S&W 1911, what next?

[karl]

I'm in love with 1911s. I wouldn't even consider purchasing another design just because it's not as good looking as a 1911. I've got a S&W 1911PD now, but what is the next step from there? I've heard Kimber is nice, what other brands should I look into for my next "upgrade"?

Mines a 4", should I go shorter, longer? It doesn't have to be a primary carry, just for fun... and a few years down the road.

[solaritx]

My suggestion is before you go looking at what to buy next.......go shoot the heck out of the one you have. Go shoot IDPA, IPSC, etc and put 2,000 rounds or more through it over a couple of years. You will shortly start to do what most of us do.....tweek the one you have here and there. You will see personally what you like and don't like and from there you can make a good choice on the next one.

In doing this, you will quickly find what works and does not work for you, both in having fun and in the carry of the firearm. Getting a 1911 is like getting a good pair of boots. Get fancy boots and use them for daily work around the ranch, and prob. will not be all that great, but wonderful when getting dressed up and going out. Just the opposite, get work boots and they are great on the ranch but not all that great when going out on the town.

Until you break them in and use the heck out of them, you will not know what kind of boots to get next time. Same with the 1911 (the Harley of handguns). Get one, use it alot, and then start getting more. Taking advice at this time is like having someone buy you a pair of boots.......they may fit or they may not......they may work just great for what you have in mind, or they may not. Nothing beats personal experience.

JMO
Garry

[Mithras61]

STI guns are nice (and made right here in TX! ).

I've heard good things about Kimbers, Ed Browns (if you can afford them), Rock Island Arsenals, and several others.

If you have the bug (and it sounds like you do), then start haunting gun shows and buy the ones that strike your fancy. Remember that even the cheap ones can be upgraded with after-market parts (barrels, springs, triggers, main springs, hammers & more) to make it look and perform as you want. The only caution I would add is that there are some things that should be handled by an experienced gunsmith, unless you are willing to risk permanent harm (feed ramp polishing, for example).

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

My suggestion is before you go looking at what to buy next.......go shoot the heck out of the one you have. Go shoot IDPA, IPSC, etc and put 2,000 rounds or more through it over a couple of years. You will shortly start to do what most of us do.....tweek the one you have here and there. You will see personally what you like and don't like and from there you can make a good choice on the next one.

In doing this, you will quickly find what works and does not work for you, both in having fun and in the carry of the firearm. Getting a 1911 is like getting a good pair of boots. Get fancy boots and use them for daily work around the ranch, and prob. will not be all that great, but wonderful when getting dressed up and going out. Just the opposite, get work boots and they are great on the ranch but not all that great when going out on the town.

Until you break them in and use the heck out of them, you will not know what kind of boots to get next time. Same with the 1911 (the Harley of handguns). Get one, use it alot, and then start getting more. Taking advice at this time is like having someone buy you a pair of boots.......they may fit or they may not......they may work just great for what you have in mind, or they may not. Nothing beats personal experience.

JMO
Garry

I just purchased a Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec SS. Beautiful gun and IMO Springfield makes great guns. But there are some small things that I am changing on it to "perfect" its performance...for me.

[CompVest]

I'm in love with 1911s. I wouldn't even consider purchasing another design just because it's not as good looking as a 1911. I've got a S&W 1911PD now, but what is the next step from there? I've heard Kimber is nice, what other brands should I look into for my next "upgrade"?

Mines a 4", should I go shorter, longer? It doesn't have to be a primary carry, just for fun... and a few years down the road.

Conroe is having a Gun Show this weekend. I know there will be a STI and Wilson dealer there if you want to check them out.

[karl]

Conroe is having a Gun Show this weekend. I know there will be a STI and Wilson dealer there if you want to check them out.

Where and when?

[Cosmo 9]

Conroe, TX
Lone Star Convention Center
9055 Airport Road (FM1484)



Show Hours:
Sat. 9am - 6pm
Sun. 9am - 5pm

Sep 12-13

[karl]

Conroe, TX
Lone Star Convention Center
9055 Airport Road (FM1484)



Show Hours:
Sat. 9am - 6pm
Sun. 9am - 5pm

Sep 12-13

Thanks!

