Which 1911a1, whats the best? whats the best price? again and again we hear it?

[1911crazy]

Ok i went browisng on the net today to look and checkout the bargain basement prices on the NIB 1911a1's.  We keep on reading whats the best one?  Whats the best Price?  Which one is the most bang for our dollar quality wise?  Did i cover it with all the above questions?  I'm going to list what i found.
 You rate them if you can.
1911 american classic II  $449.99
1911 SA G.I model w/45 on the grips with the key safety "brazil" $490
1911 American Tactical  "ATI"   $379
1911 Phillipines  $475
1911 Auto Ordnance  $510
1911 IRA Nickle finish $489

1911 howa/legacy sports int.   "Citadel" with """""forged slide Only"""", 2 8rd mags, skeleton hammer and trigger.  $499  This one seems the tops with its forged frame and slide.  Does anyone have one and you wish to report on it??
I really don't think we have to spend big bucks to get a good quality 1911.  I think there are some good ones in the bargain basement area.

[jimster]

I think everyone has different criteria for 1911's, mine is probably different as well.

I like a forged frame and slide at least (not saying cast is bad, cast can be made real good, this is just me for 1911's)
It has to be built to original specs so fitting of other parts are not so hard. 

There are Colt series 70's now available in the price range you listed.  Colt could be on your list, they are good.
I have a SA mil-spec that works just fine and has just the small parts I wanted in it.  Nothing fancy, it works.

I'm not real fusy though, I just need something decent to work with if it needs any work.

I agree if you look long enough you can find good 1911's for a bargin, just take your time and write down the basic criteria you want. 


 

[SM Bob]

I'll be honest and say I'm very biased here. Rock Island Armory is my choice hands down. Great 1911 for
a great price. ($400 shipped) Quality and construction  are excellent. Lifetime warranty. Excellent customer service. I love my MS 4" I picked up recently. I showed it to 3 friends after I got it. Every one of them instantly said they were getting one ASAP after they checked it out. I'm sure there are others out there that are desirable too. For me though, it's Rock Island Armory. Don't just take my word for it. Do a Google search for reviews on them. The vast majority are very positive for the products and the customer service. Check them out in person too. I would bet you will be impressed. After a lot of research and then finally getting one, I know I was. Is it a Nighthawk? A Les Bear? A
Wilson Combat? No. Of course not. It is a great weapon though that will give you excellent service for not a lot of money.

                                    Robert



http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/SellerAuctions.aspx?User=49763

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/1911.aspx

[rraybo37]

+1 on the Rock Island Armory.

I recieved a G.I. model as a Birthday present from my brothers and sisters about a year and a half ago.

Very accurate straight out of the box. With fixed G.I. sights.

Put a set of pachmyar presentation grips on it and man does it look nice. After about a 1000 rounds down the pipe the only issue I had with it was the grip safety. The gun would fire without it being depressed.
I never sent it in for repairs. I simply traded it off. And let the new owner know that it needed adjustment.

Wednesday night I was at the gun store and picked up a used Kimber Custom II for $650.00.
And that gun is nice also. Alot crisper trigger than the R.I.A. But, overall the same gun.

I would buy another R.I. A. if that was my budget. If you have the extra, buy what you can afford.

[williamlayton]

I always look for the best price on the best gun.
You do it your way.
Blessings

[mdi]

I nearly drove myself nutty researching/asking about the "best" 1st 1911. I have heard way too many stories about "I had to send my new ______ back for repair" and/or "my new ______ won't feed properly", and a bunch more complaints (seems ALL 1911s have some detractors!). So, I finely just bought a Plain Jane RIA 1911A1 and couldn't be happier. About 1,000 rounds through it so far, both factory and reloads, and not a hick-up. I was "overthinking" the whole process.

[1911crazy]

Right now i'm listing the bargain basement end of the 1911 in 45acp.



My new Auto-Ordnance Army 45acp WW2 1911a1 (mass. complaint) has been awesome right out of the box for just $389 at the time.  Its casted from 4140 steel which isn't too shabby either.

My thoughts are if i was looking for a foundation for a build my choice would be a forged frame and slide to start out with.  If i was going to sink lots of $$ into it.  A norinco is the only one i can think of.

[teddy12b]

1911 SA Mil Spec "brazil" $490

Where did you see a SA mil-spec for that?  Are you sure it wasn't a GI?  Around here they sell over $600.

[1911crazy]

1911 SA Mil Spec "brazil" $490

Where did you see a SA mil-spec for that?  Are you sure it wasn't a GI?  Around here they sell over $600.

