Finally got my cash saved for my first 1911. $1100 is my budget. I am a lefty but I hear I can get an ambi safety added east enough. All that said I’m looking for some range time with it. Open to all suggestions.
Thanks
Correct: with an ambidextrous safety, the 1911 presents no problems at all to a left-handed firer.
The “problem” in the 1911 game is that it requires competent hands to initially get one set up properly, and bench time costs money; for this reason, there is no such thing as a budget 1911, and sub-$1k models should probably be viewed as suspect until proven otherwise. The other concern in today’s market is that, in an attempt to pack as many features as possible into a gun at a specific price point, most manufacturers have resorted to using less than the best-grade parts.
I can only speak for myself, but in your stead, I would buy a new 1991 Series Colt Government Model – or a used Wilson CQB – fire a few hundred rounds through it, and then see what, if anything, I wanted to change. Once you’ve got that sorted out, find a competent pistolsmith to work over your fire control parts as desired, or to add/replace any features that are especially important to you, and you’ll have an excellent gun.
AC
Take a look at the articles written by Hilton yam, they contain some good information on what to look for in a 1911.
Great suggestion. And it depends on what you are getting your 1911 for. If it’s duty or protection gun, buy a basic Springfield or Colt, a lot of mags and ammo, then shoot it enough to find what parts to replace to make it work better for you. If it’s a target/match gun, you’ll have to spend more. My two Springfield Loaded 1911s are duty and off-duty guns and I am very happy with them.
save up another $200 - $250 and browse the forums for a lightly used Baer TRS…I’ve seen them sell for CHEAP! You won’t regret it and people are selling stuff for cheap these days because there are not many buyers.
What do you plan to use your 1911 for? Some folks use them just for range time or target shooting, others use for home defense or carry.
It does make a difference. Some of the production 1911’s around $1k are very accurate and just fine for range work. But I wouldn’t carry ANY of the current $1K production 1911’s without some significant working over by a competent 1911 gunsmith.
Some of you guys are unduly harsh regarding sub-$1K 1911s. There is truth that generally the more you pay the more reliable the gun. While this is generally true, it isn’t universal. Most of the problems with unreliability in sub-$1k 1911s is that people try to enhance them themselves and make things worse. About the only thing that needs to be done with most sub-$1k 1911s is a trigger job and maybe tune the extractor.
I have seen many SA Mil-Specs go through a couple thousand rounds with little problem. I have seen Wilsons become jam-o-matics. Reliability isn’t attached to a price tag.
To the OP, if you want a 1911 for defense or duty, and you do not have experience with a 1911, you are better off choosing a different platform. If you want one because you want one and will train with it and maintain it, go for it. Having an ambi safety added ain’t a big deal (just don’t do it yourself…“drop-in” 1911 parts aren’t).
At your price range are SA TRPs, Les Baers, used Wilsons, STI, SIG, Colt, S&W.
For the OPs $1100 budget I would look at the following:
Springfield MC Operator
Springfield TRP (lightly used)
Dan Wesson preferrably at Valor if you can find one
New production Colt either series 70 or 80.
Another option other posters have mentioned is getting a used Les Baer or Wilson Combat. That is a great option as well especially if you have some patience.
I would look for a used Les Baer or other factory custom.
At the bare minimum I would buy a Colt without the 80’s series firing pin safety and send it to someone like Steve Morrison for a reliability job and replace some parts (especially the extractor and better sights).
A Colt because they seem to have the least MIM parts (Mag catch & mag catch lock, sear, disconnector).
Honestly, after some reliability work from a good smith and replacing the meh parts with quality ones (by the smith, don’t do it yourself!), the gun will probably be as reliable as any 1911 is capable of…
This is for a reliable but very basic 1911 without checkering or other features you might want. Accuracy may not be like the semi-customs, but I doubt you will outshoot it.
IMO it’s true that one does not need to spend $2,000+ for a reliable 1911.
Just about $1,500+. 
I’m planning to go this route myself in the future.
Edit: Do you realize you can buy two very good .45’s for the price of a single basic 1911? A bare bones basic 1911 would not even come close to competing with the more modern .45’s IMO.
For example:
You can buy TWO S&W M&P45s for the price + ammo
or an HK45 + a S&W M&P45 almost.
or just one pistol + a class!
There have been a couple threads on the subject including this one:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=44263
My post:
https://www.m4carbine.net/showpost.php?p=533172&postcount=35
Unfortunately my Comcast site got hacked and is down at the moment so the 1911 chart I am working on is not up.
