"It's impossible to get a quality 1911 made in the USA for under $2,000"

[StrikeFire83]

For years I've been hearing this statement. Over and over and over again, as if it's internet-firearm gospel. My Kimber Custom II was $700 and was never consistently reliable with anything other than 230 gr. fmj., so I sold it at a loss and assumed that you needed to pay at least 2 grand for a reliable, US-made 1911.

This,

http://www.ruger.com/products/sr1911/models.html

has me thinking that maybe this is no longer the case.

Can't wait until the reviews/range reports start flowing in.

 

[Just One Shot]

Here's a 14:48 min review you can watch.

http://www.downrange.tv/blog/down-range-videos/

 

[StrikeFire83]

^ Awesome, thanks. Good stuff there. I just found the Gunblast review, too.

Professional reviews are fine and dandy, but I'm always a bit suspicious of them. Especially from outfits that never seem to find anything bad to say about products that later turn out to be duds. I never buy a gun until the lowly consumer "range reports" start flooding in. It looks like Ruger is doing everything right, so I'm excited to see what regular folks who buy theirs in the store and shoot the snot out of 'em have to say.

 

[Auto426]

One word: Colt.

High quality guns that for the most part are priced under $1000 and they are entirely U.S. made.

The Ruger is another option, and although they are doing some unique things and it's 100% American made, they still won't have the same parts quality as a Colt, and the Colt doesn't cost that much more.

 

[rcmodel]

My Kimber Custom II was $700 and was never consistently reliable with anything other than 230 gr. fmj.,

Ive never seen a Kimber yet that can't be made 100% reliable with about 5 minutes & a Dremel cratex tip to knock off the sharp edges left on the chamber & feed ramp.

But there are any number of very reliable 1911's being made that sell for well under 2 grand!

Was I in the market, I would buy a real Colt, or maybe even a S&W.

rc

 

[StrikeFire83]

Ive never seen a Kimber yet that can't be made 100% reliable with about 5 minutes & a Dremel cratex tip to knock off the sharp edges left on the chamber & feed ramp.

I'm not a gunsmith, I don't own a Dremel, and I don't believe in the school of thought that says it is reasonable to spend additional time engaging in kitchen table gunsmithing on a new product to make it reliable. Never had to do that with my Glock, my CZ, or my Kahr PM9 (some failures before the 200 rd break-in period was over, but nothing after). I owned an XD-45 that was reliable out of the box. And my new XD-9sc has been 100% as well.


You're both right about Colt, I totally forgot about the original. Although don't the Series 70s start at right around a grand? (Granted, even that is less than 2K)

Auto426, do you have any reason why their parts are better quality than Ruger parts? I have no reason doubt you, as I'm no 1911 expert, but Ruger has a great rep for quality and reliability.

 

[Effigy]

If you're a 1911 fan for aesthetic reasons I can totally understand, but from a functional standpoint I have a hard time understanding the market for $1000+ 1911s. There are many other .45 auto pistols that are just as reliable and accurate as a 1911, with more modern features, and can be had for $700-1000. Some examples are SIG Sauer P220, H&K USP (and related models), and FNP-45.

I don't feel like I'd be getting my money's worth buying a $2000 1911 unless I was a collector, or a competition shooter and bought a custom model (which, in all likelihood, would be over $2000 anyway).

 

[2wheels]

Colt New Agent, $885. 100 round break in, perfectly reliable since then.
Springfield EMP, $1200. Only 250 rounds so far, zero malfunctions.

Those are just MY 1911s, I've fired plenty of great American 1911s that go for way under 2 grand, even under 1 grand.

 

[StrikeFire83]

My my ignorance I was thinking about the customs like Ed Brown, Wilson, etc. Maybe the thread title should have been "Under $1,000" instead of "Under $2,000". Although people seem to be saying (who knows how reliable this info is) that the SR1911 will be street priced at around $650, which would seem to make it pretty untouchable IF the quality/reliability is holds up. All of this is just speculation at this point, though.