I wasn't testing you guys i mixed them up.  The GI has "45" on the grips with the key safety "start switch" from Brazil.  I should of known better I have one but didn't shoot it yet i'm afraid too.


At the time my new AO was $389 and the springer G.I. was $424 or $414 i can't remember.

[teddy12b]

Man you went and got my hopes all up.  I think $500 is fair for mil-spec, and a GI should be less.

[williamlayton]

SOAP BOX TIME AGAIN.
Why trust your life to the cheapest gun?
Why buy the cheapest just to plink with?
I like things that work.
Blessings

[tacklebury]

Just paying more is no guarantee of performance.  There have been a large number of High end Weatherby, Ruger, Browning complaints in recent months as well.  I buy the gun that 1) does what I need it to and 2) fits my budget without going into debt for it.  All my firearms purchased in the last 12 months (8 new 2 used) were "bargain" guns and some had hiccups, but most didn't.  It's just luck of the draw on manufacturing errors or issues these days.  Just my 2cp.

[teddy12b]

SOAP BOX TIME AGAIN.
Why trust your life to the cheapest gun?
Why buy the cheapest just to plink with?
I like things that work.
Blessings

I don't relate high price automaticaly to high quality.  I used to hear alot about how savage rifles were junk because they were cheaper than a 700.  Now, they're the one the beat for accuracy and other companies are copying the concept of a owner adjusted trigger.

I get what you're saying about buying quality, but some of the gun prices of today are ridiculous.

[torpedoman]

I'll be honest and say I'm very biased here. Rock Island Armory is my choice hands down. Great 1911 for
a great price. ($400 shipped) Quality and construction  are excellent. Lifetime warranty. Excellent customer service. I love my MS 4" I picked up recently. I showed it to 3 friends after I got it. Every one of them instantly said they were getting one ASAP after they checked it out. I'm sure there are others out there that are desirable too. For me though, it's Rock Island Armory. Don't just take my word for it. Do a Google search for reviews on them. The vast majority are very positive for the products and the customer service. Check them out in person too. I would bet you will be impressed. After a lot of research and then finally getting one, I know I was. Is it a Nighthawk? A Les Bear? A
Wilson Combat? No. Of course not. It is a great weapon though that will give you excellent service for not a lot of money.

                                    Robert



http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/SellerAuctions.aspx?User=49763

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/1911.aspx

Same here and it is g.i. so all military and after market parts should fit. only thing i changed was the grips the rest was just great out of the box.

[1911crazy]

I really can't say a more expensive 1911 will work for me or not....

After buying two "brand new" colt 1911's and one "brand new" springer 1911 that i  had problems with whats a good one now thats priced so i get a good one?  These were new in the box three brand new 1911's.  My used norinco was actually the first 1911 that showed me what all the 1911 hype was all about and it cost me only $300 used.  Like i said before my new AO for $389 NIB is just as good and reliable as my norinco is its only tighter but she shoots non stop with no malfunctions for over 500rds+ now.  With my experience between bad 1911's and good 1911's that tells me we can't put a price on reliability or dependability so we either get a good one or a bad one no matter what we or I pay for it?  With me right now with my chances of 60%(track record) of me getting bad 1911's should i shoot my new springfield armory G.I. 1911a1 from brazil or not? Do I feel lucky? If this NIB springer(brazil) fails my % just got even higher on bad 1911's, like 64% is my chances of getting another bad 1911 thast not good. I'm eyeing the rock iland armory 1911a1 in nickle finish now and a Howe/Legacy Int Citadel 1911 too there on my wish list next. You might say i'm hanging in there by a 1911......

My luck is so bad i could bet on a "1" horse race and the SOB would break its leg before it finishes.  Its been this way my whole life.  A product has to be exceptional and outstanding for me to get a good one. (norinco & auto ordnance)  But i been a wheel gun guy for most of my life because of my three bad 1911's.

I'm trying to start fresh with every 1911 and give it a chance now.  I'd just like to collect a few 1911's just to shoot and test them to get the monkey or germlins off my back.

I'll post pics of my very first springer 1911 series 90 in black park and you will see why i still have it.

[1911crazy]

SOAP BOX TIME AGAIN.
Why trust your life to the cheapest gun?
Why buy the cheapest just to plink with?
I like things that work.
Blessings

William;  How is your norinco???  Is that your cheapest 1911 when you purchased it?  Did you fire it before you had work done to it?  The norc's rock don't they?

