Best 1911 Manufacture

a non "II" Kimber.

FUNNY! BUT TRUE!

I wish I had the chance to shoot about 50 new(out of the box) 1911's of different manufacturers with my "known" working ammo and mags to deteremine how much of a "problem" there really is with 1911's.

However, if I had to pick, I'd probably go to Springfield due to their reputation of service/warranty and they have a "real" custom shop unlike Colt or Kimber.

1. SMITH & WESSON
2. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
3. COLT

.....in that order

[1] first series Kimbers.

[2] Springfield Armory. [especially the G.I. Mil Specs.]



SILENT ONE

My vote for best run-reliably, right-out-of-the-box with ANY quality ammo, ANY quality magazine.... COLT! No other production 1911 matches Colt for quality of materials and small parts, nor for reliability right-out-of-the box. Colts are built specifically as fighting guns with reliability as the #1 criterion. If you want a bullseye target gun, go with whatever trips your trigger, if you want to rely on a 1911 in a gunfight... go with the new Colt.

Springfield Armory Loaded 5"! For the price and quality I doubt you can do better in a 1911 design.

Colt

After break-in, Les Baer.

I've got Colt, Kimber and Les Baer. I've had a Springfield. Without a doubt the Les Baer is the most reliable, it's never failed to feed, fire and eject. I can't say that about my other 1911's.

I’m a big Colt fan, I’m on my 3rd Colt 1911 (Gold Cup), and I also own two of their SAAs and a Python.

I don’t think you can go wrong with a Colt, every one I had was well made and reliable, buuuuuuuuuut……….

I also bought a Les Baer Concept V last month. 1200 rounds later and I’m very, very impressed. It is scary accurate. After the 800th round it started loosening up some (about as loose as a Baer will get) and it now digests my 200 SWCs without a hitch. It has digested hardball and Golden sabers from the get-go, but originally stuck on a few SWCs.

The Baers might be a little more than what you are looking at, but I think they’re worth it.

Chuck

I have a Colt 1911 Gold Cup NM, and it's the best 1911 I've ever shot.

I also have a Kimber Raptor (series I) that comes in a close second to the Colt.

Para-Ordnance makes good 1911's, but I can't get over the "cheap feel" of some of their grips.

I own a Les Baer PII 1.5" guarantee, Ed Brown Executive Target, SA Black Stainless target and S&W1911PD Commander. Most accurate is the Baer, he Brown is more elegant and not as tight, the S&W is reliable and accurate, but threw brass into my forehead at first. Better trigger than the SA. The SA had a heavy trigger and broke the extractor right off the bat. I changed out the ignition parts and SA replaced the extractor. Very nice now. I really like the Baer's accuracy for the range and games, not sure if I'd carry it above the Brown for defensive reliability.

The SW1911 I have is my only experience with 1911s, but it has been extremely reliable. I would have liked to buy a Colt, but I would have had to pay a gunsmith a lot of money to get it to where I'd want it with all of the little things. If it ran reliably or not after that is another story.

Out of the box? (which, really, is how all pistols should be judged): Smith & Wesson. And I hear their customer service is one of the best.

Best bang for the buck, out of the box, Taurus pt1911.
great features for the money. Take the time to compare, this is a great deal, the finish is the one area it could be improved on, but, I or you can have it refinished or gun koted and still have a lot of features, and save money.

I really like my Colts and recently bought a 1918 WWI reproduction to add to the herd. For best out-of-the-box performance and value, nothing touches my stainless Springfield Mil-Spec.

I'm really liking the new Dan Wessons. Have two and are among the best I have ever handled.

If series II Kimbers are doomed to fail, mine must be defective. I'm past 10,000 rounds, including a LOT of .22 shooting with a Ciener conversion kit, and I have absolutely no idea what it is you get for the extra $1000 (or more) when you buy the high-end custom guns. (Yes, I HAVE shot them.) No break in, no warranty calls, no switching the springs. I have several different mags, but the Kimber branded ones work just as well as my Chips.

Les Baer Custom

By far the best 1911 one can get for the money. My LBC Thunder Ranch has ran perfect from round #1 right out of the box (literally).




DS

I have had 2 Kimbers and 4 Springfields, they are all gone to finance more Colts which have given me the most enjoyment. Colt is all I even look at now.

I'm really liking the new Dan Wessons. Have two and are among the best I have ever handled.

Click to expand...

Yeah, for the money it's impossible to beat the DW for what you get. I just finished breaking in my new 45 C-Bob and man it is a fantastic gun. Hard to believe I paid less for it than I did my EMP.

In the sub $800 range I'd go Springfield but up to the $1500 range I would stick with DW and I gave $900 for my CBOB.

There are too many custom and semi-custom 1911 makers out there. It really depends on your budget. Low to high IMHO.

Colt
Springfield
Dan Wesson
Fusion Firearms
Ed Brown
Nighthawk

All votes for Springfield are void since they do not maufacture them and only import them.