Posted: 2/19/2006 4:10:30 PM EDT
| I would like to get into the 1911 pistols. I am tired of these plastic poly pos pistols. I have had experience with one 1911 frame, but with the way I shoot the barrel wore down in no time. It was a Norinco 1911 that I had bought new for $332 and no tax. I had the choice between a springfield and the Norinco. The springfield was only about $60 more bucks, I bought the norinco. I regret my decision every day. I would like to get back into a 1911 but I have a limited budget so no kimbers, para's, or les baer. I would like your two cents. Please. |
| I bought a Charles Daley 1911, and thought I was getting a good deal, but the slide stop comes out after one 6-8rds, I have a larger slide stop on order, and hopefully it will fix the problem. I don't know if this is a common problem with the CD 1911s or not, but it shoots well when it shoots, and they are cheap. |
| RRA's Basic Carry is a good choice, but I thought they were a little more expensive. I have had a few different 1911s, from Colts to Kimbers, Springfields to Paras, and for an inexpensive 1911 that handles well and shoots well, I would go Springfield. I use a Springfield GI Champion for my truck gun and have never had any problems with it. |
They guy who runs Adco says he's sold about 2 dozen with no complaints. Says they're a pretty good gun, for the money. I've seen many other supporting comments from RIA owners. You are probably pretty safe with one. I don't own one, but they seem pretty solid to me. |
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Wee've had three (now four-I think) threads on the RIA's here in the last two weeks. The Smiths and "guru's" generaly refer to them as poorly made or POS type guns. The owners seem split, but many really seem to like them. Keep in mind the term "for the money" comes up often. Research the first two pages or so of this forum and you'll find more. As far as "for the money" goes, the Springfield Armory Mil Spec may be the best deal going. (This is slightly different than the GI model, also a great buy.... for the differences here, see Hobbs informative post on the Springfield board). You've already been sorry you went cheap once. Are you wanting to do it again? The Norinco's were generally considered a decent gun at a good buy. The Springfield is better. The RIA isn't. |
| for a starter, the RIA wouldn't be a bad choice, if you wanted to learn to do mods on a 1911 it would be a great starter, or keep the basic GI looks...it's a decent pistol, i like mine, my Kimber shoots better, you can tell a difference, but for a 1911 to knock around, abuse and shoot the hell out of it, you can't go wrong. you will definitely get your moneys worth out of it. |
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Yeah, keep in mind that any advice I hear about the RIAs is usually also followed by, "You get what you pay for." Prsonally, I can get Springfield GIs around here for around $429. For the price difference, I'd probably go with the Springfield. (Granted, when faced with that choice, I opted for a Colt model 80 that the same shop had for $500) The RIAs look and feel 'OK' but the Springfield is nicer and, IMO, worth the price difference. |
| If I were you, I would try and pick up a Sistema Colt Modelo 1927. It is a Colt, either military or police issue, produced in Argentina on Colt equipment, by Colt trained workers. Colt licenced their 1911A1 design to Argentina to produce in 1927. I picked mine up for 425. It accepts anything an original Colt 1911A1 does, because it is an EXACT copy of it. They shoot great and I have not read anything negative about them. They are getting hard to find though, which I figure means they will be worth more shortly. If you want a gun with a warranty, then go with the springfield. I disliked greatly the flat black finish on the springfield, and loved the shiny black finish that the Sistema has. |
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There is a new Hi Standard 1911 GI style out now too. Don't really know anything about it except from what I just read on m1911.org, and that is its a Phillipine made deal with the usual admonitions of you get what you pay for. I'd go with the Springfield GI, or try to find a deal on something used- PS- i think the HS retails for mid to high $300. I just saw one at Gander Mountain but I can't remember- |
WHY? Norincos came with the hard chromed barrel, and the frames/slides have a pretty good reputation. Aside from them being a commie built gun, I've never heard bad about them. My Norinco is the most reliable 1911 I have. I'm curious what problems you had with yours. |
and 1911 just don't go together.
+1 Bought one as my first 1911 (a less common nickel plated one at that) and I sold it, because I bought into the "cheap" and Commie hype. Commie, yes, but cheap no. I regret selling it every day. |
1911 barrels don't last forever. My Colt 1991-A1 original barrel lasted about 8 or 9 thousand rounds. It is still completely functional, but shooting quarter sized objects from 10 yards away is a thing of the past. You can just watch the accuracy drop off once you start getting in that 10k round count range. 
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I have two CD 1911s, and never had any problem with either one. |
Same here my Norinco Comander is a darn good gun . I'd say Springfield nowadays |
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Here's something I just heard from a guy at Quantico Arms. I have a flyer from them and they have the Springfield GI model on sale for $402.00, which is an unbelievable price. So I give them a call and the guy says they are sold out of this model, of course. Now the bad news, according to the salesman, is that Springfield's next batch of WWII models will be shipped with a flap holster and will be about $100.00 more than they do now. If this is true, now is probably the time to buy a GI model if you can find one. I know Sportsman’s Warehouse has been out of stock on these pistols for awhile. |
Thats not cool. Could be barrel fit. They should last longer.
Skip the Taurus. Skip the RIA. Get the Springfield. |
Hmmm... one of the 1911 gunsmiths said I was lucky to get the 8-9k that I did get out of it. Barrel fit is fine. It shoots as accurate as a Glock right now and is still totally functional, but I was just spoiled on being able to "drive tacks" with the thing. One of these days I'll get around to having a match barrel fitted for it. I've never understood why they all don't run chromed barrels. I love that about my Norinco. |