All i'm trying to say is if your on a tight budget and want an affordable 1911 there are some good ones out there for you. I figuue to get everyone involved with rating what they own and shot thats as good as any other 1911 no matter what it costs.  What i'm saying is maybe a VW will get you there at a low price but if you can't afford a BMW you can get the VW. If i had the cash to afford any 1911 price wise i'm way to frugal, too cheap to buy it anyway.


With that said how much more accurate is the expensive 1911's over the cheaper 1911's?

[1911crazy]

Man you went and got my hopes all up.  I think $500 is fair for mil-spec, and a GI should be less.

Go to; www.gunsamerica.com and look at all the 1911 listings. The prices vary.

[dieselman]

Well, things bother me when people make statements about the cost of things makin them better.. that was true at one time but, not as much these days. Its like sayin just cause you bought a high end sports car it won't break down as often as a cheap econo car will, I hate to say it but if takin care of they will both last a long time with very little trouble. So back to the guns what is the life of a gun? Have you ever shot a cheap gun shot for shot with the high end gun of the same style to say what will last longer? And what's to say that just cause you bought the "high end" gun when needed the ammo in the gun don't go bang... what then??? Things happen no matter how much you pay for them nothin is perfect ever. Look at all those old slap together 1911's that were in combat some where put together with all miss matched parts and the GI's that carried them knew they would go bang and they never thought twice about it...

[Keith L]

Companies can get away with charging more for guns by using higher quality materials and paying attention to details so fit and finish are better.  I am out of the cheap gun market now for good, having spent plenty of money for junk just to be dissatisfied with the results.  I kept a couple hunks of junk around to remind me why I no longer settle when normally for a little wait (either to save a little more cash or to find a good used gun) I get what I want.  I can't count the times when I got something "just as good as" or "I can fix this" to have it be money thrown down the drain. 

My guns now are well made, plain guns.  No engraving or inlays.  They work well.  Cost is a factor when buying, but not the most important consideration.

[1911crazy]

After my bad experiences with higher dollar so called 1911's in the past i'm very gun shy to spend more $$ on anything more expensive.  I really don't think we get what we pay for with some of them.

Ok i took the sellers story about the Citadel 1911 having a forged frame and slide.  I went to the howa/legacy site and found out differently about it.  Only the slide is forged and the frame is cast steel. I would think the forged slide would help keep the frame rail area of the slide tighter and hold it longer from opening up and reduce distortion.

Now my question is when the front of the 1911 has a lot of rock side to side is it frame rail wear or the slide has opened up in width plus some wear?

[Bart Solo]

What are you going to do with the 1911 a1?  If you are a re-enactor you are going to want something GI (the Springfield Amory GI comes to mind.)  If you are going to use it primarily for home defense a more modern tricked out model would be better.  If you are going to use it mostly to punch paper or knock over bowling pins different models are appropriate. Different sights are appropriate to different shooting games.  If it is going to spend the next 50 years in your safe waiting for you to die of old age, then you really need to buy the most expensive Colt Gold Cup you can find.

The point is the 1911 a1 is one of those very few versatile building block guns (like the AR) that can be configured for any job.  The real question is what do you want to do with your 1911?  

[williamlayton]

1911
No I did not fire the Norinco before I had it worked on.
I took it apart and saw some things I didn't want in it and a couple of things I wanted done.
I put about $800 into it just to get it set up the way I like one and it is one of the best shooters I have now.
Things I want in a gun.
Blessings

[1911crazy]

My $300 norc'o  1911a1 functions and shoots awesome with just my investment of just $88 she is shooting one cloverleaf per mag if i do my part.  The function and cycle timing is really close to a race gun.  I'll say a slower race gun, but its very fast when it puts the second round into full battery lock up.  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles but she surely can shoot as good as one. It still has the short orginal sites too. My next step is to tighten up the slide on the frame.  I have the swage tools already but i need more tools to do it right. Then we can see how much the frame work/fit makes a difference in accuracy.  My point is can a frame and slide fit be too loose?

With the $1,500 to $3,000 1911's what do we really get from these manufacturers for such a high cost?

I'm more leaning towards, well my wish list is;

1.  Thompson Custom 1911a1 stainless/45acp 5" barrel (these seem to come with all the goodies from the factory) $800+ list
2.  Howe Citadel 1911a1 nickel finish, 45acp 5" barrel  (these also seem to have the goodies too) $499+ list
3.  Rock Iland Armory 1911a1 45acp nickel finish 5" barrel  (this is a bargain basement but shiney 1911 which is ok with me) $489 list
4.  Springfield armory 1911a1 6" long slide  45acp.  (this one has always interested me with the 6" barrel)

[SHOOTALL]

SOAP BOX TIME AGAIN.
Why trust your life to the cheapest gun?
Why buy the cheapest just to plink with?
I like things that work.
Blessings

I don't relate high price automaticaly to high quality.  I used to hear alot about how savage rifles were junk because they were cheaper than a 700.  Now, they're the one the beat for accuracy and other companies are copying the concept of a owner adjusted trigger.

