Best Value For First 1911?

[hipower]

1911s are supposed to be blue, not stainless!

Not necessarily, pardner! lol

[musicman]

If it were the version with the bobtail I'd agree with you buddy.

But I will agree on the Metro Arms Classic. Awesome looks (I got the hard chrome version), good fit, and mine has a great trigger...now.

Sam Hoster in Gallatin sorta tweaked it somewhat. lol

Yea, I really want a bobtail badly, but for sentimental reasons it'll be a DW when I finally DO get it, but that's kind of a grail gun for me. When I finally fork over nearly $800 for the Smith I showed above, it'll be the most I've ever spent on a handgun. :-( I'm not quite ready to add another $600-$700 the price tag.

And I love the Smith scales for the slide serrations! :-D

[graycrait]

I've had 13+ 1911s.  I have a friend who has over 50 1911s.  Crazy - looking in that safe.

 

I would get a fully tricked out Rock Island for about 500.00.  However, if you want a bar b que gun, one that you can show off gaining immediate street cred, then go Les Baer, Wilson, Nighthawk or the other usual high end suspects.   Kimber and Springfield are "old news." They make and sell guns the Filipinos can make the equal of at half their price IMHO.  I currently have a Springfield Loaded upper and lower and it ain't any better than any of the RIA's I have had. If I were going to pay serious money for a 1911 there are quite a few private builders who do a good job.  But then you have to ask what frame and slide are they using? 1911s have gotten to be sort of like ARs.  Lots of people making them and if they are still making them then they probably work.  With the internet, CNC, etc, making a decent 1911 ain't quite the job it used to be.  

 

I really like certain things about 1911s, especially the grip size, the ability to mod the trigger and general ergonomics as a range toy. 

 

Pic is of my current project 1911.

 

Edited April 9, 2015 by graycrait

[Ray Z]

Got to add my vote to the Ruger SR1911. Lot of gun for the buck.

[DWARREN123]

RIA, Kimber, Ruger or Sig. I have the RIA and SIg in 9mm and Kimber and Ruger in 45 ACP. All work well and are fun to shoot.

[jtmaze]

I have a metro arms commander in the truck that is flawless. Goes boom every time. It is my backup day off gun. Love the way it shoots. Can't say enough. .


JTM
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[hipower]

I think a commander sized Rock or Metro in 9mm will be my next 1911, but that's a long way down the list at this time.

[TN-popo]

Gonna be hard to beat the Ruger Sr1911 and the Springfield Range officer for a first 1911. You get alot of bang for your buck with either.


Alot of people seem to like the Rock Island 1911s also.

 

+1

Hard to beat these three brands for an entry-level 1911.

[wchrisw]

I got a pretty good deal, around 700, for a ruger sr1911 at a gun show, go figure, and absolutely love it. I don't have near the experience as some of the guys on here because it is my first and only 1911, but I have nothing but good things to say about it with around 500 down the pipe so far. Good luck

[crossfire]

Gonna be hard to beat the Ruger Sr1911 and the Springfield Range officer for a first 1911. You get alot of bang for your buck with either.


Alot of people seem to like the Rock Island 1911s also.

This

[Rhodewarrior]

I vote SR1911. I love mine.   :2cents:

Edited April 10, 2015 by Rhodewarrior

[SonnyCrockett]

Springfield's Range Officer is hard to beat 

[BJB]

RIA will give you everything you need in a 1911, I have a 9mm and 45 they both go bang every time you ask them to. So unless you want a "bragging" pistol. Go RIA and save money for ammo

[hipower]

RIA will give you everything you need in a 1911, I have a 9mm and 45 they both go bang every time you ask them to. So unless you want a "bragging" pistol. Go RIA and save money for ammo

 

Notice a theme here? RIA/Armscor products have gone way past the reputation they had in decades past and make some fine handguns.

 

If by chance you go to the NRA convention, make stop at their booth and see some of the models. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[teecro]

Notice a theme here? RIA/Armscor products have gone way past the reputation they had in decades past and make some fine handguns.

 

Don't overlook the CITADEL when considering the RIA/Armscor line... I own two of them and find that their fit, finish and trigger is better than the RIA.... Also have an ATI Titan that's a sweet shooter too... 

