Decisions on a 1911

mrsmitty

mrsmitty

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Hey guys and gals,

I finally think I want to buy a 1911. Problem is I have only shot one once many years ago. I want to buy a high end one like Les Baer if I do decide to purchase one. My question is should I buy something like a gsg1911 first to see if I like the feel of the 1911 or should I buy a cheaper 1911 45 first or should I just buy the top tier 1911 off the hop. Any suggestions are welcome.
 
use a range gun if you want to "try" one.

But I dont know anyone who doesnt enjoy shooting a 1911
 
Honestly, I think you are better off buying one of the new Norincos than getting a .22 if you are not already familiar with 1911's.

A brand new Norinco Government length can be had for well under $400 and will give you a good feel for what a full-bore 1911 is like to shoot. They have pretty much all of the bells and whistles of a high end 1911 without some of the refinements. You really can't go wrong buying one. And if you don't like it, you can turn around and sell it quickly for only about $50 less than you paid for it. It's a no-lose deal buying a brand new Norinco 1911!
 
I held one recently at p&d in Edmonton and found the controls somewhat difficult to reach as I have rather small hands. I used to own a beretta m92 and it was a pleasure to shoot cause I could easily reach everything with my small hands. Also I found the grip safety a little strange feeling. I just want to see if in real world shooting if the pistol is comfortable to reach everything and to shoot. I don't want an ackward feeling pistol.
 
krausb said:
You really can't go wrong buying one. And if you don't like it, you can turn around and sell it quickly for only about $50 less than you paid for it. It's a no-lose deal buying a brand new Norinco 1911!
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*cough* not really, i see far too many used Norc 1911 guns on EE that go for pretty well the price of a new one, with no taxes and no warranty (obviously), and after "only a few thousand billion rounds". there's a few that are priced reasonably for a used gun, but most are used-priced-as-new

i'd say that if you're quite sure you'd want a 1911, then buy the GSG 1911 so that you can get plenty of practice shots on the cheap, and during that time hunt for your ideal "real bore" 1911.

if the damned things were available when they SAID they would be available, i would have likely bought the GSG 1911 instead of my S&W 22A.
 
One of the great things about the 1911 platform is how customizable it really is. There are several different styles of grip safeties out there form various manufacturers, all with a slightly different feel and function. Triggers come in many styles and lengths... Grip panels can be purchased in a staggering array of widths, sizes, textures and materials to accommodate pretty much any size hand. And thumb safeties and mag releases are available in a variety of sizes and lengths to accommodate hand size and shooting style.

I don't think there is any other gun out there that is as tunable to each individual hand size and type as the good old 1911. Sometimes it takes a bit of fiddling to find your perfect combination... but when you do, it's pure heaven! ;)
 
Another decision you need to make is on a single or double stack 1911 the grips are quite different...most prefer single stack, if you don't reload I would buy a 9mm, factory 45's van be very expensive. I have 1911's in Kimber STI and para's and love them all...like everything else once you buy one you start shopping for your second. In my opinion bone up and get a higher end gun, in the end you will be more satisfied, resale on a high quality 1911's is better than one of lesser quality. If you choose to purchase a less expensive model go for the STI spartens best money vrs return on your dollar.
 
BP7 said:
*cough* not really, i see far too many used Norc 1911 guns on EE that go for pretty well the price of a new one, with no taxes and no warranty (obviously), and after "only a few thousand billion rounds". there's a few that are priced reasonably for a used gun, but most are used-priced-as-new
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That's why I said he would be able to sell it quickly for that price if he didn't like it. ;) If everyone else is asking too much, then one that is listed at $300 or so would sell fast. Very fast. The ones that do go up for a reasonable price usually sell within an hour or less of posting, so most people don't even know they were ever listed.

i'd say that if you're quite sure you'd want a 1911, then buy the GSG 1911 so that you can get plenty of practice shots on the cheap, and during that time hunt for your ideal "real bore" 1911.

if the damned things were available when they SAID they would be available, i would have likely bought the GSG 1911 instead of my S&W 22A.
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I see your point, but while shooting a GSG may help a new-to-1911's shooter decide on how he likes the layout of the controls, it is nothing like shooting one in .45. They feel like entirely different guns. Mainly because they are entirely different guns. ;) I'd hate to see someone spend $3000 - $4000 on a nice Baer based on how it felt shooting a .22 only to find out that they don't like how a .45 1911 shoots or feels.... That's just my 2 cents worth though.... The OP is an experienced shooter and will read through all of our opinions and make his own decision. :)
 
ya, i can see your point too. i guess it boils down to how certain the OP is that he wants a 1911 in .45ACP and if practice costs are a consideration or not.

true that a Norc 1911 (new or used - same price for the most part!!!) is pretty good if you're just looking to try it or have it as "yet another gun". it's what i did anyways (bought a Norc) - it's not my MAIN gun, but it's something different to shoot once in a while.
 
