1911 pistol.

I have 2 Remingtons, R1 Enhanced and R1 Carry. I don't like GI models, but the Remingtons are great for the money. Ruger's SR1911 is an even better value especially if you like stainless. Ruger is also series 70. You got a decent budget - Sig Sauer 1911 Tac Pacs are best bang for the buck with a really good durable melonite finish. STI are awesome guns but weak blueing wears quick.

Good summary and matches most of my experiences. However I'm not a big fan of Sigs because I try to steer clear of Series 80 guns if I can. Too many doodads that affect trigger pull and harder to get a decent trigger job done on them. And I agree about the STI finish. I have a Ranger II 9mm and while I like the gun and the bull barrel makes it accurate I probably haven't holstered it more than 20 times and already I can see the finish starting to scuff.

I own an SR1911 and a SR1911 Commander and I'm still amazed that Ruger can produce a stainless North American made gun with all kinds of extras for around $750. For another $250 get a trigger job and some general tightening and you will have a gun that will stack up favourably head to head with 1911s costing hundreds more.
 
Depends on the cost of gun vs shipping. My main enabler is in AB and his shipping is very decent.

Yea for sure, i buy locally, bought enough that with a discount they cost cheaper than most places, seems like on some i dont mind the $30-$50 hike due to the fact they look after me
 
Good summary and matches most of my experiences. However I'm not a big fan of Sigs because I try to steer clear of Series 80 guns if I can. Too many doodads that affect trigger pull and harder to get a decent trigger job done on them. And I agree about the STI finish. I have a Ranger II 9mm and while I like the gun and the bull barrel makes it accurate I probably haven't holstered it more than 20 times and already I can see the finish starting to scuff.

I own an SR1911 and a SR1911 Commander and I'm still amazed that Ruger can produce a stainless North American made gun with all kinds of extras for around $750. For another $250 get a trigger job and some general tightening and you will have a gun that will stack up favourably head to head with 1911s costing hundreds more.


The Remington's are series 80 as well. I have removed the 80 parts from my Enhanced and replaced the lifter with a shim from Dlask $10. Removed the firing pin block too. Not hard at all. I haven't touched my Sig Scorpion's trigger yet. But the Sig quality is best value. Stainless steel barrel, frame and slide with nitron finishes, cerakote on my Scorpion. Gun is very tight all around - value, the scorpion comes with G10 grips with built in magwell, aggressive back strap checkering, ambi thumb safeties, rail, three dot night sights, extended mag release , and two 8 round mags. I paid $1250 shipped to my door brand new.
 
You can add my vote to the Remingot list....
I'm pleased with mine, even though I've only put about 700 rounds through it so far.

Stan
 
The Remington's are series 80 as well. I have removed the 80 parts from my Enhanced and replaced the lifter with a shim from Dlask $10. Removed the firing pin block too. Not hard at all. I haven't touched my Sig Scorpion's trigger yet. But the Sig quality is best value. Stainless steel barrel, frame and slide with nitron finishes, cerakote on my Scorpion. Gun is very tight all around - value, the scorpion comes with G10 grips with built in magwell, aggressive back strap checkering, ambi thumb safeties, rail, three dot night sights, extended mag release , and two 8 round mags. I paid $1250 shipped to my door brand new.

Actually the Ruger also comes with the magwell bevelled, three dot sights, extended mag release, two mags (8 & 7 rounds), a nice set of figured wood grips plus an extended thumb safety. I prefer stainless over coloured finishes and rails hold no appeal for me on 1911s although those are personal taste things. I'm not knocking the Sig as far as quality goes but I got the Ruger Commander for $840 (from Roger @ Shooters Choice) and the SR1911 (from P&D) for the same price. I can buy a lot of goodies or ammo for the $400 difference.

BTW I do own a Sig Carry Stainless and while it's OK I just can't see the $400 difference either in fit or quality between it and the Ruger. In fact I'm going to sell the Sig when I get up the ambition to post it on the EE.
 
and here is the ruger SR1911 CMD compared to the full sized Ruger SR1911 (only a 1" difference)
001_zpsbfb65f3c.jpg

One of these^^^^^^^^^^^^ is what I would buy.
 
OP - I've compared SAM's and Ruger's side by side - I'd give the nod to the SAM's. Tighter, smoother and better trigger. Ruger's warranty service is by all accounts excellent, but the SAM's are brought in by Wolverine so that's a draw. The money you save is better used on ammo. The Military Enhanced for $510 is a steal, as are the 2 Commander length guns for $525. Money left over will get you a case of ammo and a decent holster.
 
For a shooter, go team Norinco plus ammo. I've been supremely happy with mine. It has been literally 100% reliable since I got it (maybe 3-4k rds), and it is a great (and cheap) way for a tinkerer to learn about the 1911 platform.

For something that you're going to look at and/or fondle, I have no opinion.
 
Stay away from norincos.. Buy once..

Sorry to hear yours didn't work out for you. But for every hater, there has got to be at least two fanboys... ;)

I bought one Norinco. And then another. Nine times over. No exaggeration. And no significant complaints about any of them. Everybody is looking for something different in their purchases, and I've never been disappointed with any of the Norincos that have come through my safe.
 
