1911s have always been a pistol that I’ve said some day, I’ll buy, but have always been low priority to me. Mainly because I’ve spent the last handful of years buying things that could be banned. I’m still not finished doing that but 1911s keep catching my eye every time I see one now. I want something full size. I want it in .45 acp, and I want it American made. I’ve been leaning towards Colt the most but have noticed S&W, Remington, and Ruger 1911s also. For one used primarily for target practice and seldom carry, what would you suggest? I have other pistols I carry on a daily basis.
I’m looking for your experience with these or other brands made here. I’d like to stay under $1300 if possible.
Very FIRST thing, get both of Jerry Kuhnhausen’s shop manuals.
I know a lot of folks here say “buy once cry once,” but I tend to be a fan of starting with something inexpensive and “expendable” as a sampler portion so I’m not out much if I don’t like it–a sampler 1911 might be an RIA or a Springer “Mil-Spec” (which is not, the closest to it was their GI .45 PW9108 they no longer sell ), both of which today are about what I paid fifteen years or so ago for the hand-built and tuned, secondhand Essex that’s been with me almost daily for almost my entire adult life.
Then if the sample is to your liking, you have a cheap one to experiment on and as you figure out what you like you can narrow things down planning an all-out spare-no-expense model.
Just one person’s humble opinion, your mileage may considerably vary.
They do.
STI is good stuff.
If primarily a “target gun” I’d recommend adjustable rear (BoMar) clone/LPA.
Don’t know if you reload, but my preference is POI right on top of FS.
This is doable with adjustable rear.
Don’t worry about reading two whole books before buying or going with something cheap. Likely the only way you won’t like a 1911 is if it’s made shitty and doesn’t work well. It sounds like you want a 1911 for the fact that it is a 1911, so get a Colt or Springfield. For me, an STI wouldn’t quite satisfy the requirement because they’re all race oriented, I don’t think it would feel like enough of a 1911.
One gun that works for nearly every application is the Springfield Range Officer. It’s affordable, accurate and comes with Springfield’s CS. If you want night sights, get the Loaded. If you want a rail, get the RO Operator or Loaded Operator. Price wise you’ll find the non-railed models in the $800 realm. And with a good amount of Wilson mags and ammo that’ll put you at the $1,000 mark.
Yes, Springfield may cut some corners compared to the high end 1911 manufacturers, but Springfields don’t cost as much and they have a lifetime warranty. If your ejector comes loose after 5 years of shooting, they’ll email you a label and get the pistol back to you in no time.
I’m in the same boat as you, just not quite as far. I don’t have a 1911 either at the moment but if things work out, I will buy a pair, one .45 and a second in 9MM in the next year or so.
In the 1911 world, you get what you pay for. I’ve owned ria, Springfield and Wilson combat. The ria is a hunk of imported junk. You couldn’t give me another one. I took a 1911 operators class with vickers last June their were about 14 in the class. Other than Larry’s Wilson, my Springfield trp operator was the only pistol that didn’t go down at least once. One guy had an armscor, it was such a piece of junk he had to go and buy a different 1911 at lunch just to be able to finish the class. Armscor
makes ria.
If you can spend $1300 I’d look hard at a Springfield trp. If you don’t want to go that high the loaded and range officer are good guns, I’ve heard. Only other manufacturer I’d trust other than Springfield under a $1000 is colt, but I haven’t owned one if their 1911s. Avoid the ruger, sw and all those others. Go with Springfield or colt unless you want to jump to the Dan Wesson.
Thanks for the replies so far. I’m reading and taking notes. I’ll look up Dan Wesson and Springfield’s line as well. Are Springfields made here again, or are they still getting forging from Brazil?
I once bought a used Springfield 9mm. My smith discovered the slide was cracked and sent it back for repair. Springfield repaired it no questions asked, free of charge. I have owned a Colt .38 super since 2012, many thousands or rounds later it is my favorite pistol. My advice, worth all I charged for it, is buy a good one, don’t muck with it to much and it will run and run…
Give the Colt Combat Unit a look, the Springfield Loaded and TRP models and the Dan Wesson Valor. The Valor is a little more expensive than your budget but if you can save up another $2-300 it is well worth it for what you will gain in build and parts quality. DW is the best “production” 1911 on the market (though its more like a semi-custom). All tool steel parts (no MIM) and a good bit of the gun is hand fit. I own a TRP and if I was buying again it would be a Valor.
), both of which today are about what I paid fifteen years or so ago for the hand-built and tuned, secondhand Essex that’s been with me almost daily for almost my entire adult life.