First 1911 Recommendation

[wang949]

So a generous friend let me shoot an Wilson Combat and it was nothing short of amazing. After that I dropped looking for a 9mm; it's 1911 time. My budget is ~$800. I know this price range won't buy anything close to an Wilson Combat, but I hope it will get me a good entry level 1911. What do you guys recommend? RIA? SA Milspec or Loaded? Sig Nitron? Kimber Custom II? I can also get a NIB Ruger sr1911 w/o single shot fees. Thanks

[Oceanbob]

Get the Ruger SR1911. Much better for the money than anything else.

[7222 Hawker]

I think you might look at the Springfield Rangemaster. Really good gun for that price range.

[Ripon83]

I have an RIA tactical I'm most happy with. I'm only 350/400 rnds in it but no problems at all. My cost total was $513. If I had 800 then I'd want to be sure I could afford the leather, magazines and reasonable ammo. Given the choice I'd do it all again, but I do wish for a Cold Gold cup Series 70 some day.

[wang949]

Ripon83, mind if I ask where you got your RIA for that price? That's a good deal.

[Can't buy anything here]

Aren't the Ruger an Rangemaster non roster guns?

[wang949]

Aren't the Ruger an Rangemaster non roster guns?

There's ways around it. PPT or Single Shot Exemption.

[fullspeed1]

Ruger seems like a promising deal, Especially at that price range. There are a lot of positive things being said about them so far.

[razr]

Loaded, since you asked.

[Can't buy anything here]

There's ways around it. PPT or Single Shot Exemption.

If someone was PPTing a Ruger that just came out , I'd wonder why he's selling it...

[Mr_Dunev]

SA Loaded!

[tacticalcity]

You are going to scratch the hell out of your first one learning how to put it back together without the slide release slipping and installing and removing and then reinstalling stuff as you tinker with it. So my recommendation is to save yourself the massive depriciation and depressing of jacking up a brand new 1911 and get something gently used. That way when you put a mark on it, it is just another mark and not $500 mistake.

I picked up my gently used Kimber Custom II on Gunbroker for $625 shipped. It is a tad heavier than I thought (get aluminum frame model if you plan to carry) but otherwise I could not be happier. If you are patient you can find a good deal on a Kimber or Springfield, sometimes even a Colt. I've had to pass on some amazing deals on SW1911PDs as well.

How it looked when I bought it...


How it looks now (I keep switching between 2 different styles of VZ Grips and different style magwells)...

[Ripon83]

Centerfire Systems

This was in April:

$419.99 Centerfire Systems (www.centerfiresystems.com) I think is the URL
$ S&H was free that week and is once in a while on them, not always.
$ 50.00 DROS/fee by my Kitchen FFL (Gowking in Riverbank, CA) great guy.
$ 43.00 Sales tax

I've seen some say they got it here and there for a little less with $525 being the norm. They also run out once in a while. My local shop couldn't even get it though I asked them too first.

Inspect the gun when it arrives. Someone reported getting one with a crack in the slide or frame recently; but most people I've read about on here are quite happy with their RIA's....I am. It already has a rattle snake notch 1 down several million of those hateful critters to go.

Ripon83, mind if I ask where you got your RIA for that price? That's a good deal.

[George Loony]

How about leave the snakes alone unless ACTUALLY threatened by one? If they rattle, YOU are too close.

[Ventura_Yak'r]

+1 RIA Tactical for $350-$400.... You'll be very pleased w/ it's performance and price!!!