Well I have decided I want a 1911. I have 0 experience with them other than holding them and they feel great. My experience in handguns are mostly with sig, h&k, xd, and beretta. I really like the feel of the commander size( full frame short slide) but don’t see many people using it. My use would be as a ccw and also as a sidearm in drop leg holster for tactical purposes. Would a commander be that much more inaccurate than a full sized weapon? I am also on a pretty tight budget when it comes to a 1911. Looking at no more than 1500 but closer to 1k. I know kimber does not have a good rap, but I really love how the pro raptor feels and looks. I am not set on this as I want somehting to be 100% as were my other ccw What are some others I should look at in this price range. If I am convinced I will look at a full size, but not sure the negs outweigh the positives of a commander.
I think if you spend some time reading through the threads in the 1911 forum, you’ll learn quite a bit.
People are very passionate about their favorite 1911’s, but most would agree that Colt’s, STI’s, Springfield TRP’s, and series 1 kimbers are good choices for that price range. You will also be able to find someone who has experienced problems with those choices. Just look around for good prices and be sure about what you want.
I have run into issues w/ my Kimber and if I could do it all over again… I’d pick up a TRP from Gunbroker. If at all possible, look at your choice in person before ordering online.
1911’s and tight budgets only get along if you’re truly passionate about the platform. Even then, the former wins out over the latter.
The Colt Commanders and Springfield Loaded Commanders are the ones I’d be looking at, and at that range I’d be still looking used (leave headroom for some more top end magazines, have cash to spend on grips, and then the needed CCW accessories and a good kydex (non-SERPA) holster to use.
The other part is ammunition - 1911’s are easy to shoot well, but it still takes a decent amount of range time to really get good, couple that with to really be comfortable carrying as a CCW I wasn’t really happy until I had done a few hundred presentations, and over a hundred at the range - maybe a big commitment, but the same will be asked in the maintenance and caretaking end of owning a 1911. You will have to learn more about the platform than if you bought, say, a G19 or M&P, but if the 1911 is what you want, they are extremely rewarding.
Read the resources on this site, I HIGHLY recommend reading Hilton Yam’s resources on the duty 1911 at 10-8 Performance, then start working from there.
It’s pretty standard that as barrel length on a 1911 gets shorter, the less reliable it can be. That doesn’t mean that shorter (commander and officer or less) lengths aren’t reliable or can’t be, just that the 5" gov length is best for it’s design.
If CCing, the amount of weight loss and shorter overall length will be much welcomed. If open carrying (hip or a drop leg) it won’t affect you much.
I recommend sticking with known quality brands with respectable customer service: Colt, Springfield, S&W, Wilson, Ed Brown. It’s better to buy used, quality than new, compromise.
Get a full size Colt 1911 like an XSE or Rail gun. Colts hold their value and are of excellent quality. When took a 1911 class with LAV he consistently said the only guns to look at were Colts and used Wilson CQBs.
GHB
+1 Having owned botha a CQB and a Colt Rail Gun, both are excellent. Obviously the CQB is a better gun, but I ended up keeping the Colt over the CQB due to cost and the rail, which my CQB didn’t have.
Plus 2 on the fill size rail Colt.
many pistol smiths and 1911 masters will say the gun was designed around a 5 inch barrel and that is what is most likely to give optimal reliability. Read hilton ham’s comments on 1911’s on his 10-8 performance website- this will answer most if not all of your questions
My experiences are that the shorter slide models are not so much less reliable. They are less forgiving to poorer technique or fatigue. They require a more solid foundation to function reliably. Kind of like the violence of the G27 compared to the G35.
In addition they due to the speed of slide they are more dependent on recoil and magazine spring “freshness”.
With that said, as much as my recent 1911 talk has been and some probably thinking I am pushing Kimber; if I wanted a 4-4.25" length gun with alloy frame, I would avoid Kimber like the plaque. My steel frame TLE Pro has been great. But until Kimber goes back to hard anodizing their frames and either doing what Colt does to the feed ramp, or using anodized frames and ramped barrels like SA-I will not own one.
