Who makes the best 1911, .45 ACP pistol

[littlejake]

I know this will generate many different opinions. And, I know this question has been asked before. I've got up to about $5k to drop on a new .45. Back in the 1960s and 70s, I'd see the WWII generation guys with their tricked out Colt 1911 pistol and I wanted one. Back then the route to a target capable .45 was to put money into the Colt platform. I had an old mil 1911A1 that rattled in battery and shot so loose that it threw dirt on targets.

In the 1980s, I had a Colt series 80 Gold Cup that I hand-loaded a 200gr lead SWC with 4grs of 700X -- and it was the most accurate 1911 I've owned. I could hit the X ring at 50 yards with that pistol. (Yeah, I sold it in 1994)

Since then, I have owned Kimbers and Springfield Armory 1911s.

Now, the road seems to be specialty manufacturers such as Bauer, Ed Brown, et cetera.

Keeping in mind that it has to be CA rostered -- please give me some input on what I should be considering -- and please expand on your personal experience. All inputs appreciated.

Kindest Regards,

Jake

[ArmyMedicMoose]

my sig sub 1000, but my TRP still king of the safe

[Mr310]

STI, custom fitted to exactly what you want. Boom.

[luckystrike]

out of the box I would say sig. money not being an issue maybe a les baer or wilson combat, springfields TRP/operators are awesome.

[45acpfan]

Jake, with that amount of money I will go full custom if I were you.

I like this one: http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/

[fanof1911forlife]

I agree with 45acpfan, the GI50M2 is my choice if I were in your position.

[LoadedM333]

Originally Posted by luckystrike

out of the box I would say sig. money not being an issue maybe a les baer or wilson combat, springfields TRP/operators are awesome.

What he said and maybe NightHawk.

[ArmyMedicMoose]

I'm just saying.....Sold my Thunder Ranch and I still have my Springfield TRP

[Coded-Dude]

[sholling]

When I was looking for a hand made 1911 I went with a S&W Performance Center 1911 finished in Melonite over stainless. That leaves you about $3000 for ammo.

[discoed]

How about a Wilson Tactical Super Grade (Black/Gray) (WTSG-A-ACA) / Steel. It's on the roster. Can't go wrong with this.

[Steyrlp10]

I like all of them

[cali45]

colt, no doubt about it. Thats like saying who makes the best cars? Just like Mercedes was the first to make an automobile, it still is the best, unless of course you want the Lamborghinis, Ferraris, which would be the les baers, wilsons, and nighthawks, which also cost more.

[ArmyMedicMoose]

Originally Posted by cali45

colt, no doubt about it. Thats like saying who makes the best cars? Just like Mercedes was the first to make an automobile, it still is the best, unless of course you want the Lamborghinis, Ferraris, which would be the les baers, wilsons, and nighthawks, which also cost more.

REALLY.. REALLY? colt like harley they suck a** but for some reason. people still want to keep fixing them....

[keenkeen]

A couple of "off-roster" suggestions already...

Don't forget the OP said:

Keeping in mind that it has to be CA rostered

[thefinnatic]

Originally Posted by ArmyMedicMoose

I'm just saying.....Sold my Thunder Ranch and I still have my Springfield TRP

Same here. I sold my Baer and still have my Springfields. YMMV of course.

[ArmyMedicMoose]

Originally Posted by littlejake

I know this will generate many different opinions. And, I know this question has been asked before. I've got up to about $5k to drop on a new .45. Back in the 1960s and 70s, I'd see the WWII generation guys with their tricked out Colt 1911 pistol and I wanted one. Back then the route to a target capable .45 was to put money into the Colt platform. I had an old mil 1911A1 that rattled in battery and shot so loose that it threw dirt on targets.

In the 1980s, I had a Colt series 80 Gold Cup that I hand-loaded a 200gr lead SWC with 4grs of 700X -- and it was the most accurate 1911 I've owned. I could hit the X ring at 50 yards with that pistol. (Yeah, I sold it in 1994)

Since then, I have owned Kimbers and Springfield Armory 1911s.

