Help me pick one 45ACP 1911 from the list:

JQIAN

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I know I have asked this question before but I didn't get in, that was almost a year ago.
Here comes again, but with a slightly different shortlist. I am aware there are lots of other better 1911 out there not in this list but I have done lots of research in the past few months and I think these four fit my style, aesthetic taste and budget.

COLT GOLD CUP 45 ACP 8+1 ROUND PISTOL, BRUSHED STAINLESS - O5070GCL
Colt O5870A1 Series 70 National Match 1911 Pistol 5in 8rd 45 ACP
DAN WESSON Heritage RZ-45 5-INCH 45 ACP
Dan Wesson Specialist 5" LASD Duty Edition Pistol 45ACP

The cheapest one goes to DW heritage and the most expensive one is DW Specialist.
The Colt ones are around the same ballpark.
Anyway they all fit my budget. if you have to pick one and only from these list, which one do you pick and why?

Thanks.
 
Big fan of the Series 70 Colts myself, so I'd go with the NM1911.

Only reason I would even ponder any other is if you want to mount a light. In that case the LASD is your only ready option.
 
Colt O5870A1 Series 70 National Match 1911 Pistol 5in 8rd 45 ACP

Series 70's Colts were supposed to be top notch.


Regarding the stainless Gold Cup: I seem to recall that there used to be a problem with galling on stainless 1911's.

It was a long time ago, though. Like 30 years or more.

As long as the frame and slide are different hardnesses, and you keep them both well lubed, you should be good to go.
 
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I've never owned or fired examples of the other 3, but I own a Colt Series 70 (Government model), and I LOVE IT!! At one point, I wore out the extractor. But, it was inexpensive and easy to replace. Reliable and accurate is my assessment.
 
Had a Dan Wesson Pointman 7 - sold it as I didn't shoot it much, quality was very good.
Have a Gold Cup National Match from 1985 - its a rattly old 1911, series 80 and NM so more fiddly parts if you ever detail strip it. I keep it because it's a Colt.

Of the guns you specify I would take the Colt Series 70. Why? It's a Colt and it's a Series 70.....

FWIW I like 1911's (a lot). Also have a Cabot, Wilson Combat, Ed Brown (in the EE) and a Smith/Wesson Performance Center in 9mm
 
I've owned a number of Colts over the years from a 1914 WWI Canadian contract to a new rail gun.
If you are a collector, by all means chase after some of the historic Colts, but if you are a shooter, get the Dan Wesson -imho
 
I was offered a SS 70 series nm gold cup on trade a few years back.
It was in terrible shape, the rails where toast, looked like it was dragged to the range behind the truck.
It was fixable, but not at his price. I seem to like blue.
I hear good things about DW, but never handled one.
Wonder how long Colt will be around, I keep expecting a lock on the door .
Maybe with their new lines , there is hope.
 
All good choices and a bit different (e.g., adjustable sites v fixed, w or w/o rails, stainless v blued). Those are variables you can weigh. Hard to beat the Colt NM if you want a classic looking 1911. I haven't tried the DW Heritage but other DW's I've tried seem to be a step up in terms of fit from the standard Colts. Apparently all DW models are machined to the same tolerances. Price differences relates to finishing and extras. My vote would be the Heritage (or Pointman or Valor) as I'm not too keen on rails on a 1911.
 
There is no wrong answer to this question. Had a top of line Kimber, it was also very nice.
I also agree that rails on a 1911 is just wrong.
A Colt will hold its value better , as a rule.
 
I'm also not a fan of railed 1911s so the Dan Wesson LASD would be out for me. I've got no experience with Colt 1911s since the mid-1990s but both the ones you've listed look like great pistols. I did own a Dan Wesson Heritage a few years ago and really liked—I wrote a thread about it here.
 
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