Ready to buy another 1911

[flynlead]

I had a bad experience with my previous 1911 but I'm ready to try it again. I went looking at them yesterday but am trying to figure out which way to go. Should I buy a more expensive (tuned) gun or buy a cheap one and try it myself. I am mechanically inclined and know I can do it but have never done it before and not sure on what all the mods would be. Is there a guide available to guys like me who want to mod their own guns or am I stuck taking it to a gun smith?

BTW I am looking at the following:
colt gold cup for 900
kimber for 700
springfied for 640
citadel or rock island 350+

[bac1023]

The Gold Cup is nice, but for $900, I'd start looking for a Dan Wesson.

[flynlead]

I have looked at them before, just not comfortable spending that much on a gun. At least not all at one time.

[AZ Husker]

The Kuhnhausen manuals are what you need. Be aware though, if you fix up a cheap gun, you have a cheap fixed up gun.

[flynlead]

what's a ball park figure to tune a 1911? Say I bought a stock colt or springfield and wanted to mod it.

[Quack]

depends on what you want done and who does it.

[flynlead]

depends on what you want done and who does it.

I like the kimber custom models. Hammer,trigger, tail ect.. but I want to order the parts and do it myself.

[Quack]

if you are military or LE, Brownell's offers discounts.

[flynlead]

I am neither.

[den888]

Colt Gold Cup all the way (I am a Colt fan, of course).:supergrin:

[Brian Brazier]

I still think the Springfield Mil Spec is the best value in 1911's, and it leaves plenty of money for changes

[flynlead]

I still think the Springfield Mil Spec is the best value in 1911's, and it leaves plenty of money for changes

I looked at one of those as well. I can get one for $620 but I'm not sure what it would cost to do the trigger, hammer, grips, and polish. If I'm going to have $900+ in one I might as well go with the colt

[flynlead]

should I concider an alloy frame or stick with steel?

[Brian Brazier]

Personally I would stick with steel, as for the upgrades, girps are easy, if you get a drop in hammer sear and dissconnector kit from EGW or Cylinder and Slide that is a pretty simple job as well. I bought all the parts from Brownells along with the trigger track stone, and hammer slot stone, they made cleaning up the interior of the frame a snap. There are many great how to sections over at 1911 forum, as well as internet pages, just do a search for fitting a trigger, and installing a hammer.

[flynlead]

Personally I would stick with steel, as for the upgrades, girps are easy, if you get a drop in hammer sear and dissconnector kit from EGW or Cylinder and Slide that is a pretty simple job as well. I bought all the parts from Brownells along with the trigger track stone, and hammer slot stone, they made cleaning up the interior of the frame a snap. There are many great how to sections over at 1911 forum, as well as internet pages, just do a search for fitting a trigger, and installing a hammer.

Thanks, I figured the alloy frame would not last as long. I've been doing some searching and it does not seem like it would be that hard. just a little time consuming

[Brian Brazier]

Iam by no means a Gunsmith, but I did feel after reading a bunch of stuff on the net and picking up Kuhnhausen's Colt 1911 book that I could perform these tasks.

[Navitimer]

Of those you list, I would take the Colt or Kimber. I also believe these are also the only U.S.-made ones on your list if that's important to you.

[jeremy stanke]

just to give you a idea, i am currently spending over 600 on gunsmith work and im not going all crazy with the custom work

if i were you, i would buy one that has the work already done to it. the last thing you want is to mess up or get frustrated with a gun ESPECIALLY when you already had a dissappointing experience with 1911's. get a nice factory one and then work on one later

[walkin' trails]

From everything I've read, Colt and Springfield are the pistols you want to get if you want to have a gun built to your specs. If you're not interested in tinkering yourself or sending a pistol back and forth to out-of-state gunsmiths, then spend the extra money and get a factory pistol that alreay has all the bells n whistles you want...Kimber, S&W, DW, etc.

[RonS]

Skip the Gold Cup, they aren't what they used to be. I would get a Colt Series 70 and then the Khunhausen books. Fantastic bathroom reading.

[flynlead]

Skip the Gold Cup, they aren't what they used to be. I would get a Colt Series 70 and then the Khunhausen books. Fantastic bathroom reading.


Can you elaberate a little? Quality go down?

[Don-wayne]

In that group I would get the Kimber. Colt is over rated. I know I will take some abuse for that but I'm ok with it. For what colt charges you can get alot better 1911 from another manufacturer. As for buying a Springer or Colt for a base gun to me is nuts. I would get a Caspian slide and frame to build my custom gun. If your going to install and hand fit all new parts why not start with a hand fit slide and frame. Just my 2 cents.

[flynlead]

Had a friend of mine suggest STI today. He said he bought one and loves it and FWIW he has bought and sold 2 kimbers. He only sells the guns that don't shoot well. Anyone else agree with the STI?

[Don-wayne]

I totally agree with STI. My STI Trojan has a ton of rnds through it. For the money I think STI is an excellent choice.

[Cobra64]

Iam by no means a Gunsmith, but I did feel after reading a bunch of stuff on the net and picking up Kuhnhausen's Colt 1911 book that I could perform these tasks.

