First 1911 Recommendation

[Darklyte27]

I paid 458$ now they dropped in price!! 437$

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411539799

[CALI SHOT DOC]

rock island armory. Great guns and won't break the bank for your first 1911

[ZNiner]

I just ordered a RIA 1911 in 9mm from Valkyrie Arms myself, if you want to stay with the 1911 platform and still shoot 9mm this is an option if you are close to an 07 ffl.

My RIA tactical was $631 with tax and dros.

[jptopz]

My two favorite 1911s thus far are Kimber, and Sig. They both have great fit smooth and tight. The Sigs finish is better than the kimber. My Kimbers Park finish is a bit thin in my opinion, as for the Sig they use a nitro finish on top of a stainless frame and slide. My 1911 Sig is all stainless, but I have other Sigs with the nitro finish on them. I know there are other great 1911s out there other than these two. Having owned a few of other makes these two have stayed in my collection for some time now.

[Mr. Blonde]

Springfield Mil-Spec. Its around $600-$700. Once you become well acquainted with the gun you could always send it to a gunsmith, as do many others, and have it customized. If you can find their loaded package which sells in the $8-900 range, then you'll have pretty good bang for the buck. Springfield's are more compatible with 1911 parts than Kimber or S&W. If you can find a good used Series 70 Colt in your budget then get that.

[MrExel17]

+2, thats next on the list. For what you get out of the box plus a little extra to mod it out 10rd mag, sights, well, etc...I agree!

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

[nickvig]

I love these threads because everyone has an opinion but never chooses to say why they think you should buy x pistol versus y pistol. I'll see if I can help some. Prices are from Bud's Gun Shop.

RIA GI 1911 - $398
- Basically the entire gun is made with MIM parts.
- Cast frame and slide
- Made in the Philippines
- No firing pin safety

SA GI Model - $514
- MIM parts - hammer, sear, disconnect, thumb safety, hammer strut, mag catch, grip safety
- Cast parts - slidestop, mainspring housing
- Forged frame / slide -- 2 piece forged barrel
- Made by Imbel in Brazil
- no firing pin safety - uses a titanium firing pin and heavy duty firing pin spring

Colt 1991 - $798
- MIM Parts - Magazine Catch, Mag Catch Lock, Sear, Disconnector
- Cast parts - Thumb Safety, Grip Safety
- Forged slide / frame -- one piece forged barrel
- Molded nylon mainspring housing
- Series 80 firing pin safety

Kimber Custom II - No price (I've seen it for $880 locally OTD)
- MIM parts - many parts come from Chip McCormick, I don't have an exact list -- extractor, ejector, hammer, sear, grip safety, barrel bushing, thumb safety, disconnector, slide stop, sights,
- Forged slide / frame -- one piece forged barrel
- molded nylon mainspring housing
- Schwartz firing pin safety

Now Bud's Gun shop pricing is not indicative of what you will find locally at California gun shops. You might get close but generally brick and mortar stores are priced a little higher due to overhead, etc. So take the pricing with a grain of salt.

Here's my take on what you're asking. You've basically shot the Maserati of 1911 handguns. Wilson Combat guns have a superior fit and finish, excellent gunsmithing during build and are a great quality gun. They also carry the price that goes along with those things.

If you're not sure what you want, e.g. beavertail grip safety, extended slide stop, flat vs. arched mainspring housing, extended thumb safety, you can go with either the RIA or SA GI 45. They're basic guns, you can have them modified easily and they're a great entry level 1911. IMO, I would choose the SA because of a forged frame / slide / barrel versus the cast on the RIA. Realize though, that as you have a gunsmith modify your gun you can quickly enter the price range of the higher end 1911's depending on the work you choose to have done.

If you want a match grade pistol at a reasonable price, then look into the Kimber. While the majority of the parts are MIM, you get a lot of nice benefits, e.g. beavertail, extended safety, match grade trigger, barrel, and bushing. They're triggers are great out of the box and they don't really require much in regard to 'tuning' them (assuming you're looking at 5" models).

With Colt you're basically paying for the name and the components. Colt steel is great, they're fit and finish are generally pretty good and you get the least amount of MIM parts in any production gun. You don't get the bells and whistles of a Kimber but you get a much better quality gun than a box stock RIA or SA GI 45, IMO. Some people love Colt, some hate it. Personally Colt is one of my favorites.

I haven't addressed the Ruger as I've not seen one in person. I've read that they are an investment cast frame and use a majority of MIM components. They haven't been out long enough to really garner any information yet. I can also tell you from the Hickock45 video they are a series 70 gun.

The only thing I haven't addressed here is firing pin safety. If that's something that is important to you, you may want to consider that in your overall decision. For me they are a non-issue as I've never felt any difference in the trigger pulls in Series 80 style guns and the Schwartz safety doesn't bother me during re-assembly.

[RealBarber]

Colt O1991 for a basic GI setup, Colt XSE for the "custom" set up

if youre going to single shot it get a Colt Series 70 or Gold Cup, maybe even one of the recent limited edition guns, WWI, WWII, 100 Year, ect

people say you pay more for the Colt name, but really theyre about the same price as some of the other brands, I just picked up a O1991 with the 100 Years of Service rollmark a couple months ago and the gun itself was $820, not nothing rediculous

Colts are harder to come by, but to me its worth the wait and work it takes to find and get one

theyre reliable, the blueing is beautiful and they are the originators

[hkdad]

What is your purpose? Home defense? Range gun (plinking, weekend warrior)? Competition?

