Looking into a Full Sized FIRST 1911

[slick_711]

Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special or Premier II. These are the best 1911s that can be found for ~$1600. Both are approved in CA and with either you will never need another 1911 (may want, but will never need).

I feel that the Springfield TRP and TRP Operator are the best production 1911s on the market, but they're basically the same price as the two Baers I mentioned above these days, and the Baers are the best 1911s ever made. You'll hear lots of guys talk about lots of other guns, whatever. Wilsons are nice. Nighthawks are nice. The Baer is the king of them all. (I'd take a $1500 Baer TRS over a $2500 Wilson every day of the week and twice on Sunday). The only thing you could place above that would be some of the 100% custom shop guns (YoBo, Rogers, etc... and there you're talking about 1+ year wait list to have your gun built).

Of course, this is all my opinion. Like I said, others will disagree. But it is an educated opinion. 1911s are basically all I shoot, and I've shot basically all of them.

[Nuuze]

Someone let me shoot their Kimber custom at the range recently and I also loved the way the 1911 design shot. I shot his 1911 better than my own XD45. So much I went out and bought a Kimber Custom CDP II. I spent around $1200 on it and it's my first 1911. It's not the best 1911 out there but a decent start of my collection.

[xs2k]

Get a RIA (rock island armory) for $339 shipped from DD Ranch during their sale....

From there, you can learn to tinker with it to fit your needs. Add all the upgraded parts you like (match barrel, bushings, trigger, the list goes on and on). If you break it while tinkering, it's still only 339 and not 1200+. Even in stock form, it's still more accurate than you are. At least this way, it'll be more of a hobby and keeps you busy while learning in the process.

[ar15barrels]

Spend $1000 on a Kimber.
Spend the $500 on ammo or better yet training and ammo.

I can hit a steel 18" disk at 100m with my 3" barreled 38.
Hitting an 18" plate at 100m with a 1911 should NOT take an uber-1911.
It just takes some experience with 45's in general to know where to hold the sights...

[randy]

You might look into a Kimber or Springfield 1911 in 9mm. They knock down steel plates and poke holes in paper. You'll still get to shoot the platform you like and save a ton on the cost of ammo.

[Crazed_SS]

No price range. I want the best - because it's really the only gun the wife and I like to shoot. This is our Christmas present. Can I home build one? Just get the frame and add the best parts in? How does that work?

Hmmm .. Well I really, really like my Springfield MC Operator 1911. It has about 500 rounds through it and has been flawless out of the box w/ multiple brands of FMJ and JHPs. It costs me $1100 at a local shop and I think it was well worth the money. It's certainly not the best gun you can get, but it really is more pistol than most people will need. It is accurate as all hell. It's kinda tacti-cool too with the olive-drab color scheme and picantinny rail



Here are the specs here: http://www.springfield-armory.com/as..._PX9105MLP.pdf

[colossians323]

What area are you located?
I have wilsons, springfields, les baer's, and a sig you can try.
I personally like les baer the best.
They give you the biggest bang for the buck.

[DV8]

Id spend up to 600 on a Springfield GI, its close to the original design and is a great platform for customization later. 300 - 400 for reloading equipment , 300 or so on bullets, powder, primers and a couple of hundred on ammo (reuse the brass afterwards). Anything leftover is for other stuff (targets, extra mags etc) or to compensate if my price range is low on something.

So for 1500 bucks, I'd have a pistol, training ammo and after I learn to reload properly another few thousand rounds of ammo to keep me going.

Granted, its not a Kimber, Baer or other really nice custom pistol but as I said the springer is great for customization as the funds come in and its a good pistol to boot out of the box. Just my .02...

[supersonic]

Guys - saying that stuff is not helping. I have a handicapped wife, I do not make much money. This is a big investment for me. I cannot afford to do the things that you guys do - wish I could, but I can't.

Spending over $1000 on a gun for me is a VERY big deal. I just got basic cable. I am not made out of money.

Then here you go, right here:http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore...8295%20(A).jpg Got mine (yes, with the factory-installed/zeroed CrimsonTrace Lasergrips) for $950. Probably my favorite H.G. that I own. Absolutely an amazing shooter/looks incredible/UNBELIEVABLE price for a 1911 of this quality. If you're not a "purist" & don't see an external extractor as "bad on a 1911" (for whatever reason-more of a "purist" thing), than this will instantly become an extension of your arm & will make you VERY HAPPY each & every time you shoot it! All IMHO!!!!!!! (Disclaimer-to avoid nonsense arguments over "what's wrong with "this" or "that") Just my . 02 + someone had to include the 'Smith!

[Black Majik]

Okay guys - I went to the range and shot a Full Sized 1911 in .45ACP and it was my favorite gun I ever shot. I have been doing research and reading and I know there are many different makers and configurations for this pistol. All having to do with the frame I believe.

My questions are as followed:

1) What is the best 1911 we can get here in CA? (and of course how much does it run?)
2) What are the differences in the frames, beaver tails, things like that - I need to know what I have to choose from before choosing.
3) Anything else I should know?

I would like stainless steel. I am going to be using this gun for target shooting at the range and defense. Something well rounded.

I am not like a lot of the guys here that want to buy many, I only want 1 - so please no "buy a bunch" responses.

Guys - saying that stuff is not helping. I have a handicapped wife, I do not make much money. This is a big investment for me. I cannot afford to do the things that you guys do - wish I could, but I can't.

Spending over $1000 on a gun for me is a VERY big deal. I just got basic cable. I am not made out of money.

