Help choosing a 1911

[a1fabweld]

Hey fellas. I'm getting ready to buy another 1911. I currently have a Springfield GI standard 5", Para P12, & Para P14 & I want to get my wife her own fullsize single stacker like my GI which she loves to shoot. I'm looking for something UNDER $1k. I've been doing a fair amount of research on other forums & I keep going in circles! Seems to be a Ford vs. Chevy thing. I was surprised to hear what a bad rap Kimber got with it II series. So what I gather, Colt is mostly for the name, early Kimbers were awesome but their quality lately is lacking, Springfield "milspec" or "loaded" models seem to get good reviews. Para's reviews are very love em or hate em. S&W gets good reviews too. This is going to be a range gun & but needs to be SHTF worthy as well. Thanks
.

[BullseyeBill]

I hear what you are saying. I am a freek about 1911. I love them. I know have 11. I own a store. I have had problems with Kimber but they will make it right. You have to stay on them and make sure they know you are not going to let down. On the other side 95% of the kimbers we sell have no issues. Need to break them in. Also kimber has a lot of bolt parts premade /bolt on for kimbers.

Smith & Wesson makes an exellent 1911. Only thing some people do not like is the external extractors. They rarle break but when do need to send to factory. Not a big deal S&W has a life time warranty.

For the biggest bang for your buck I go kimber custom 2 with nigtht sights. For least hassle S&W.

Bulls Eye Bill

[brassburnz]

If you can find one, a Series 70 or pre-Series 70 Colt.

After that, a Springfiel Armory 1911 because it's similar to a Series 70 colt.

I have a 1K plus Kimber and a 1K plus Para, but would not trust them as a personal defense weapon because of the firing pin block in the slide. I have seen and inspected a Para where the plunger in the slide broke turning the gun into a paperweight. I realize that the odds of that happening are high, but it's about the same as the odds of actually seeing one fail.

If you wanted to go above 1K, there are other choices.

[aplinker]

How about a Springfield Loaded 9mm?

It would soften the recoil and be cheaper, have a higher capacity...

Springfields are just fine, even if they're not my cup of tea.

[nooner]

Nothing wrong with my Kimber. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

[Whiskey84]

I love my Springfield "Loaded". Just wish I didn't need an alan wrench to field strip it.

[sholling]

S&W SW1911 for several reasons.

• Slightly better fit & finish than a Springer Loaded
• Much better trigger than a Springfield Loaded (4.5 vs 5.5lbs)
• Made in USA unlike the Springer Loaded
• Deeply undercut trigger guard fits a small hand better than a Springer, allowing it to sit deeper in the hand and improving control
• Better Warranty than a Kimber - Life vs 1 year
• Better quality control than Kimber Series II
• Better customer service than Kimber

None of these points mean that a SA is a bad 1911 - it's not, it's a darn good 1911. These are just the points when it takes a close second place to a Smith. The early Kimbers were good pistols but the length of a written warranty speaks volumes about how much confidence a company places in its own products. You may get a darn good one or you may get a lemon but if something goes wrong after a year you may be on your own.

Note, I own all three brands.

[ZirconJohn]

Suggestion for your wife would be the DAN WESSON COMMANDER CLS BOBTAIL made by CZ w/ a few Ed Brown goodies. Closest you get to custom without the custom price.

READ; 'the trigger is to DIE for!' in one word 'crisp!'

Click this link to CZ-USA and read the specs

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=66

This beauty is all STS, so has some weight 2.1 LBS but may very well keep this 4.25" from jumping too much.

Notice the rounded rear corner of the grip, feels real nice in your hand, it'a a perfect fit.

MSRP at 1191.00 /// At my place the price tag is under 1K... shop around in your area and see if you can find one in stock, check it out. For a DW w/ EB parts all for 1K... "sweet!"

Additionally, if you get one and your wife don't like it... she can hand it down to you... looks like you need a Commander Series in your line-up anyway.

[Snapping Twig]

DW Classic Bobtail. +1!

[zippo]

If U can fine Dan Wesson CBOB or MP7 try to hold it and try their trigger .
it one of very good 1911 for under 1k.

or U like Colt or SA is good also but will cost litter more then DW NIB for same set up gun.

[a1fabweld]

How about a Springfield Loaded 9mm?

It would soften the recoil and be cheaper, have a higher capacity...

Springfields are just fine, even if they're not my cup of tea.

She actually likes the .45 fullsize 1911 vs. my Sig 9mm, XD40. Also, I'm trying to standardize my calibers. It's a P.I.T.A. taking 3 different clibers to the range. I have to say that my Springfield GI "cheapie" has been a champ. Once I bought some Wilson mags for it, it performs flawlessly. Seems like the Dan Wessons are popular here. I have never really looked into them. But I will. Thanks for all your thoughts fellas & keep 'em coming!

[happy_gunner]

anyone have any experience with Sig 1911s?

[BigYellowApe]

a lot of good advice here. I wish i'd have read this before i bought my first. The best advice is to go with what you want and not to settle. I bought a Springfield GI with the idea that id upgrade as time went on. It costs double in the end to get the features I wanted. Good Luck and my vote would be for a Kimber.

[a1fabweld]

I guess I'm lucky in the fact that I like a plain old simple 1911. My SA GI strippie works great as it is from the factory. I like the trigger, grip, the whole thing. I wouldn't mind getting a model that has some upgrades just to compare a stock vs. modded 1911. I haven't heard really anything about the Sig models.

[Heatseeker]

I bought my first 1911 earlier this year, a Kimber Stainless II. Although I don't have another 1911 to really compare it to, it's been a great gun so far.

The only malfunctions I've experienced were with my own reloads(premature slide locking open, FRTB), which it turns out I didn't seat the bullets quite deep enough on. Factory ammo has went through it without even a hiccup.

I'd recommend a Kimber to anyone.