 

[2wheels]

My my ignorance I was thinking about the customs like Ed Brown, Wilson, etc. Maybe the thread title should have been "Under $1,000" instead of "Under $2,000". Although people seem to be saying (who knows how reliable this info is) that the SR1911 will be street priced at around $650, which would seem to make it pretty untouchable IF the quality/reliability is holds up. All of this is just speculation at this point, though.

I don't keep track of the streetprice of every 1911 out there, but I know that many Colts, Springers, and S&Ws all go for under a grand.

1911s aren't as cheap as Glocks, that's for sure, but you don't need a 2k budget.

 

[TonyT]

The Dan Wesson Pointman series guns are exceptional value even at their newer/higher price point. Very tight fit, excellent custom parts, great factory trigger, and some come with checkered frontstaps and full length slide ribs.

 

[mljdeckard]

My Custom II has been pretty much perfect. I have never had a reason to run anything other than 230 gr ammo through it. And I paid $630 for it.

 

[Zerodefect]

Unless you cut corners somewhere a 1911 is going to be $1500+. Want one with custom sights and a Glock like finish that wears good and deosn't rust? $2000.

Cast parts, MIM parts, chinese springs, plastic MSH's, loose fitting or no custom fitting at all, obsolete sights, cheap rusty finishes are all ways used to bring prices down.

No quality control is another popular corner that gets cut alot.

Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want. But for good stuff, with no shortcuts, it's a $1500+ gun.

If your a real picky shooter, and you know exactly what you want, and how your 1911 should fit Your hands........$2000 isn't a big deal. Especially compared to costs like range time, ammo, training, etc.

 

[Winkman822]

Les Baer makes some sub-$2,000.00 guns that are super. In addition I'd say Smith & Wesson is a good choice for a reliable out of box, U.S. made 1911. The Springfield TRP, MC Operator and EMP are also outstanding U.S. built (although from frames and slides forged in Brazil) guns under the $2k mark.

 

[Kingcreek]

I'm really glad I put those 30,000 rounds through my Springfield Armory 1911 and a Colt series 70 before reading this thread.

 

[StrikeFire83]

My Custom II has been pretty much perfect. I have never had a reason to run anything other than 230 gr ammo through it. And I paid $630 for it.

If it had run 230 gr. JHPs in a reliable manner, that would have been fine. But as I said in my original post, anything other than 230 gr. FMJ was a hot mess. Every gun I own is a self-defense gun, and if it doesn't run JHPs, it doesn't stay around very long. That said, I'm glad your Custom II was reliable. Mine wasn't and I'm definitely not alone.

 

[StrikeFire83]

I'm really glad I put those 30,000 rounds through my Springfield Armory 1911 and a Colt series 70 before reading this thread.

As I said earlier: I totally forgot about Colt, which is stupid on my part because they started the party 100 years ago. As for Springfield 1911, while I don't doubt they're great guns, they're not made in the USA. Frankly, I don't care AS MUCH about the "Made in USA" as some, look at my guns and you'll see that bears fruit. But if Ruger can put out a class-leading 1911 in the $650 price range and it happens to be 100% made in the USA, that's just a bonus. As I've said, these are big IFs right now.

Unless you cut corners somewhere a 1911 is going to be $1500+. Want one with custom sights and a Glock like finish that wears good and deosn't rust? $2000.

Cast parts, MIM parts, chinese springs, plastic MSH's, loose fitting or no custom fitting at all, obsolete sights, cheap rusty finishes are all ways used to bring prices down.

No quality control is another popular corner that gets cut alot.

Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you want. But for good stuff, with no shortcuts, it's a $1500+ gun.

The SR1911 has Novak sights, metal MSH, and no cheap Chinese springs. As for Ruger's casting the frames, well, you've got me there. Although I've seen Sp-101s and GPs with thousands and thousands of rounds through them with no problems, and they're cast. Doesn't seem like much of an issue. My Glock has an MIM slide stop, and 12,000 rounds later I'm not complaining.

