Budget Priced 1911

[Mavrick12]

While Making my annual runs to the gun shop to drool, I saw that they had A Springfield GI 45 for about $430 In like new Condition. I just recently started getting into pistols really, and I was wondering Is the Springfield pretty decent right out of the box? What about Charles Daly( I have seen the bashed some, just curious) Or Rock Island Armory 1911s? The main question: How is the reliabiltiy?( Learned from my dad that you have to know that FIRST off) I have about $550 and Like the 1911.(I have shot one before, feels good in my hand).


Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[MPanova]

The best out of the box 1911 for less then 800 right now is the Taurus PT1911. For the price it cant be beat. Comes with a lot more extra's that most at its price range don't and some at higher then its price don't. It will be 100% reliable right out of the box. I have one with a few thousand rounds through it and its an awsome shooter. I have let people shoot it and they like it more then there 1911 from major name brands costing twice as much. If you cant find one local for less then $550 then check out budsgunshop.com.. I have seen them on there for $499.00 I have seen them for that price at the gun shows aswell. Buds has one right now with factory installed lazer grips for $783.00. Im not a fan of those grips but some people like them. I cant see spending $300 for new grips that have a $10 lazer pointer in them lol

 

[TimboKhan]

I second the PT1911. I have a little over 1000 rounds through mine, and I am completely satisfied with it. Your other option is the used market, which opens up your choices a little bit. For new, I say look no further than the Taurus.

 

[Hacker15E]

Rock Island Armory. It's a basic GI-type pistol that goes for $400-ish or less.

I like it better than the Taurus, personally, but then again I don't think that a 1911 needs any fancy style-over-substance 'extras' to be a quality pistol.

 

[col_tapiocca]

What about STI Spartan? I don't know prices in North America, but here in Europe it's a well made and "budget" 1911

 

[Rob96]

The best out of the box 1911 for less then 800 right now is the Taurus PT1911.

I really don't think it is. It has a very poor finish. Rear sight that was meant for another gun in their lineup not the 1911. To name a few.

The way I did it I think is the way to do it. Found a Mil-Spec with 50 rounds through it for $366. Then for $420 I had the Springfield Custom Shop install a beavertail, skeleton hammer, extended thumb safety, 10-8 Performance rear sight and 10-8 Performance long trigger. The complete gun was also reparkerized (Springfield does a very nice park job). So for $786, I have a 1911 with the custom features installed with incredible fit anf finish, not assembly line. And I got to choose what parts to use.

 

[MPanova]

The rear sights were already being used on the 24/7 yes. They worked great and Taurus wanted them for the 1911 so they designed there 1911 to exept those sights. The finish is a minner issue and only comes into play if you holster it and un holster it all the time. You can always have the slide refinished how ever you want for around $100.00. That would take car of your complaints and still save you $200.00 and IMO you still have an even better pistol then the Mil Spec with $420.00 worth of work

 

[TimboKhan]

Rear sight that was meant for another gun in their lineup not the 1911. To name a few

Actually, the 1911 was in development before the 24/7 had them. It's a Heinie sight, and Heinie built it specifically for the PT1911. They are very good sights, and so Taurus is now offering straight 8's on most new Taurus autos.

The key word here is "development", as Taurus announced the PT1911 at least a couple of years prior to one actually hitting the shelves.

 

[spyderdude]

I've owned the Springfield GI, and it's a good gun for the money. I paid 479 NIB, but had to sell it due to financial problems. I now own a Springfield Mil-Spec, but haven't had the chance to shoot it yet. I haven't had any experience with other 1911s other than Springfield. The Mil-Spec is maybe 100-150 more than the GI depending on used or new.

 

[Rob96]

Actually, the 1911 was in development before the 24/7 had them. It's a Heinie sight, and Heinie built it specifically for the PT1911. They are very good sights, and so Taurus is now offering straight 8's on most new Taurus autos.

I have read just the opposite. The sight is the only Hienie will allow them to make under license.

 

[Rob96]

I forgot to mention I also had a 4.5# trigger job done.

The rear sights were already being used on the 24/7 yes. They worked great and Taurus wanted them for the 1911 so they designed there 1911 to exept those sights.

See my above reply.

The finish is a minner issue and only comes into play if you holster it and un holster it all the time. You can always have the slide refinished how ever you want for around $100.00.

With what they sell for now, you are then up to what I spent if you refinish the gun.

That would take car of your complaints and still save you $200.00 and IMO you still have an even better pistol then the Mil Spec with $420.00 worth of work

Not for what they are selling the PT1911 now. And you don't have a better gun simply because with the route I took, all the parts were hand fit, not assebly production. Plus i got to choose the parts. Just with the rear sight alone, it looks better on the gun, looks like it belongs there, plus it is an improvement over the Hienie that is used.

