1911 for Dummy's (Me)
Moderator: carlson1
1911 for Dummy's (Me)
I really want a 1911 gov model, and have for sometime. I know Colt made the original, but I think there are other brands out there. Are all guns that style considered Gov models? I like the look of the Kimber, but I am on SSG pay! Please tell me your goods and bads. I figured I'd ask the experts for advice before I sink the money into it. Thanks
I found the Lord again--although he never lost me!
"Govt model" or "full size" are both used to describe the 5"gun.
Of all the top end out of the box guns I believe you get the most for your money from Springfield Armory.
Get a lot of oppinions & borrow all you can to shoot so you will learn what you like. My son is in San Antonio. We are talking about a visit that way in the near future. If you have not bought before then you will be welcome to shoot my Kimber Pro. It is a Commander length & alum frame.
Also SA 1911A1 which is a full size Stainless Steel.
Good shopping & good
ing.
Of all the top end out of the box guns I believe you get the most for your money from Springfield Armory.
Get a lot of oppinions & borrow all you can to shoot so you will learn what you like. My son is in San Antonio. We are talking about a visit that way in the near future. If you have not bought before then you will be welcome to shoot my Kimber Pro. It is a Commander length & alum frame.
Also SA 1911A1 which is a full size Stainless Steel.
Good shopping & good
ing.
Carry 24-7 or guess right.
CHL Instructor. http://www.pdtraining.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
NRA/TSRA Life Member - TFC Member #11
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Houston1944
- Senior Member
- Posts: 362
- Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:37 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
There are a lot of good 1911's out there but I believe the best for the money for now is the S&W. I bought one a couple of years ago and was so impressed that I got another one. I now have a "plain" S&W 1911 and a 5" alloy frame 1911PD model. They are both very good pistols and they were under $900.
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gregthehand
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1399
- Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 5:48 pm
- Location: NW Houston, TX
DSARGE,
If you care to provide a price range, I'm sure the 1911 gurus will get you to the best deals in that range. You'll get enough advise here because there are so many 1911 fans on this forum; however, in case you want more, check out http://www.1911forum.com/ anyway.
If you've never shot one, you should try some. The "government model" you mention refers to the size. There's a lot of "mods" that can be added, some you may not like. I know many people prefer upgraded sights for example.
Finally, as with any new gun purchase, you should also price out its ammo. You probably already know this, but I thought I'll mention it just in case.
If you care to provide a price range, I'm sure the 1911 gurus will get you to the best deals in that range. You'll get enough advise here because there are so many 1911 fans on this forum; however, in case you want more, check out http://www.1911forum.com/ anyway.
If you've never shot one, you should try some. The "government model" you mention refers to the size. There's a lot of "mods" that can be added, some you may not like. I know many people prefer upgraded sights for example.
Finally, as with any new gun purchase, you should also price out its ammo. You probably already know this, but I thought I'll mention it just in case.
I'm relatively new to 1911's myself. I got my first in January, and my second a few weeks later. Now I carry one.
My carry gun is a Springfield Loaded Parkerized, which comes with night sights.
My range gun is a Rock Island Armory GI model. Very inexpensive and runs as well as the Springfield. It even shoots slightly better, with me behind the trigger.
I got the Springer mainly because it comes with night sights, and I prefer them for carry.
If you have good eyes (which I do), the GI sights work just fine, provided you're not using the gun for defense or any speed competitions. I think that's one reason I shoot the Rock Island gun better, because the front sight is smaller, and therefore more precise.
So it all depends on your budget and your intended use for the pistol.
The GI model sometimes has sharp edges on the grip safety, and the spur hammer tends to bite those who shoot with a high grip (like me), so many people opt for a beavertail grip safety and a commander hammer.
I eased the edges on my GI grip safety and bobbed the hammer so the gun would be a little easier on my hands (I shoot both right and left handed).
The RIA was more dependable out of the box with hollow point ammo, and the Springer needed a slight touch up on the feed ramp. Not polished, mind you, just a little relief from the sharp edges of the machine marks.