If I had a $1,000 budget I would pass on the nork..but that's only because I have 2 LOL. I bought the newest 5 inch full size nork with the Fiber optic sights and I must say Wow! Its a bloody Tac driver with a really nice crisp trigger. So I bought another, and carfully compared the two. The trigger on the 2nd one has a tiny bit of creap but just as accurate. Did not have to adjust the sights on either. Both had POA sighting. However, the new Commander versions seem to shoot low and left. I have owned enough Norinco's to know that quality is hit or miss. I got lucky.
 
OP - I've compared SAM's and Ruger's side by side - I'd give the nod to the SAM's. Tighter, smoother and better trigger. Ruger's warranty service is by all accounts excellent, but the SAM's are brought in by Wolverine so that's a draw. The money you save is better used on ammo. The Military Enhanced for $510 is a steal, as are the 2 Commander length guns for $525. Money left over will get you a case of ammo and a decent holster.

+1 Agree 100%
 
I just returned from Front Sight Institute in Nevada. We did a four day defensive handgun course.
I used my Norinco two tone. Box stock except for a touch up I did to the crown.
600 rounds and not a single malfunction that wasn't my fault. The gun shoots one hole groups at 15 meters with hardball.

The Norinco isn't fancy, but it shoots reliably. It goes bang every time you want it to and it hits where the sights were when the trigger broke. Can you say that about your box stock gun?

My advice is buy a Norinco. Have fun and shoot the hell out of it. Save the $650.00 for another toy. If you want to sell the Norc sometime later, you can always get pretty much what you paid for it.

Do you want to really know what a Norc is like? Ask someone who has one and has shot it a lot.

Btw -I call mine "the boat" (Chinese junk hee hee)
 
I just returned from Front Sight Institute in Nevada. We did a four day defensive handgun course.
I used my Norinco two tone. Box stock except for a touch up I did to the crown.
600 rounds and not a single malfunction that wasn't my fault. The gun shoots one hole groups at 15 meters with hardball.

The Norinco isn't fancy, but it shoots reliably. It goes bang every time you want it to and it hits where the sights were when the trigger broke. Can you say that about your box stock gun?

My advice is buy a Norinco. Have fun and shoot the hell out of it. Save the $650.00 for another toy. If you want to sell the Norc sometime later, you can always get pretty much what you paid for it.

Do you want to really know what a Norc is like? Ask someone who has one and has shot it a lot.

Btw -I call mine "the boat" (Chinese junk hee hee)

They let you bring it into the US?
 
I just returned from Front Sight Institute in Nevada. We did a four day defensive handgun course.
I used my Norinco two tone. Box stock except for a touch up I did to the crown.
600 rounds and not a single malfunction that wasn't my fault. The gun shoots one hole groups at 15 meters with hardball.

The Norinco isn't fancy, but it shoots reliably. It goes bang every time you want it to and it hits where the sights were when the trigger broke. Can you say that about your box stock gun?

My advice is buy a Norinco. Have fun and shoot the hell out of it. Save the $650.00 for another toy. If you want to sell the Norc sometime later, you can always get pretty much what you paid for it.

Do you want to really know what a Norc is like? Ask someone who has one and has shot it a lot.

Btw -I call mine "the boat" (Chinese junk hee hee)

ive got 3 Norcs and they arnt even in the same ballpark as the Ruger SR1911 and the Kimber.
you honestly cant even call the Norc a gun after shooting a Kimber 1911.
and i LIKE Norcs!
but there is just no sugar coating this, norcs are ruff and cheap and thats why we buy them.
if you have $1000 to spend and you wanna get a nice gun you dont wanna buy 3 Norcs.
you wanna buy a Kimber or a Remmy Enhanced or a Ruger.
even the SAMs are twice the guns the Norcs are for only $150 more.

at the end of the day the only people who say Norc and Kimber in the same sentence are those who havnt shot one.
 
I just returned from Front Sight Institute in Nevada. We did a four day defensive handgun course.
I used my Norinco two tone. Box stock except for a touch up I did to the crown.
600 rounds and not a single malfunction that wasn't my fault. The gun shoots one hole groups at 15 meters with hardball.

The Norinco isn't fancy, but it shoots reliably. It goes bang every time you want it to and it hits where the sights were when the trigger broke. Can you say that about your box stock gun?

My advice is buy a Norinco. Have fun and shoot the hell out of it. Save the $650.00 for another toy. If you want to sell the Norc sometime later, you can always get pretty much what you paid for it.

Do you want to really know what a Norc is like? Ask someone who has one and has shot it a lot.

Btw -I call mine "the boat" (Chinese junk hee hee)

They let you bring it into the US?


I'm curious about this as well. The BATF accepted your form 6nia with your Norinco on it? What did you fill in for Manufacturer and country of origin?

Thanks
 
STI spartan, hands down the best 1911 under $1000 I have ever handled, shot IPSC classic division with it right out of the box, Tight and very accurate.
 
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