different brands of 1911s

[Chief-7700]

You want "BADASS" have one built.

[Fishslayer]

The op said he wanted a badass 1911.
RIA's are not badass.

Depends. If one thinks the 1911A1 that Dad or Grandpa brought back from WWII is badass then the GI is pretty badass for $500-ish.

If one thinks a digicam paint job & Punisher grips are badass...well...

[Orangevale45]

I'm a little late to the party on this thread. I'm in almost the same position as the op. I want a high end full sized 1911 for plinking and a safe queen. It will not be used for HD. I have other pistols for that. I will only have one 1911 (maybe ) and want it to be a nice one.

I'm thinking about these in no particular order:

Kimber: although some say that Kimber's quality has gone down in recent years, others disagree.

Les Baer: I've read that Baer's fit is so tight that it's difficult to rack the slide and field strip.

Dan Wesson: heard nothing bad about them. I'm leaning toward this.

Colt: Not necessarily a high end but I could shoot it a while and then send it off to the custom shop and have some custom touches done.

Springfield Armory: a lot of people seem to like these.

Wilson Combat: probably out of my budget.

If anyone can provide any additional info other than what's been already posted i this thread I'd appreciate it.

Look for a Dan Wesson CBOB. It's still made for the California market and is on the DOJ roster. So you don't have to do the sse thingy. IMO, one of the most underrated commander-size 1911s out there. Not easy to find, but they're out there.

[lovnik]

Get one in 9mm, its a far better round than a .45

There are still a few dozen, but you're correct, they drop off the roster by 2's and 3's each month.

[lincoln45]

mc

SA MC Operator

[Freq18Hz]

Depends. If one thinks the 1911A1 that Dad or Grandpa brought back from WWII is badass then the GI is pretty badass for $500-ish.

If one thinks a digicam paint job & Punisher grips are badass...well...

How about neither?

Wilson's are pretty BadAss. Browns are a close second.

-Freq

[hbogart]

How do STI's 1911s rate?

I have wanted a long slide for a while. Since SA stopped making one, STI is an option - if I do it before SSE goes away.

[davidwow]

STI is a great gun. I would say their price points match either the Loaded Springfield or TRP models.

My trp had no malfunctions in over 800 rounds - then I sold it. I think a railed trp or STI is your best bet for your price range. I would also recommend Dan Wesson specialist with the rail too.

[Roering]

You have my guarantee. "BADASS" comes standard on ALL 1911's.

[Fishslayer]

How do STI's 1911s rate?

Long slide 1911s definitely bring teh badassery!

You have my guarantee. "BADASS" comes standard on ALL 1911's.

Yes. Some bring teh , but it's a badass

[C&Rcollector]

All these recommendations, but what about Colt?

If this is your first 1911, go with a traditional 1911 without a rail.

In regards to new pistols, the following are great choices for under $1,500:

Colt XSE, Combat Elite or Gold Cup, Springfield Trophy Match or TRP, Dan Wesson Heritage, Les Baer if you're lucky.

Best of luck.

[AGFNTB]

Took my newly modified rail gun to the range yesterday and all the people that shot it said "that thing is badass". I laughed everytime thinking about this thread.
Here is a pic with the new (overkill) modifications:



Yes, I know the modifications are mostly overkill, but it sure is fun to shoot.

[Justindo]

If you have $1,500 to spend and want a 1911 I'd recommend a Dan Wesson. They're very close to the quality of the semi-custom Wilsons, Browns, and Nighthawks for a lot less money and are much better than the slightly cheaper Kimbers, Springfields, Colts, etc.