Budget Priced 1911

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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.
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Go to the Taurus page on forum.m1911.org and you'll see a page full of people with problems.
 
I've got Spartans for really cheap, and I've got some in stock right now, plus I start a new STI group buy today.

No offense to Taurus, I think they make a good gun for the money, but the Spartan is an awesome gun for the money.
 
i have had my pt 1911 for a year now and have shot more than 1500 rds with no problems and I carry it as my ccw everyday the finish is standing up just find.I had s.a gov.1911 some years ago and sold that piece of junk it had ftf and fte all the time and shot 2feet low 20 yards
 
I'll second Kentucky's post. Go to m1911.org and check out the reviews and the manufacturers threads. See what issues people are having and what they like. Stop by the gunsmithing section and see what modifications really improve the workings of the gun and which are merely cool sounding ideas

You really can't go wrong with a basic 1911. I have a springfield loaded I bought as my first 1911 (range gun) and am currently shopping for a more basic fun/carry 1911. I'm leaning towards the SA milspec or an RIA tactical. I do like the Novak tritium sights on the loaded though.

Dave
 
1911 for 550

SA Mil Spec, not GI, for the bigger sights and ejection port. Should be a new one or a used one around somewhere in your price range. If you can come up with a bit more, the loaded SA's are tasty. Cheers, TF
 
I have both the PT1911 (Taurus) and RIA Tactical.
The RIA shoots a tad low, but other than that, they both function fine for me.
 
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I have the RIA. I really like it when it works. It has broken 2 barrel links about 400 rounds. Maybe it's just bad luck. I haven't gotten around to fixing it again.
 
That sort of poll on the 1911 forum is perfect, votes from actually owners of the pistol in question, thanks for that link ;)
 
Thanks A lot guys, This is Going to be a fun trip to the range when I get it. I think I will get the GI SA 1911.

Thanks A Lot!
 
Not that it's a huge deal, but to back up my statement that the sights were made for the PT1911 and then stuck on the other guns, I looked up the Shooting Times review that served as my introduction to this gun. In the article, Dick Metcalf says this:

Incidentally, Taurus is also installing Heinie Straight Eight sights as standard equipment on all Taurus Model 24/7 pistols as of this year.
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Maybe I am wrong, but I interpret this as saying that the Straight Eight's were designed for the PT1911, Taurus found that they are excellent sights and thus decided to slap them on every pistol they could. By the way, to respond to the 3 instant messages I got explaining to me that the sights were not invented for the PT1911, I was aware of that. I am simply talking about their application on Taurus pistols as OEM sights, not the overall development of the concept.

In any event, I personally think the Straight Eights are fantabulous, and I wish I had them on every single one of my "combat" pistols.
 
i've had bad experiences with the springfield GI and milspec. but i absolutely love my springfield loaded. i just can't believe i read somewhere in this thread that the best 1911 for under 800 bucks is a taurus... taurus? really?!?!?!
 
I'll throw in my vote for the STI Spartan as well.

I've had people point out before that I praise the pistol because I happen to sell them. The truth is I sell them because I think they are great guns for the money backed by a great company. I personally shoot one and like it a lot. I've got nicer 1911s, but for the money it is hard to beat.
 
IMO, the STI Spartan is the best valued 1911 on the market right now. I'm thinking about buying another one.
 
Well I was thinking of buying a PT 1911 but if they only come with straight eight heinie sights and can't be fitted with three dot tritiums, I will go back to SA and settle on that I guess. I can't stand those damn straight eights.
 
You can get 3 dot sights from Hienie for the PT1911, Also you can get other sights that should work aswell. Do a little more research on the sights available for the PT1911 before you mack your finall decision
 
I have a Springfield GI. I would go with a Rock Island from a gun show for cheap then maybe put some nicer grips on it. I would definitely try to find something with better than GI sights. Of course I'm primarily a Glock shooter, so that's part of my problem. I'm used to big, square, easy to find sights and I just haven't given my 1911 enough range time.
 
I just ran 100 rounds through my newly purchased Rock Island compact, mix of hollow points and fmj.

Shoots VERY well for a 3.5" gun. No failures at all. Fairly accurate too. My 1991 Colt Commander didn't shoot this good.
 
Another vote for the Springfield Armory 1911. I bought mine used at a local gun shop and it shot great. Since I bought it, I've been slowly customizing it to my taste. I put in a Wilson combat match grade 3.5# trigger, a sigle sided extended safety, Hogue wrap around rubber grips, and I use Wilson Combat 8 round mags in it. So far it's one of my favorite handguns.
 
I've had a Pt1911 for a couple of months. It's been a great shooter. Makes me look like I know how to shoot because it has a tendency to make one big hole at 15 yards. I claim no credit, I know I'm not that good. Mine has a great trigger. The sights took about 8 rounds to get used to. It's shot everything I've fed it without problem. Seems very reliable, but time will tell on that.

I looked hard to find something I didn't like about the pistol and finally decided that I didn't like the grips. A $20 investment in Hogue wraparounds fixed that.
 
No no no

Mav,

If you want a reliable .45 out of the box, and you are new to handgunning, I suggest you buy something other than a 1911.

You'd probably be most happy with a used SIG, which is going to be more reliable out of the gate. You should even look at the XD and M&P lines.
 
I don't think 1911's are any less reliable than Sig's, M&P's and the like. They are a bit expensive way to learn to shoot.

If it's first handgun, you might be better off dropping half your stash into a .22 and learn to shoot it well. Much cheaper ammo will give you more range time. Ruger MKIII's (regular and 22/45), Buck Marks and S&W 22A's are, from my experience, excellent, reliable and accurate .22's and the ammo cost is about 10% of the cost of low-end .45.
 
You'd probably be most happy with a used SIG, which is going to be more reliable out of the gate. You should even look at the XD and M&P lines
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Eh... I don't know that he would be any happier with a Sig than he would be with anything else. I know SIGS have a pretty big fanbase, but I have never cared for them personally.
 
Well The first handgun I shot was a 1911, And i have been shooting them since, I have never OWNED one is what im saying(I have shot quite a few handguns). I like the way an all steel pistol feels in my hand really, the polymer guns are allright, but theres just something about a 1911. Most of the 1911s I shot were Colts, but That isnt in my price range as of now.

And I know Im about to get some guy whose life is polymer pistols come in here and breath fire on me:uhoh::neener:

Thanks
 
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