Entry Level 1911

[madcratebuilder]

Originally Posted by tlarkin

madcrate

that is a pretty colt. I want to get a 1911 pretty bad also, probably going to get one of the $500 and under ones though, can't spend too much money....

Until I find and steal Knightriders money tree, then me and squirrel will go out and buy the HK catalog.

Thanks, Take a look at what Springfield has to offer. I can't sat enough good about their customer service. You can kit build a 1911 also, a ton of parts available. Fitting the rails and barrel link take some time, the Jerry Kuhnhausen book is the best guide I have seen. I've thought about doing one, that all the edges off and DuraCoat it black.

[EHCRain10]

well considering that i would like to keep this gun for the rest of my life and pass it down, i would guess that a cast frame should be avoided

[mym1a]

can't go wrong with a 1911 colt, springfield smith all good

[Big Tool]

Originally Posted by ouch

Look for a standard 1911. john browning wouldnt have it any other way. Make it stock and 100" reliable. Same goes for any weapon. Stay away from upgrades ore accuratizing. Almost all mods make them less reliable.

I like wheel guns but shoot many other semiautos.

I have to disagree with that. My taurus is an example of a modified 1911. The springfield GI I have is about as close to standard as you can get.

When shooting with the GI the casings are thrown straight up, and often wind up hitting me in the head, and it is not gonna kill anyone, but it sure dosen't feel nice.

The Taurus on the other hand has a lowered and flared ejection port which throws the brass out to the side. Very nice..

The Taurus also has the feed ramp and barrel throat polished which ensures smooth feeding. The Taurus will shoot HP bullets no problems, the Springfield GI won't.


The ambi saftey with the extended contact area allows for easier use on the taurus also.


The standard GI sights suck balls. The Heine sights on my Taurus are very good, maybe not great, but definitely miles ahead of the GI and most other 1911 sights i've seen.


The absolute most important thing to me is reliability and so far my taurus has been 100% reliable and even after getting my Springfield back from getting warranty work done it still won't go fully into battery 1/2 the time when loading the first round into the chamber.

Just my 2 cents based on the two 1911's I own. My next 1911 will definitely be another Taurus. This time in blue.

[roadie]

Dose anyone know if the Lama 1911's are any good for a low cost first .45?

[Cyrano]

Mine is, roadie. I have a Llama Model IX-A. It field-strips like a Government M1911A1, even though I have to use a bushing wrench to deal with the barrel bushing. It takes US GI .45 ACP magazines - and they work better than the aftermarket mag I paid $25 for! Mine shoots best with Wolf 230 grain steel case. The sights could be a little better (I'm thinking about outlining the rear sights in white nail polish for better contrast), but I've never has a failure to fire with it. The only time it's ever stovepiped on me was when I took it to the range in January at zero degrees F. with too much lube on it and the lube congealed. Once I cleaned it, no further trouble.

It set me back $225+tax out the door. The gun dealer was willing to sell it so low because he'd had it in the case from an estate buy-out for three months with no takers. The local shooters looked at it and couldn't get past the silver frame and blue slide. Me, as long as it shoots right, I don't care. The previous owner, as far as I can tell, never shot it at all. I've put a couple of hundred rounds through it and I'm happy as a clam.

[eddiedeverell]

Anything from springfield!

[damage855]

Over 5,000 rounds through my Charles Daily not a single problem best $550 I ever spent.

[rondog]

madcratebuilder - Is that Thompson F/A? If it is, I wanna come visit with a couple thou rounds!

I shot a WWII GI model a few weeks ago, and it was milder than I expected. The AK47 was much worse.

[ACfixer]

EHCRain10, if you plan on keeping the gun for a lifetime... why not hang in there and save the extra couple hundred and buy a real Colt? Nothing against any of the other clones as I am sure they are all fine weapons, but there's nothing like owning the real thing. I saw a stainless Series 80 at Bass Pro Shops yesterday for $890.

I bought mine for a grand with a match barrel and a few minor mods. I just can't tell you how nice it shoots, how sweet it feels, how great it looks and how proud I am to own the real deal. I had started out with a budget in mind similar to yours but after I got my Colt I would have been ok if it cost $1500 I like it so much.