Check out http://forum.m1911.org, and read all the posts you can stand by a gentleman known as 1911Tuner. He knows more about these pistols than most people will ever figure out, and he believes in John Moses Browning's original design because it works.
Be careful of "reliability jobs" that many folks hype up. Remember that most mods that folks have invented over the years have been for "race guns", which are far from the original 1911 platform. They're only improvements if they fit your intended purpose.
My carry gun is a Springfield Loaded Parkerized, which comes with night sights.
My range gun is a Rock Island Armory GI model. Very inexpensive and runs as well as the Springfield. It even shoots slightly better, with me behind the trigger.
I got the Springer mainly because it comes with night sights, and I prefer them for carry.
If you have good eyes (which I do), the GI sights work just fine, provided you're not using the gun for defense or any speed competitions. I think that's one reason I shoot the Rock Island gun better, because the front sight is smaller, and therefore more precise.
So it all depends on your budget and your intended use for the pistol.
The GI model sometimes has sharp edges on the grip safety, and the spur hammer tends to bite those who shoot with a high grip (like me), so many people opt for a beavertail grip safety and a commander hammer.
I eased the edges on my GI grip safety and bobbed the hammer so the gun would be a little easier on my hands (I shoot both right and left handed).
The RIA was more dependable out of the box with hollow point ammo, and the Springer needed a slight touch up on the feed ramp. Not polished, mind you, just a little relief from the sharp edges of the machine marks.
Check out http://forum.m1911.org, and read all the posts you can stand by a gentleman known as 1911Tuner. He knows more about these pistols than most people will ever figure out, and he believes in John Moses Browning's original design because it works.
Be careful of "reliability jobs" that many folks hype up. Remember that most mods that folks have invented over the years have been for "race guns", which are far from the original 1911 platform. They're only improvements if they fit your intended purpose.
I think everyone basically covers it all.
Kimber makes some pretty good stuff. Their fit and finish on their sub $1000 is excellent. Only thing I don't like is the Schwartz firing pin safety. Only Kimber(s) without one is the Kimber Warrior/Dessert Warrior, and and Series One. Kimber also stopped selling their tactical external extractor models because quite a few customers have had problems with them. Now all of them are internal.
Springfield Armory packs quite a bit of value in their 1911s. This is especially true on their Loaded PX9109. Other than the lawyers ILS, Springfield has stayed pretty true to Browning's design with no firing pin safety. Note many custom smiths like Yost/Bonitz, uses Springfield frame and slide for their products.
Most examples of Colts are very nice, but they are very proud of their products. If you have the money, I would go for a Series 70. The Series 80 and their 1991 model has the firing pin stop which you may or may not like.
Other brand I would consider looking at are:
Kahr (Auto Ordnance)
Smith and Wesson
Sig Arms
Dan Wesson
and Charles Daly.
I think all are sub $1000, and have decent quality.
Best of luck in your search.
One other thing you should aware is you will soon realize that 1911s tend to multiply. Try to keep it under control.
Kimber makes some pretty good stuff. Their fit and finish on their sub $1000 is excellent. Only thing I don't like is the Schwartz firing pin safety. Only Kimber(s) without one is the Kimber Warrior/Dessert Warrior, and and Series One. Kimber also stopped selling their tactical external extractor models because quite a few customers have had problems with them. Now all of them are internal.
Springfield Armory packs quite a bit of value in their 1911s. This is especially true on their Loaded PX9109. Other than the lawyers ILS, Springfield has stayed pretty true to Browning's design with no firing pin safety. Note many custom smiths like Yost/Bonitz, uses Springfield frame and slide for their products.
Most examples of Colts are very nice, but they are very proud of their products. If you have the money, I would go for a Series 70. The Series 80 and their 1991 model has the firing pin stop which you may or may not like.
Other brand I would consider looking at are:
Kahr (Auto Ordnance)
Smith and Wesson
Sig Arms
Dan Wesson
and Charles Daly.
