Scenario, you can have any 9mm, 1911 on the planet, it must be a standard order item that anyone can buy. Your life depends on it being able to shoot 1,000 rounds with 100% function. Your choice of magazines. You can clean and oil it out of the box and after every 100 rounds. No mods, no 'tuning', no alterations of any sort.

Which one do you pick? Let's say under $5,000, the less expensive, the better.

I was talking with the guy next to me on the plane. He wants to shoot more and to be proficient. Afterwards I was thinking to myself of what firearm I would recommend for him to get.

If it must be  1911... within that price point

Nighthawk
Dan Wesson


Why 1911 only? So many options outside of 1911

I would love to have a Les Baer or a Wilson Combat but my Colt has been 100% flawless.

LB, WC, DW,colt.

Most reliable per dollar, I'd say the gov spec "Model of the (sic) 1911A1" from Norinco in the '90s, still easily available second hand. I bought one new back then and it's never had a malfunction of any kind.

I have a Springfield TRP and Officers Model, a Dan Wesson, Sig and a SW and all have been flawless.
A make I will never own is another Kimber, complete pile of shit 1911.

Alchemy

My Tisas has been 100%

Out of the box… Alchemy or Nighthawk or Guncrafter. Never had a Wilson, but I got one on order and expect it to function perfectly.  My Springfield Loaded is a bit of a rattletrap but literally been my most reliable.

Everyone saying Les Baer is .  Both my Les Baers took a bit of break in because those suckers come TIGHT from the factory … and neither is a 1.5” gun. I can’t imagine how tight those are.  Now, once broken in a 5” Les Baer is a f’in sewing machine.

Springfield Armory Combat Operator

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Calico 9mm of course. Make sure it’s a chrome one.

TRP.
my Tisas has been 100% so far, probably 1.5k rounds without cleaning.

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The old nasty shit ammo I have fed thru this thing without a bobble [we are talking green verdigris bad shit from WW2 or earlier and worse] is amazing.

My shooter g19 ha had two bobbles over the years, so far, this one, none. [yes it's had a couple dead primers but I've had that in my g19 also and a hammer struck FP hits far harder then a striker type design.

Dan Wesson


You don’t have to spend $5000 for a 1911 you know.

Mine was the first 1911 I have had that I could describe as "Glock-like" reliability. Even feeds lead SWCs like a fat kid eating candy

You do realize this is the 1911 sub-forum, right?

I have a S&W 1911 that was very early production. It's not only stupid accurate, but has digested everything from bargain FMJ ball, my SWC reloads, and Federal Hydroshocks/HSTs. Probably close to 10k rounds now. Only replaced the recoil spring.

Then I have a SA Range Officer. Stupid accurate, doesn't like half of my magazines. Would. Not. Trust.

DW

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Because the best predictor of future behavior or performance is its past behavior or past performance in a similar situation.

My WC has been my go to for 1911’s.

I have Alchemy, Colt, Kimber, Springfield, Tisas, S&W, Sig and Dan Wesson 1911’s. The only one that has given me any trouble is the Dan Wesson.  It’s been a real disappointment.

Only one mfg has been making 9mm 1911’s for >73-years.

Honestly- my Tisas has been more reliable than my Springfield.  

The Tisas runs and runs and runs.    

1911’s are an enthusiast’s pistol.    It takes a bit of care and a bit of tinkering to keep them running. That has an appeal for me.  

If you want a buy it, load it, throw it in a drawer and pull it out and mag dump hollow points 10 years without ever test firing it pistol- get a plastic people popper of any variety.

You don't have to spend big money to get a reliable 1911. Oh the guys selling the big money 1911s will tell you you need to spend big money but you really don't need to.

The last three new Colts I have purchased have been 100% reliable since day one.
Zero stoppages with all the major brand 230 gr. JHP +P ammo.

Colt XSE a few years ago.

Colt Gold Cup Trophy 2023.

Colt Combat Unit 2023.

All in 45 ACP.

The Colt Combat Unit did go back for a finish issue but it was corrected to my satisfaction.

For $5K you can go for a nice semi custom like a Wilson Combat. Dan Wesson Valor is great bang for the buck. But most 1911's just need a little tuning to be 100% reliable if they aren't out of the box. Wilson Combat I'd expect to be 100% for the amount you are spending. And I hear they have excellent customer service if it's not perfect.

And there's something to be said for the old school original WWI and WWII 1911's that seem to be extremely reliable with much looser tolerances compared to newer models.

He might have been hinting at 2011’s. Your budget is perfect for a duty grade 1911 that you can trust your life with though, that means Nighthawk, Wilson, or Les Baer (among others) if it was my money. I never understood a 9mm 1911 for carry, it’s the downsides of a 1911 without the bonus of .45 (if you prefer bigger bullets).

When it WAS money I was torn between Les Baer, Dan Wesson or a Staccato for work. Ultimately my decision hinged on capacity as 8 rounds simply doesn’t go very far in todays lawless environment.  

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My Springfield Champion Operator's (2), one semi-custom modified from the old Springfield Custom Shop, and one out of the Box have been extremely awesome and will run anything from Steel Wolf Ammo to Hornady to shitty Reloads given to me from 20+ years ago. Most rounds are very accurate too out of both, some not much at all but they will run anything I've tried. SA "Stupidly" disco'd that model though I hear RO's and Ronan's, Garrisons, TRP's, & Emissary's (all in .45ACP) are good to go too... Not to mention their "Professional Models" though I have no experience with the last mentioned.

