[Outriderdark]

Any opinions as to what the best inexpensive 1911 is? I'm talking the $500 universe as opposed to the $600 -$2000 and up Kimbers and such.

[jerry]

Norinco if you can find one.
RIA
Springfield etc.

[troylaplante]

Rock Island

[practical]

I paid $350 new for a Springfield 1911-A1 WW2 knockoff. Great shooter. Only complaint is small sights. Very nostalgic too.

buddy of mine in Atlanta really likes his new Rock Island Armory :target:

[rebel727]

Numrich has 1911 A1 kits for $360.45 all new parts, already blued. Prolly Auto Ordnance since they owned them for awhile.

[RodneyKSig]

I am biased with Springfield they are impecable guns GI. 45 the only complaint is the small, correction miniscule sights. Otherwise amazing.

[Big Dog]

My buddy just traded his SA 1911A1 off, as it was shooting large groups way off to the left. He had already gotten a SIG P220, which is superbly accurate and dead-nuts on target. However, he does like the 1911 platform, and is looking hard at the Rock Islands in a flyer from one of the big vendors - price around $360ish, IIRC.
We have been hearing good things of the RIA pistols.

[troylaplante]

A local dealer around here is carrying Rock Islands. The price is good. He is also an IDPA enthusiast and had good things to say about the Rock Island.

[FutureMarine]

I like my norinco, never gave me any problems

[xring]

I enjoy my systema. Exact copy of the colt 1911. I picked mine up for $350.

[dave375hh]

Acouple of good shooters at very reasonable prices are the Charles Daly, and Dan Wesson's. Both are availible blue or stainless and come with most of the desireable bells and whistles in the $500-$600 range. Take a look on Gun Broker.

[Outriderdark]

Thanks guys.
Any 1911 clones I should absolutely steer clear of?

[Thrawn]

RIA, Charles Daly, Springfield, and Auto Ordnance all put out some great affordable 1911's.

[Beer Forever]

I have a Springfield 1911-A1 Mil.-Spec. and it is a great piece. I got it for 550 new and they are only going to go up in price. You see one, get it!!

[Oxford]

The 1911A1 has kept going up in value. I bought mine in 1961 for $18.75 through the NRA. Unfortunately, I traded it off several years ago.

[trapfreek]

XRING I have the Sistema also. I got mine for about 312.00 & FFL fee from an online dealer, JDL. The whole thing was quite a hassle but the end result was ok. I think they are still advertized at cruffler.com

[inuyasha]

i gotta second the charles daly 1911.. ive heard good things about it for the price.. been seeing them for about $400 on average. to directly quote "its got a ton of goodies in it for the price *gestures to the hammer and the trigger modifications* "

[Mooseman684]

I have 2 -Mark 4 series 70 Colts and Just picked up a Springfield 1911a1 NIB
with 5 extra mags, Holster and belt and 2 mag pouches for $400.00 and I think the Springfield is a bargain for the money especially since military Colts have gone thru the roof pricewise. I am kicking myself for getting rid of some original early serial # Colts some years back that I had .
Stay away from the South American models that show up from time to time... and I Had a Star .45 that cracked the frame so its now History !
I Love this New Springfield and may change out the rear sight to the Ghost ring that Brownells sells as the sight picture with the GR comes in fast even with Changing eyes, Glasses or Contact lenses.:gangster:
Good luck!

[dave375hh]

Stay away from Auto Ordinance I've seen a lot of complaints about them for a long time now. I fixed one for a friend that the barrel wouldn't fit the bushing unless you wacked it closed with the heel of your hand. It also wouldn't feed till I did a polish on the ramp and throated the chamber. The factory mags wouldn't trip the slide lock on the last round either. This was a new in the box gunshow purchase. Way to much trouble for a new gun.