Absolutely. About a year ago I was considering a DIY 1911 build and believe these would be invaluable reference.


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/scan0001-1.jpg


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/scan0002-1.jpg




.

[ilgunguygt]

STIs are great guns. The Trojan is a fine 1911. The Spartan is built by Armscor, the good people that bring us the Rock Island Armory. FOr the money, they are a good 1911, nothing custom or fancy, but reliable and sturdy. My brother recently bought an STI Spartan, I was very impressed with it. It reminded me a lot of the RIA Tactical, with a different billboard on the slide.

[flynlead]

went out today to check out the sti's and they do look like good guns but I did find a Kimber Pro Carry that I can get for a good price. I hate shopping for 1911's, too many choices.

[Brass Nazi]

Colt builds an excellent gun but I would not pay $900 for it. It would be my first choice of the ones that you listed if I could get it for $800 or less.

If you can get an STI they are probably the best bang for your buck on the market.
Kimbers are popular but are a crapshoot, you may get a good one and you may get a POS.

[flynlead]

I know what you mean about the Kimber. I looked at one today that looked new but had poor quality work done to it. Poor engraving job on the slide and the hammer would not release right. I do like the way the loaded springfield looks. Another issue I ran in to is I want to be able to field strip my gun without tools and some of the guns with the full guide rods you can't do that.

[ocala]

The Gold Cup is nice, but for $900, I'd start looking for a Dan Wesson.


:supergrin: +1 on Dan Wesson! Best value out there in my uneducated opinion! I like the quality and clean design.

[GVFlyer]

When I compare the performance of my SS Colt Gold Cup Trophy to that of my other more expensive 1911s, I feel that it represents the best value of any of them.

[flynlead]

somebody buy me a gun and let me know what I owe ya. This is giving me a headache.

[Cobra64]

+1 on Dan Wesson! Best value out there in my uneducated opinion! I like the quality and clean design.

The Valor is nice...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Marks%20Valor/Left13.jpg




http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Marks%20Valor/P1020045.jpg




http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Marks%20Valor/Right06.jpg




http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Marks%20Valor/Grip03.jpg




http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Marks%20Valor/Logo02.jpg



.

[Cobra64]

somebody buy me a gun and let me know what I owe ya. This is giving me a headache.

Then there are some more upscale favorites of mine that BAC1023 owns. He only has 45 1911s, but here are a few samples.


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Yost1.jpg



http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/RRA2.jpg



http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Sphinx2000Competitor.jpg



http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/STILegacyLeft.jpg



http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/NighthawkPredatorLeft.jpg




.

[Brian Brazier]

That STI Legacy is a sharp looking 1911, I wish they were still making them

[flynlead]

those are nice, too nice for me to carry. need something like my glock that i dont have to worry about

[Brian Brazier]

I don't understand the reasoning behined the statement that something is to nice to carry, don't you want the best tool for the job?

[Cobra64]

those are nice, too nice for me to carry. need something like my glock that i dont have to worry about

Simple solution: Get a Glock.

[flynlead]

I don't understand the reasoning behined the statement that something is to nice to carry, don't you want the best tool for the job?

I would be afraid of scratching it up or defacing it in some way:crying: I definitely want the best tool for the job but not sure spending 2-3K for a carry gun is the way to go. I have been researching the new process Dan Wesson is using that has my attention right now. I could still carry a 1911 with the durability of a glock and not have to worry about scratching it up. I don't want my guns to rust and with all my glocks I am sold on the tenifier process and want the same for my 1911 if possible.

[flynlead]

Simple solution: Get a Glock.


already got em:cool:

[Cobra64]

already got em:cool:

Try stainless steel:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/Sig%20Sauer%20Guns/Marks%20Sigs/P1000553-Rotated.jpg





My carry:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/Sig%20Sauer%20Guns/Marks%20Sigs/P229/P1010212.jpg


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/Sig%20Sauer%20Guns/Marks%20Sigs/P229/P1010230.jpg




.

[PPP]

+1 for the STI

[Rob_0811]

yet another vote for STI.

I have a Trojan and it is an awesome pistol.

[flynlead]

Thanks for all the help with my selection. I decided to go with the Kimber. It seemed to be the best bang for the buck. 700 bones brand new and even threw in a box of shells to boot.

http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj324/bwshields/059.jpg

[flynlead]

Here's a couple more.:supergrin:
http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj324/bwshields/061.jpg
http://i552.photobucket.com/albums/jj324/bwshields/060-1.jpg

[Makoman]

went out today to check out the sti's and they do look like good guns but I did find a Kimber Pro Carry that I can get for a good price. I hate shopping for 1911's, too many choices.

Kimber Pro Carry is nice. I was considering one, but do some research. I've read about extractor's and slide stops on this gun breaking. http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/review/KimberProCarry.htm

Also, I handled one today, a stainless, brand new in the dealers display case and the stainless steel barrel was developing a rust spot. I like Colt's but prefer a 4" barrel. It might not be U.S. made but I think the Springer Champion is prolly better quality than the Kimber.

[flynlead]

I looked this one over real close and seems to be in great shape. I figured I could not buy a less expensive gun and get it to this level for the money. This will give me a good place to start.