thinking bout getting my first 1911

[Bill Carson]

I like the sig Blackwater 1911, it is the third gun on my buy list.

[Centurion_D]

Go for the SA loaded...u won't regret it.

[vta]

stainless sa loaded for me. my first trip to the range, I shot 50 fmj and 50 LTC 230 grain bullets. 0 issues. My groups got tighter towards the end of the 100 rounds I fired. I have not used the stock mags and have not heard great things about them although my SA GI Park didnt have any problems with them.

[wildhawker]

Springfield > Kimber. Dan Wesson = best value.

[sholling]

I find this thread very funny.

You miss the whole point. One pistol does not equal a pattern. What people are trying to get across that you find so funny is that on average a Springfield Armory Loaded is a very reliable pistol and unlike the Kimber it's backed by a lifetime warranty and a lifetime of first class service.

On the other hand the Kimber is backed by a whole one year warranty and a customer service department that is trained in every possible excuse why you shouldn't send it in to be repaired until after the warranty has expired. The 500rd break in is a good example. They also have a very delicate firing pin safety design. So delicate that it's not covered by the generous one year warranty.

[Legasat]

I have shot both, and I liked both. SA warranty is better.

I spent my money on a Dan Wesson PM7.

[Black Majik]

I find the Kimber vs. Springfield comparisons funny.

Truth is, you'll have happy Springfield owners, and you'll have happy Kimber owners. Not only that, you'll have owners who own and are happy with BOTH Springfield Armory and Kimber. These I prefer threads really don't have much substance since many people (myself included) have only a small sample size to base our experience on from each manufacturer.

My point being, these threads usually generate responses such as "Get a Kimber," or "Get a Springfield," or "Get a Dan Wesson" etc.. truth is, what works for one person may or may not work for you. With all manufacturers making 1911s, you'll find both satisfied and unsatisfied owners from each company.

Try as many as you can, fire as many as you can. Buy the one that shoots best for you and is the most reliable based on your experience. Sometimes a jam on a 1911 is very easy to solve, such as readjusting the tension on the extractor.

Good luck.

[DArBad]

Walter,

I see you are in San Francisco. Try going around the different gun shops, ask the people there and see what they have in stock. Get their feedback and do a tally of which brand is most recommended. Also talk to the people in the shooting range and see what they shoot the most. Handle the two brands, fondle them if you must.

The reason I advised this is, there will always be two camps here in the forum and most often it ends up into bickerings between the two camps. Both the Springfields and Kimber are good brands, they are by far the most stocked brand in the Bay Area. Try including the Smith & Wesson 1911s too into your consideration. The Dan Wesson's are more pricey and harder to find but if you can find one, consider that too.

From experience, If you will consider the Colt, be very careful, never buy online inspite of the enticing price, and be sure to bring someone along intimately knowledgeable in 1911s to inspect. I used to have 3 Colt 1991s and for a short time, a Colt Double Eagle. Yeah, I did drank the Colt koolaid, I was ...... ****ed big time, very expensive lessons in life.

Good luck in your purchase!

[Old4eyes]

DArBad makes a very good point. Ask the shops what problems they've seen, what their customer happy quotient is.

Their have been a lot of complaints about Kimber's warranty repair staff and the QC of late has been suspect. The shop I frequent was not carrying Kimber because of past repair issues. They talked to Kimber at the last SHOT show and based on their assurance that things had turned around, they will now carry Kimber.

The same shop has seen a decline in the QC of Springfield line, the shop owner thinks they are putting all of their effort on the XDm line. But the warranty repair was a lot easier to deal with than Kimber.

I ended up going Smith & Wesson. They have a good reputation for working well out of the box and their warranty repair reputation is excellent. There are some disadvantages to S&W:

1. If you are a purist, they use an external extractor. If that bothers you, skip the S&W.

2. They use a Schwartz firing pin safety. It helps them pass the CA drop test, but it is an additional thing to go wrong. Their version of the safety is driven from the grip safety rather than the trigger, so it does not affect the trigger pull.

3. They cut their sight slots differently. Getting 3rd party sights can be challenging.

I don't have enough rounds through mine to say "absolute no problems" but the first day at the range, I feed both FMJ and a few self defense HP rounds through it, and not a hiccup. I expected a possible feed problem on the HP because the gun was not broken in, and I didn't see a problem.

[Viper49]

Go with the Springfield (all Metal), Kimber got that chessy Polymer Main spring housing.