Now, the road seems to be specialty manufacturers such as Bauer, Ed Brown, et cetera.

Keeping in mind that it has to be CA rostered -- please give me some input on what I should be considering -- and please expand on your personal experience. All inputs appreciated.

Kindest Regards,

Jake

I have a few 1911 you can come shoot if you like......

[AeroEngi]

If I had that much cash to spend on a 1911, I'd go with a Wilson Combat or Ed Brown.

[hairtumor]

as far as being off roster just SSE them, that said I love my Dan Wesson but having that kind of cash to spend go full custom

[Dark Mod]

Might as well go full custom, but you can find Baers, wilsons, and Nighthawks in gunstores all around these parts.

[45acpfan]

Seems like OP is not new with the 1911 world, he just want some inputs what to get (and by mentioning $5K, I assume he wants something special/ one of the best).

[Coded-Dude]

[ArmyMedicMoose]

Originally Posted by Coded-Dude

That pic makes me sick...

[jcaoloveshine]

Production

Springfield TRP is awesome but it has MIM parts. The TRP Operator is a sick gun though, if you can get over MIM at a price point of $1500-$1800.

Dan Wesson is probably my choice at this price range of $1200-$1500. Once CZ owned them however their price went up a few hundred bucks without much noticeable increase in quality. They are great guns, lock up tight and shoot well.

Semicustom

Either of the semicustom shops would suit you well, leaving you about 2-2.5k left over for ammo.

Baer- I own a TRS, great gun. Accurate, reliable, fitted well. Bluing starts to wear after a few months though. The tritium insert on my front sight came out, talked to Les Baer Sr. himself and it will be back on my doorstep 23 days after it left my doorstep at a total cost of $15 for me to ship to them insured Priority for $400. They ship back 2-day Fedex. Great service. Best semicustom buy for $1200-2000.

My Baer TRS:



Their guns are more classic styled 1911s built hard and tight the old fashioned way. If you want a classic blued 1911 that locks up like a vault, get a Baer.

All their guns come with a base 3" at 50 yards 10-shot guarantee, for $300 more it upgrades to 1.5" at 50 yards.

This is an inside look at the shop:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpdy8QQ-Y-Q



Wilson- No personal experience, but again, a great shop.

Ed Brown- They make good guns, their customer service leaves something to be desired.

Nighthawk- A really hot shop right now. Couple smiths left Wilson Combat and formed this shop, currently my favorite semicustom shop.

I'm paying off a Nighthawk 10-8 right now and it has the SMOOTHEST action of any 1911. The slide and rails feel like they are gliding on butter. It is a tight gun, but not bank vault tight like the Baer. The finish is also much better, but then again it's the Diamond Black finish which runs $600 alone. Of course, this is a $2900 gun versus my Baer which is a $1800 gun.

The Nighthawk 10-8 w/o Dawson rail:



I highly suggest Nighthawk for the $2000-3000 range, especially the Predator since it has a bull barrel that makes shooting 45acp hardball feel like +P 9mm.

Full Custom

If you wanna go full custom, Pistol Dynamics, Heirloom Custom, Grey Guns, Rogers Precision are a few top shops. Of course, you are gonna spend AT LEAST $5000 and wait 1-1.5 years. But you will have a gun unique to yourself. Building a full custom is half the fun, the interaction and feedback you get from some of the top smiths in the world is worth the price alone.

Just remember, past $1500 the 1911 game is one of diminishing returns. It's like getting a Ferrari vs. Lamborghini vs. Bentley at that point. But if you got the money, you can get it any way you want.

[littlejake]

Originally Posted by 45acpfan

Seems like OP is not new with the 1911 world, he just want some inputs what to get (and by mentioning $5K, I assume he wants something special/ one of the best).

BINGO!

Some really good suggestions in this thread.

