1911: help me choose

Also keep in mind the purpose for which you are buying your 1911. This will color your judgement of the product. If you want something inexpensive to shoot once in a while and it let's you say (to yourself and your buddies) that you own a 1911, then a SAM is probably a great gun for you. If you compete and want something that is an excellent starting point for something that will stand up to the rigors of gaming, then an STI is probably better for you. If you want to fill out a collection, it's hard to argue against a Colt.

Each of the above 3 are "simply" 1911s but they are very different answers for completely different questions.

-ivan-
 
Gillis2 said:
What about the Ruger SR 1911 ?

Gilbert
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Ruger makes a great 1911 in my humble opinion. Also in my humble opinion, modern hammer design and beavertail are an improvement on the original GI design (forgive me JMB, I'll do 10 hail Mary's and 10 our Father's to make amends :p). The original spur hammer can get caught on clothing ect.as it is very much a hook. Particularly when using an iwb holster. Although I have personally never received a hammer bite with my GI, I've heard that that was in no small part a reason for the redesigned profile.
 
Gillis2 said:
Hi Skoal,

This special edition is real nice. I have never shot a 1911 with the original smaller beaver tail. I only used the more modern beaver tails. Are these original size still able to protect the hand from being bitten?

Gilbert
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If your gunna get bite that will do it but I have a soft spot for them the same way I like whiskey with bite and old loud vehicles,their definitely not for everyone.
wayupnorth said:
your saying that Kimber's arnt good guns for the money?
best $900 i ever spent on a gun was for my Kimber.

ive never understood why some people come in here throwing hate for Kimber at any and every opportunity but i can say from personal experience that my Kimber and every Kimber ive ever seen at the range and anyone ive ever personally talked to who has one has run flawless and are fantastic guns.

its STI or its crap.
its Colt or you hate your mother.
its LB or it never happened.
Its Ford not Chevy.
blah blah blah!

ive never understood why we feel the need to villainize other brands and put what we have on pedestals so other buy them.
reinforce that ours are best and all others suck?

its the same bloody gun dosnt matter who makes it.
you get up over $1000 and they are all pretty much the same.
take the labels off and im willing to bet that 99.9% of us could not tell the difference between them.
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We've been through this before man and we all put our preferred guns on pedestals I know your a Ruger and kimber fan but I'm sorry I hate both of them now days IMO there are far better options then them for the money.
 
Gillis2 said:
So I'm hesitating between a Para elite pro and a Remington R1. In .45 acp of course.
What do you say?
Any other suggestions in this 1 to 1,5K league?
It has to be steel (frame and slide) and blued or black finish.

Thanks for your help.

Gilbert
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I got a Para elite pro. Never missed a beat and helped me won numerous titles in ipsc. It comes loaded with features like front strap checkering, ambiance controls, magwell, tritium sights, flgr, ion bond coating etc. Great value for the price and made in usa. If that 1911 works for me, it will work for you.

The only reason I'm not shooting the Para anymore, it's because I have a trp operator. The Para is now my backup 1911.
 
Antoine22 said:
I got a Para elite pro. Never missed a beat and helped me won numerous titles in ipsc. It comes loaded with features like front strap checkering, ambiance controls, magwell, tritium sights, flgr, ion bond coating etc. Great value for the price and made in usa. If that 1911 works for me, it will work for you.

The only reason I'm not shooting the Para anymore, it's because I have a trp operator. The Para is now my backup 1911.
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I have a few para's, love their warranty with Graval Agency, think Rands are covered there too
 
Whatever you decide on, make sure it fits your hand. Many people with smaller hands or shorter finger have trouble with the grip rake, finger pad set on the trigger, or, most often, the sharp edge of the bottom of the backstrap digging into the bottom of the palm (this can seriously throw off accuracy, resulting in a consistent "low and left" impact point, and can be fatiguing for the shooter). Bobbing the grip takes care of that if you have smaller hands. Those of us with mits full of bananas will have little trouble with the 1911 style (other than getting a grip on the bushing during dis-assembly).

My personal favourite is a Kimber Custom Carry with the slightly longer "Canadian spec" barrel. I can put 230g rounds into the same ragged hole out to 25 yards all day long with one (the target I use as my avatar was shot with one of these). Granted, there was a trigger job involved, but I have found few that will shoot better. Good luck on your search - buy the one that feels best to you.
 