I get what you're saying about buying quality, but some of the gun prices of today are ridiculous.

William some folks care about a gun enough to find out what makes a well built one. They look into forged frames and slides vs. cast or other types, parts turned from tool steel vs cast or other short cuts . They look into how the gun functions and safety features . Blueing vs coatings. Hand fitted tight but 100% reliable vs CNC cut loose as a goose work all the time but not so accurate. Even with casting some are good others are not. Then there are sights that are to small, controls to  small or big. Some want a 45 others a nice one and still others the best one.

[williamlayton]

That is exactly right.
I might add that some do not have any idea what they want as long as it is inexpensive. They get it, run two mags of white box thru it and declare it a self-defense gun.
Some think that they can spend $1500 and rund two mags thru it and declare it fit for duty.
One may very well be correct in both examples-----buttttt---well you know----.
I have items I like----arched mainspring, extended thumb safety and mag release, stinless FP's, GOOD ejectors and extractors--well tuned, parts that are fitted--not just installed.
I don't have as many as some do but I have what I want in the ones I do have.
Blessings

[1911crazy]

Who here can help us out with how many rounds will your 1911 shoot before we have problems??

We just ran 500rds thru my new auto ordnance ww2 copy army 1911a1 and its been flawless along with my reworked norinco too its had 500rds thru it too.  We hammered both 1911's. The new AO is made from 4140 steel its a good grade os steel even though its casted, i trust it.  The norc as we know is both the reveiver/frame are forged from our old railroad track steel.  Do i feel safe with them as CCW pitsols and yes i do and i'd put my life on the line with both.
Too bad i haven't had my springer from the 90's series 90 last thru one mag without stove piping.  But the new mag should fix that.  I thunk it should work and function right out of the box at any cost.

So whats the question now??  Will a lesser priced 1911a1 last as long as the higher priced 1911a1's???  How many rounds will both shoot before they wear out is that correct?

Once your new 1911a1 is tested and broken in so its safe to carry as a CCW how much do you really shoot it after that??

My answer is, your answer maybe different, but i plan on still shooting it often but were not hammering it,  its just for plinking fun once its past the cycle/functionality test.  I would guess maybe for 100rds+ besides shooting other guns.

[1911crazy]

We must keep in mind too in my state/town they take my CCW gun away if i use it.  That bad, bad gun made me do it and it takes a philadelpha lawyer to get it back.  This is why i don't carry my favorite hand cannons anymore.  I carry a military surplus CZ82 with 2 12rd mags as a CCW and home defence.  My 44mag is back up incase a bruin comes to take my viddles. " You can take my wife,  my money but don't f... with my viddles"   Thats my buddy Ernies quote and he is right.

Now thats why i don't carry a 1911 at least not all the time.  I carry a cheaper gun.  This is one of my thoughts for a lower budge 1911 because if i use it in self defence i lose it.  So maybe a 1911 thats well used and put away wet is the one i may want?

[Keith L]

1. If you live in a place where loosing a gun because you had to use it happens to you often, then you are in a bad place.
2. If your carry gun is not as reliable as you can get then you stand to loose much more than a gun.

[teddy12b]

1. If you live in a place where loosing a gun because you had to use it happens to you often, then you are in a bad place.
2. If your carry gun is not as reliable as you can get then you stand to loose much more than a gun.

What he said.  If you had to use your ccw gun wouldn't you want it to be the best one you had.  What's your life worth?

[SHOOTALL]

1911crazy- How many rounds -what ever your comfort level is really. If you look at it with out emoition then check on how long the parts in it last. What are the service times the manuf. suggest ? Any brand gun can come as a good gun . All the parts work on this one . What does that really mean ? How close to tollerance are all the guns ? Is it most ? How accurate can you expect the gun to be ? Also not to all but to some will a custom builder use your frame ? If not why ?
 Norinco , did you know Bill Wilson will use these as base for a build up ? They are good guns the pin holes are in the correct place and the hardness is good. I had a friend who had an AO that i don't think ever went thru. a full mag with out stoppage.
 As for loss after a shooting, I some places they got to your home and collect all your guns after a shooting . Also the gun is life  insurance even 3 thousand bucks is cheap for a life time of coverage  If you cash in on it and are still alive .......