[The Annoyed Man]

Mines a 4", should I go shorter, longer?

Go both ways. I currently own both a 3" and a 5" 1911, and my next pistol purchase will be a 4" 1911. I had one before (a Sig), but sold it because of reliability issues. My 3" is a Kimber, and I really like it a lot. My 5" is a Springfield, and it's a well made gun too, although I will undoubtedly refinish it some day. I will probably buy another Kimber for my 4" gun. They are just really nice guns.

[smyrna]

Karl, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but...you're sick, as in addicted and the only "fix" will ever be more 1911s.

I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the major brands available now, and because of the popularity of the platform there are certainly no shortage of manufacturers who fill that high end niche, Wilson Combat, Les Baer, etc., not to mention having a "stock" pistol sent to a gunsmith who will transform it into a high end custom. Take a look over at http://forums.1911forum.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and look at some of the work in the Gunsmithing forum and you'll see what can be done. Try not to salivate too much on your keyboard.

For me, my short list of desirable 1911's would include not new issues but vintage ones such as;
-An early light weight Colt Commander in any caliber, but 38 super or 9 mm would be the cat's meow
-An electroless nickel Colt Combat Commander with the sandblasted grips
-Any Correct GI 1911A1
-Possibly a Delta Elite although I know nothing about the 10 mm

If you're really adventurous, you might even consider getting a frame and slide and starting from scratch...

To each his own!

[AEA]

A bit strange thingy going on here...........

karl,..........
are you also karl_311 on this Site?

Both have the same avatar and both have a S&W 1911 PD.

Both signed up within 5 days of each other.

Both have the same email address (karl_t@xxx.com) located at 2 different domains.

karl_311's first post, concerning 1911 safety was answered by me and many others, yet he has not been back to comment on the replies.......
http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 26&t=27675" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So, are both of these guys actually the same person?
I guess it makes no difference (maybe it does) but it just caught my attention and I thought I would ask for clarity.

With the final nail in the search......both having the same email (except 2 different domains) it poses the question......why 2 accounts here?

[Crapshoot]

I've heard and read about the following and that they r good quality lead flingers.

Taurus PT1911<< Great gun with lots of high end features and great accuracy out the box. Around 700 bucks loaded.
Para G.I. Expert<< Not a lot of features but well built, a good foundation for custom jobs. Solid quality and accuracy at an msrp of $599, which means u can probably get it cheaper.
Sigs got some nice ones with match grade barrels no speed bump and at or a round a grand.
Springfield has got some pretty ones but I haven't heard anything really great or bad about them, again at or around a grand.
Ofcourse anything from Nighthawk, Ed brown, Wilson Combat, Rock River, or Les Baer but now your looking at spending a couple grand.

Thats not a lot of info but maybe I hit something you haven't thought of yet. Good Luck and try to resist a second mortgage to fund your little addiction.

[LostInAustin]

I have to confess...I am sick also. I love my 1911's. Years ago (in the 70's) I bought a Colt Combat Commander, misplaced it (yes...misplaced it! That's another story) and went out and bought a Colt Govt Model. These are the two best guns I own. They are steel frames. You pick one up, after holding a newer gun, and think "My God its so heavy". That's the beauty, it feels strong. You know you can run anything through it. Anybody (even me) can work on them. Parts are available from many sources. A good gunsmith can "trick" them out and you will be in love. Trick them a little at a time, it makes the love affair last longer!!

That gun's been around a 100 years and people still covet them. Excellent gun, I would NEVER part with mine, and you will love owning them.

I know, I know....I am a 1911 nut. I can't help it!

[LostInAustin]

Ok...now you got me started.....



Isn't that beautiful?

[karl]

A bit strange thingy going on here...........

karl,..........
are you also karl_311 on this Site?


......why 2 accounts here?

I hastily chose my first name, didn't like it and realized I couldn't change it so I just made a new one... unless I can and I just didn't figure it out