No price range. I want the best - because it's really the only gun the wife and I like to shoot. This is our Christmas present. Can I home build one? Just get the frame and add the best parts in? How does that work?

Please understand when people ask for a price range it's so they can give you a better recommendation suited to your needs. Asking for the "best" 1911 available and not giving a price you're willing to spend makes it difficult for us to recommend a gun, especially when TOP of the line 1911s can run up to, and many times over $3,000 dollars.

Take some time, and find out what options you really want and NEED. Do you really need a beavertail grip safety, or an extended thumb safety? Do you want adjustable target sights or fixed night sights? Match barrel? How about handfitting, does that really matter to you?

Therefore, how much are you willing to spend? Otherwise, we can all throw out top tier 1911 makers such as Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Customs, and the Springfield PRO, but are you willing to drop $2,500 starting for the "best?"

Otherwise, there are many good production 1911 makers under $1000 or hovering around that price mark. Kimber, Springfield Armory, Smith and Wesson, Dan Wesson and Colt are all great makers to look into. Handle a bunch at a gunstore and see which feels the best to you. They all look the same but handle differently.

Good luck in your search. Looking for a 1911 to suit your needs is indeed a fun process!

[Waingro]

Please understand when people ask for a price range it's so they can give you a better recommendation suited to your needs. Asking for the "best" 1911 available and not giving a price you're willing to spend makes it difficult for us to recommend a gun, especially when TOP of the line 1911s can run up to, and many times over $3,000 dollars.

Take some time, and find out what options you really want and NEED. Do you really need a beavertail grip safety, or an extended thumb safety? Do you want adjustable target sights or fixed night sights? Match barrel? How about handfitting, does that really matter to you?

Therefore, how much are you willing to spend? Otherwise, we can all throw out top tier 1911 makers such as Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Customs, and the Springfield PRO, but are you willing to drop $2,500 starting for the "best?"

Otherwise, there are many good production 1911 makers under $1000 or hovering around that price mark. Kimber, Springfield Armory, Smith and Wesson, Dan Wesson and Colt are all great makers to look into. Handle a bunch at a gunstore and see which feels the best to you. They all look the same but handle differently.

Good luck in your search. Looking for a 1911 to suit your needs is indeed a fun process!

Say, is it possible for me to just purchase a Colt Mil Spec 1911, then later on strip it to the frame and add say Les Baer parts to it? After the fact it would basically be a Les Baer correct? Or is the frame different?

[Poohgyrr]

After the fact it would basically be a Les Baer correct? Or is the frame different?

You can build a 1911, yes. People do this and get good pistols when done right.

Would it be a Baer, no. Baers are special. Careful shopping should get you one of these for $1500 or less (out the door) here in CA (What does a Warrior cost OTD? Sorry, but they're good pistols, but they don't compare.)... If you want, you can have it Baercoated or hardchromed for a durable finish, and still have a better pistol than some popular $2400 pieces. There is a reason Nighthawk is so highly thought of.

Baers run real well, get better with use, and come in three basic flavors: 3" at 50 yards, 2.5" @ 50 yards, or 1.5" @ 50 yards. These are fifty yard ranges, not just the 25 yards that others use. Baer offers ten models here in CA, each comes with a different set of options to pick from.


I was happy with the basic Kimber, and with the TLE/RL II. No problems and accurate. Not really bad and I can't complain.

But then I got a used Baer TRS; it is really great. They are pretty true to the design. (The Kimbers were fine, but are somewhere else now.) For what you get, the prices for a new TRS or PII cannot be beat. If your local dealer charges too much, phone John at Pro Load ( www.proload.com ) and see if his price is low enough to make up for what some friendly local FFL will charge you to get the Baer from John. Otherwise, just shop carefully.

My wife has her own Colt and is a die hard Colt fan. This pistol works fine for us and has been trouble free. If I get another 1911 and it's not a Baer, I plan to get a Colt. They are pretty close to the original design too. A guy could do a lot worse than to have a basic 5" Govt model, with good sights and a clean trigger. Training, magazines, and ammo.

[Black Majik]

Say, is it possible for me to just purchase a Colt Mil Spec 1911, then later on strip it to the frame and add say Les Baer parts to it? After the fact it would basically be a Les Baer correct? Or is the frame different?

You can buy a Colt Government and add parts to suit your needs, but it won't have the handfitting and tight tolerances like the Les Baer. Furthermore, Baers undercut their triggerguards slightly, so the bore sits slightly lower in your hand.

There's always the option to have your gun sent out to a real gunsmith and get everything tighter, but you'll be spending more money in the long run. Even then, I'm not quite sure they can get it as tight as a new Baer, which are known to be pretty much bank vault tight.

A Colt will be a Colt in the end. Or you can customize it. But it's still a Colt, but a REALLY nice one. But even then, Colt offers 1911 variants with all the cool options too (look at the Colt XSE). And it's still a darn nice gun.

[Waingro]

Baer does not make any stainless versions for CA do they?

[mike100]

If you want a name brand 1911 for 5 or 6 bills, you will need to keep an eye out for consignments and ppt's. I can't say what you'll find...you'll have to see what pops up when you comb all the gun stores and internet opportunities that are close to you.

for that matter, a lot of better names are going to probably fetch $650..depends on the model. I have a soft spot for bare bones Colt 1991's. The trigger is plastic and the extractor is also mim cast, but you can toss those parts when you have an extra $45 to buy good premium replacements. otherwise these type of base model 1911's can be a good deal.

I bought one for $575 in like new condition that I'm saving to send off to Novaks for a package job ($900).