My dad won a 1911 Taurus in a raffle a few years back. We were expecting it to be a pos but I gotta say, that thing has chugged along and eaten every piece of crap we could find. Its not mag picky or anything unlike some of our "higher end" 1911s.

I suppose but I think a nicer looking front site would be to my preference. After all, it is a single action but it ain't a single action revolver.

Years ago, I had a Para-Ordnance P-14 "Limited."  The gun was excellent, right out of the box.  I have always had a high regard for Para (now Para USA) due to my positive experience.

No sense of humor.

Nope.  Novak-style adjustable (factory installed)

We had the mayor of one of our small towns buy and American Classic for the officer of her one-man police department.  The gun was unable to feed more than three consecutive rounds of ball ammo without a malfunction.  We tried running Winchester Ranger, Federal Tactical, and Speer Gold Dot through it.  None of those could feed more than two consecutive rounds.  The fit of virtually all of the parts was poor at best, and the ramp was visibly out of spec.  I had never even heard of this company, and had to do a Google search to figure out what kind of a junk heap this was.

We ended up telling the mayor to just go buy the guy a Glock for the same amount of money and call it a day.

Besides Springfield, S&W's are also absent of which I have a few. I've never had any type of failures either.

The worst 1911 I have ever owned was a AO. It was purple due to improper bluing, and went full auto on me first trip to the range. I sent it back, and upon it's return I immediately traded it on a Sig P230. Back around Xmas time I bought a blem Taurus from Kygunco for $340. I think it was a typo because they quickly went up $100 or so. I only have a 150 rds or so through it. It occasionally hiccups but it is getting better and I expect it will be running 100% with a few more boxes through it. Great slide to frame fit, very smooth. Gonna do the Cylinder & Slide upgrade with the Marine FCG, new firing pin and stop, and a complete pin and spring package. I already have most of the parts. That will put me at close to list price. Did basically the same thing to my Norincos with NOS USGI parts. Damn, I miss Dare Gun Room.

I have a 15 year old Kimber "Custom Shop" that thankfully is one of the good ones. For the most part, I've been happy with my current 1911s that include a Baer TRS and a Bob Miller Colt Commander.  I haven't purchased any new 1911s in a decade or more, so I don't know the current trends but have a growing desire for an STI.

25 years ago, I had an Essex frame with a Colt 9mm top end as my first gun, complete with Eliason rear sight and its magically disappearing roll pin. That was not a shining example of 1911 quality, but it was what I could afford from my after school job.

I wouldn't own a 1911 from any of these manufacturers based on first hand experience:
Taurus
Kimber
Para Ord
Nighthawk custom.

I've seen way too many quality control, manufacturing defect, or function issues with the above brands for me to ever want to reward them with my money.

 

I had an AMT around that time period.  It was hard to work the slide back and forth by hand!  

By the time I got it to work reliably, the slide to frame fit was so sloppy, accuracy was really anyone's guess!    

At least I DID get it to where it would go "BANG" every time......    

I have two Kimbers that have been absolutely 100%, and both are very accurate.  Guess I got a couple of the good ones!  

In any case, these are both pre-series II, so that may have something to do with it.  I do think the early Kimbers had a better build quality than those that came out around the external extractor fiasco.  Kimber never has been able to get their reputation back since that nightmare.  Since I haven't had any experience with a series II, perhaps that is deserved.  I simply cannot say.

Based on their good reputation (and my personal experience with a Springer of a different configuration I own), I went out looking for a 9mm Springfield Range Officer today.  I found one, NIB, for ~ $930, more money than I thought it should have been.  Even so, I was still interested, because they are so good, right?  

Working the slide by hand, it would lock back WITHOUT a magazine in it!  (The slide stop wasn't engaging the slide - the slide was hanging up further forward than that.)  

It wasn't just a one-time thing either.  It was repeatable!  It hung up right where the disconnector started to be engaged by the slide.  It didn't seem like the disconnector had any burrs on it or anything, and you could depress it easily by hand.  

I not sure if this is a problem that would just disappear after a few rounds, but who wants to buy a brand-new pistol with a known "issue"?  They wouldn't discount it at all, so I passed on it.  

The one Springfield that I do own, didn't start out life being dependable.  For the first 400 rounds, it was a jam-o-matic!  After a trip back for a ramp polishing, it is great now!  

I guess any manufacturer does let a problem get out every now and then.  The good manufacturers take CARE of their customers!  (Like Springfield did for me....)  

Perhaps that is what we should ask about.  Who takes care of their customers when a problem is found?  

In this case the dealer is not motivated to discount the gun at all as they barely make any money off the gun to begin with.  What they SHOULD do is call Springfield and report the issue.  Springfield will likely issue them a FedEx label and get it repaired.  Then it's still a new gun and they're not out any money.

