[UrbanOps]

The bug has bitten me. I'm looking for a 1911 for duty use. My agency requires a rail mounted light, night sights and must fit an ALS Safariland duty holster...that's it.

My requirements are, of course, the above plus costing less than $2,000, extremely reliable, must feed HST's and Gold Dots.

I'm trying to make a list of possibilities. So far I have come up with the following. These are in no particular order, however, I am really leaning toward the TRP. The only thing i'm not necessarily liking are the adjustable sights:

1. Springfield TRP ($1500)
2. DW Specialist ($1800 but not out yet)
3. Baer Ultimate Recon (Don't know about price)
4. S&W1911PD ($1200)
5. ????

Which pistol and why? Also list the deficiencies in the pistols you don't care for. I know this has been beaten to death but adding a rail into the mix seems to change things up a bit.

[Moravia]

I wish I could choose my duty weapon.

I would throw Wilson Combat in the mix but I just checked their current prices , most are $3000+ base price. I've had good experience with S&W 1911s. I don't see why that couldn't fill the role as long as you tested it with your duty ammo of choice. I have run gold dots and TAP ammo through the 1911 I had, no issues at all. Good luck in finding a new duty weapon.

P.S. Surefire is supposedly coming out with a new X300 that will be 500 lumens, should make a fine weapon light.

[knedrgr]

To replace the rear sight on the TRP, John Harrison has one. And 10-8 Performance is also coming out with one.

Here's the Harrison sight.
http://shop.harrisoncustom.com/produ...ear-sight.aspx

[UrbanOps]

Originally Posted by Moravia

I wish I could choose my duty weapon.

I would throw Wilson Combat in the mix but I just checked their current prices , most are $3000+ base price. I've had good experience with S&W 1911s. I don't see why that couldn't fill the role as long as you tested it with your duty ammo of choice. I have run gold dots and TAP ammo through the 1911 I had, no issues at all. Good luck in finding a new duty weapon.

P.S. Surefire is supposedly coming out with a new X300 that will be 500 lumens, should make a fine weapon light.

I thought about a Wilson CQB LE. Have seen them for $2700-ish but are they $1000 better than a TRP? My only concern with the SW is the alloy frame but I haven't heard much about their 1911 line in general

Originally Posted by knedrgr

To replace the rear sight on the TRP, John Harrison has one. And 10-8 Performance is also coming out with one.

Here's the Harrison sight.
http://shop.harrisoncustom.com/produ...ear-sight.aspx

Thanks for the info!

[BigLaw]

I used the STI Tactical 5.0 for a while. Its a 2011 ( double stack ) The gun is very accurate and did good with a Surefire X300 attached. The down side is the price ( about $1900 with night sights ) but if you are serious about a 1911 style duty gun they fit the bill IMO.

[knedrgr]

Another good gun to throw near the top is the STI Duty One. Price on that is just above $1K. Great company to deal with and excellent CS.

http://www.stiguns.com/the-sti-duty-one/

[ijacek]

May I suggest Colt Rail Gun! I know people will be around to bash them soon, but nevertheless. It is about 1K, and Colt's quality has been upswinging.

[Quack]

my 2 choices...





another thought would be a SA MC Operator (~$1100) and spend the difference on upgrading parts. if you were ready a few weeks ago, Hilton Yam sold one of his 10-8 SA's for ~$1800

[ca survivor]

what agency are you in that you have to buy the duty weapon an allows 1911s ?

[UrbanOps]

Originally Posted by ca survivor

what agency are you in that you have to buy the duty weapon an allows 1911s ?

Is this a serious question? A lot of places allow you to purchase your own duty side arm or requires that you purchase your own. My sheriff's office issues G22's but I prefer to purchase my own. Right now, I'm carrying my Sig 226.

[jedi573]

I highly recommend this article by Hilton Yam regarding choosing a 1911 for duty use.

http://www.10-8performance.com/pages...-Duty-Use.html

Andy

[crazymoose]

If the budget allowed, I'd go with an Ed Brown. In my experience, they're a very high quality semi-custom made by a guy who understands that a 1911 actually intended for use as a weapon should not be so ridiculously tight that it will malfunction easily.

If the budget doesn't allow that, the TRP is the best bang-for-the-buck duty quality 1911 out there, IMO.

[MStarmer]

Originally Posted by jedi573

I highly recommend this article by Hilton Yam regarding choosing a 1911 for duty use.

http://www.10-8performance.com/pages...-Duty-Use.html

Andy

Beat me to it.

[Bodyarmorguy]

If I were buying a new off the shelf 1911 for duty use and working with a somewhat limited budget the Springfield MC Operator would be my immediate pick. With what ever money I saved by choosing this over the TRP I would replace the rear sight with the one from 10-8 Performance or a Heinie Ledge rear sight with a wide notch, some extra quality magazines and the rest on ammo.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=34

[Bodyarmorguy]

Originally Posted by ijacek

May I suggest Colt Rail Gun! I know people will be around to bash them soon, but nevertheless. It is about 1K, and Colt's quality has been upswinging.

This is another good choice. Jason Burton recently did a full house build on one but had good things to say about the base pistol in terms of fit an finish.

http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/...php?f=6&t=9058

[samuse]

A railed Pro is my grail when it comes to railed 1911s.

An MC Operator would be my choice in that pricerange.

I don't know what Springfield was thingink with the railed TRP, but the rear sight and bull barrel totally turn me off to it.

[Bodyarmorguy]

If you are set on a TRP, this model has a fixed sight option.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=26

[SpringerTGO]

I don't think you can go wrong with Springfield. Read the thread about the guy who blew up his barrel in his new Springfield, and how fast they turned around the repair.
My experience with their service has been just as good.

[Quack]

Originally Posted by SpringerTGO

I don't think you can go wrong with Springfield. Read the thread about the guy who blew up his barrel in his new Springfield, and how fast they turned around the repair.
My experience with their service has been just as good.

don't forget about the guy that had a Springfield for ~20minutes and it flew out his backpack while on his way home on his motorcycle.

pics:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showpost...&postcount=202

full thread:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=174946

[majette]

mc operator is a great choice. the rail gun is also but you would have to upgrade the sights. the trp operator is even better as the bull barrel and frame weight plus the stout recoil spring make it an unbelieveably light recoiling 1911. the adjustable sight is its weakness as it is quick to rust.

[jwhite75]

Originally Posted by knedrgr

To replace the rear sight on the TRP, John Harrison has one. And 10-8 Performance is also coming out with one.

Here's the Harrison sight.
http://shop.harrisoncustom.com/produ...ear-sight.aspx

The TRP is easily one of the best production class 1911s available and the adjuatbale LFA style sughts were my only hold back for me. Not that Harrison has them I will probably go with them.

I think that is definitely your gun.

[jwhite75]

Originally Posted by majette

mc operator is a great choice. the rail gun is also but you would have to upgrade the sights. the trp operator is even better as the bull barrel and frame weight plus the stout recoil spring make it an unbelieveably light recoiling 1911. the adjustable sight is its weakness as it is quick to rust.

OK I m kind of a newb on the adjustables why is this particular thing quick to rust and would something like the Harrison fixed sights remedy that?

[knedrgr]

I second SA's CS. Replaced my SA Compact's original barrel. No questions asked. I got this gun in a trade.

[mrsurfboard]

A big consideration with a duty weapon is repair. If the gun should need repair who would turn it around the fastest. Based on that, you shouldn't even consider Colt. Their repair time is 8+ weeks. S&W, especially with police duty weapons, is very fast and they stand by their product.

[Wild Gene]

Over budget but I would get one of the Predator Tactical "Shrikes". They are gonna work.