Looking to buy a 1911 again

Warhorse · 05-28-2011, 06:18

I had a Colt Series '70 Government Model .45ACP for over 25 years. It was an okay shooter, nothing spectacular, I sold it 5 or 6 years ago to help fund another purchase at the time.

With all the hype out there now with the 100 year anniversary and all, I find myself wanting a 1911 again. Whats the best deals out there for under $800 on a .45ACP 1911?

craig19 · 05-28-2011, 06:29

Everyone seems big on the Springfield Range Officer, I haven't had a chance to shoot one yet. I'm sure a few of the guys will be along in a minute to give you some better advice. I know Okie picked one up recently, he seems pretty happy with it.

***okie*** · 05-28-2011, 06:40

The Range officer or the SR 1911

RUT · 05-28-2011, 06:52

http://www.ruger.com/products/sr1911/models.html

Tallahassee · 05-28-2011, 07:04

You've gotten some great advice here. If the various enhancements of those models aren't a big deal to you, I'd also suggest a Springfield Mil-Spec.

Hokie1911 · 05-28-2011, 07:45

Lot's of good choices < $800.

Springfield RO (what I'd go with)
Springfield Mil-Spec
Ruger SR1911
Desert Eagle 1911G
STI Spartan
Remington R1
RIA Tactical (and other Filipino clones)

Quack · 05-28-2011, 08:00

Range Officer
Remington R1
mil-spec (NM marked)
STI Spartan
Ruger
Springfield Loaded

what are your intended use and needs for the 1911?

FLSlim · 05-28-2011, 08:14

Quack's list is good. I went through the same process for another 1911 not that long ago and ended up with the Spartan. No regrets on that purchase-build quality and accurate. Have fun shopping, take your time, shoot what you are interested in if possible, buy and don't look back.

Warhorse · 05-28-2011, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quack

what are your intended use and needs for the 1911?

Range, HD, and sometimes carry as I still have a couple holsters for a 1911.

Tallahassee · 05-28-2011, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warhorse

Range, HD, and sometimes carry as I still have a couple holsters for a 1911.

Any of the guns Quack listed are capable of that (depending on how you feel about either carrying a RO with the stock sights, or changing them out like some have). I'd suggest renting as many of those as you can and figuring out what suits your fancy.

Or just pick one. If you're anything like me, you're going to end up with multiple 1911s, anyway.

woodrowNC · 05-28-2011, 09:13

how about the colt 70 series repro or 1991a1. colt's making good guns these days. (says the lifelong colt fan) lol.

HotRoderX · 05-28-2011, 09:16

I agree with what quack said also.

You could get a RIA 1911 Tactical or GI and a 1911 Officer model and still possible stay under your budget. If you did go over it wouldn't be by much. That way you could have your compact for carry and your full size for range/sd.

Fedor · 05-28-2011, 09:18

After a lot of thought and research I am close to ordering a RIA Tactical or ATI GI in .45ACP

knedrgr · 05-28-2011, 09:28

I would definitely go RO over Mil-Spec.

Change our the rear sight for a Harrison fixed, and if you want, change out the front for tritium or gold bead. YMMV. With the Mil-Spec, you'll have to get the front milled, if you want decent sigh options.

Spartan wouldn't make the list, cause I'm not a fan of the STI look and sight options.

MajorD · 05-28-2011, 09:53

I am a Colt fan, and you CAN find excellent used older Colts or even a few new basic Colts in your price range. In 1911's it goes sort of like this:
good
cheap
American made
pick any two

craig19 · 05-28-2011, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by knedrgr

Spartan wouldn't make the list, cause I'm not a fan of the STI look and sight options.

What's with sight options? Is it a pain to swap them out, or is it just not possible?

knedrgr · 05-28-2011, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig19

What's with sight options? Is it a pain to swap them out, or is it just not possible?

Just not a fan of target rear sight and FO front blade. I like all of my guns to have the same/similar sights. So I would need to replace them, if I had bought a Spartan.

bac1023 · 05-28-2011, 17:53

As shown above, there are many great choices in that price range.

G27RR · 05-28-2011, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by knedrgr

Just not a fan of target rear sight and FO front blade. I like all of my guns to have the same/similar sights. So I would need to replace them, if I had bought a Spartan.

You can order most STIs with different sights right from the factory, although possibly not the Spartan since it's not made in Georgetown.

To the other poster, replacing them is not difficult if you have a sight pusher, or a steady hand with a punch like the one Dawson includes with their sights. I've swapped front sights on both my Ranger IIs for tritium models.

If you buy a Spartan from Dawson, you can have them swap out the sights before they send it to you.

OP - I like Hokie's and Quack's lists.

knedrgr · 05-28-2011, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by G27RR

You can order most STIs with different sights right from the factory, although possibly not the Spartan since it's not made in Georgetown.

To the other poster, replacing them is not difficult if you have a sight pusher, or a steady hand with a punch like the one Dawson includes with their sights. I've swapped front sights on both my Ranger IIs for tritium models.

If you buy a Spartan from Dawson, you can have them swap out the sights before they send it to you.

OP - I like Hokie's and Quack's lists.

I think the Spartan is a great starter 1911. Just not my style, specifically the sights.

That's cool that STI can change out sights for you. "Custom Shop..."

Fedor · 05-28-2011, 18:32

The STI styling is a turn off for me.

craig19 · 05-28-2011, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by knedrgr

Just not a fan of target rear sight and FO front blade. I like all of my guns to have the same/similar sights. So I would need to replace them, if I had bought a Spartan.

Ah, gotcha.