correctly and it needs to be shot so it wears in.  In my opinion there lacking a quality control department.  These were done to eliminate production costs and we the end consumer of the product suffer.

I would ask which "brand new 1911a1" is the best right now for quality and here's what i would like as options in it;

5" barrel, Stainless  ect???

Then let the gurus answer you and talley up the models that were listed and go with the one thats reported/ listed the most.


Right now if i was looking for a new stainless which i'm browsing i would listen to them too.

[Savage]

List from high to low the $700 and less blue, parked, or ss 1911.

Any such list with be the opinion of the author and pretty much useless.

Savage

[saddlebum]

I can only speak about the Kimber Custom. There are others out there for 700 and less if you look around. The Kimber is money well spent at $828 list, but $700 in the real world. Just looked at one at gunsamerica.com. Pay a little more for a 4'' Pro Carry. More for stainless. I've had mine for 14yrs and have no complaints. You can pay less for one without beavertail safety, match barrel and trigger, lowered ported slide, and extended thumb safety and mag button. The Custom has all the right stuff for a 1911 without spending more on non-esentials, in my humble opinion. You can spend more on Kimbers but they are mostly the same gun with more do-dads I can live without. Springfields and Smiths are good but you have to look at the price, I don't know. The afore mentioned guns are made in the USA if that matters to you. What can I say? I'm a Kimber guy. Good luck!!

[S.S.]

Without getting first into Brand names, It is my experience that
the more you do to a standard plain jane 1911, the less reliable it becomes.
That is why the one I have now is just a 1911A1 with no bells and
whistles. It is an early 1980's model from Springfield Armory.
As far as I can remember, It has failed to fire once due to a bad primer.

[HAMMERHEAD]

For $700 or less?
A friend of mine has had a Norinco for many years that has been trouble free.
Otherwise if I had $700 for a 1911 I would probably get the best used gun I found on Gunbroker. I got a nice S&W revolver that way for less than the price of a new POC S&W.

[williamlayton]

SS
Did you do this work youownself or did a Smith do the work that made them unreliable?
Just about all of mine have gone thru a metomorphis and come out the other side better.
It may be that I misunderstand what you mean by bells and whistles.
Blessings

[Savage]

Come on Bill! I know you have bells and whistles on all your toys. Especially your "Hoveround"!  
Savage

[williamlayton]

That is what I was asking---what are bells and whistles and what are needs.
Sights and grips--maybe a finish--are bells and whistles.
Hoveround ---good name---Kinda like what do you need in a BBQ Pit---now that is a topic that can bring on a flame, in some circles.
Blessings

[saddlebum]

Bells, whistles and needs are an individual asessment. Every one has to decide what they need for the purpose of the gun and do you want to pay more for things that do not contribute to the function of that purpose but are really cool. My 1911 is what I consider just right for me and the purpose I wanted it for. It is practical for my needs. I could spend more money for one with a 2 tone finish and/or mag well or ambi. safety or target adj. rear sight but they don't fit in my need catagory. If  you want it and can afford it get it. Some will think my Classic Custom Kimber has bells and whistles that are not needed. I see it differently. I look at a higher grade pistols and think man that is a nice gun but do I want to pay that much more for 2 tone, mag well and whatever. To me the Custom and others like it are the starting point for 1911s. But many prefer the standard,"GI", type with little or no changes. Many can't live without a full race gun. I found my nitche. Hope every one hear has found theirs. Some of you guys have multiple nitches. I hope you win the lottery so you can afford them all, or seek counceling for for it. It is an insidious disease. Taking over our minds and our incomes and families. There should be something like vouchers for gun shows in Obamas health care bill for people that are afflicted like we are, or medical amunition with free perscriptions, or somthing. Nobody cares about the hopeless gun nut. But I digress.

[williamlayton]

IS/ARE:
A new ignition system/trigger
fireing pin
mag release
extended thumb safety
Arched maispring & housing
Beavertail
Sights
springs
barrel busing
trigger job
Extended ejector
                          Bells and whistles?

Grips may be/may not be
finish may/may not be
lowered and flared may/may not be---I think it help insure reliability

What about polishing the throat?
Loosening the FP block on a series 80?
This is a minute portion of reliability issue I address in a reliability work-up.
Blessings
 

[saddlebum]

williamlayton; I am no expert, just an opinion belcher. I agree with your list and think that if there is an issue with a new production gun that it should be addressed. I try to find one that needs little or no work or extra money to get it there after the sale. I also think lowered and flared for reliability is a needful item, especially since many come that way these days. Throat polishing or anything to do with reliable function is a must if there is an issue in that area. I am in the series 70 camp on the FP block question. Mine is an early Kimber without it. How many safeties does a gun need anyhow, 3 is enough for me. If I shoot myself with my own gun or it goes off without my permission then I need to quit playing with guns. Just my cranky opinion. Nice finishes like Cerekote or something in your favorite color or camo is icing on the cake. I like it but I sure don't need it. I will at some time in the future get mine coated with Cerekote, just black. Fancy metal finishes and checkering and fish scales and stuff are more bells and whistles. I like it but can live without it. I think grips can go on either list. Person should have good traction for control I think. But I can do that with style with my rosewood diamond panels for 24.00. Thats the only bling on mine. Something to be said for good magazines too. I use Mecgars. Mid range price and have never failed me. I have to be practical to some extent because of my budget, or lack there of. Mine is for recreation, self defense,and some day I will hunt with it at least once. I don't compete so I have all the basics I need. Although I could do some competition if I wanted to embarass myself. If I did something else with it I might have to expand my need list.                                            BLESSINGS BACK AT YA !!!!

