Posted: 4/26/2014 3:13:06 PM EDT
| I am thinking about getting my dad a 1911. I have been looking at various 1911's, and as much as I would love to give him a Valor, it is just out of my price range. I have been drawn to the Springfield Loaded. Looks like they can be had for around $800, which seems like a pretty good price. Is there any reason to stay away from the Loaded, or any other options I have over looked? |
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I had a stainless loaded. It was an N serial. It did have to go back to have a new barrel fitted, but SA covered it 100%.
It is a good gun for the price, I think Buds has them around $799 right now. There are only 2 things I hated about the Loaded, the stainless guns seem to be razor sharp and I don't care for FCS on a stainless gun. SA makes damn good guns and if a bad one gets through, they will take care of it. I'd say go for it. |
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If your dad is a shooter, get him a Range Officer. Have it plated if you want it shiny. Loadeds are fine guns, but exhibit little or not actual fitting. The RO is not a pretty gun, but I've never seen one without a pretty good barrel/slide fit and above average trigger. Slide/frame fit is usually tight, if that matters to you.
Plus, the RO is usually cheaper. |
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I owned a loaded. Worked just fine but seemed poorly fitted overall. The slide hung over the frame in the back quite a bit and was uneven side to side. The back of the extractor stood proud of the slide. To be honest my Rock Island ia a nicer shooting pistols. Unfortunately this is a thing with SA Mil specs and loaded's. I know it may add cost but I wish they would spend just a little more time cleaning the rear up. |
| The RO is probably the best value in 1911s out there. It's debatable I guess, the RIA stuff seems to be a pretty good buy as well. But it's tough to go wrong with the RO. I have a lwco, the operators are basically loaded guns with a rail. The fit and finish on mine is great. can't really talk you out of Springer, very good product and excellent customer service. |
I picked up a Loaded about a week ago... I had been searching for a NM serial# one for a couple of years because of THIS THREAD... I finally found one for $550 at my LGS and snatched it up...
Right now most of the parts are on order to build a MEU(SOC)ish clone... I've put around 150 rounds through it, and had one failure to eject... did a quick tap rack, cleared the failure, and went right back to shooting. It never did it again so either I limp wristed, the ammo was under powered, or it was a fluke... idk... anyway my impressions so far is that it's a pretty decently built gun, it's about what I would expect for the price range they are in, I would buy one even if I wasn't looking for a base model for a MEU(SOC) build. The guy at my LGS knew the guy who had it on consignment and said he only put about 300 rounds through it, so mine hasn't even been broken in yet. As far as I can tell it doesn't look like it has been shot much. On paper it is pretty accurate, although the furthest that I shot it was about 7 yards. It was printing a really tight group at that distance. The only other thing I would point out is that it would benefit from a checkered front grip... but I'm about to install some Pachmayr wrap around grips so that insn't gonna matter in a few days... I hope this helps... 
- Clint |
| Loaded model's are nice shhoters. The can be sharp on the edges and have poorr slide/frame fit but that's cosmetic only, same for the checkering. I'd also look for a NM serial # if you don't want it to say Brazil on the frame. SACS does great work and if you sent it in for some work and mentioned any slide/extractor overhang I bet they'd clean it up free of charge. Their carry bevel work comes out nice as well. |
I will be considering the R.O. for him.. maybe just buy a bunch of ammo with the extra money. Is there a Colt you guys would recommend, or even a Kimber? Dad is big on value, and if he finds out I didn't get him the best bang for the buck, he will be disappointed 
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Quoted:
I will be considering the R.O. for him.. maybe just buy a bunch of ammo with the extra money. Is there a Colt you guys would recommend, or even a Kimber? Dad is big on value, and if he finds out I didn't get him the best bang for the buck, he will be disappointed
Tell him he should NEVER look a gift horse in the mouth & buy him whatever you are gonna buy him! 
- Clint |
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Quoted:
Tell him he should NEVER look a gift horse in the mouth & buy him whatever you are gonna buy him!
- Clint Quoted:
Quoted:
I will be considering the R.O. for him.. maybe just buy a bunch of ammo with the extra money. Is there a Colt you guys would recommend, or even a Kimber? Dad is big on value, and if he finds out I didn't get him the best bang for the buck, he will be disappointed
Tell him he should NEVER look a gift horse in the mouth & buy him whatever you are gonna buy him!
- Clint Haha touche. He will be annoyed I spent the money on him as it is. Might as well make it worth it! |
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Quoted:
I will be considering the R.O. for him.. maybe just buy a bunch of ammo with the extra money. Is there a Colt you guys would recommend, or even a Kimber? Dad is big on value, and if he finds out I didn't get him the best bang for the buck, he will be disappointed
There are nicer looking guns for the money, but from an accuracy standpoint, there is nothing close to the Range Officer in the under- $1,000 range. My example is almost Les Baer tight, just not Les Baer pretty. The next step up in quality (in my opinion) would be the STI Trojan or Dan Wesson Heritage, but you're looking at $1,100-1,200 in both cases. These guns will have better triggers and better looks, but will probably still not be more mechanically accurate. |
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Quoted:
There are nicer looking guns for the money, but from an accuracy standpoint, there is nothing close to the Range Officer in the under- $1,000 range. My example is almost Les Baer tight, just not Les Baer pretty. The next step up in quality (in my opinion) would be the STI Trojan or Dan Wesson Heritage, but you're looking at $1,100-1,200 in both cases. These guns will have better triggers and better looks, but will probably still not be more mechanically accurate. Quoted:
Quoted:
I will be considering the R.O. for him.. maybe just buy a bunch of ammo with the extra money. Is there a Colt you guys would recommend, or even a Kimber? Dad is big on value, and if he finds out I didn't get him the best bang for the buck, he will be disappointed
There are nicer looking guns for the money, but from an accuracy standpoint, there is nothing close to the Range Officer in the under- $1,000 range. My example is almost Les Baer tight, just not Les Baer pretty. The next step up in quality (in my opinion) would be the STI Trojan or Dan Wesson Heritage, but you're looking at $1,100-1,200 in both cases. These guns will have better triggers and better looks, but will probably still not be more mechanically accurate. I initially ruled out the Heritage based only on the MSRP on the CZ website, but am finding them for around $1150... decisions, decisions. |