If money weren't a factor...

[Prince Yamato]

I know the default answer is Wilson, Nighthawk, or Ed Brown, but I'd do a Sig Sauer custom shop.

 

[tarosean]

Money no object??

Joe Chambers
Stan Chen
Heirloom Precision
Chuck Rogers
Terry Tussey


I already have ones from LB, EB, WC and NHC so the next step will be a full custom..

 

[Sheepdog1968]

A genuine USGI 1911. Though not listed on their website, you can get them from Miltech all nicely restored.

 

[beatledog7]

If having the money to buy any 1911 in the world was a non-factor, I'd still prefer something else.

I suppose I might get a couple of original ones with provenance, for investment purposes.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I'd like a 38 super of some flavor from Nighthawk Custom.

 

[The Good]

Yesterday, 06:10 PM #10
JTQ

Those that really want, and can appreciate a 1911, don't need to be talked into getting one. If you need to be talked into it, you will no doubt be disappointed.

You should pass, and get another of what you're shooting now.

Um.. Where did i say i needed to be talked into it? I said i'm buying a 1911. I asked for advice to help decide which one

 

[JTQ]

The Good wrote,
Um.. Where did i say i needed to be talked into it? I said i'm buying a 1911. I asked for advice to help decide which one

The Good wrote,
If you really think spending a lot of cash on a 1911 would be a mistake, i'd like to know why.. And if there's a handgun you think would be a smarter choice, i'll be open minded

It seems to me you are not convinced the 1911 is the pistol for you.

I'm not saying you're one of them, but there are lots of guys on the gun forums that have lived their entire lives within the "Glock age". The priorities for this group of folks is typically light weight and high capacity. They also typically have a price point understanding that all pistols should cost around $500. They find themselves participating on gun forums and see lots of folks commenting positively on their 1911's, so they decide to jump on the bandwagon.

Within a few days of buying their new 1911, you'll begin to see their posts of regret, such as...

- Why is this gun so heavy? There is no way I'd ever consider carrying it.
- Where can I find reliable 15 round mags for this gun, there's no way I'd trust my life to a gun with only 7 round mags.
- There is no way I'd every consider carrying this gun, working that thumb safety is just too complicated. You know, in a life or death situation, the first thing you'll lose are your fine motor skills.
- Is there some way I can get rid of the grip safety? I read on the internet, it's possible the gun won't fire if you don't grip it correctly. There are so many possible scenarios where I just know I won't be able to get the perfect grip, and the possibility the gun won't fire when I need it, really concerns me.
- Do you guys really carry this thing cocked and locked? It just seems so scary.
- I haven't shot it yet, but I'm looking for some upgrade parts. I'd like to put in a new trigger, the one's with holes in them look so cool. I want to do it myself, because these local gunsmith's are charging way too much for such an easy parts swap.
- How come this aftermarket trigger, barrel, thumb safety, grip safety, sights, hammer, bushing, etc., doesn't just drop in? They said it was a "drop in" part in the catalog.
- I bought these excellent mags at the gun show for $10, but I'm beginning to think they may be causing some of my problems. The guy at the gun show said they were authentic GI mags and were better than those fancy Wilson and Tripp mags people pay way too much for.
- I can't believe I spent $1,000 for this "high end" 1911 and I had two failures to feed within my first 100 rounds. I know some will blame those gun show mags I bought, but there is no way I'd ever consider trusting my life to this gun.
- I buried my gun in the back yard last week just before the hurricane hit, just to give it a little SHTF reliability test. Today I dug it up, and before I even tried to run my 250gr flat point, cast handloads through the gun, with my gun show mags, to test its' reliability, I noticed there was a spot of rust on the blued slide. I can't believe a blued slide would rust so easily. That never happened with my Glock.

Most of the 1911 guys will laugh at every one of those points above. They are aware of the pistol's weight, capacity, cost, needs, etc. They understand the pistol's limitations, and every gun has limitations, but they are willing to accept those limitations because the things the 1911 does well for them, outweighs those limitations.

However, there are lots of guys on the forum that will read those points, and say, "that's right, that really is a problem with the 1911". If you are one of those guys, you'd probably be better off with something else.

 

[X-Rap]

You have laid out a very good case for those who want a Boutique type of gun that is highly customized, hand fitted and expensive to what is probably a specific type of bullet or load. There is nothing wrong with owning something like that but to not recognize the shortcomings is folly.
No one can deny the popularity of the 1911 but having had a number of them from different manufacturers I am convinced that their out of the box dependability is less than stellar. If money were not a factor I have no doubt that one could have a pretty dependable weapon but it would also be very similar to a rare sports car in that it would take a special mechanic to make it perform at its best when it needed to be repair or serviced.

 

[hardluk1]

With money as an object to ponder and a limited budget a RIA gi 5" for 409 bucks . With money not an object and accuracy and quality at the top of the list a Clark Customs set up how you want it.