[RealBarber]

Originally Posted by ArmyMedicMoose

colt like harley they suck a**

wow, very scientific analysis

for me it starts and ends with Colt, they're great out of the box and they're a great platform to customize however you want

id rather get a Colt 1991/Series 70/Special Combat Government and have the Colt Custom Shop make it exactly how I want than give Nighthawk/Wilson/ect a couple extra thousand dollars to give me their version of a Colt

[jcaoloveshine]

Originally Posted by RealBarber

wow, very scientific analysis

for me it starts and ends with Colt, they're great out of the box and they're a great platform to customize however you want

id rather get a Colt 1991/Series 70/Special Combat Government and have the Colt Custom Shop make it exactly how I want than give Nighthawk/Wilson/ect a couple extra thousand dollars to give me their version of a Colt

That's a little unfair judgment, don't you think?

Wilson/NH have great smiths that know how to make the gun well and run right.

It's certainly not "their version of the Colt", but an exemplary version of the 1911 platform in general. Colt might have made the 1911, but these semicustom shops made it better.

Colt Custom shop probably does great work too, but the amount of expertise and experience the specialized shops have is staggering. From what I remember, Colt's shop does exemplary cosmetic work like engraving and Royal bluing as well as basic reliability packages.

[hyperion.excal]

wilson combat imo

[CWUSCG]

Another vote for Wilson or Nighthawk!

[beetle]

my vote is for the best of both worlds -- get a colt and then use it as a base gun for a full house custom from a premier smith like heirloom precision.

[wash]

Buy a Valtro from John Jardine.

The only problem is budget, he told me he's asking $6,500 these days.

[jcaoloveshine]

I forgot, Volkmann Combat also makes great guns.

But yeah, once you go full custom it's off into the deep end. You'll probably spend like $5000-$8000 depending on what you want, and if you get fancing engraving done by JR French or any other top engraver you'll be close to 5 digits.

[HPGunner]

No experience with high end stuff like Wilson or Nighthawk or Ed Brown or Les Baer, but my inferior Dan Wesson PM7 works awesome.

[BoJackUSMC]

Night Hawk or Wilson Combat if I have that much money to spend on 1911...

[PRCABR4Christ]

if I had $5k to spend on a 1911...my end use of it would determine what I would buy...

if I wanted a carry gun, I would either pick up a Nighthawk T3, or I would pick up a used Colt LW Commander and send it off to Chuck Rogers to work his magic

if I wanted a comp/wad/ball gun, I would get it from Joe Chambers

[skark_burmer]

Deleted

[Woodworker2]

Less than $5,000, but all very nice target pistols. Here are the ones I like shooting:

1. Les Baer Premier II, with 1 1/2" guarantee. Solid performer, still "tight" after 2000 rounds. First gun I ever shot two rounds through the same hole!

2. Wilson "Classic". Very nice trigger, ambi safety, and magwell. Usual Wilson quality in fit and finish. (Could spend more and get the Supergrade model).

3. Ed Brown Executive Target. Slightly higher grip, due to the shape of the grip safety. Another nice trigger, with ambi safety.

4. For something different. Barsto BS-40. Double stack in .40 S&W. Ambi safety, great trigger, bull barrel.

[MA2]

You can build your own Infinity, on roster as well.
Keep in mind, resale ratio (if ever needed) will not be as high as a production gun.

Well, lots of great suggestions, think I will add in Springfield Professional.

[WolfSamurai]

Find a gun store that stocks 5 of the top choices in 1911s. Try the fit in your hand. Shoot them. Then decide on which one to buy. Never take anything on word of mouth. With top dollar you should kick the proverbial tires and decide what to buy after trying them out in person.

[Dhena81]

I sold all my 1911's now because I want just one and it's going to cost more than all the others combined but I'm not F****** around anymore.

I'm 99% sure I'm going with a GRP Recon that is going to be configured the way I want it and it will have to be SSE.

What's the deal anyways with Wilson Supergrades?