1911 for under $800 - what's what?

gwhysow

gwhysow

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Toronto, Ontario
Looking to invest (and for under $800, i use 'invest' lightly) in a new 1911, while trying to avoid anything too pricey. Would love to get that beautiful Springer, but it's a little above my range.

Taurus, RIA, Citadel...I don't know how to feel about these guns.

Can anyone shed some light on this dimmed area of mine.

Cheers
 
Your best bet is to find a used Colt (but DO NOT buy one unless you have a chance to insect it first). Springfield GI might also be a decent option, although the quality of Brazilian-made Springers tends to be hit and miss, so once again, don't buy one without looking it over first.

I would stay away from Taurus and Asian-made 1911s.
 
Armco has a worked over Springfield right now for $799, it has just about everything. It is in the used section but Gunnar goes through them before they leave, so you don't have anything to worry about. Or you could get a tuned Norc and have him do some work on it for you - Norcs that he's done are a tremendous value - mine is simply amazing for the cost.
 
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I'm not sure what capp325's objection to Taurus is. I've never heard anything negative about Taurus. Never fired one but handled many of various vintages and the fit and finish was excellent and I've never seen one that looked hadn't held up well to useage.
Norinco is a good base, Gunnar likes them and even Wilson Combat will customize them. They aren't Colt or Springfield but you don't pay as dear for them.
 
I'd buy one of gunnar's norcinco 1911A1 and spend the rest on ammo..... just click on the ARMCO tab at the top of the page. One year warrenty, guarenteed to feed anything and a 4lb trigger....... $479 + tax & shipping........ Seems like a no brainer to me.
 
gatekeyper said:
I'm not sure what capp325's objection to Taurus is. I've never heard anything negative about Taurus. Never fired one but handled many of various vintages and the fit and finish was excellent and I've never seen one that looked hadn't held up well to useage.
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I guess everyone has their own definition of excellence. Having handles a Taurus 1911, I wasn't impressed by its fit and finish in the slightest.
 
I'll go for a factory fully loaded Thomson Ordnance in stainless (actually made by Kahr USA) priced at aprox CAD 800 for a good tuned 1911 gun. I have no idea about how is the Thomson custom service in Canada, but you can check some reviews first...
 
There is a Colt Government for sale in the EE never fired at 800$. I know nothing about 1911 pistols, but it seems like a good deal.
 
capp325 said:
I guess everyone has their own definition of excellence. Having handles a Taurus 1911, I wasn't impressed by its fit and finish in the slightest.
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I handled both the black and stainless versions of their 1911 at Target Sports recently, and was actually quite impressed. I'm waiting for the rumoured 9mm version with light rail, and I will certainly be picking one up.
 
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notsorichguy said:
I'd buy one of gunnar's norcinco 1911A1 and spend the rest on ammo..... just click on the ARMCO tab at the top of the page. One year warrenty, guarenteed to feed anything and a 4lb trigger....... $479 + tax & shipping........ Seems like a no brainer to me.
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Thats exactly what I did and don't regret it for a second! Gunnar is great to deal with and my "cheap, communist made" 1911 shoots just as well as anything else I've tried. And the money I saved will by me a lot of ammo!
 
I paid $812 for my PT1911 stainless almost exactly a year ago... and still perfectly content with the purchase. This gun plus my 92 Inox are my favourites. You can't go wrong; forged frame, slide and barrel, Novak sights (on newer models) nice trigger, accurate, reliable and comes with two 8 round mags! All I did to it was changed the grips and got Novak sights for it (mine came with Heinie str8).
 
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