 

[michiganfan]

I second th Springfield GI mine has been very reliable. As for Taurus I have owned three guns that had to go back to the factory. Two were Taurus. One was KelTec Giving them credit the guns were perfect when they came back

 

[jkomp316]

its hard to mess up a 1911, i see the Taurus PT1911 as a Springfield GI with some cheap extras. that said, The Taurus still has a forged frame/slide, comes with the flared ejection port and you can fit any aftermarket parts you'd like to it.

 

[daysleeprx]

The best out of the box 1911 for less then 800 right now is the Taurus PT1911.

I'd take an STI Spartan or RIA tactical before I'd go Taurus. For 800 I think you can even get a Springfield Loaded if you shop around.

I think Correia is about to start another STI group buy too, if you decide to go that route.

 

[the pistolero]

Is the Springfield pretty decent right out of the box?

The Springfield 1911s are excellent right out of the box in my experience. And if by chance you get one that isn't, Springfield will make it right. I got a parked GI for just shy of $430 OTD not quite a year and a half ago, and a parked Loaded for about $760 right before Christmas last year. (Could have gotten it for about 10% less, but my dealer couldn't get it from Davidson's and had to go to another wholesaler.) Springfield Armory will definitely be getting more of my business.
I don't know what the Taurus 1911 is going for now, but at $499 last August that would have been a steal of a deal considering all the extra goodies it came with. If I'd gone back a couple of days earlier to the particular gun store I saw that one at, I'd have gotten it.

 

[Chipperman]

its hard to mess up a 1911

I've seen more messed up 1911's than any other type of pistol.

 

[ID_shooting]

IMHO For a budget 1911, look around for a Sistema. Just found mine for $300.00. They are the closest thing to an original Colt 1911A1 hands down. It is even listed in the Colt section of the Blue Book. Hard to get much more closer than that.

So long as the frame and slide are good to go, you can spiff it up however you want and still come in under $1000.

 

[MPanova]

I can still find the PT1911 for $499.00 a tthe gun shows in houston. Im not sure what dealers are marking them up elsewhere

 

[jkomp316]

the best 1911 for under $500 is the Taurus.

for $500-700 I would pick a Springfield.

for $700-1000 I would pick a Colt.

 

[Liberty1776]

I bought the Charles Daly. It is a perfect gun and exceptionally accurate - BUT - it only feeds hardball, and the ramp has been cut back so much (factory) that there's no leeway to adjust for any other load. If I was to spend the money again (who am I kidding, of course I'll spend the money again...) my sights are on the Taurus.

 

[kentucky_smith]

I'd take an STI Spartan or RIA tactical before I'd go Taurus.

x2

 

[trbon8r]

At the risk of being called the proverbial fly in the ointment, the Taurus 1911s have been out for what now, a matter of months? Yet I keep hearing these guns being recommended as being all that and a bag of chips. Shouldn't we give these guns a little more time on the firing line to establish a track record for durability before proclaiming them "best".

 

[XavierBreath]

Is the Springfield pretty decent right out of the box?

Yes. $430 for a used five inch parkerized 1911 is fair if it's in decent shape, but $400 is a lot better.

How is the reliabiltiy?

The five inch GI45 is a reliable 1911. It will shoot most any ammunition.

The sights are small GI style sights. The benefit is they are snag free. The GI45 will occasionally bean the shooter on the head with ejected brass. That's because of the GI ejection port, and the need to send brass up and out, not to the side.

If you want a basic 1911, the GI45 is a great value. Go here to learn how to check out a used 1911 before you buy it.

If you want a high speed whiz bang nuclear sighted Buck Rogers 1911, you might want to consider the Taurus 1911. They have been getting good reviews, and they are in your price range.

 

[BAT1]

Budget .45

SA Milspec. I picked up a SS loaded Champ for 700.00. It's perfect!

 

[gunfighter48]

At the risk of being called the proverbial fly in the ointment, the Taurus 1911s have been out for what now, a matter of months? Yet I keep hearing these guns being recommended as being all that and a bag of chips. Shouldn't we give these guns a little more time on the firing line to establish a track record for durability before proclaiming them "best".
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Didn't the PT1911 come out about Sept/06? It's been out long enough to establish a very good beginning. I have fired over 1700 rds thru two of them with out any problems. It's been very accurate and 100% reliable out of the box. I very much recommend the PT 1911 as a great budget priced 1911.

If you want to know how good a pistol is, listen to the users. The one thing that is constant on the newgroups is that if there is a problem with a particular gun you will hear about it forever on the gun boards. Do a search on the PT1911 and you'll hear 95% or better GOOD reviews by users.