1911 expertise needed

[fendter]

I have been playing around with the idea of picking up a 1911. I'm reading mixed reviews online about a 1911 in the $800 - $1,200 price range.

Should I even bother looking to get something decent that I can hold on to or should I get a Glock in .45 instead? I'm trying to avoid a gun that might be finicky with ammo or other reliability issues where I then have to buy all these upgrade pieces to make it work right.

I've been also looking at the Sig 1911 Scorpion. It falls into my price range and seems to get good reviews.

Thoughts?

[Cyc Wid It]

Have you shot one? Glocks and 1911's are completely different beasts. Not to be rude, but you have some pretty inaccurate misconceptions about the 1911 platform. You can buy a solid 1911 in that price range.

[Haplo]

Glock vs 1911 thread

[fendter]

I shot a WWII 1911 belonging to a friend. Would like a .45. Based on my readings on various 1911 forums the consensus is to forget anything under 1k and you need 1,800 to 2,000 to get something nice. Maybe it just forum snobbery, but that's outside my budget.

[fendter]

Not a Glock vs 1911 thread at all. I want a .45 and make it work as a 1911. Got two Glocks already and need/want something different.

[Press Check]

In that case, grab a 1911. There's quite a few pistols available in that price range.

[Sentenza]

As you saw, SIG has options in your price range, and SIGs are solid. Also in your range are Springfield Loaded and Range Officer. You can also look into the SW E-Series, but you'll have to hunt for the right one at the right price.

There are also plenty of happy RIA owners and those can fall under the $800 mark.

[Loubot10]

I shot a WWII 1911 belonging to a friend. Would like a .45. Based on my readings on various 1911 forums the consensus is to forget anything under 1k and you need 1,800 to 2,000 to get something nice. Maybe it just forum snobbery, but that's outside my budget.

I've got 4 1911's now and have had several others. I've never understood the concept of only "feeding" a 1911 expensive ammo, nor have I ever owned a 1911 that wouldn't shoot everything I fed it. I've always shot range reloads without an issue.

I have a RIA GI that I bought for $450.00 it shoots as dependably as the TRP Operator I paid $1,700.00 for.

The difference is fit, finish, and accuracy. I can hit a silhouette in the 10's at 30 yards with the RIA, but I can hit 5 shots in 2" with the TRP with inexpensive ammo.

As far as "MIM" parts found in less expensive 1911's and the hurry to replace them, they last for thousands of rounds so there's time to replace as you go.

The one thing I will say, paying $600 for a Springfield Armory GI vs. say a RIA GI at $450, is you get the lifetime warranty.

I haven't purchased anything fancier or more custom than an SA TRP Operator because I don't have a need to spend more. The three I've owned (full and half rail) have shot more accurately than I need and been more dependable than I expected.

A lot of these guys need to shoot more and write less. It takes 500 to 1,000 rounds just to break a good 1911 in and even more for the tighter "high end" stuff.

Get yourself something under $800.00 and shoot the piss out of it. You'll love it!

[sholling]

I shot a WWII 1911 belonging to a friend. Would like a .45. Based on my readings on various 1911 forums the consensus is to forget anything under 1k and you need 1,800 to 2,000 to get something nice. Maybe it just forum snobbery, but that's outside my budget.

It's just not so. You can buy a Springfield Armory "Loaded" or S&W SW1911 for under $1000. Both are fine reliable 1911s with all of the desirable bells and whistles and the only change I'd make on the Springer is a 4-1/2lb trigger job.

[ptgarcia]

A Kimber Custom II retails for about $800 and is a solid 1911. The whole notion you can't get a reliable 1911 for under $1800-$2000 is ridiculous.

[beetle]

Yes, high end 1911s are nice (and I have quite a few nice ones) but there are plenty of solid 1911s in your price range -- Springfield Loaded, Springfield Range Officer, Colt XSE. Heck even the Rock Island is a good gun on a lower part end of the price scale.

[Bruce]

The problem with .45 forums is the regulars there have convinced themselves that a 1911 has to go to a custom 'smith in order for it to be any good. Those guys live for that. The 1911 worked just fine for sixty years in its "stock" form. The add-ons came about as so-called "practical" pistol competitions came into being.
The only improvement a plain Jain 1911 needs is visible sights and a good trigger job.

[Tom-ADC]

For the money if would be hard be beat a RIA 1911 Tactical they just plain shoot each and every time.

[rm1911]

I have a 70 series colt. nothing fancy done to it. standard things: full length guide rod, wilson trigger, beavertail, millett sights. nothing with barrel, ramp, etc.

shot thousands of my reloads through it, 200 lead SWC. always was super reliable. different powders, different bullets. honestly, I never knew 1911's were picky, unreliable, problematic, etc.

glad to know that my gun doesn't shoot well. sure surprised the hell out of me

[HPGunner]

I've got 7 1911's in varying price ranges and they are all very reliable. Feeds normal everyday ball ammo from factory loads to Bulletman reloads to special HD hollow point ammo.

My favorite semi-auto pistol ever made. There so many good choices for under $1000. The whole 1911 unreliability and high maintenance and picky ammo eating thing is a myth.