 

[zstephens13]

What about this one?

rcmodel,
Here's a Kimber that has never seen the business end of a dremel tool and has never jammed. In the month I've had it I have shot over 1,500 rounds, so its well past its "break in" period and had a good amount of rounds through it.

It's 100% American-made for $850.

 

[StrikeFire83]

^ If you have a gun that runs perfectly and you enjoy shooting it, my hat's off to you. Keep it, shoot it, enjoy it.

My Custom II, as I have said, was completely unreliable with anything other than 230 gr. FMJ.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Lots of 2000 and less good 1911's out their Colt and S&W are under a grand Dan Wesson, Fusion, and others All my Colts have ran perfect right out of box Their all more accurate than I am By Dan Wesson is a great pistol also. You can shop and find a good 1911 for less than 2000 many Less than 1000 . Ruger will remain to be seen. Seem they need a couple of recalls to get right. When comes to hand guns.

 

[BullfrogKen]

It's tough to get anything made in the USA that requires a lot of machine work and hand assembly for a cheap price.

1911s require a lot more machine work and hand assembly than most handguns. I don't think you need to spend $2,000 to get something good. I have, because I wanted features that required custom work to get, but it's not necessary.

 

[Pizzagunner]

If you're a 1911 fan for aesthetic reasons I can totally understand, but from a functional standpoint I have a hard time understanding the market for $1000+ 1911s. There are many other .45 auto pistols that are just as reliable and accurate as a 1911, with more modern features, and can be had for $700-1000.

Forgive my snickering, but what are "more modern features?"

Some examples are SIG Sauer P220

Crummy trigger, two modes of firing, fragile aluminum frame, can't hold a candle to cocked and locked.

H&K USP (and related models)

Fat German plastic lab queens with even worse triggers.

and FNP-45.

Fat, ginormous, plastic and no track record.

I don't feel like I'd be getting my money's worth buying a $2000 1911 unless I was a collector, or a competition shooter and bought a custom model (which, in all likelihood, would be over $2000 anyway).

You are perhaps unintentionally embodying the old saying, "Some people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."

It's okay though. That's why those lesser pistols are on the market.

 

[Armedleprechaun]

I'm really excited about the new Ruger 1911.

 

[shrewd]

cz-97?

 

[fastbolt]

The latest new 1911's I bought were a Colt Government XSE and a SW1911(5" SC model). Both were reliable with assorted duty-type JHP loads right out of the box (after the normal cleaning, inspection & lubrication, of course).

I did not, however, use the Colt magazines in their provided 8-rd configuration using the folded leaf follower and short spring. I converted them to 7-rd magazines with the (Metalform) original dimpled follower and a 11lb Wolff spring. The other magazines I consistently rely upon are from Trip Research and ACT-MAG (including the Wolff version).

I paid just under $700 for each of them. Both are well-made, quality guns capable of the expected level of good functioning and reliability I desire for "working" guns which serve duty as dedicated defensive weapons.

If I ever pay more than a thousand dollars for a 1911 it'll only be because it has the name of some person's custom firearms company, the S&W Performance Center or some other recognized and well established factory "custom shop" name on the gun. Not because I feel it's necessary in order to receive optimal feeding & functioning in a working gun.

As far as non-1911 .45's? I have that covered with my S&W 3rd gen CS45 & 4513TSW, a Ruger KP90DC and my M&P 45 ... all of which offer excellent reliability for working guns.

The M&P 45 in particular has demonstrated excellent practical accuracy starting with the first magazine load, despite the initially heavy and somewhat rough trigger (albeit with a consistently precise enough trigger break).

I'm thinking about ordering one of the new Enhanced Series SW1911's, too. S&W has been listening to its customers and has made some nice revisions to their already excellent SW1911's in the E-Series line.