Because not all 1911 are created equal...I belong to 0.1% too as i can tell the difference between my 1911s.

Start with Colt and you won't get tired of it and it will hold it's value in the long run. I started backwards and just recently acquired a colt and now I want more colt even though I already have one of the best 1911 out there.

madcow said:
Guarentee I'm in the 0.1% then, because they all have subtle differences, ranging from the type if barrel (bull or bushing), type of feed ramp, the calibre, type of metal its made from.

Checkering 20lpi or 30lpi, serations, sights, etc... each brand is also fitted differently, the custom shops gunsmiths have different techniques. I can co on for hours.

Even milspec pistols are not the same, I have a SAM omega 6, that won't fit properly in my Safariland paddle holster like my delta elite.

Just buy quality and you wont be dissapointed, look at how many Norincos and SAMs are listed on the EE
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skoal said:
If your gunna get bite that will do it but I have a soft spot for them the same way I like whiskey with bite and old loud vehicles,their definitely not for everyone.


We've been through this before man and we all put our preferred guns on pedestals I know your a Ruger and kimber fan but I'm sorry I hate both of them now days IMO there are far better options then them for the money.
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im sure in a couple years ill buy a LB or a Springfield Operator and ill look down my nose at Kimber and Ruger then too.
then when i retire im gonna buy a Cabot 1911 and ill look down my nose at EVERYONE!
 
wayupnorth said:
your saying that Kimber's arnt good guns for the money?
best $900 i ever spent on a gun was for my Kimber.

ive never understood why some people come in here throwing hate for Kimber at any and every opportunity but i can say from personal experience that my Kimber and every Kimber ive ever seen at the range and anyone ive ever personally talked to who has one has run flawless and are fantastic guns.

its STI or its crap.
its Colt or you hate your mother.
its LB or it never happened.
Its Ford not Chevy.
blah blah blah!

ive never understood why we feel the need to villainize other brands and put what we have on pedestals so other buy them.
reinforce that ours are best and all others suck?

its the same bloody gun dosnt matter who makes it.
you get up over $1000 and they are all pretty much the same.
take the labels off and im willing to bet that 99.9% of us could not tell the difference between them.
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looks like i as on the rag last night.

kimber_zps1e319168.jpg
 
I'm probably going to put my own Trojan up for sale soon to help fund a Colt National Match....along with listing a revolver or two to assist lol..

No particular reason. Just always loved the look of the Colt, plus I think I'm at that point where I can appreciate it.

Items of "feel" that I don't like are stuff like front strap texturing and bumps on grip safeties - things you don't twig to until you've shot a gun for a bit. I also have a healthy dislike for Novak sights. They don't do the 1911 any favours that an improved Gi sight won't, so far as aiming it goes. I just hate the look of them now....that goes for forward serrations too..ugh...and flat finishes lol... Guess I like polished blue and satin stainless
 
I personally like bomar type adjustible sights, witb 20 lpi checkering on frontstrap, but thats personal preferences. To eachhis own, just get quality is the best advice I can give.

Kimbers used to be good when they were custom fitted years ago, not the same now
Sti same, happens when they go larger market.

Springfield trp, kimber tle, colt gcnm, are a few good starts of a collection.
 
Just my opinion, but in my experience its pretty hard to beat a Springfield. Of the modern 1911s I've owned they are my favorites. I've had one Kimber (Custom II) and it was an accurate shooter. But it got traded for an older Springfield and I've never regretted it. My first pistol ever was a GI Springfield, still have it plus a couple others like it. My go to shooter is a Mil Spec I bought used here on the EE.

I've never tried something truly high end though, so its all relative.
 
The Golden Girls said:
HK Mark 23 SOCOM, I have one and would bet my life on it. It was fired with 30,000 rounds of +P ammo when it passed the tests for the military, no other pistol came even close. Very accurate to boot. Dave & The Girls
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I like the Mk23 a lot, but it misses three of the key things the OP was looking for--it's not all-steel, it's way more than his price range, and it's not a 1911. And, he posted it lasted September so he probably has already made up his mind and moved on.

Gillis2 said:
Any other suggestions in this 1 to 1,5K league?
It has to be steel (frame and slide) and blued or black finish.
Click to expand...
 
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