 

You're right, but they didn't volunteer to do that either.  They might have decided to do so after I left though....  

Bad thing is, I had cash in my pocket to buy that pistol, and I REALLY wanted it!  I just didn't want to buy a problem.  

Things like that is why I don't buy on-line and have them shipped to my local FFL.  I want to INSPECT it before I buy it!  

Today, I located another Springfield Range Officer in 9mm.  I went over to check it out, even though it was used, and has been highly customized.  I figured that was fine with me, as long as the changes were well done.  

The price was pretty good, so I took a little drive to check it out.  It seemed OK, except they had a trigger lock on it that they didn't offer to remove for me.  I was still able to operate the action and test the trigger though.  

However, the slide to frame fit was really loose!  I mean it would rattle if shaken!  Naturally, since there were a lot of other modifications, I don't know if it came from Springfield Armory like that, so it ain't necessarily a knock on Springfield.  

The REAL deal breaker for me was the sign that said there was a three day waiting period for ALL firearms purchases.  I asked them where did that come from, because a waiting period isn't required by law here.  They said it was "store policy", so I left immediately upon hearing that.  

Isn't it enough that the Federal government CONSTANTLY messes with lawful gun owners?  

Isn't NICS supposed to be "National Instant Criminal Background Check System "?  

I won't support that with MY dollars!  

I hope they NEVER sell another firearm again!    If enough people object and walk out upon learning about their "store policy", it would either stop, or they would get out of the gun business.  I digress......  

/ Vent Mode

I'm going to need you to go ahead pick me up a couple of Power Ball tickets and mail them to Georgia P.O. box #.... Just kidding buddy! Kimber has been capable of putting out a superb pistol that will run like a raped ape for sure! And you are correct about the early Kimbers being hand massaged and being a truly fine product. If I were to have one like yours I would never get rid of it because its a solid piece. My current and only 1911 is a Springer "Loaded" with an "NM" serial number prefix. It serves as my IDPA and the dedicated downstairs/home defense pistol. I shot this pistol so much that the slide stop wore down enough that it could be pushed thru the frame when cocked and locked. (It never caused a malfunction or stopped though.) It happened in competition when I noticed it. When you shoot these things thousands of times parts tend to wear. One call to Springfield and a RMA# was emailed to me. I had my pistol back in about a week with a list of what was replaced/fixed. Springer went thru the whole pistol replacing recoil springs, main spring, firing pin spring, slide stop, permanently pinned the ejector to the frame, etc... Shipping was paid both ways and Sprinfield performed maintenance on parts that I didn't even ask for in my accompanying check list and the pistol came back better than when it was new. That is customer service like I haven't experienced before with anyone except Spikes Tactical, (another fantastic manufacturer.) I won't even go into my experience with "Kimber's" customer service other than their standard SOP seems to be: "Have you got 500 rounds thru it yet?" Sir, it won't chamber a round so... no... "Well when you get 500 rounds thru it and if it's still malfunctioning then you can send it in."

Those go hand in hand.

For those defending Colt. My dad owned a series 70 in 9mm . It was horrible and would not run a full mag without 2 or 3 malfunctions per mag. He took it to the Colt armorer at the old Mid winter matches in Lakeland Fl. After the armorer worked on the gun he suggested that dad sell the gun.  The gun was better but would choke on at least 1 round per mag at best and usually more . Dad sold it

 


Came in here to say Kimber. I would take a Taurus over that overpriced junk.


 

thats some funny shit there.all the kimbers ive known have been great shooters and stone cold reliable.you guys must bethinking of sti

Wish I could say that.



 

What's the point of the bash fest? Just a post to make a post or are you wanting to buy a 1911?

Someone added words to my post, I did not post that part.  



Put your words in your own post block - don't make up things and have it look like I said it..



Truth:  Springfield didn't replace a thing.  



I
bought a Springfield R.O. and it's trigger turned to crap in 150
rounds.  Yea, that "new gun" good feeling didn't last too long.  The disconnector had a groove worn in it from the flatspring
because they use crappy parts that look cast or MIM.  I put a Cylinder
and Slide trigger kit in it that I had on hand and now have a great gun
with an awesome trigger.  I did not call Springfield because I did not
want more crap parts in an otherwise fine gun.  New trigger measures 3.5
lb pull.  Can't beat that.  That is how it should have been in the
first place.



I have no doubt that Springfield would have fixed the problem if I had asked them.  I chose not to even ask.
 

I had an older 1993 vintage AO 1911A1...it ran like a champ.  I lightly polished the throat...polished the sear and trigger...and fitted an NM Bushing...and added Millet sights...was a good shooter.  I shot all manner of hollow points...SWC etc. and never had any issues with it.

i dont know if they made whole pistols, but essex frames are absolute garbage,