The 1911 and a pistol for CC are 2 different ideas/thoughts that may NOT be compatible. There are a couple of pistols that many experts would advise for CC, I doubt a full size 1911 would be one of them. If I may suggest, see if you can try (rent) a couple of different pistols at a range. Research ALL options. Good luck.
Start with a 5" gun.
Looking at the colt rail gun, Springfield operator, and some kimbers and the fit, finish and engraving on the colt are not as nice as the other 2. Is this actually the case or just the pictures?
Not sure I follow here, as I find my 5" 1911 to be more concealable under a t-shirt than the blocky grip of my G-19, when both guns are worn in a Milt Sparks EX. In an IWB, the longer barrel helps stabilize the holster better.
Selection of a defense 1911 based on finish & engraving is a poor way to do it. The fit of my Colt Rail Gun in the critical areas meets or exceeds the SA and Kimbers I’ve owned. The parts and metallurgy are superior.
Thanks for confirming that. I will look at a colt rail gun as my first purchase of a 1911. If at a future time I want to get some custom work done should I do so on this gun or get a custom made weapon?
The Colt will make an excellent basis for a custom gun. A couple of things I don’t like about mine are the ambi-safety and extended slide stop (yuk). I have Wilson Combat bullet proof parts on order to replace those (along with half a dozen 47D mags). I’ve also blended an EGW magwell that’s being Ion Bonded at Springer Precision now. I’ve replaced the white dot Novaks with fiber optic Novaks (the front sight is an XSE, so the regular Colt Novac FO front will not fit, they had to do one up custom for me).
The barrel is a NM barrel and is pretty close to a hard fit barrel from the factory. The lockup is tight but doesn’t bind and the accuracy is excellent.
Others have complained that the gun has sharp edges, but mine doesn’t bite me at all when shooting, or riding in a Milt Sparks EX IWB holster. I went with grip tape on the front strap as I prefer the feel of it over checkering. Other than what I’ve mentioned, I’ll most likely leave mine stock for several thousand rounds. 
In my experience a full size is what I would get it won’t be much harder to conceal and it will be the standard which all 1911 pistols are based no two piece guide rods and things like that. Springfield is gonna be the best bang for the Nick in my opinion top notch customer service can’t be beat.
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This has been discussed many times in the recent past, but if it were my money to spend, I would buy a new Colt or an old Wilson (probably in that order) and call it a day.
AC
Some of the worst preforming 1911s I have ever seen where colts right out of the box. I saw a buddy of mine take a brand new colt, the first round stove piped. He put it back in the box, took it to the first local gun show and traded that piece of crap off.
Before you buy your first 1911, you might want to read this article - http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout/2011/06/08/read-this-before-you-buy-your-first-1911/
If the OP wants quality at a price, buy a Rock Island. RI is a good quality product and at a good price.
Seriously? You’re making a gun recommendation on ONE round? And then you’re recommending a RIA, which is made by Armscor in the Phillipines with investment cast materials? Did you even read the article you linked?
Vickers’ first choice for a base gun is a government-model, carbon steel Colt, Springfield or Caspian frame and slide set. They’ve been making guns the longest and have proven reliable in his experience, Vickers said.
What do Colt, Springfield and Caspian have in common? Forged components. Do us a favor and refrain from making recommendations like this unless you can back them up with solid information. :rolleyes:
I prefer the 5 inch. Either way, I think a 1911 for CCW is too heavy for most folks. It is for me. Love it for home defense, classes and range time.
SPRINGER TRP, MC OPERATOR OR COLT RAIL GUN. IN THAT ORDER FOR ME. I own all three and none have ever presented issues.
Colt will cost the least, then MC, THEN TRP.
Buy the 5 inch and live the dream. 