Who's gonna make an affordable 1911?

[jsx1043]

This may sound a little elitist, but I feel that since the 1911 frame is so popular, no manufacturer wants to make a mid-range quality CCW 1911. I would love to have one in 9mm or .40 SW, but I sure can't afford a Kimber or Springfield. Anybody have any ideas that won't break the bank?

[PawDog]

Rock Island Armory makes a Commander size 1911 which sells for around $350-400.00, depending on where you purchase it. I have the Milspec version, and have been extremely happy with it and it's performance. Not sure if they are making an Officers size model yet......

[Wingnut357]

www.classicarms.us has fullsize 1911s for 289.00. After taxes, maybe.

[DHoback]

I baught a new Springer Mil Spec for $550. It is really nice. Very high quality. Accurate as hell, and a blast to shoot. $550 is high price range for a handgun?

[Polo]

Got my Springfield G.I. for $400, how bad is that?
It's every bit a classic functioning 1911. SA did real good with this offering. Made me a fan for life.

If you want one of those fancy bell/whistle 'CCW' guns, you're gonna have to pay more, no matter who makes it.

You're right about the prices of 1911s and others HANDGUNS. Just rediculous. I can get a high quality and far more capable a weapon (i.e. a RIFLE) for less than for what many NON-custom handguns go for (for example 1911s, SIGs, H&Ks).
WHY this is so, is beyond me.

If you shop smart, you can do okay and pay less for a good capable handgun - but still at the price of a rifle though! ;f

[pangris]

Considering that the gun is the least expensive part of shooting - I'd look at a used 9mm Glock, a couple cases of Blazer ammo, and a training class if I was on a very restricted budget.

[Another19]

My S.A. Mil-Spec was $455 with an extra pair of grips and an "Extreme Duty" holster. I thought that was a pretty good deal for new.

[WIG19]

Originally posted by pangris
Considering that the gun is the least expensive part of shooting - I'd look at a used 9mm Glock, a couple cases of Blazer ammo, and a training class if I was on a very restricted budget.
Sound advice.
^c

[Shooting Alpha's]

Originally posted by jsx1043
This may sound a little elitist, but I feel that since the 1911 frame is so popular, no manufacturer wants to make a mid-range quality CCW 1911. I would love to have one in 9mm or .40 SW, but I sure can't afford a Kimber or Springfield. Anybody have any ideas that won't break the bank?

Have you tried Plainfield Shooting Supplies, Albro's and Bradis? Popguns sometimes has some used Springer Mil-Spec or GI's. Be patient, the deals are out there.

[freepatriot]

I got my Sprinfield for trade: an AK clone, 400 rds of 7.69 ammo, an aperature sight and a bipod. I think I had $300 in that stuff.

[FLIPPER 348]

the Taurus 1911 will be out one day.........and they won't be able to make them fast enough!

[DriBak]

Originally posted by FLIPPER 348
the Taurus 1911 will be out one day.........and they won't be able to make them fast enough!
That would be great, is this just speculation ??

[jsx1043]

Thanks for all the input. I did find some okay deals for standard GI style 1911's here in Indy, but I'll probably end up at the Indy 1500. More than anything, it's just a statement about the handgun industry: I would much rather pay $500 for a brand new Springfield XD in the box with 3 mags, a holster and mag pouch, rather than $800 for a compact Kimber or even Springfield for that matter. STI, Wilson Combat, etc. for $1,000 well that's just ludicrous. I want a .45 for fun and to add to the collection, maybe occasional carry. Bad news is, makers like Rock Island and Taurus get bad raps on quality and accuracy, let alone reliability. I haven't found the good deals on the Springfield, but seeing the good word on those, I'll try to pick one up.

[Alaskapopo]

You get what you pay for. Go cheap and you will regret it. I paid 1800 for my Wilson CQB. Thats a lot but I feel that my life and the life of those I serve is worth it. Those extra bucks get you a pistol that is simply the finest fighting handgun made. 1911's dominate competition, Swat teams, and the Spec Opps community for a reason. If you must go cheap the Springfield Mil Spec is about the best there is in that price range. A friend of mine carries one for UC work with AST and it has been reliable for him.
Pat

[DHoback]

Go cheap and you will regret it. That statement is misleading. I baught a Mil spec after months of research.(I think $550 is pretty cheap for a 1911) When you buy a 1911 for $1000+ your getting one thing: bells and whistles. Sure they are more accurate, and shoot nicer. I dont think they are any more reliable.


Oh, and BTW, you can buy a regular G17, have the trigger done. Have a precision barrell fit to it, add some super-duper sights, shape the stock and have it all prettied up by a pro. All said and done, you will end up with a fancy $1000+ Glock as well.