I agree that the 1911 does take more care to keep running than a newer gun like a HK, Glock, or M&P but I still think it is one of the best platforms for 45ACP.
Just like any firearm, If you are going to use it in a defense role, whether it is for carrying on duty or as a concealed permit holder, you really need to get some training using the gun.
If or when you do buy a 1911, get some good magazines like Chip McCormick Power Mags or Tripp magazines. Both have a good reputation and will last longer than most of stuff that is provided with the guns from the factory.
+1 go this route
I think it would be difficult to characterize “most” of the problems with “budget” 1911’s as the result of an idiot end user with a dremel. Just the other day I was in the gunstore and I looked at few sub 1K 1911s in the case…and the problems were apparent. Improperly fitted safeties, an improperly angled feed ramp…these things are not the result of an end user who doesn’t know what they are doing. It’s the result of factories who either do not know or do not care about building a reliably functioning 1911.
Can you buy a 1911 that will run for $1100? Of course.
The question is how someone who does not know 1911’s goes about spotting the ones that work from the ones that will be perpetual problem children…and the answer is that absent significant training and experience they really can’t.
If I had to buy a sub-1K 1911 right now I would buy a Colt.
Agreed on all but:
If or when you do buy a 1911, get some good magazines like Chip McCormick Power Mags or Tripp magazines. Both have a good reputation and will last longer than most of stuff that is provided with the guns from the factory.
Make sure to test hollowpoints like gold-dots through your 1911 with McCormick mags before carrying.
I was surprised at how much the shorter follower leg allows it to dip/tilt foward, causing the rounds to just slam against the feedramp and stay there…
This happened on both of my springfield 1911’s, one was a PRO. Stupid me started to doubt my 1911’s, then I did the same test (slide lock reload) with my factory mags (dimpled followers) and they fed just fine. :o
This or a PII and if you want fixed sight have John Harrison instal his fixed rear for a Bomar cut…
By and large I agree with everything you have stated. Maybe I should not have said “most,” but instead “a massive crap-load.” I do agree that a lot of manufacturers’ QC are spotty, especially the companies that have less that ideal professional integrity. I do stand by that generally speaking most people can buy a ‘cheap’ 1911 (under $1,000) of a reputable manufacturer and with very little modification have what they need out of a 1911.
I completely agree that the best purchasers are people who know what to look for, and without a lot of experience behind the trigger or at the bench, that can be hard to do.
Oh that dimple thing, I still am not sure I buy the theory surrounding that but OK.
I probably should have gone more in depth about the magazines. Unfortunately, 1911’s are not built to a standard. Feedramps have different angles, slidestops have different profiles, etc. Same goes for magazines.
The Power Mags work great in everything I have tried them in -Baer, Kimber, Dan Wesson, my own custom build, and a couple of local USPSA shooters run the 10 rounders with success in their Springfields. They are the best all-around mag that I know of but I would test any mag in your particular 1911 before buying more than one.
I recently noticed that CM has changed the follower in the Power Mag and am curious as to how they do.
Though I’ve not owned one of the custom “superstars”, I have owned Springfields & still have a Sig. The Springfield Loaded models (& the higher end models) are well under your budget & the trade regrets, I miss the most!
Accurate, Reliable, & w/ great Warranties.
For me… If I had friends who owned a model that interests me, I’d try to get a little range time, w/ them… If not see if I renting one was an option, before dropping the cash & thinking of what I wished I’d done…a few days after the fact
My best purchases were “gently used”, some not even “broken in”…
As was the case with this one, in the used case, but manufactured 2 months prior:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/desertdisciple/Ministry%20Tools/RCS-NITRON.jpg
Some of the best advice I ever received…
(though not nearly as “fun” as dropping a wad of $$$), was for me to buy in the mid to upper budget range… & use the savings for practice ammo & quality gun leather
Then again, blowing a chunk of cash on the pistol is WAY FUN…& one could always save more cash for practice ammo & accessories…
…So, kinda hard to go wrong…
They’re all pretty addictive, regardless of make/model
if I had to buy a sub-1K 1911 right now, I would buy an M&P45.
Seriously. I am not trying to be witty.
The dimple on the follower isn’t relevant to my failures to feed malfs, as it wasn’t the last round that was being fed.
Notice the much shorter leg on the bottom McCormick power 10 mag.
BTW, I read John Travis/1911 Tuner posts, so I believe in the dimple. 