I think all are sub $1000, and have decent quality.
Best of luck in your search.
One other thing you should aware is you will soon realize that 1911s tend to multiply. Try to keep it under control.
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stevie_d_64
- Senior Member
- Posts: 7590
- Joined: Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:17 pm
- Location: 77504
After owning two Springfields, a Kimber, and a Kahr Auto-Ordnance, I am VERY impressed with the Taurus. There are very few reports of issues and it is an outstanding value for the money.
However, prices are rising. They are typically selling for $100 or more above just six months ago, as demand is driving the market.
The Taurus will typically, right out of the box, function perfectly with any type of ammunition, is very accurate and the sights are usually dead on.
I bought my first PT1911 Taurus in September at a too high price of $545. When I realized what a gem I had, I bought a second at the better price of $439. My buddy talked me out of that one and I returned to buy a third Taurus at $449.
Last I heard, that dealer (Tomball Pawn) was at $489. Most dealers are now in the $550-600 range.
However, prices are rising. They are typically selling for $100 or more above just six months ago, as demand is driving the market.
The Taurus will typically, right out of the box, function perfectly with any type of ammunition, is very accurate and the sights are usually dead on.
I bought my first PT1911 Taurus in September at a too high price of $545. When I realized what a gem I had, I bought a second at the better price of $439. My buddy talked me out of that one and I returned to buy a third Taurus at $449.
Last I heard, that dealer (Tomball Pawn) was at $489. Most dealers are now in the $550-600 range.
Mike
AF5MS
TSRA Life Member
NRA Benefactor Member
AF5MS
TSRA Life Member
NRA Benefactor Member
1911s
Well, I seem to be at the other end of the spectrum from you guys, but then I don't carry a 1911.
I bought a couple of worn out Argentine Colt 1911s for $249 when Gander Mountain had them. It's been a real education rebuilding these guns. Lots of neat stuff out there. And I bought these because I wanted a project, and the Sistemas have Colt quality.
for a little more you can buy a Rock Island from Sarco for $309 plus whatever your freiendliest FFL wants to tack onto it.
Springfield Armory makes a GI-spec for about $440 retail (gun show).
And I'll 2nd (3rd?) the Taurus suggestion. Best 1911 bang for the buck right now. A very nice gun with features only found on high-end guns. $535 here in Ft. Worth. Where are you guys finding those sub-$500 PT1911s?
Rex
I bought a couple of worn out Argentine Colt 1911s for $249 when Gander Mountain had them. It's been a real education rebuilding these guns. Lots of neat stuff out there. And I bought these because I wanted a project, and the Sistemas have Colt quality.
for a little more you can buy a Rock Island from Sarco for $309 plus whatever your freiendliest FFL wants to tack onto it.
Springfield Armory makes a GI-spec for about $440 retail (gun show).
And I'll 2nd (3rd?) the Taurus suggestion. Best 1911 bang for the buck right now. A very nice gun with features only found on high-end guns. $535 here in Ft. Worth. Where are you guys finding those sub-$500 PT1911s?
Rex
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“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
“Sometimes there is no alternative to uncertainty except to await the arrival of more and better data.” C. Wunsch
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Glockamolie
- Senior Member
- Posts: 219
- Joined: Sat May 13, 2006 8:00 pm
Even when first released and selling for close to MSRP, Tomball Pawn had the Taurus 1911 in stock at $439.
http://www.tomballpawn.com
That would be my entry level 1911.
http://www.tomballpawn.com
That would be my entry level 1911.
- Brandon
I have a Colt, Springfield and S&W. All are great shooters but my favorite out of the 3 is the S&W. Could be because its the scadium frame and is lighter than the others. I have not had a problem with any of them though. And all were sub-$1000.
On the other hand, the only 1911 that I have ever had a problem with was a Kimber and the problems were many. Others here swear by Kimber and I am not opposed to getting another.
On the other hand, the only 1911 that I have ever had a problem with was a Kimber and the problems were many. Others here swear by Kimber and I am not opposed to getting another.
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