[hey_poolboy]

I've wanted a 1911 for a while now. I was in a shop the other day and found a Springfield Armory GI stainless for $613. From what I have been able to find that seems like a pretty fair price. I'm not necessarily set on new, but it's hard to find a used 1911 around here right now. (at least in my $$ range)

I'm not REALLY interested in tricking it out, maybe some basic stuff, but mainly just want one to shoot. Can the GI reliably handle hollow points, or anything other than ball ammo without a port/ ramp job? Any other pitfalls I should know of with a basic model such as the GI?

[Midas]

That seems about right, the parkerized GI sells for about $550 in this area, so naturally the stainless model will sell at a slightly higher price.

The GI is ramped and throated, so you should have no issues feeding hollow points, the only thing I have against GI style 1911's are the terrible sights, my older eyes simply can't pick them up as well a set of more pronounced sights, but for someone with better eyes they can probably be used more effeciently.

If this is your first 1911 (which your post seems to indicate it is) you best realize that it will most likely be just the beginning! these are very fun guns to own and shoot, I know of no other handgun that has such a mystique about it, and they are very addicting.

[Deersniper]

Good price. The stainless looks good too. If you have good eyes, no problem. Those sights are small.

[ouch]

I have a Milspec and it shoots great. Mine was made in 1960 and the trigger just keeps getting better.

I am left handed and don't like left side safety.

[hey_poolboy]

Thanks guys. I'm normally just a long gun guy. (only own one handgun) I've just had an itch to get a 1911 for a while, and want to make a decent purchase. Researching online and in some forums to at least make an informed purchase has proved to be very educational. I can see how one would become addicted.

I know the sights are a little small. My eyesight is great, at least right now, so I'm not too worried about it. I am left handed too, but my dominant eye is my right, so I do a lot of right handed shooting.

May hit a couple other shops in the area to see what's available, but I'm hoping to be able to make the plunge into the 1911 world here in a few weeks.

[RetiredFed]

I had the same issue with the smaller sights/older eyes..sent the pistol off to have wider rear sights put on..

[meandkc]

I have the SA GI parkerized the sights are not ideal for me either but my old pal in oklahoma seems to be looking for a set of mil spec target sights . So I'm all excited to get that done . This is my first 1911 also . I bought a set of pacmyer wooden grips with rubber decelerater finger grips from Midway . They are on special this month for $28.99 . I had a wilson target trigger installed the day I bought it . Its on its way to being a tiger .

[TeeRex]

Mine eats any ammo that I have have put in it. including HP and SWC rounds. I've changed mine a little, but nothing that can't be put back to stock. I'll never get rid of it since it was my first 1911, but it sure won't be my last.

[hey_poolboy]

I like the sights Fed. If I may ask, where did you have them done?

Glad to know other people are having luck shooting various ammo types as well. From some things I've read I was a little worried about that.

Hoping to drop the hammer on one this week!! I think I'll stick with the GI for the price, and being my starter I think it'll do just fine.

[RetiredFed]

Quote:       Originally Posted by hey_poolboy

I like the sights Fed. If I may ask, where did you have them done? Glad to know other people are having luck shooting various ammo types as well. From some things I've read I was a little worried about that. Hoping to drop the hammer on one this week!! I think I'll stick with the GI for the price, and being my starter I think it'll do just fine.

I had sent it to Action Works..Don Williams does excellent work on 1911s and HPs...can't remember what the cost was cause I had some other stuff done when it was there..trigger job, new commander hammer and some cutting to accommodate the hammer.

[gandog56]

Sights schmites, I put on a pair of Crimson Trace Laser grips. The bullet goes wherever the red laser dot is.

[hey_poolboy]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger. No pun intended. I will be picking up my nice, new SA GI in OD green tomorrow! I ended up going back to my "normal" gun shop and they had the SS for $599, and they had the OD for $549. I liked the looks of the OD, and the price dif. considering this is my first 1911. Hoping to have some fun with it after work tomorrow.