 

[MAG-63]

Pistol Dynamics Combat Special

 

[MCMXI]

I've got three Ed Browns and wouldn't spend much more on a 1911 than the $2,600 I spent for the most expensive one. However, there are two things I'd like to change with the EBs I have. I'd like to have Heinie Straight Eight Ledge sights on two of them (one already has a 10-8 U-notch rear sight), and I'd like to upgrade the Gen 3 coating to "Hard Hat" or similar. Basically an Ed Brown with those additional features would satisfy every 1911 need or desire for me and would bring the total cost to around $3,000.

I've got rifles that cost in the $6,000 to $7,000 range but I sure as heck wouldn't spend that kind of money on a handgun. I have no interest in owning a high end custom 1911 from any of the top tier builders but I'll spend a bunch of money on a production rifle.

 

[sidheshooter]

Let me grab my flame-retardant suit real quick.

My cousin has owned an Ed Brown 1911, and another Nighthawk Custom 1911. He sold both and now owns firearms by Hk, SIG, and Glock. He says the 1911s couldn't hold a candle to the others as far as reliability is concerned.

I'd still like a 1911 eventually, but it's no rush.

As an aside, my brother owns a Springfield 1911 Loaded and really enjoys it. He doesn't carry it, ever, but its a fun range toy.

The 1911 is over 100 years old. I look at it this way: I love 60's pony cars and 70's muscle cars. This place down the road from me has this unbelievably well-preserved 72 roadrunner--in that odd green with matching vinyl/woodgrain interior and the original fat mags on it. I'm in love.

But no way I'd take that thing over my current BMW product (with its ABS, traction control, heated seats, gas mileage and fierce handling) for a cross country trip.

Those comparisons always miss the point. I'm not a door-kicker, so I can espouse the virtues of a 1911 or my P and R S&W 13 .357 and its deep blue all day long. I just wish I could also have that roadrunner to drive my vintage pieces to and from the range.

But I'm way off track here. Money no object? Probably two STI rangers in 9mm, dozens of mags, several holsters, tens of thousands of premium SD rounds and every reputable class that I can find stateside to see how reliable the 1911 platform is for myself. I'd make a good training bum if work was off the table.

 

[ATLDave]

Probably some sort of STI or SVI race gun.

 

[Sapper771]

If money were no option, my first choice would be a Springfield Armory Professional Model . Second would be a Colt Special Combat Gov't model.

I have owned several $2,000+ 1911s (LB , WC, and Fusion). If I could go back and do it again, I would have just bought a Glock 19 , a good holster, and several cases of 9mm ammo.

 

[buckhorn_cortez]

JTQ nailed it and made me laugh all the way through his post.

You either get it or you don't when it comes to 1911's. They're not modern, plastic pistols - I own HK's, SIGs, and XDm's - and I don't expect a 1911 to run like them. A 1911 is maintenance intensive compared to modern designs, and can be finicky outside of proven ammunition types.

Take care of the pistol, run proven ammunition, and the gun will run reliably. If you'd like to see a real world endurance test go to Todd Green's website for his Springfield/Warren 9mm 1911 Endurance Test Report. 50,286 rounds (to date), 14 stoppages, 0 malfunctions, and 4 parts breakages.

You have to understand, that running 9mm in a 1911 is an iffy proposition to begin with because of the slide weight and the results are a testament to Scott Warren and his ability to setup a 1911 for 9mm.

You can find 1911's that work out of the box for $600 - $1,000. One of my favorites that I carry daily is a SIG RCS ($859) using 230 grain Winchester PDX1 ammunition. You just need the right holster and a good gun belt - then the weight becomes a non-factor.

As for the money is no object - I own a Wilson Supergrade, Wilson CQB Elite, a Les Baer HW Monolith, and a full custom by Bob Marvel. If I wanted a real shooter in a moderate cost range - I'd pick the DW Valor. I own a Valor and a VBOB and both of those have run 100% with good magazines and quality ammunition.

 

[bannockburn]

1) Rogers Precision Custom Build
2) Ed Brown
3) Les Baer

 

[tuj]

have a les baer, but I'm the (long) list for a very special gun from Ed Masaki.

 

[Sam1911]

Probably go up north of here and talk to Jim Garthwaite. I'd need a matching BHP to go with it, of course.

 

[Deaf Smith]

If money weren't a factor...

I would be in Tahiti.

1911? Oh I'd just use my Colt Commander. It's a series 90 or so and works perfect.

See you will find all these fancy guns don't shoot all that much better than a stock one but when very dirty they will give you problems.

Like you said, if money wasn't a factor then I'd have tons off ammo for practice, and that is really what matters.

Deaf

 

[Brian Williams]

Money no object, I would be right next to Sam1911. http://www.garthwaite.com/
I might join one of his classes and do it myself.

 

[Goju]

The smoothest running, most accurate 1911 I've ever had the pleasure of running was a Commander customized by Jim Garthwaite...so that would be my choice.

 

[red rick]

Wilson Combat over $3000
Les Baer over $2000
Dan Wesson over $1500
Colt around $1000

 

[CountGlockulla]

I'm into full customs now after going through all the factory and semi-custom offerings.

Probably Chuck Rogers since I have a gun at Joe Chambers atm.

 

[el Godfather]

Nighthawk Custom Masterpiece.

Sig P226/220 Elite or Hk P30/45.

 

[gbw]

Pre-war mint condition blued Colt.