Top 3 1911-45's

younger

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If you had $800-1100 which .45 would you buy? Objectives are: casual shooting; will hold value long-term. (New or used?)

Thanks for input.
 
younger said:
If you had $800-1100 which .45 would you buy? Objectives are: casual shooting; will hold value long-term. (New or used?)

Thanks for input.
1. Colt – uses top quality parts (forged and barstock internals, as opposed to MIM and cast parts found in Kimber, Springfield and Para Ordnance), usually works reliably right out of the box and will hold resale value better than any other 1911

2. Smith & Wesson – nice gun, but don't buy one sight unseen – some of the early guns left the factory with damaged barrel crowns
 
capp325 said:
1. Colt – uses top quality parts (forged and barstock internals, as opposed to MIM and cast parts found in Kimber, Springfield and Para Ordnance), usually works reliably right out of the box and will hold resale value better than any other 1911

2. Smith & Wesson – nice gun, but don't buy one sight unseen – some of the early guns left the factory with damaged barrel crowns


Does not matter what parts are made of, or how they were manufactured. If they are poorly finished the quality suffers. Colt is pretty inconsistant in that department. Kimber finishes the guns better than the rest. Para is about the worst of those mentioned.
FWIW MIM parts work great. I have run Kimbers on the range for years without an internal part failure, in spite of all the internet commando concerns over their durability.
 
redleg said:
FWIW MIM parts work great.
The owner of this gun might disagree:
49554234.jpg
 
My first and only 1911 is the Para SSP. I narrowed it down from Kimber, S&W, Colt and Springfield. The Para offers a lot for the money and it's a nice gun and a great shooter. Someone else at the range had a Para LTC which is basically the Commander sized version and he had nothing but headaches with it--he sent it back to Para twice for warranty work for defective extractors and sold it after it came back the second time, another is very happy with his LTC. My SSP is very accurate but it shot low about 2" at 20 yards. When I talked to a Para rep, his said that Para doesn't send guns out of the factory that shoot low and that the problem must lie with me. I tried to explain to him that my Sig didn't shoot low and I don't shoot low with my other fixed sighted handguns. He said that I should adjust my shooting style to suit the gun. :eek:
There was a review on the SSP on a 1911 forum and that was the only complaint the writer had as well. Some people in the 1911 forums have commented on this as well. Replaced the sights on my SSP and she is dead on. Now, if I were in the market for another 1911 would it be a Para? Maybe, but it'd have adjustable sights.......YMMV.
 
capp325 said:
The owner of this gun might disagree:
49554234.jpg


So, sample of one. I have a box of broken Glock slides, are they MIM too?
I have lots of broken CZ75 slide stops, they are forged.
I have a Colt Series 70 of my own, broke the slide stop, bushing and trigger bar.
I'm not slagging any product only pointing out that parts break, and in my experience MIM quality parts are no more susceptable than any other.
 
redleg said:
So, sample of one. I have a box of broken Glock slides, are they MIM too?
I have lots of broken CZ75 slide stops, they are forged.
I have a Colt Series 70 of my own, broke the slide stop, bushing and trigger bar.
I'm not slagging any product only pointing out that parts break, and in my experience MIM quality parts are no more susceptable than any other.

Especially on the internet, statistics and such do not apply. It only takes one fault and suddenly the manufacturer is rubbish in the eyes of the public. This happens in all areas of toys...eg cars, guns, etc...
 
STI Trojan
Well built and fitted.
Nice adjustable sights..good sight picture...dovetailed front.
No extra safeties..such as Series 80,etc.
Comes with a 3 to 4 lb. trigger that can be lightened without having to buy new parts.
My trigger is set for 2.5lbs.
Accurate.
Barrel is serial numbered to the gun,so you know some attention has been paid to the fitting.
Yep...that would be my pick
 
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.... I'd have to "vote" for a genuine COLT, not because of quality or reliability,and not because of value for money, but simply because of "brand recognition" and thus, slightly better re-sale value.Certainly some of the "other brands" realistically, offer more for your money in the initial purchase price. .... David K.
 
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