1911 purchase help

[sintax]

i've pretty much convinced myself that my next handgun purchase needs to be a 1911 of some nature. So for the last two weeks i've been poking around trying to read up on some stuff, and i'm getting a lot of mixed feelings. It seems like the 1911 manufacturer debate is as bad as the ford vs chevy vs dodge truck debate =)

Right now i'm trying to decide between looking for a Colt series 70 of some nature, and a SA Mil-spec. The Mil-spec appears to be a decent base gun, and I can deal with that, esp at its minimal entry cost ($500). The Series 70 colts appear to have a better rep and appear to be more highly respected and also seem to have a higher amount of aftermarket support. (am i right or is that just how it seems?) They also seem to have a free market value of $700-900.

So my question is, Am I better going for the SA and using the extra 3 hundred for upgrades? Or do I just get the 70 series and leave it as is? (i'd have trouble moding it since they are have more collector value and history. Where as i'd have no problem tearing the Mil-spec apart and working it over.) I kind of think i'm wanting to customize it anyways...

Anyone have an idea of what the Colts go for around here? Since they are not listed i'm sure they get a bit of a premium...

[tefunk]

I don't think the Colt Series 70 is CA approved. You'll have to go with the 1991/Series 80.

[sintax]

its not, but you can get them person-2-person

[taloft]

They're both milspec. They will both take the same mods. Go with the SA. it has a lifetime warranty. Use the extra $300.00 to dress her up or upgrade to the fully loaded, and get extra mags. Colt 70's are really getting pricy but, they are nice guns. That being said, get a Kimber.

[tefunk]

Anyone know where to find a used Springfield or Colt 1911? I'd like to get a frame and replace the parts and put on a Caspian slide. I looked around gunbroker, gunsamerica, and auctionarms but couldn't find anything.

[Ratters]

Your first 1911? Geez, why don't you just by a Kimber or Springfield loaded with the options you want and call it a day.

[PLINK]

The SA Mil Spec is a nice base gun. I bought a SS 5in Mil Spec with the idea to custom it out but all I did to it was get a trigger job done (had some bad trigger creep) and put on some nice wood grips.

[Sheldon]

Getting a pistol setup from the start, the way you want it, will be cheaper than getting custom work done later. Especially so if the work done requires refinishing. If I had to do it all over again, I would get a Les Baer Premier II and be done with it......but then again, the price still keeps me from getting one.

[sintax]

Getting a pistol setup from the start, the way you want it, will be cheaper than getting custom work done later. Especially so if the work done requires refinishing. If I had to do it all over again, I would get a Les Baer Premier II and be done with it......but then again, the price still keeps me from getting one.

ideally i'd like to do that. But I have a habbit of always stepping up right away and therefore not getting my time behind the wheel as it may be. I think i'd rather go slow. I think I pretty much have my mind set on the SA Mil-Spec, unless I come acorss a killer deal on a 70 series. Needless to say i'll be hanging around some pawn shops looking for some consignment deals.

[us_citizen]

What I could suggest are two web sites:

http://www.1911forum.com

http://www.m1911.org

You'll read all the good and bads about CS and the guns as well.

Go there and read up on the sub forums.
If you get a gun with an external extractor make sure it's an S&W.

[SVTNate]

The two routes I would take

1. (preferred based on personal experience) Spend the money for a Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Nighthawk, or Springfield Custom Shop Professional model.

2. (not preferred, based on personal experience) Buy the Springfield GI, upgrade later. Done properly, it will end up costing the same amount, but you'll be without the gun for months on end waiting for it. Upside, you have a custom gun done exactly how you'd want it. The easiest way is to send it to Yost-Bonitz and get one of their 1* packages.

DON'T spend more for a Loaded unless it's exactly what you want, and don't mind the MIM parts or the lower end barrel.

DON'T upgrade piecemeal. Save up, have a detailed plan of upgrades, send the gun to Yost, Tripp, Springfield Custom, Marc Morganti, or one of the other great 'smiths and get it done in one shot. Shipping insured one-way to any gunsmith will cost $50-$75, depending on how much insurance you get. When you send in your gun, have a very detailed letter with exactly what you want. Spend time and get it right the first time... no regrets on irreversible work or parts selection. Include an inventory of every little thing that you send with the gun, keep a copy for yourself. Be thorough in all regards, and you'll be happy. But again, I stress that comprehensive upgrades to a Springer GI will absolutely end up costing at least as much as a Baer Thunder Ranch or Wilson CQB. Is it worth it? It certainly can be, but there are pros and cons which you need to learn about before even buying your gun.

DON'T let anyone touch your gun for "upgrades" until you're schooled in the custom 1911 game. The gunsmiths I'd trust with my guns are not located in California. You don't want some local 'smith doing shoddy work, just because you didn't want to ship the gun. I've seen guns done locally in SoCal, and let me tell you, the work I have seen is decent, but not up to the level of the top 'smiths.

That's the best advice I can give you, coming from someone who loves high end 1911's and has experience with having custom guns done.

[rorschach]

Staying within the budget, Kimbers are ok once you break them in (my TLE took bout 300 rounds before settling in) and come with lots of nice details previously only found on custom 1911's. Same with Springfield, but without the break-in. I like em both, but the Kimber was a bit more pricey. If you opt for a Springfield Mil-Spec, (which is a great shooter out of the box) you save gobs of cash to build it how you want it. I had a Mil-Spec that I sent out to Kings Gun Works here in SoCal and they did an AMAZING job on it. Sadly, I sold it a while back to help finance more go-fast goodies for an old Ford that has been under constuction for 3 years, and will probably not see the street anytime soon.

If you can afford a few hundred extra, go with a Les Baer Thunder Ranch. Thats all the fightin' 1911 you'll ever need, IDPA legal, and a few hundred bucks cheaper than a Wilson. (and a lot nicer IMHO) Thats my next 1911 once I stop buying OLL's.

[repete34]

Kimber would be my choice, and you can find them used in the 6-700 range.

[USP4me]

I paid $750 for my S&W 1911. It's their lowest priced model and is extremely accurate and beautifully made too.

[glen avon]

colt 1991A1 for low 600s on GB. suweet.

ain't nothing like the real thing.