[Alaskapopo]

The springfield mil spec is a nice exception to the rule. Most cheap 1911's are plagued with reliability issues.
Pat

[Nalapombu]

The Rock Island 1911's have a great following these days. I read reports about them all the time and they all praise how great of a bargain they are. You have to admit that paying $289 for a NIB Full Size 1911 is pretty hard to beat. There ain't no way to get lower than that. I have handled them before and they are really nice, I'd like to have one myself.
As for a 1911 in 9mm or 40 cal, you can buy a Rock Island in 38 Super, which they have now, for about $325 or so and then nose around and find a 9mm barrel for it and you are good to go. Even if you had to send it to someone like Nowlin to get one of his match 9mm barrels put it in and make sure the extractor was right, you'd still have less than $500 in it or darn close I guess.
Your next option is a Springer military model or Mil-spec. Sometimes you can find them on sale for a little under $400 but that's still more than $100 MORE than the Rock Island. I have read that Springer is again making the Mil-Spec in 38 Super and it will be the same price as the 45 ACP which should be slightly more than $400 or so. You would have to swap out the barrel like I said above, but you'd have a neato 9mm 1911 to play with when you were done.
Good Luck.

Nala

[Alaskapopo]

Rock Island is Phillipeano guns I believe. I admit I have not shot one but they don't look that good to me when I have seen them. Fit finish wise. I could be wrong.
Pat

[RMTactical]

I would get a Springfield. I think that is the best bag for the buck in the 1911 world.

Springfield will most likely be what I go with when I get a 1911.

I really don't think it's possible to go much cheaper and actually be making a decent 1911.

[auto45]

I think the "fact" is the "midrange" quality 1911 is the Kimber/S&W/Colt,Springfield, etc and they are $500-$750 base models.

The lower end is RIA, Auto Ordinance, CD, and soon the Taurus. Seems that market is growing.

Dollar for dollar, if you don't care what "type" of handgun you shoot, you'll do better with the XD, etc...as you mentioned.
CZ might be another choice. Ruger, etc.

[Alaskapopo]

Dollar for Dollar Glock not the XD glock wanna be. But as was said nothing beats a good 1911 as a fighting handgun.
Pat

[NoGo]

SARCO's RIA 45's (http://www.sarcoinc.com/rockislands.html)

A good place to start. Find a good, $10 transfer FFL guy that has or will open an account then not charge extra for the item as long as you do the work. Don't buy the mags, instead get a stack of CMC, Wilson or Metalform's.

If you gotta mess with it, maybe change out the sights with taller GI sights from King's or Caspian. They'll fit the stock dovetail & staking hole. A basic trigger job can give you a clean breaking pull of 5lb.

Shoot the snot out of it. Start reloading, shoot more. That's what 1911's do best.

Stick with standard velocity .45 ACP. Nice soft "bump" like recoil. Cheap to reload, and the brass lasts for many loads.

Have fun doing it!

[Make Mine a .45]

Originally posted by FLIPPER 348
the Taurus 1911 will be out one day.........and they won't be able to make them fast enough!

Yeah , then we'll have to endure the *****ing and whineing about how the Taurus just doesn't measure up the the other 1911 makers.
All the while , from the other side of their mouths...well Taurus can make a 1911 for hundreds less why can't acolt and Kimber &&&&&&!

That is speculation....

[rangerruck]

you could also look at a high standard. theymake them in the origional milspec configuration from 1910.

[ndbullet500]

Originally posted by jsx1043
Bad news is, makers like Rock Island and Taurus get bad raps on quality and accuracy, let alone reliability. I haven't found the good deals on the Springfield, but seeing the good word on those, I'll try to pick one up. [/B]

I've shot hundreds of trouble free rounds through my Rock Island .45. No jams, no FTFs or FTEs. I did change the slide lock because it wasn't locking after the last shot on some mags (Wilsons oddly enough), but that was it. And if you read the boards at 1911forum.com, you'll see a lot of people happy with Rock Islands. It is a basic 1911 though, no bells and whistles. I'm just as accurate in slow fire shooting with it as I am other 1911s that I have shot. Used it in an infomal match today, in fact, instead of a Beretta or (horror!) my Taurus PT92 that is also trouble free, accurate and reliable.

A lot of time "bad raps" are from people who just repeat what "someone" said without actually trying the firearm themself.

[El_Ron1]

It's called a Norinco. Ask one of your liberty loving, free trade promoting government representatives why Canadians can buy them new but you can't.;P

[auto45]

Because the goverment owned Norinco company was/is selling missle technology to our enemy...Iran.

That's good reason enough not to ever sell them in the US.

Iran is not Canada's friend either...I might add!

[El_Ron1]

Originally posted by auto45
Because the goverment owned Norinco company was/is selling missle technology to our enemy...Iran.

That's good reason enough not to ever sell them in the US.

Iran is not Canada's friend either...I might add! Oh dear silly me, that's right! I forgot that we only buy things from the GOOD Chinese here in the ol' U. S. of A. Hate for any of the hundreds and hundreds of billions of US dollars we spend every year(at an ever increasing rate) with China to end up in the wrong hands! Thanks for the wake-up call.;f

[quicksand]

I picked up a new Colt Gov model a couple of months back for $495, look around and you can find deals.