[williamlayton]

I agree. 
Blessings

[1911crazy]

I like my plain janes just plain janes with no frills as much as i can. I do add the full length guide rod and #18 recoil spring to all my 1911's.  It cuts down on the side to side muzzle jump and they cycle faster and smoother with less vertical recoil.  The recoil is under 2" now. On my norc it needed barrel bushing work from the get so that had to be done.  Next i'll be working on my new 90's springer to make it functional.    It has the higher sites that it came with.

[RaySendero]

List from high to low the $700 and less blue, parked, or ss 1911.

Smoke,

I think the Springfield Armory 1911 GI spec 45 can be had for less tha $700!!!

[smokepole06]

I had a local ffl quote me a SS taurus for around 650 new 2 weeks ago. plus the gov't support fees.

[nobodylies2.45]

I saw the original thread of Detonics amazing little 1911.  My dad just gave me his stainless Detonics Combat Master that he carried off duty for years.  Its greta shooting and awesome ccw.  I would recommend it to anyone

[cankiller]

I have a loded springfield 1911 a1 it has been a very god gun for 750.

[NickSS]

I currently own 3 1911 pistols including a Kimber Elite II, a Taurus PT1911 and an Auto Ordinance 1911A1.  The Taurus and Kimber are as bought and I have had nothing done to either.  Both shoot well and function without a single failure to date.  Ammo has mostly been either hard ball or lead SWC that I load myself.  My Auto ordinance is a GI looking pistol that shoots really well.  It never fails with RN lead or FMJ bullets.  It occasionally has had a failure to feed with lead SWC with a couple of my magazines (GI ones)  I regaurd all of them as being good solid weapons.  As to customizing the Taurus has most of the custom stuff people like included for nothing.  I have read a lot of posts which bad moth Taurus 1911s (and other models) but can truthfully say none of mine have ever had a problem.  As for accuracy the Kimber and Taurus shoot almost identicle groups.  The Auto Ordinance does almost as well.  I have owned other 45s that were completely custom tuned for accuracy for bulls eye shooting and those guns shot very well with the target ammo that they were tuned for but they would not handle a wide range of loads.  So frankly I see no need for adding stuff to your gun unless you plan to use it for some form of shooting game.  The stock guns with reliable ammo is all you need for defending yourself.  I also seldom carry an extra mag when I am carrying a gun and these days I prefer a lighter more compact gun with a DA trigger to the 1911.

[bikerbeans]

Other than boot camp, my personal 1911 shooting experience is limited to a new 5" blue Taurus I bought 10 months ago.  In that time, between my wife, son & myself we have put about 3,000 rounds though this gun.  Anything form Bullseye target loads to Texas Ammo. Co. 45 Super 200 grain HPs.  I have a large assortment of recoil/firing pin springs, 2 stage recoil spring rods, buffers and recoil springs plus a compensator that allows me to shoot all this different ammo.  My only problems to date have been with the factory magazines and the 45 super ammo, which will occassionally misfeed the 2nd to last round.  Kimber 8 rd magazine solved this problem.

The gun shoots fine and well enough that my son just bought a Taurus that is almost identical, his has the rail.  A friend of my has a a 5" 1911 Kimber 45 and I can shot even or better than him at the range, but I am retired and get to practice a lot more than he does.  The Kimber is a better finished weapon, better resale etc. but wasn't worth the extra $$$ to me as I am a cheap SOB.  My kid just got his Taurus 1911 at a local gun shop with tax for $650.  They can be had for less online, but he didn't want to wait for the gun as the money was burning a hole in his pocket.

IMO just about any 1911 is a major step above the plastic frame autos.  1911 look and feel like a real gun because they are real.

BB

[torpedoman]

I used to shoot pistol competition in the navy, I've had everything from a clark ,long slide, heavy slide on down. my current 1911 is a rock island not as accurate as the clark but light years ahead of a lot of the others and it has a trigger that breaks like glass right out of the box and has never failed to feed or fire without any "break in period" or any other excuses i heard from guys shooting guns that costs a lot more.

[v-man]

I think the Para USA no frills 1911 they came out with last year is only about $600. They don't make junk.

[poncaguy]

I'm pleased with my RIA 45 Tactical I picked up today, less than $500. Fired 16 rounds right out of the box, no failures until I tried a flat nosed hollow point which wouldn't feed as I expected. ( have a 38 Super RIA which took some ramp work to handle hollow points). Accuracy was very good.My 3rd 1911, first was a Taurus PT 1911 which is excellent. I was an MP in the Army in the 60's and I hated 1911's, so worn out, it was better to throw them than to shoot some one.