Thinking about joining the 1911 club..

[Riposite]

and here is my top consideration

http://www.coltsmfg.com/Catalog/ColtPis ... eries.aspx
a bit pricey but it felt good in my hand when i held it, super lgiht and a nice break to the trigger


any opinions?

My other options might be a Kimber, but they seem too pricey and i hear the quality has gone down.
Or I could go with a straight regular colt m1991 commander
or the sig 1911 model

though once you get up to that $1000 range it seems like one should own an actual colt
(though I do love my Sig P220)

Any opinions?
Any particular brands or models I should look at or stay away from?

[Two13]

Ruger SR1911 is a nice one for the price. I have one and love it. They are just hard to find right now. It has lots of nice features that are on 1911 that cost over $1000. I picked one up for 699 but you can find them for cheaper from what I have heard. Go check it out on their website and there are plenty of youtube vids about it as well.

[Riposite]

I have heard that for the price the Ruger is the best in that range but I've also heard they have a 6 month back log -not sure I am that patient ; )

[Two13]

I have heard the same thing, but you can find them I went into green top and they had 9 of them the day I bought mine. Walked in and 15min later i was out the door with one. They are out there.

[Hocktl]

IMO look at a sig. It is dropping jaws on ranges around the country.

[TBob]

I have 3 Kimbers, one bought late last year. No quality problems, and I bet my life on them as full-time carry pistols. I found the prices good for the feature set, accuracy, and reliability.

[TenchCoxe]

You didn't mention Para Ordnance or Springfield. I have a Para OPS that I love. Great little gun.

My father had a Colt Gold Cup Competition (I have no idea why he bought that gun, really, because he's not a shooter, but he just decided he had to have a gun). It was a great shooter - very accurate. But as I recall, it was a little finicky about feeding ammo. He sold it years ago (without telling me first!).

[Riposite]

I haven't shot a gold cup yet, but I've gotten to handle one and it feels great and very light in my hand, and I will be honest, I feel on some level as a red blooded american gun owner I should own a 1911, and probably a colt at that. Also doesn't hurt that I like the look of the gold cup.

I've heard decent things about Springfields but haven't had a chance to hold one or see one in person. I'll be honest not familiar at all with Para Ordnance. I will have to look into them.


I do love my sig P220 and I am pretty sure their 1911 would have the same quality, it lacks a bit of that classic look plus i just feel I should buy american.

[jrswanson1]

Get the Colt! Or the new Remington!

[RocKor]

Nowadays you're not really paying for features on a 1911. You're paying more for fit and finish. Attention to detail, smoothness, and some extra accuracy. Colt is excellent, as are Kimber and Springfields. Easily the top 3 of production 1911s in terms of quality. They also have many models ranging from the entry level (Colt Series 80, Kimber Custom II, Springfield Loaded or Mil Spec) to the high speed fancy models. Smith & Wesson and Sig Sauer are nice as well. The S&W E-Series is veeeeery nice and doesn't break the bank.

[ppexcursion]

I have a Kimber and can't complain. Great gun no issues but there are a lot of choices out there for that kind of money.

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[Geezer]

Every 1911 owner should own at least one Colt.

Polished stainless


National Match (dob 1960)


Series 80 Light Weight Commander


Series 70

[mk4]

^^^ nice!

[dorminWS]

I've got both Commaders and Gold Cups. If I had to pick one or the other, I'd pick the Commander. It just handles better, and is easier to shoot. More rounds on target. I don't know why. It just is.

[Riposite]

I've got both Commaders and Gold Cups. If I had to pick one or the other, I'd pick the Commander. It just handles better, and is easier to shoot. More rounds on target. I don't know why. It just is.

well I've handled both but not shot either, and i liked the fact the gold cup seemed lighter in the hand. Other than the difference in accuracy, what other differences have you noticed?

[Mindflayer]

I am having the same internal debate. 5" for range use, or 4" for range and carry? What's the recoil/accuracy difference (perceived and otherwise)?

[dorminWS]

I am having the same internal debate. 5" for range use, or 4" for range and carry? What's the recoil/accuracy difference (perceived and otherwise)?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Honestly, for range OR carry, I'd rather be shooting the Commander as the Gold Cup.

[Mindflayer]

dorminWS - I should have been more clear. If you were going to buy a Springfield Loaded, 5" or 4"?

[dorminWS]

dorminWS - I should have been more clear. If you were going to buy a Springfield Loaded, 5" or 4"?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've got a Springfield Trophy Match 5" that is a very nice pistol. I'd be willing to bet there is very little difference between a 5" Trophy Match and a 5" Loaded. But I've never seen a 4" Springfield, much less fired one. So I really couldn't even guess about that. I will tell you that in my experience the 4" and even shorter 1911s I have fired did not seem to me to be noticeably less manageable or less accurate than a 5". The Commander seems to handle and point better than most 5" 1911s (for me, at least). I don't know why; and I don't know that a 4" pistol of some other make will be that way (in fact, I can tell you that the shorter Kimbers I have are NOT that way). I know that ain't much help, but it's the best I can do.

[Mindflayer]

I appreciate it. I carry a 3.8" XDM Compact 9mm right now; I have a 4.5" .45 ACP XDM. I figure the 4" would be a nice (heavy) carry alternative in case my 9mm is ever out of commission. Of course, it will be training like a fiend to ensure muscle memory for both guns is locked in.