[luckygunner]

I would look for the best used deal you can find. It's going to be tough figuring out what it is you really want out of a 1911. Might as well get a better price on one. If you can find an older Colt that would be the way I would suggest.

__________________
45 auto ammo

[wang949]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm looking for 1911 with a beavertail grip safety, skeletonized trigger/hammer, extended mag and slide release and preferably night sights, or at least 3-dot variety. For those reasons, the SA Loaded, Kimber of some sort, Ruger and Sig seem promising. The gun will be for the range and open carry while hunting. I currently carry a 45+oz revolver and don't mind the weight, even while chukar hunting aka mountain climbing. So a full size, all steel 1911 won't bother me. It will be an improvement. haha

[hkdad]

SA Loaded gets my vote!

[Sunday]

Save up as long as it takes to buy a 1911 made with out MiM parts. Most other guns can use mim parts but a 1911,,,nope! get a quality 1911 and it will last and last. You will thank yourself with years and years of satisfaction. 1911s are pistols of passion.

[ZX-10R]

Shot my friend's Colt XSE today...Excellent groups, smooth feel, chew all ammo, and it's just a Colt brand * If I can shoot head shot groups at 25yrds that says a lot* I was looking at an RIA at one point but wanting only one 1911 (rifle guy) made the Colt an easy decision...I cannot wait until my XSE comes in.

[Ripon83]

Gi vs Tactical

Great write up. Only thing I'd buy the RIA Tactical vs GI. For $39 you get adj novice rear sites, adjustable trigger, and something else I forgot. Well worth the $39 diff.

I love these threads because everyone has an opinion but never chooses to say why they think you should buy x pistol versus y pistol. I'll see if I can help some. Prices are from Bud's Gun Shop.

RIA GI 1911 - $398
- Basically the entire gun is made with MIM parts.
- Cast frame and slide
- Made in the Philippines
- No firing pin safety

SA GI Model - $514
- MIM parts - hammer, sear, disconnect, thumb safety, hammer strut, mag catch, grip safety
- Cast parts - slidestop, mainspring housing
- Forged frame / slide -- 2 piece forged barrel
- Made by Imbel in Brazil
- no firing pin safety - uses a titanium firing pin and heavy duty firing pin spring

Colt 1991 - $798
- MIM Parts - Magazine Catch, Mag Catch Lock, Sear, Disconnector
- Cast parts - Thumb Safety, Grip Safety
- Forged slide / frame -- one piece forged barrel
- Molded nylon mainspring housing
- Series 80 firing pin safety

Kimber Custom II - No price (I've seen it for $880 locally OTD)
- MIM parts - many parts come from Chip McCormick, I don't have an exact list -- extractor, ejector, hammer, sear, grip safety, barrel bushing, thumb safety, disconnector, slide stop, sights,
- Forged slide / frame -- one piece forged barrel
- molded nylon mainspring housing
- Schwartz firing pin safety

Now Bud's Gun shop pricing is not indicative of what you will find locally at California gun shops. You might get close but generally brick and mortar stores are priced a little higher due to overhead, etc. So take the pricing with a grain of salt.

Here's my take on what you're asking. You've basically shot the Maserati of 1911 handguns. Wilson Combat guns have a superior fit and finish, excellent gunsmithing during build and are a great quality gun. They also carry the price that goes along with those things.

If you're not sure what you want, e.g. beavertail grip safety, extended slide stop, flat vs. arched mainspring housing, extended thumb safety, you can go with either the RIA or SA GI 45. They're basic guns, you can have them modified easily and they're a great entry level 1911. IMO, I would choose the SA because of a forged frame / slide / barrel versus the cast on the RIA. Realize though, that as you have a gunsmith modify your gun you can quickly enter the price range of the higher end 1911's depending on the work you choose to have done.

If you want a match grade pistol at a reasonable price, then look into the Kimber. While the majority of the parts are MIM, you get a lot of nice benefits, e.g. beavertail, extended safety, match grade trigger, barrel, and bushing. They're triggers are great out of the box and they don't really require much in regard to 'tuning' them (assuming you're looking at 5" models).

With Colt you're basically paying for the name and the components. Colt steel is great, they're fit and finish are generally pretty good and you get the least amount of MIM parts in any production gun. You don't get the bells and whistles of a Kimber but you get a much better quality gun than a box stock RIA or SA GI 45, IMO. Some people love Colt, some hate it. Personally Colt is one of my favorites.

I haven't addressed the Ruger as I've not seen one in person. I've read that they are an investment cast frame and use a majority of MIM components. They haven't been out long enough to really garner any information yet. I can also tell you from the Hickock45 video they are a series 70 gun.

The only thing I haven't addressed here is firing pin safety. If that's something that is important to you, you may want to consider that in your overall decision. For me they are a non-issue as I've never felt any difference in the trigger pulls in Series 80 style guns and the Schwartz safety doesn't bother me during re-assembly.