About to settle on a 1911, but need your input first

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AR15activist

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As you can tell, I've been looking into 1911s quite a bit in the last few days, and in that time I've developed a spec list for the 1911 I'd like to own.

The list starts with a gun made of high quality parts -- properly put together, but also including these features:

> Ambi safety (left handed)
> Rail (will need a light for HD)
> GI guide rod (ease of disassembly)
> Upgraded steel sights night sights with ledge (for HD/SD)
> Flat mainspring (medium hands)
> Front and back grip checkering (for all weather use)
> Good trigger and hammer (for fast lock time and reset)

***
> Lowered and flared ejection port (reliability)
> Series 70 (reliability, durability, simplicity and trigger pull)
> Flared magwell (speed)

I also want the gun to have a 5 inch bbl, and to be all steel.

I'm looking at the Dan Wesson specialist, or maybe the Springfield TRP or Colt Rail gun.

Are there any options I'm leaving out?

Your thoughts below please!
 
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I would highly recommend the S&W SW1911 "TA" model.

Everything you want is on this gun, although it does come with a full length guide rod (which can easily be converted to a standard G.I).
 
- I wouldn't let lack of a ambi safety rule out a gun. Safeties are cheap and easily swapped.

- Rails are for trains.

- Rods are cheap and easily swapped.

- Night sights are nice, but I don't need them... I shot night qualification courses for years without them.

- Either mainspring will work with medium hands with a single stack.

- Checkering....I can take it or leave it. Never had grip issue on guns without it.

- The worst 1911 trigger is usually still good. Trigger jobs are not costly, though.
 
I have a Colt Rail Gun, in factory black Cerakote. They come with a GI guide rod out of the box, National Match barrel, plus all the other features you listed except for night sights and front strap checkering. I recommend using grip tape on the front strap. The MSH is vertically serrated, not checkered, but that can be replaced easily. I am a Colt fanboy so I have no problem buying the Rail Gun and then making some changes. Just my .02.
 
Probably the Dan Wesson but I wouldn't rule out guns based on what guide rod is in it swapping to a gi guide rod is maybe $12 And is as easy as field striping the gun. That's what I did my 1911 had everything I wanted at a reasonable price except a gi guide rod, so I got on mid way ordered a guide rod and plug and a few days later all was well in the world
 
I would probably go with Colt's stainless Rail Gun. I have bought several new Colts over the last couple of years and all of them have been great with excellent build quality and reliable performance.
 
I just got off of Gun Trader. I was looking at Springer's again. The new "Marine" model is stuck in my head. The detailing on the Strap, and overall OD, Green and Black color really make it an attractive looking gun.
There were only the older models on there with the Pachmeyer grip and without the chain link type of engraving, "for lack of a better term".
If you haven't seen the new features look at Springfield's 1911 page on their website.
That is probably the best looing bunch of production 1911 type, guns that is available without spending over fifteen hundred dollars.
While looking at them on Gun Trader, I stumbled on Benchmark Precision Pistols. They make a nice looking product, and the build sheet is quite respectable for a 2000 dollar gun and under.
Does anyone have any experience with this company Benchmark. I have not heard of them before?
Let me correct that some of these guns are in the 3 to 4 thousand range, the ones on Gun Trader were being bid in the 15-2000 dollar range. So I am not sure what the actual "out the door" price is.
 
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TRP Operator is a bull barrel/FLGR setup.. You will need to purchase a reverse spring plug in order to use a GI guide rod. 10-8 performace sells them for 20 bucks or so..
 
Sig has all of those features, albeit the saftey is an 80 series. Nevertheless, personally I've been so impressed by the function vs features vs price on them I am willing to suggest trying one. They also come in a "traditional" model lineup which has the "usual" slide profile instead of the squarish one the other sig 1911's have. Both of mine have excellent trigger pulls despite the 80 series - (although as I speak that is being remedied by the local gunsmith - I also feel the series 80 is a solution in search of a problem)

price being no object - then I'd go DW - but again because of an admitted bias.
 
