View Full Version : Best first 1911
Grovenator
01-22-2011, 20:59
The thread title is a little misleading because I've had one "real" 1911 in my life. It was in about 1995, it was a Para Ordnance P-14 .45 all steel. I really hated that gun. Sorry but I did. I got really lucky and sold it for exactly what I had into it to my boss at the time. It was clunky. It started clunky and I thought it would "smooth out" over time. It never did. Some two thousand rounds later it was as gritty, clunky and clanky as the day I brought it home. I hated it!
Ok, on with the theme of the thread. I know the 1911 platform is a good one or else it would not have lasted or rather proliferated for 100 years. It's 2011 and I've decided to give it another go. Please suggest for me a "good" 1911. I'll tell you what I'm looking for in any handgun I might buy and specifically what I'd expect from any 1911 I'd buy.
Smooth, slim, accurate, easy pointing and easy on the hand when shot a lot. I realize that most 1911 guns already provide most of these so I won't wast your time about what I expect other than to say I think most 1911 guns are overpriced.
I know I can get anything from a Wilson Combat gun all the way down to a Llama. I can't afford a Wilson and you couldn't give me a Llama. Soooo, what do you think?
I want a flat mainspring housing, beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer and trigger, smooth combat sights, standard recoil spring set-up and standard type barrel bushing. I don't want to spend over say $700-800. Stainless is ok but I really like a nice utilitarian parkerizing too.
The closest thing I've found so far is the Springfield Milspec "loaded"(?). It's about what I want but I really can't stand the forward serrations on the slide. Yuk! I just can't do it! Ideas? :embarassed:
The thread title is a little misleading because I've had one "real" 1911 in my life. It was in about 1995, it was a Para Ordnance P-14 .45 all steel. I really hated that gun. Sorry but I did. I got really lucky and sold it for exactly what I had into it to my boss at the time. It was clunky. It started clunky and I thought it would "smooth out" over time. It never did. Some two thousand rounds later it was as gritty, clunky and clanky as the day I brought it home. I hated it!
Ok, on with the theme of the thread. I know the 1911 platform is a good one or else it would not have lasted or rather proliferated for 100 years. It's 2011 and I've decided to give it another go. Please suggest for me a "good" 1911. I'll tell you what I'm looking for in any handgun I might buy and specifically what I'd expect from any 1911 I'd buy.
Smooth, slim, accurate, easy pointing and easy on the hand when shot a lot. I realize that most 1911 guns already provide most of these so I won't wast your time about what I expect other than to say I think most 1911 guns are overpriced.
I know I can get anything from a Wilson Combat gun all the way down to a Llama. I can't afford a Wilson and you couldn't give me a Llama. Soooo, what do you think?
I want a flat mainspring housing, beavertail grip safety, skeletonized hammer and trigger, smooth combat sights, standard recoil spring set-up and standard type barrel bushing. I don't want to spend over say $700-800. Stainless is ok but I really like a nice utilitarian parkerizing too.
The closest thing I've found so far is the Springfield Milspec "loaded"(?). It's about what I want but I really can't stand the forward serrations on the slide. Yuk! I just can't do it! Ideas? :embarassed:
You should look at the Springfield RO for that price point. BAC has a very good article in the 1911 Resource sticky that goes over about 50 different 1911's and has them categorized by market (production, semi-custom, custom) As for the FCS, they seem to be common on most of the production guns, although I am sure someone here can come up with a sub 1k prod gun with no fcs. You could also look for a used STI Trojan that would come in close to your price. There was one on the GT Firearms Listing a week or two ago. Good luck!
If it was a Para P-14, then it wasn't a 1911.
How about a Kimber Custom II? :)
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu81/ollituc/000_2542.jpg
"Best" is the word I'm trying to stay away from.
However a very solid choice would be Springfield Mili-Spec IMO.
Colonel Cooper would advice You to take a look at this pistol instead of the "loaded" one and I think that he was right on this.
Forged frame, slide and barrel.
Improved sights and decent trigger.
Great 1911.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Admon/P1060278.jpg
If it was a Para P-14, then it wasn't a 1911.
How about a Kimber Custom II? :)
http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu81/ollituc/000_2542.jpg
The Kimber Custom II was the first one I owned and was very happy with it.
Freedom101
01-23-2011, 07:07
I had an 80 series Government Model in the late 80's and can't say I'd recommend one. Some have had good experiences with the 80 series, but maybe I had a lemon. I shot my dad's 70 series Combat Commander and loved it. So, I bought the 80 series Goverment Model and it wasn't the same. Although not a 1911, I had a Star PD in the early 80's and it was a great shooting pistol. It was compact with an alloy frame but shot well. My dad had a gun shop for a few years in the early 80's and thanks to my paper route and a pro-gun father I was able to own and shoot many guns.....although I usually owned only one at a time due to limited funds. I have recently been contemplating buying an Ed Brown or Les Baer, but not sure I wanna part with the cash. :dunno:
fasteddie565
01-23-2011, 07:16
For the $700-$800 mark, I would look at SA and used Kimbers
To spend a little less, consider the Remington 1911. At less than $600, they are well built guns, all steel and an almost direct clone of original 1911a1 (with better sights).
used colts easily in the price range too. shoot a plain grip safety model first- they do not bite everyone-I usually find used colts in the 5-700 range in my area.
Grovenator
01-29-2011, 22:53
Thanks for the responses guys. I'm looking at the Mil-Spec.. I like it but with a skeletonized hammer. I suppose I can add that and a beaver-tail safety later.(?)
Grovenator
01-29-2011, 23:02
If it was a Para P-14, then it wasn't a 1911.
How was it not a 1911?:dunno:
Nickpisp
01-29-2011, 23:24
How was it not a 1911?:dunno:
Not a 1911 frame.
glock2740
01-29-2011, 23:25
Try a Guncrafter No Name or a Wilson Supergrade. You won't need anything else. :cool:
woodrowNC
01-29-2011, 23:46
yall are gonna disagree but hey, i'm a colt man. 1991a1. colts qc is much better than in the 90's. and no, a para is not a 1911. i don't know what they are. a pos maybe.
maybe the colt xse gov. series.
R0CKETMAN
01-30-2011, 05:43
SA Mil Spec
Colt 70
Both great base guns and with just a little work can be a life long pistol.
Hokie1911
01-30-2011, 07:21
Thanks for the responses guys. I'm looking at the Mil-Spec.. I like it but with a skeletonized hammer. I suppose I can add that and a beaver-tail safety later.(?)
Yep. The mil-spec is a great base model for modifications. You can send it to Springfield's Custom Shop and they will do just about anything you want to it.
yall are gonna disagree but hey, i'm a colt man. 1991a1. colts qc is much better than in the 90's. and no, a para is not a 1911. i don't know what they are. a pos maybe.
maybe the colt xse gov. series.
I agree 100%
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/jac3k/P7012954.jpg
mr00jimbo
01-30-2011, 14:10
How much are Sig 1911s going for? I've heard good things about the S&W ones, but I don't know how much these guns go for in the US/if they're in your budget.
yall are gonna disagree but hey, i'm a colt man. 1991a1. colts qc is much better than in the 90's. and no, a para is not a 1911. i don't know what they are. a pos maybe.
Today's Colt QC is worse than a hungover teacher for a sixth grade shop class.
Colt's custom shop:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/Davis1950/Weapons/1911/Colt%201911%20WWI%201918/COLTGUNSMITH.jpg
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