The Springfield Mil-Spec from 3 years ago runs just the same as well as the "Loaded" that I converted to .45Super years ago that I sold to a buddy "Stupidly"... Another Mil-Spec (my first 1911) was the same and even reliably shot that Federal ammo that was so hot (recalled for such) that they mistakenly used the wrong powder... Recoiled so hard I thought I was shooting .44 Mag out of it and sparks would flow from the muzzle down to the floor like a 4th of July sparkler does, Hahahhah. Yep, still shot, survived, and kept on ticking to this day without a single fail.

Then again I've had a Loaded Model out of the Box... that wouldn't chamber round one from over 20 different magazines that was sent back to the factory...  and returned a brand new one that is sickly reliable. So if it runs good out of the box and then sewing machine reliable after 300-400 rounds you can pretty much bet it's going to get only better in reliability in my experience... My brother has both SA's and RIA's that have never failed either.

The trick is to get one that starts out shooting reliably out of the box and then gets smoother and smoother (better) every 50 rounds there-after is one you can maintain and rely upon is this mans experience... As always, YMMV...

But Dan Wesson makes a good Out of Box 1911 I wouldn't be afraid to try n' buy. Same as a Wilson for what it's worth, OP...

JM

ETA:     Good Option pound for pound...

Shit sights but I've changed such to Novak's for family & friends on 5 occasion's now... I hate a Fiber Rod/Optic on a Duty Pistol as I've cracked many front sights on pistols and shotty's and swapped out easily both for myself and the aforementioned with relative ease with only a sight pusher and file, many, many times... YMMV as mentioned as well.

I've had pretty good luck with Springfields so my answer would be an Emissary because I really want one. With a budget of $5,000 I'd order a custom and be done with it I suppose.

If I had a $5k budget for a 9mm 1911, I would be on Alchemy’s website building out a Quantico Hicap right the F now.

There's one on addicts right now with a trijicon sron for 3600

Springfield Professional is available in 9mm and would be my first choice.

If you wanted to stay around $1K I would say Colt.  I have had excellent reliability from my Colt’s out of the box, including a Gold Cup NM in 9mm that I foolishly sold.  

Staccato C if he is ok with a compact.  

If I read that correctly,  you are saying your Springfield is the most reliable? More reliable than your Alchemy,  Nighthawk,  and Guncrafter?

For that to be true, your Alchemy, Nighthawk, and Guncrafter would have to have been less than 100% reliable.

If you really want to nitpick then you have to figure out what causes the malfunction as it's frequently not the gun. I have an Armscor that's been 100% not a single jam. That's great but certainly not the whole story. Pick a good gun from a company or Smith with good customer servicre and roll with it.

Wilson Combat or Nighthawk.

Is the Springfield Professional still in production? I know there’s been some major shakeups at Springfield…

Given OP’s criteria: ACW Quantico hi cap.

Done.

My ACW Prime is the only factory 1911 that passed the Hilton Yam extractor test without messing with it.

It looks like they are still producing them.  

https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-series-handguns/custom-handguns/1911-professional-9mm-handgun/

I would go spend sometime on.the 1911 forums. They always have awesome deals pop up.

If it were me I would get a Wilson Combat double stack or ACW.

Man what a set up! One of my dream guns!

I have a 1975 Colt Gov Model that's spent one night in a river , has 1000s of rounds through it and has never let me down. It's a safe queen now except for the yearly mag dump and cleaning. It's a shooter in my book.

Dan Wesson and Vudoo are my two favorites right now.

I agree with this as well as the TRP.

Never had an issue with DW 9MM/38S pistols, nor NHC, or WC.  Given 5k budget, which is kind of ridiculous, who would settle for any production pistol that would ultimately be a compromise in some department with a 5k budget.  At that price point, look at GI, WC, NHC, or ACW.  Personally I'd avoid any new acw and just wait for robs new company, I wouldn't take a Cabot built acw.  So for a single stack, I saw GI No Name commander, 15lpi and serrated top and rear with ball end cuts and carry cuts.  For a double stack wc edc 9x is the way.  Price is higher that staccato but so is the quality.

Based on my limited experience with newer guns I’d have to give the nod to Springfield Armory. Their .45’s have treated me well. I’d want to use aftermarket mags though. Recently switched to CMC and they’re pretty awesome.

They don't make a 9mm TRP.

Reliable? That depends on your definition of reliable.

This has not had a malfunction since 1973. This was made in 1917 and became my father's in the 50s. He carried it around the world. He gave it to me in 1973. I have no idea how many rounds have been put through it.



This has never missed a beat in 5 years of ownership. Round count ~3K



This has never malfunctioned. I bought it used with probably 300 rounds through it. I have put probably another 2K.



This has never malfunctioned in probably >5K rounds. It has trigger and sights by John Harrison.



This has never malfunctioned, but I only have ~1K rounds through it.



This originally came from Kimber with a poorly made slide. It was sent back immediately and came back looking great. It had the typical Kimber 200 round break in and has had no malfunction since. I shoot it better than any of my other 1911s.



No malfunctions.



Very few malfunctions with the top one, but the bottom one was crap.



A few malfunctions, sent it back, and GI made it perfect. GI ranks at the top of my 1911 great loves, along with my ACW.



No malfunctions in about 3K rounds.



No malfunctions.



Some malfunctions after the break in period.



The most reliable (read that "high mileage") 1911 I have is a 2006 Kimber Eclipse with >14K rounds through it. It also had the Kimber break in of about 200 rounds, and then after that, it has been perfect.

While YMMV, my experience with 1911s has been long, varied, and on the whole, excellent.

I have high hopes for my Pro.  To new to know though.

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