Another vote for the Colt Rail Gun.

Before you actually mount a light on the gun you choose, I strongly recommend you take a course in use of the light. Actually, if you haven't already done so, a basic pistol course is highly recommended no matter which gun you get.

Another point to think about. Have you lugged around a full-size all-steel 1911 all day before? Gets a bit heavy. I greatly prefer an aluminum frame. Colt makes a full-size 1911 with an aluminum frame, the XSE. Even better is the XSE Commander. Same aluminum frame but 3/4" shorter barrel and slide. Much more desireable for carry. Don't listen to the hooey about problems with alloy frames. I've never had any trouble and that's with many thousands of rounds, including tons of +P and hot reloads.

With any gun that comes stock with a single side safety, it's easy and cheap to get an ambi installed. So don't let that put you off.
 
Sig has all of those features, albeit the saftey is an 80 series. Nevertheless, personally I've been so impressed by the function vs features vs price on them I am willing to suggest trying one. They also come in a "traditional" model lineup which has the "usual" slide profile instead of the squarish one the other sig 1911's have. Both of mine have excellent trigger pulls despite the 80 series - (although as I speak that is being remedied by the local gunsmith - I also feel the series 80 is a solution in search of a problem)
Click to expand...

A Sig 1911 doesn't really compare to either the DW or the TRP in quality -- especially not the DW.
 
Thanks to everyone for their replies.

The 1911 wouldn't be a carry gun, and a GI rod/ambi safety is where I'd like to end up, but would be happy to purchase/install them myself if needed, to get an otherwise idyllic gun.
 
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"Another point to think about. Have you lugged around a full-size all-steel 1911 all day before? Gets a bit heavy. I greatly prefer an aluminum frame. Colt makes a full-size 1911 with an aluminum frame, the XSE. Even better is the XSE Commander. Same aluminum frame but 3/4" shorter barrel and slide. Much more desireable for carry. Don't listen to the hooey about problems with alloy frames." -- moxie

I will add that I am open to an aluminium frame -- after all, glock frames are plastic! And I do have some experience carrying an FNX .45, which was likely heavier loaded, due to the 15+1 rounds of .45 ACP on board...

Also, while I would bet that a aluminium frame works just fine, there are just too many voices out there warning of reliability problems on the 3' and 4' inch gun.
 
AustinTX said:
A Sig 1911 doesn't really compare to either the DW or the TRP in quality -- especially not the DW.
Click to expand...
Not having a TRP in my possession to compare it against, I cannot say. However I must respectfully disagree with you on quality. While It does not have the hand fit and some of the obvious attention to detail that a valor has, it is nevertheless a quality piece of engineering. Also, while I would never compare it directly against a higher DW or a Baer or a Ed brown. I wouldn't hesitate to compare it against pistols in the $1000 class or lower. As well as some above that. Perhaps I have been extremely lucky in my examples though - knowing that earlier versions had some problems, all of the ones I have personally handled have been exceptional units. I believe on average, they perform above their price point.

BUT, and a big but - in order to appreciate it, one has to overcome the radical departure from "traditional" 1911 styling. Something which I have found to be rather difficult untill I found the "traditional" models.
 
They may look nice and work fine (though Sig's 1911s have indeed had their issues), but on the objective level of component quality, Sigs use some fairly cheap stuff for many parts these days. A lot has changed over the last five years. Most people will never use their guns heavily enough or inspect them closely enough to know the difference, though.
 
undoubtedly correct. few people truly depend on their firearm for their lives on a daily basis. If- ever faced with that prospect. I would treat a firearm like health/life insurance. buy every bit you can possibly afford.
 
You might consider STI. It always seems to come down to either Dan Wesson or STI for the best of the lot. The smith that works on my Colt uses nothing but STI for his builds. Says they are the most accurately machined of all. See http://rickhebert.com/pics.html for examples of what he does with STI's.
Stu
 
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Pretty much sounds like you want a Springfield MC Operator. Has everything you listed except the ledge sight. Thats easy to change.
 
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