entry level 1911

[DeLaSeoulRZN]

I am going to make two suggestions.


1) IF you have the available cash, and don't mind parking it in a gun for a while, i would say get a used Kimber Custom. It should cost somewhere from 750-900, but the chances are near 100% that you get every dime of that back if and when you decide to sell. It would give a great intro into the 1911 world and ultimately have a net cost of near zero.

2) If you DONT have the cash for plan 1, get a Rock Island. I've heard nothing but good things about them, and starting with a base gun will allow you to experiment and buy parts and switch things around to see what features you really like and appreciate. They are inexpensive, and when you decide to move on, you can probably STILL get most of your money back out of it, or call it cheap enough to keep and just get another gun too.

I've got the same dilemma and was considering a GI or Milspec, but for the price of a new one, it seemed like a relatively small stretch to bump up to a used Kimber. Now you guys have me thinking the RI may be the way to go...

[12voltguy]

I'm also shopping for another pistol and have a 1911 on my mind too. It's going to be my first 45acp/1911 and after doing some reading on this thread, I checked out the CA DOJ approve list and didn't see Rock Island Armory, did I look it up as a wrong manufature?

Sorry if I thread jacked, didn't think I should start a new thread..

They are under armscor precision.

yup
that said get a SA instead

on KIMBER...............I hear more complaints on those then the cheapest 1911s....

[cdtx2001]

I was thinking of going bare bones when I purchased a 1911, but glad I ponied up the dough and got one of those Springfield custom loaded models. Best handgun I own.

[timmyb21]

Everyone I talked to told me to buy the best one you can afford. Instead of buying a Mil Spec or RIA, I saved up for another 6 months (yeah, I know it seemed like forever) and bought the exact gun I wanted, my MC Operator. It shoots like a dream, and fast became my favorite pistol in my collection. Semi custom pistol with a lifetime warranty, and I can't think of anything I want to do to modify it at this point.

[SeanCasey]

For what it is worth I am very happy with my Auto Ordnance 1911 (Manufactured by Kahr). Granted I was not expecting amazing performance as I was after the classic GI looks and a cheap price. It goes bang everytime I pull the trigger, and I perform better with it than I do my wife's XD-45 (I have around 400 rounds through my AO and personally only about 50 rounds through her XD). The factory mag was pretty cheap, but Tripp mags are working flewlessly and are much nicer quality.