[BaserRonin]

Madcratebuilder, are those aftermarket drum magazines? If so, do they feed properly?

[punkndisorderly]

I've had 2 Springfields and had great luck with both. I had a Springfield Compact, parkerized, with the loaded package. I don't recall any failures at all.

Currently, I have a Sprinfield 5", parkerized, night sights, and the Loaded package and have only had on failure (to go into battery). The failure was most likely attributed to my lack of cleaning and going from an ice cold room into a hot indoor range (it was wet with condensation).

Springfield also has a lifetime warranty.

Kimbers are supposed to be great, too. One thing to keep in mind is that Kimbers require a 500 round break-in period where they recommend Ball ammo only and cleaning every 100 rounds. Many people have problems during that period (many don't). They only have a 1 year warranty also, I believe.

[connormcmanus]

My first 1911 was a nice Charles Daly, but it was used and i found out later that the sear was quite worn, put a nice hole in the cabinet after cleaning. I now have a Rock Island Armory that I have only upgraded thus far with a nice wrap around grip that's made the feel much better. I chose the RIA because it was a bone stock that i could do what i want with, personally I believe that for less money I can make a gun just as good or better than an off the shelf kimber. Plus i only paid $450 for my RIA which was NIB. Best part is it shoots hollow points no problem without being ramped or polished yet.

[tlarkin]

^^I like the combo wood + rubber grips. It has the old classic look as well as something modernized. How would you compare that to a Taurus per se? I haven't shot a Rock Island before

[connormcmanus]

Well, I haven't had the chance to shoot a Taurus yet, but it is going to be my next handgun purchase. I can say however that it shoot's just as well as a Kimber Raptor II

[FS00008]

I'm thinking about getting an RIA GI asap. I know I love my Springfield Armory .45 GI, but I bought it used and paid $375 for it from a buddy who I know only put two mags through it. He bought it, then needed the money for medical expenses. Gave me a great deal on it too.

[KW Gary M]

Originally Posted by stalebiscuit

ive seen kimbers for 600 and charles dalys for 450 to 500

marked up much where you are?

Where have you seen a Kimber for $600? I'll buy one for sure.

[FallgPlts-R-Grt]

May be too much work, but finding an old M1911A1 not in "as-issued" condition is, in my humble opinion, the best way to obtain the "real thing" while also getting a great handgun made from the best materials. They are slightly harder to find now, than 10-20 years ago, but well worth the search. I picked up my all original 1943 Remington-Rand with a Colt frame for almost nothing. It has no real collector value since it has been re-phosphated, so I am shooting with it for now while I save up to have a little modernizing done to it. In other words, if you see one for a few hundred dollars, it is well worth that to have a gun made out of a quality frame and slide. Plus, it really is the real WWII .45

There are a few companies today that still build guns from machined parts though. Springfield being the most prominent and affordable.

Don't believe the hype that cast is just as good. For a casual shooter, or a home defense gun they are but if you plan on forcing it to eat the thousands of rounds a year I do, stay away from them. They will form stress cracks.

[billy]

$421


took it out today.

[Jersey Jailer]

Any of the 1911 clones should suit your needs. I think the Taurus is one of the better deals out there. You get several of the usual upgrades for the same price, or a fraction of the cost extra. I own a Kimber Gold Match and the Taurus's trigger isn't quite as good as the Kimber. The Kimber shoots a bit better than the Taurus, Bullseye one handed shooting. I had one failure to feed with the , none with the Kimber, shooting a "running"(I can't run I guess we can call it moving) IPSC style course.The stoppage may have been my fault though. The Charles Daly, Dan Wesson, and High Standard are all made in the Philippines by the same factory. Springfield is made in Brazil, as is Taurus. I wouldn't be surprised if Taurus didn't make the Springfield also. Kimber, I've been told makes the Smith and Wesson, and by the fit and finish probably either makes or supply's the parts for the Sig Sauer. Colt who knows if they make the 1911 or out sourced frame and slides and are assembled in Hartford. So you can see that there really is only 4 to 5 different makers of components, Rock Island Armory , I've never seen one to see where its made. You should buy what you can afford, but do your research,you can find really good deals if you are patient.