Purely personal preference. Get whichever you like best. You can easily swap out the sights or have the trigger replaced (I’d get some trigger time first to see if this was actually needed) later. No experience with the grips mentioned.
If you like the sights and trigger on the XSE, I’d go with it as it will cost you more than $100.00 to have a gunsmith install sights and change the trigger on the Government Model.
Sights and such are easily-changed, of course, and in terms of basic lines, you’re really not talking about much difference between the two guns.
If you think that you’re going to be inclined to leave the gun in more or less stock configuration for the foreseeable future, then the features of the XSE may be especially-appreciated, as it is essentially a more “complete” gun in that sense.
A standard Government Model doesn’t leave much to be desired, either, but may represent a better choice if you are considering having the gun upgraded or worked-on in the future as part of a custom project. More of a blank canvas.
Now you’re talking about some very subjective aspects that really can’t be addressed effectively by a third-party. Do you like the sights on one model more than the other? The safety configuration? The front cocking serrations? Are you sure the beavertail won’t help you avoid hammer bite with your preferred hold?
These are more intangibles, at best; in terms of performance and functionality, the guns are identical.
Don’t understand the grip question. Are you asking about the design (i.e. checkered or smooth) or the material/wood itself? In general, it doesn’t make a lot of difference either way.
I just saw the Colt M45A1 USMC 1911 and am just drooling over it… pretty rare gun with only 80 units being released each month to the public and with a $2k+ price tag (if you can find one at that price, going for $3k+ everywhere ive seen)… hopefully availability will get better and drive the price down to a reasonable level but i cant wait to actually shoot one…
Brian Challis and I discussed some of these materials briefly earlier in the week. I’m not sure there is a lot of variance from one wood to the next that you would ever “feel” as a shooter, so I take it you’re mostly just talking about aesthetics here.
Excellent choice! I like the classic look too, but if you don’t feel like dropping all kinds of money into the pistol right away, it’s nice having the dovetails already cut so you can just switch sight if you want to. I like even the stock XSE sights better than the Government Model ones. Beyond that, while I only have a sample of four, the Rail Guns and XSE’s I’ve looked at seem somewhat more nicely built.
Probably the right call. Buying a 1911 for looks is not a particularly forward-thinking strategy (though it is a fairly common one), and the XSE is nicely-equipped from the box. It’s pretty much already got everything that you need, and nothing that you don’t.
In time, should your interest in the 1911 grow, the standard GM (as a base for something more tuned to your specific interests and desires) will be a natural progression. Sounds backward, but that is just the nature of the gun. The last one I bought was a bare-bones Commercial Colt 1966 GM – now on it’s way to the pistol smith.
Nice choice. I’m no expert, but the XSE already has a lot of features that most people send a Gov’t off to get done. I much prefer the sights and features on my XSE over my stock Gov’t that got sent off to colt for the tactical package.
Thank you for this response, it was very helpful. Thank you for humoring my not so forward thinking choice of buying one on looks, sometimes I can get a bit carried away but I am usually good at getting back to reality before I lay down $1000!
I am glad that I joined this site, I like it much better than the others I have been on.
I am going to be able to get the colt next month, I will post pictures when it arrives.
but I am usually good at getting back to reality before I lay down $1000!