Help with 1911 Choices

[Zombie_Flesh]

Ok... I have decided to get a good full size 1911 in .45. My budget is about $1,500 so most of the high-end guns are out.

I know people say Kimbers are great, but I don't want to spend a lot more money for a Kimber if a Springfield is just as good or better. I am interested in quality and performance not name.

I do not plan on using this as my main carry gun, but don't want to rule it out, nor will this be a safe queen.

 

[David E]

STI single stacks have better internal parts that Kimbers. I'd check out one of those, first.

Still, any Kimber that strikes your fancy can be considered, as well.

Next up are the S&W 1911's, the Loaded Springfields and the Para Ordnance versions.

 

[GRAYRID3R]

http://www.coltsmfg.com/products-c5-COLT_PISTOLS.aspx

 

[Black Majik]

If it has to be new, with an absolute max of $1500, I'd look for a Springfield TRP.

It has plentiful amount of features, and the lack of a firing pin safety is attractive.

The 2nd option would be a Dan Wesson. Also lacking a FPS, DWs are probably one of the best values available today. Only problem is trying to locate one. I'm confident you can pick up a DW Valor under $1500.

 

[CWL]

Dan Wesson. Forget about finding a Valor though, I've been looking for one for over a year.

 

[doubs43]

Why not a genuine Colt?

The question you ask is a frequent one and the results will be the same: "I like what I own so buy that." It's fun to read the answers but in the end you still won't have a clear choice. Good luck though.

 

[David E]

I don't own an STI single stack. A student of mine does, tho, and it's a fine gun.

Colt isn't the only game in town anymore and there are better options available.

 

[SRT1]

Dan Wessons line offers some of the best value for the money on the market today. Fit/finish, lack of MIM, accuracy due to match barrels and hand fitting in the assembly process, great customer service - I could go on and on.
For $1,500, you could fall into the realm of a custom Fusion firearm as well. Hand built and with the options YOU want on your pistol. The trigger, hammer, finish, grips, frame, etc, etc that YOU choose. Give Bob a call (just PM me for the number) or email at [email protected] for a free quote. He's a very nice guy and will take the time to answer any and all questions for you. Tell him "Ryan" sent you. I recently had him build a commander bobtail and went way above and beyond on what I wanted on it, and how I wanted it configured, and it was not very much over your limit, so I know you're in the zone for something that's not as "over the top" as mine was.
Good luck!
SRT

 

[mljdeckard]

If Kimbers with MIM parts are doomed to fail, then mine, as well as those owned by several friends of mine must be defective. My own experience has not shown MIM parts to be more likely to cause a failure than any other part at any pricepoint.

I tried a LOT of other guns before I settled on Kimber, I don't ever see myself changing.

 

[PO2Hammer]

For $1,500, you could find a Les Baer PII.

I spent $1,900 on a PII in .38 Super (ramped .38s are +$280 to the base price). Mine is one from the new Iowa plant.

Very good value for the money. Slide, frame and barrel are all top quality match grade parts that are hand fitted. Hand cut front strap checkering.

Great trigger, superb accuracy.

Some small part are molded (rear sight, slide lock etc) . I added a Wilson B.P. slide lock and a Caspian Bo Mar rear (real nice sight) and a single side safety.

 

[PO2Hammer]

ps, the new Colts on display, series 70!, seem real nice and are under a grand.

Love my Baer, but miss the pony.

 

[David E]

No one said MiM'd parts are "doomed to fail."

Wire EDM'd parts are superior to MiM'd, but that doesn't mean the MiM'd parts are trash. Shoot and have fun !

 

[kanook]

I know where a nice TLE/RL, blued, with night sites is for around $1,000

 

[cjw3cma]

COLT.

Buy the original. Doesn't have to be a new one but for the money, buy a COLT.

 

[DeepSouth]

Springfield Loaded, or Colt.

The Kimbers are hit or miss, lots of "mine has run 100%" just as many "not worth a crap" I don't take that kind of chance with that kind of money.

And the Springer is the only one with a lifetime warranty, you'll probably never have to use it but it's nice to know it's there.

 

[Zerodefect]

Lets all call Dan Wesson every day and say "Valor...Valor...you want to make more Valors."

 

[faustopph]

If I had $1500

If I had $1500, I Would buy 3 Metro Arms,American Classic II's.I bought one and it is one heck of a pistol for the price.They are the same pistol as the Firestorm 1911's.Metro Arms also makes frames,I believe for some STI pistol's.This is a highly respected manufacturer and has just started to import to the U.S. Mine was $435 and change.Vey good fit and finish, and it shoots very well.

 

[atomd]

I'd really like one of those Dan Wesson Valors too. Too bad you can't get them anywhere. I think the cheapest they went for was somewhere around $1200 or so. At the $1500 range I'd be tempted to toss some more into the pot and get a Baer or a Brown. Someone just sold a NIB Ed Brown special forces for $1750 on here the other day. That's the kind of thing I'd be looking for if I had that kind of money to spend.

 

[glocks rock]

For 1500 you can find a Baer . If not I'd go Colt. 70 series repro.

 

[Ala Dan]

I'd look for a slightly used (but NOT abused) Les Baer Thunder Ranch
Special, or a Premeire II. We recently sold a one owner Baer TRS for
$1495 with box, three magazines, and all doc's. These come with the
Trijicon night sights as OEM~!

Just fuel for thought- If $$$$ start of the a problem, look at the plain
Jane stainless steel 5" S&W 1911 with Novak three dot sights. Close to
$800 NIB, these are another excelllent choice, in a 1911~!

 

[weisse52]

Colt isn't the only game in town anymore and there are better options available.

I would of course say that a Colt is a great choice. That is based on owning them, not what I read on the internet. The product they are producing now is second to none.
You can spend more and buy a copy is you desire.....

In that range you can find several nice pieces, (Colts and copies) and American made to boot!

 

[hinton03]

It is interesting people count out Kimber because of MIM parts? I have never owned a Kimber but when I was having a custom gun built on a Colt 1991 Commander I talked to the Smith about MIM parts and he said that there is no problem with them and he doesn't remove them unless requested.

There are also plenty of posts here, some from people in the metal business, where they testify that MIM parts are superior in some applications.

 

[surjimmy]

Les Baer all the way.

 

[dzmedia]

MY favorite gun by far has been my springfield armory 4" 1911 champion operator. To wich i added the crimson trace grips. A friend of mine just got a custom 10mm 1911 and says its the best handgun he has ever shot. So maybe look into ammunition other than .45 as well.

 

[JTQ]

$1,500 is a good area to be in for a 1911. I'd recommend the Colt Series 70 Repro ($900ish), STI Trojan ($1,000ish), STI Lawman ($1,300ish), and the S&W 1911's. For Commander sized 1911's I like the S&W PD and Gunsite models and the Colt Commander (model #04691).

For the STI pistols take a look at Brazos Custom or Dawson Precision and their "tune up package" or whatever they call it, where they tune up the trigger and go over the pistol to catch any odd error that may have slipped through factory QC.