[Inkman]

Go spend the day at a range like USI and feel free to walk the line now and then glancing at peoples guns from a ways back. When ya see a couple 1911s, just ask the owner (s) if you can speak to them about them as you are thinking of getting one. Then sit back and try to figure out how to make a gracious exit cuz we 1911 guys will never shut the hell up about our guns and how great they are and you'll be there all day trying em out

I crack myself up sometimes

Al

[1911dude]

Do research on www.1911forum.com. The seperate forums by brand are very informative. I too was in the same boat...wanting a 1911 but not sure which to choose. At the time I was reading a LOT of complaining about Kimbers, SA's, Colt's and not just about the guns either. Each respective customer service was not getting on people's good side. Kimber was the first 1911 I've ever shot and I wanted to buy one real bad and tried to convince myself Kimber is the one. I started reading in the Dan Wesson forum and was knocked down by all the positive comments going on about the guns AND customer service. People who are involved with producing the guns are on that forum and will be glad to answer any question you may have. Oh sure, DW's are not without complaints but the ratio of happy to sad customers is so much higher than anywhere else on that forum. Do yourself a favor and check the forum out. It will really help you choose a 1911.

[sker13]

FTE = Limp wrist from your wife

And most folks have already disagreed with you. Isn't THAT funny?

I find this thread funny as well!

Black Majik I find the Kimber vs. Springfield comparisons funny.

Truth is, you'll have happy Springfield owners, and you'll have happy Kimber owners. Not only that, you'll have owners who own and are happy with BOTH Springfield Armory and Kimber. These I prefer threads really don't have much substance since many people (myself included) have only a small sample size to base our experience on from each manufacturer.

My point being, these threads usually generate responses such as "Get a Kimber," or "Get a Springfield," or "Get a Dan Wesson" etc.. truth is, what works for one person may or may not work for you. With all manufacturers making 1911s, you'll find both satisfied and unsatisfied owners from each company.

Try as many as you can, fire as many as you can. Buy the one that shoots best for you and is the most reliable based on your experience. Sometimes a jam on a 1911 is very easy to solve, such as readjusting the tension on the extractor.

Good luck.


Words of wisdom!

[1911dude]

I find this thread funny as well!

Black Majik I find the Kimber vs. Springfield comparisons funny.

Truth is, you'll have happy Springfield owners, and you'll have happy Kimber owners. Not only that, you'll have owners who own and are happy with BOTH Springfield Armory and Kimber. These I prefer threads really don't have much substance since many people (myself included) have only a small sample size to base our experience on from each manufacturer.

My point being, these threads usually generate responses such as "Get a Kimber," or "Get a Springfield," or "Get a Dan Wesson" etc.. truth is, what works for one person may or may not work for you. With all manufacturers making 1911s, you'll find both satisfied and unsatisfied owners from each company.

Try as many as you can, fire as many as you can. Buy the one that shoots best for you and is the most reliable based on your experience. Sometimes a jam on a 1911 is very easy to solve, such as readjusting the tension on the extractor.

Good luck.


Words of wisdom!

Words of wisdom is right! It just doesn't make sense to come to this forum and ask for people's opinions. Get out of the house, buy a bunch of ammo, go to the range and try all the rental SA's and Kimber's they have. Only then willl you'll truelly be able to make an informed decision based on the range's HUGE selection of 1911's.

BTW, I belong to the National Sarcasm Society so take the above as you will. It's not really necessary to shoot all you can get your hands on to know a gun is good or not. I know a lot of people that bought a particular brand/model without ever shooting it and either loved it or didn't. Unless you can run 500 rounds through every single 1911 there is you will never know if the next gun will be better or not.

It doesn't matter to me personally what gun you get as you'll be the one who has to live with your decision, not me. I DO suggest you do some reading on the 1911 forum and get a feel for what's good and what isn't. Pick your top five and do even more research into those. There are 1911 owners that HAVE shot 500 rounds in every med-high end gun and can give you their informed opinion.

Going to the range to shoot whatever they have is not a very efficient way of doing research into what brand/model to buy. It is on the other hand a good way to determine if a 1911 is the right choice of firearm...but you already know that so save your money and read, read, read, ask questions, read some more and ask more questions.

Seriously look into Dan Wesson and decide for yourself. Based on your first post, this would be the ideal 1911 for you.

[sker13]

The OP named two pistols specifically that he liked. I guess you know it all and know exactly what would be best for him. Hows that for sarcasm. Just because you came to a conclusion after your research doesn't mean someone else will come to same. I do want a PM7 Dude.