Well I have been reading your guys posts and I think I might go for the gsg 1911 and a tuned norc from Armco to start to see if the 1911 is for me. For your info it was a kimber I held onto at p&d and the only 1911 I remember shooting was a sig about 8 years ago at the shooting edge when i was still a college student. As for caliber I am sure I want a 45 since I have a ton of ammo for it and I could always load/buy more. As for single stack vs double stack I am positive I want single stack as I have said earlier that I have small hands. If anyone has anymore comments please feel free to say em as it will be a couple weeks before I purchase these.
 
mrsmitty said:
As for caliber I am sure I want a 45 since I have a ton of ammo for it and I could always load/buy more. As for single stack vs double stack I am positive I want single stack as I have said earlier that I have small hands. If anyone has anymore comments please feel free to say em as it will be a couple weeks before I purchase these.
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Nice to hear you reload. If you also cast your own bullets, I suggest pass on the GSG. I once had a Peter Stahl .22 1911 conversion so I could practice cheap or without having to reload....but it is not the same. Had a Browning Buckmark with controls that mimic the 1911's...still not the same.

What I did way back then...and some in this forum may disagree about its effectiveness, was dry fire, as well as draw and dry fire, a lot. In fact, our instructor insisted on draw and dry-fire drills at the range before even firing the first shot. Best of all, it is free.

If you will get an Armco 1911, see if they have the Sport model. It comes with decent accessories IMO. The sights aren't the best but good enough to start. In fact, if you learn how to shoot on a Norinco, you will be awesome with the tricked out high-end 1911s.
 
Single stack vs Double Stack

mrsmitty said:
Well I have been reading your guys posts and I think I might go for the gsg 1911 and a tuned norc from Armco to start to see if the 1911 is for me. For your info it was a kimber I held onto at p&d and the only 1911 I remember shooting was a sig about 8 years ago at the shooting edge when i was still a college student. As for caliber I am sure I want a 45 since I have a ton of ammo for it and I could always load/buy more. As for single stack vs double stack I am positive I want single stack as I have said earlier that I have small hands. If anyone has anymore comments please feel free to say em as it will be a couple weeks before I purchase these.
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The double stack Paras are only slightly wider than a similar single stack, if you are considering a Para. Just my 2 cents as there is much negative opinion about these guns. The ones I have tried seem pretty well built and work OK.
Geoff
 
"...to see if I like the feel..." Try one on for size in your local gun shop, if they have one. Ask around at your club. Bound to be somebody who has one.
1911's tend to fit most people's hands well though. Mine fits my short hand with no fuss. Comfortable to shoot, even with hottish ammo too.
 
Geoff B said:
The double stack Paras are only slightly wider than a similar single stack, if you are considering a Para. Just my 2 cents as there is much negative opinion about these guns. The ones I have tried seem pretty well built and work OK.
Geoff
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You hear that about every gun, to be honest. I asked someone about their Para GI Expert once and he said right out of the box it would put American Eagle 230gr into 2" at 25 yards. So I Google it and find pretty much every other GI Expert has fallen apart or cot double in gunsmith work just to shoot straight, or so you would believe. Just like the cast Spartan frame is junk and would fold in two if it ever swallowed a +P load, the Kimbers are loaded with fragile MIM parts, the Norincos metal is too hard and is basically a frag grenade, SIG 1911's aren't REAL 1911's just poor imitations, and S&W has QC issues to worry about on anything more than a couple years old.

I don't know how much of that I really believe.
 
mikeyb said:
You hear that about every gun, to be honest. I asked someone about their Para GI Expert once and he said right out of the box it would put American Eagle 230gr into 2" at 25 yards. So I Google it and find pretty much every other GI Expert has fallen apart or cot double in gunsmith work just to shoot straight, or so you would believe. Just like the cast Spartan frame is junk and would fold in two if it ever swallowed a +P load, the Kimbers are loaded with fragile MIM parts, the Norincos metal is too hard and is basically a frag grenade, SIG 1911's aren't REAL 1911's just poor imitations, and S&W has QC issues to worry about on anything more than a couple years old.

I don't know how much of that I really believe.
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I think that with any mass produced product there are going to be issues, and because of the internet we are much more likely to hear about them now than we were in the good old days when we got all our info from the local gunsmith.
 
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