Posted: 6/16/2007 10:31:09 AM EDT
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I bet this question has been run in the ground here more than once. I haven't visited the handgun forum as often as I should have, but anyhow... I'm looking to get my first 1911. I've been reading up on most of the manufacturers here and it seems like there's lovers and haters for almost all of them. What I'd like to ask is, who makes the best right-out-of-the-box 1911 for the money? I know there's companies like RRA that make "custom" 1911s factory direct, but they're a little over my budget. I'd like to stay in the $700 - $900 range. |
| Even though this kind of deviates from my original question, has anyone here had any experience with the new Taurus 1911s? For $599, it's tought to beat the price, but if you have to put another $300 in them to get them as reliable as say a Kimber or SA... defeats the purpose. |
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The best "mid grade" production pistol is Colt, (and this is coming from someone who has a problem with the management over there.) The silly reasons why Colt is the best choice are - least amount of MIM - pure original design (no external extractor) - you get the damn horsey on the slide This is the real reason why Colt is the best choice... ALL mid grade production companies make great work horses, and true pieces of shit (and some in between). Some try to gain customer confidence with lifetime warranties. The real test for me is who pays shipping. You get a brand X hiccup factory, send it in on your dime (rather your $50) for repairs, and you get the pistol back saying "tightened extractor" runs fine. Then you take it out to the range and sure enough, the asshat who "fixed" your gun just bent the extractor and fired 7 rounds before his ingenious diagnosis didn't fix it at all, as 30 rounds into the range session the gun goes to crap again. Now you have to pay another $50 to ship it back with a nasty letter about how it's more than the extractor. So you are out $100 in shipping alone to fix something that might have been $60 in parts and labor at the smith. Some people say screw it... they rather buy the $35 replacement part and install it themselves than spend the $50 to ship it and be with out the gun for 2 weeks. Then they find the warranty is voided, because they fucked with it. I had a "brand X" 1911 with a lifetime warranty. It cost me well over $200 in shipping for them to repair/replace the gun. What confidence does a lifetime warranty inspire when you are out $50-150 for 1-3 trips back to the station? Colt will reimburse shipping, if it's their fault. Most if not all others won't (feel free to check this for yourself). That's right. I don't recommend Colt because it's the Bee's knees and the Cat's ass. You can hear all that goodness with the posts of the real fans (for Colt as well as all the other brands). I recommend Colt because they like all other companies, stand a fair (albeit small) chance of giving you a gun that will require one or more returns to service the gun, and they will pay for it. If they keep dropping the ball, they will bankrupt themselves. If they work in the interests of the company, they will make the pistol that will be least likely to come back for QC problems. A pistol with a LT warranty that requires shipping on your dime is like auto insurance with a $1,000 deductable. It's useless for 90% of the problems you will face. |
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Considering the criteria set by the OP, SGB is correct. I think #1 & #2 woukd be a toss up based on personal preference/sense of brand loyalty.
Wow. Did somebody steal Pulpsmack's login information? 
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Springfield, Kimber, Colt, Taurus, whatever. You need good sights and a good trigger. They all have good sights, so when you go to the store, look for the one with the sights that have the fewest sharp corners and edges. To clear a malfunction, you have to wipe your hand across the sights, hard. Take the one with the sights that you think will draw the least blood. Find somebody who has a 1911 who has had a trigger job done by a good gunsmith, 4-4.5 pounds, crisp release, with minimal take-up, no creep, and little overtravel. Let your finger learn what a good trigger feels like. Then go to the store, and try out all the guns within your budget. Dry fire them in slow (make that super-slow) motion. Feel for creep, hitches, scrapes, and motion after the hammer falls. Do it with your eyes closed. Take your time. If you have a choice between Brand A and Brand B, take the one that has the best trigger off the shelf. If your choice is between two apparently identical guns from Brand A, take the one with the best trigger. |