[Jonnin]

I know a lot of 1911 people have many guns, some have dozens.  But my first thought would be to step back and think the other direction -- and ask yourself 'if I could only have 1... which would I want?'.    Asking about your "first" sounds a lot like planning to replace it before you even buy it!

 

I have shot a lot of them, only owned 2 (one is the wife's if you want to get technical).    If you are not planning on using it in a competition,  I will start by saying "there are no bad 1911s".    The ones that tend to jam or have a reputation for it can usually be fixed, often simply by shooting them or just buying a new mag or trying different ammo -- a few need more TLC like poking and prodding the extractor or minor work.   The real issue is that 1911 owners have a lot of extremely picky folks who have a favorite brand (everything else is garbage, of course) or have an axe to grind about how it was made (because 1 in every 250 million cheaply made parts breaks, better use hand crafted blacksmith forged parts..)  and a bunch of other stuff of that nature.  

 

A no frills RIA is the inexpensive way to get a working, accurate, reliable pistol for a very reasonable price tag.  Beyond that, it comes down to paying a little more for each feature you want ... a lot more if you want hand-fitting. 

[GTownGeorge]

+1 on Rock Island. I would go with Tactical version for better sights. I have the 9mm version and love it. 

[JPR1959]

The Ultra line of Rock Island 1911s look really nice. I spent quite a bit of time at the NRA show at their booth. I was very impressed by their pistols. The small graphic on the gun sure beats their old roll marks.

[tnhawk]

A 1911 from Colt, Rock Island, Springfield Armory or Ruger will be a dependable accurate pistol from companies that have good customer service.  If possible try to shoot or atleast handle several models befor making a decision.

[res308]

A 1911 from Colt, Rock Island, Springfield Armory or Ruger will be a dependable accurate pistol from companies that have good customer service.  If possible try to shoot or atleast handle several models befor making a decision.

I agree with that. Just got a Springfield Lightweight Champion Operator for my son from csaxj3 the other day (great guy to meet btw). In my book I wouldn't call it an entry level 1911 by any stretch. I just happened to be able to work things around where I could get it. But we've been very impressed. I did have a Springfield years ago, and I guess this one is just another testament to Springfield's quality and reliability. I've heard the same about the Ruger as well. Bottom line is, go handle all you can. And, although I haven't seen them on here, there are people "out there" who will try to make you believe that if you don't spend an exorbitant amout of cash on one, well, you just don't even have a 1911. Well that's garbage. Stick to your budget and get the best quality you can afford. Then just keep learning from there. There's quite a bit of lost 1911 knowledge I'm going to have to relearn myself. And buying this one the other day has just made it worse, because now my son won't let me steal his gun!

[mhl6493]

I agree with that. Just got a Springfield Lightweight Champion Operator for my son from csaxj3 the other day (great guy to meet btw). In my book I wouldn't call it an entry level 1911 by any stretch. I just happened to be able to work things around where I could get it. But we've been very impressed. I did have a Springfield years ago, and I guess this one is just another testament to Springfield's quality and reliability. I've heard the same about the Ruger as well. Bottom line is, go handle all you can. And, although I haven't seen them on here, there are people "out there" who will try to make you believe that if you don't spend an exorbitant amout of cash on one, well, you just don't even have a 1911. Well that's garbage. Stick to your budget and get the best quality you can afford. Then just keep learning from there. There's quite a bit of lost 1911 knowledge I'm going to have to relearn myself. And buying this one the other day has just made it worse, because now my son won't let me steal his gun!

 

I saw that one in the classifieds.  Looks like your son got a very nice gun!

[willis68]

I would go with the Ruger, in my opinion it is the best 1911 in that price range, 

[Guest TexasShooter]

I'd look into the Springfield Loaded or Range Officer.

[JPR1959]

Everyone has their opinions about getting this or that.  I think there's tons of good options.  I like them all, but this little gem is priced right.

 

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_141/products_id/36291/Colt+O1991+1991+Series+7%2B1+45ACP+5%22

[hipower]

Everyone has their opinions about getting this or that.  I think there's tons of good options.  I like them all, but this little gem is priced right.

 

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_141/products_id/36291/Colt+O1991+1991+Series+7%2B1+45ACP+5%22

 

Not a bad price...but it's a Colt.   :stir:  :hiding: