The Best 1911 in my opinion is...

[deadzero]

Originally Posted by Paper

Not to take away from LHS's question, but is there actually a BAD one out there??

I'm not a good source of reference to 1911's, since the only one I've ever owned is my Taurus PT1911 (which has functioned perfectly for a couple years, now)..

I've kicked around a Rock Island as a cheaper plinker, but then I look at my Taurus and ask why do I need another?? The Taurus does everything I ask it to do.. And this is from the guy who can justify any gun purchase. I like the looks of the high end 1911's, but truthfully, I'm not a fan of shooting the 1911 frame. Just never felt right in my hands, which are large, but not huge.

I like the feel of the Glocks and my instinctive pointing of them is usually very good, and better than a 1911, so I tend to lean towards the Glocks because of this..

Anyway, is there any 1911 out there that's not worth owning?

I had some early Springfields that had quarks in em out of the box.

AMT (no longer in business, gee I wonder why) had all kinds of strange problems with some of their pistols. I actually had one go into a lockup trying to go into battery. the barrel went into a bind with the slide. it took a rap from a rawhide hammer to free it up. that one went back to the factory and they sent it back with a very sloppy slide (side to side) but no more vertical problem. they also drilled the holes thru the frame, for the hammer and sear, from opposite ends instead of a straight pass thru causing a misalignment of the pins. there was no way to get the engagement surfaces squared to each other, at least not perfectly. there was also an issue of the thumb safety not blocking the sear completely on some guns. grip safeties that were marginal. (4 or 5 pulls of the trigger would drop the hammer on some). but for the most part you could put a clip in, rack it and it would fire and maybe jam every now and then. but, just because it functioned did not make it a good pistol.

[Ten Man]

Originally Posted by LefthandShooter

No one has any opinions on the Sig 1911?

Accuracy is one of my main concerns, as well as reliability. I know a pistol only shoots as good as the trigger puller, but if I get one, I would like to know it is capable of very tight groups right out of the box.

Ahh, your original question did not ask about SIG 1911s.

I have two of them in my 1911 collection. Both are the stainless steel GSR with tactical rail. If I had bought one of them as my FIRST 1911 (they did not exist when I bought my first 1911), I would have not purchased the many other 1911s I now own.

The SIG GSR 1911 is an awesome 1911. It is just as accurate as the SIG P220, and is heavy. Accuracy is 2.5 - 3 MOA, and feeds everything I put in it without a hiccup. I would consider it extremely reliable, dependable, and too heavy for a concealed carry gun, but an excellent range gun for less money than the Kimber.

It would make an EXCELLENT home defense gun.

I still say a TARGET Kimber from the Custom Pro shop is the most accurate 1911 on the market. Mine has NEVER had a function problem in over 2,000 rounds of factory ammo, either, so I'm not swayed by a few Kimber nay-sayers.

[gandog56]

The Best 1911 in my opinion is...

The ones I have my hands on at the time?

[sniper1958]

I own 2 Rock Islands (5" and 4"),really enjoy them and use both as my carry pistols. They've both been modified with sights, trigger, beaver tail system, checkering, etc.... Total cost for all the upgrades AND base pistol was less than $550 per pistol. I owned a Taurus PT1911 and loved it - until - things started going wrong. Perhaps mine was the fluke that occurs in almost any production run. The last thing that happened was that it shot low (12" at 10 yards), regardless of ammo or shooter. Taurus' customer service had no answers and told me to send it back. They stated the turn time would be between 9 weeks and 12 weeks. Sorry, I couldn't do it and didn't need two 5" 1911's. I sold it to someone who can work on it and bought my 4" Rock Island with the proceeds.

[iceman1212]

I just bought a 1911 A1 Springfield and would like to upgrade it but have no idea where to start. I do like nail drivers I am a ammo reloader. So I am looking to up grade to the best accuracy. Any help would be grate! Thank you

[azgunnut01]

I have a Randall, a Springfield and a Kimber. I don't think I like either of them more than the others. They are all high quality and shoot well.

[Pumpkinheaver]

I have just over 11 thousand rounds through my Kimber. The only stopages where due to either faulty ammo or faulty mags. Needless to say I'm kind of partial to it.

[Cyrano]

There are times when I read a thread about Browning's immortal M1911 when it feels like I've wandered into a discussion about souping up a hot rod. The pistol has so few parts and there are so many aftermarket options available today, I think anybody can customize their personal .45 to fit them the way they want it to. It doesn't get much better than that.

[LefthandShooter]

Originally Posted by Pumpkinheaver

I have just over 11 thousand rounds through my Kimber. The only stopages where due to either faulty ammo or faulty mags. Needless to say I'm kind of partial to it.

Good MOA grouping, I guess?

[sniper1958]

Originally Posted by iceman1212

I just bought a 1911 A1 Springfield and would like to upgrade it but have no idea where to start. I do like nail drivers I am a ammo reloader. So I am looking to up grade to the best accuracy. Any help would be grate! Thank you

I'd start by tightening the link pin, getting a heavier recoil spring and installing a National Match bushing (BROWNELLS : World's Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools). Those three things brought my mil-spec Rock Island to 2" groups off of a sandbag at 25 yards. Other mods would be a trigger job and working on the mainspring. I've since added fiber optic sights and an extended thumb safety. The latter doesn't do anything for accuracy, but it handles a lot better.

[SightNSqueeze]

Originally Posted by LefthandShooter

A question for all to answer. I was thinking about getting a 1911 and thought I'd ask for opinions. Wife has pretty much said no to financing a purchase, and since she is in control of the $$ (makes most of it too!) it might be a dead horse, but I'd like one. I held/liked a Sig 1911 stainless yesterday, but am a Smith & Wesson kind of guy but am open to others (but not to glock)!
One thing to keep in mind: I am left handed, and have always shot a hammerless semi-auto pistol. I am concerned that might be a learning problem to shoot one then the other then back.
(Just wanted to use this smilies.)

I am ambidextrous but I have a left hand preference to handguns. I just happen to have a Springfield Armory 1911A1 and a Colt Officer's ACP. Though designed for right handed shooters, I have mastered drawing, shooting and reloading left handed without left hand modifications. If you get a 1911-type pistol, you might find yourself using your right hand from time to time because that is what the gun was designed for. Don't fight it when you do. The 1911 is a weapon that was designed to be hardwired into the shooter's brain as s/he becomes proficient in it.

[andy*]

Hey lefthandedshooter I used to own a Randall "portsider". It was a left handed 1911a1 type pistol. Shot well and I didn't have the brass flying across my face. If you can find one used, it might be the ticket. My current 1911 is my dad's series '70 colt, excellent pistol. Good luck ,Andy

[Pumpkinheaver]

I'm left handed and ejecting brass has never been an issue. You can use a longer ejector if this is an issue.

[gunnut2u]

I'm partiall to the Taurus Pt1911 I own !!LOL!! She's puuuurdy !!

[Darkfront]

I just picked up a Kimber Custom II and I love the thing. It cost me $690 new and it shoots like a wet dream! I was a die hard Springfield XD-45 guy, but my Kimber has replaced the XD as my carry piece despite the reduced capacity, this is how much I trust the accuracy of it, and my personal technique with the 1911 platform. I now think that Glocks and XDs have too long triggers that would promote trigger slap under pressure. I've had this under timed pressure and it throws me off bad. Not so for me on a good 1911.

I've also shot drills with the Sig GSR and the Springfield TRP and they are both excellent choices. Switching over from striker fired single action (like Glock and XD) to hammered single action is not as big of a problem as you think, depending on your grip and technique.

[waterdog]

Originally Posted by Casca

There are no other 1911's except a Colt! Perhaps a Springfield, but that's it.

Kinda one sided on the matter arn't we ?COLTS are fine but NOT the last word. Had colts, springs, para, S&W and more than one spanish, current is a R.I.A shoots as well as any of the others. It's the man not the gun.

[Jersey Jailer]

From my understanding Kimber makes the slides, barrels and frames for Smith and Sig. Colt also out sources frames and slides and cost is higher than Kimber. Springfield uses Brazilian components...might as well get a Taurus for 2/3 the price I have a Kimber, it is by far the best target gun I have owned (I've shot out 2 Gold cups, They cost more to be rebuilt than a new kimber, smith or sig). It took 6-700 rounds to break in because it is so tight. Feeds everything I've shot through it, as long as I resize the cases right, even those 185gr Hornady JSWs over b'eye or clays

Just buy what you can afford, the Taurus has the most bells and whistles already done to it. A buddy of mine has one, just a little sloppier than my Kimber. I want a Mil-spec 1911 just with A1 sights for cowboy action side matches, probaly will build an essex frame, or rock river frame gun.

[Midas]

Originally Posted by Jersey Jailer

From my understanding Kimber makes the slides, barrels and frames for Smith and Sig. Colt also out sources frames and slides and cost is higher than Kimber. Springfield uses Brazilian components...might as well get a Taurus for 2/3 the price I have a Kimber, it is by far the best target gun I have owned (I've shot out 2 Gold cups, They cost more to be rebuilt than a new kimber, smith or sig). It took 6-700 rounds to break in because it is so tight. Feeds everything I've shot through it, as long as I resize the cases right, even those 185gr Hornady JSWs over b'eye or clays

Just buy what you can afford, the Taurus has the most bells and whistles already done to it. A buddy of mine has one, just a little sloppier than my Kimber. I want a Mil-spec 1911 just with A1 sights for cowboy action side matches, probaly will build an essex frame, or rock river frame gun.

If you think that a Taurus is the same thing as a SA for 2/3 the price, then you are terribly misguided.

Springfield Armory components are made by IMBEL, and are some of the highest quality you will find, I would not even compare it to a Taurus!

[tmanbuckhunter]

Originally Posted by Midas

If you think that a Taurus is the same thing as a SA for 2/3 the price, then you are terribly misguided.

Springfield Armory components are made by IMBEL, and are some of the highest quality you will find, I would not even compare it to a Taurus!

Indeed!!!

[LefthandShooter]

No offense to those who own one, but I would not buy a taurus. I know too many people who had problems with them.