Gentlemen, I have been a Glock guy for a long time and decided that I need to have a 1911.  I have a feeling once I get one that it won't be my last, but I will worry about that later.  I am publicly admitting that I don't know hardly anything about these guns (I have my flame suite on!) and I am looking for some good advice from experienced shooters before I make my first purchase.  I have been reading this forum for the last couple of weeks and have learned quite a bit.  The following are some questions that I have, your help will be much appreciated.

(1)  My budget limits me to about $1000.00.  I am looking for the best bang for the buck.  A $2k gun is totally out of the question, so please don't talk about them.  Reccomend me some brands and models to look at.

(2)  I have read guys mentioning "options".  What options do I want?

(3)  I really want to buy a gun totally made in the USA, so reccomend accordingly.  I would also want to buy new.  

(4)  It seems that there is a lot of Kimber hate.  Please explain as I have been looking at a TLE II and like it.  What caused the hate?

(5)  Should I get a rail to mount a light or save that for a future gun?  I sleep next to a shotgun at this time, but that might change.  Thoughts?

(6)  Is there something that I DON'T want on a gun?



Thanks in advance for your comments.  

The hate from Kimber was due to the external extractor, some seen it as a flawed design. Otherwise they are fine 1911s

IMO, I would get a Springfield Loaded 1911A1 in Black stainless.5" . Youll get factory nite sites and ambi safety. They run good right out of the box. THe only things I changed on mine was to put extended slide release and got rid of the ILS (internal locking system) and went with straight backstrap (as apposed to humped).

Im not a fan of 1911s with light rails, I think it takes away from it. If you NEED to have a handgun with a lightrail than get one, youll pay more and finding holsters is a lil more problematic.

Get good quality mags, either wilson, Chip Mccormick or Tripp research.

You can get into a good SA with mags and ammo under 1k easily.

I second the springer loaded ,I 'd get one of i had the cash.

I'll disagree with you on this point, there are many holsters out there to fit 1911s with rails, both leather and tactical non-leather.  I can understand not liking the light rail, but I wouldn't let "lack of holster options" factor into it.

If you find a pistol that you like post and we can all give you our comments or reviews if we actually own one.  Trust me lots of people will give you opinions take them how you like I try to stay objective but their are some brands that I would never own (Taurus, Para-Ordanance).

Good mags would include Tripp Research, Wilson Combat ETM's or 47D's.  Chip McCormick would not be the best choice for mags not when for a few dollars more you can get Wilson mags.

1) $1000 will open the door to a pretty wide variety of 1911's

2) As far as options I would recommend getting a gun equipped with at least the following:  upswept beaver tail grip safety, ring hammer, light aluminum trigger, and night sights (ambi safety maybe too)

3) USA made guns for $1000 and under that will contain all of the above mentioned options:  Springfield MC Operator, USED TRP (I didn't mention Loaded because they are made in Brazil and you specifically said made in USA although the loaded is a great line up)........All Kimbers are made in USA, I would recomend the Warrior, TLE II, or CDP II.........Or you can get a COLT XSE.  It won't have night sights, but does come with some nice Novak sights that could easily be replaced with Night Sights.

4) Kimber hate stems from people that have had bad experiences with them going online to find answers to their problems.  Since the 1911 forums are the first place they look, it would appear that a lot of Kimbers go bad.  But in reality Kimber just makes more guns than anyone else, so naturally a higher number will have issues....not necessarily a higher percentage.  I own two and love both (TLE II nd a Warrior)  both are good guns.  I did have to send the TLE in for a repair though.

5)  light rail will depend on what you are going to use the gun for.  If it will be for only home defense or range shooting then yes Get a rail (MC Operator or Kimber Warrior, or Colt XSE Ral Gun).  If you ever intend to carry your 1911 then I probably wouldn't get a rail because holsters will be easier to come by without it.

6) Something that you don't want....I don't want a bunch of ugly giant rollmarks on myslide like STI puts on theirs, but that is an opinion that has nothing to do with function.  Maybe stay away from plastic triggers (STI Spartan).

I have been wanting that exact pistol but no one can get one they say.  But I am just holding out till I find one that I can play with before buying.

Just go ahead and get the gun pictured in SGB's Avatar.  Sell off all your glocks and you might be able to afford it.

I amlost bought the rail gun instead of the Combat Elite this weekend.  But I didn't only because I already have a Warrior, and one railed 1911 seems like enough for me.  But it is just plain BADASS.

Cabela's stocks the Rail gun for right around $1000.

Well she is a beauty sir.  That is the definition of my dream gun right there.

Agreed with everything except the issues that you don't want.  With a gun of that price range some things might need to be addressed like Kimber's swartz safety and plastic MSH (unless you get the Warrior) and with SA's line of guns you will have to deal with the locking MSH until you can replace it.  The Sig external extractor can be an issue if you are a purist, but their pistols do work fine.  For $1000 I'd either get a Colt or a Warrior or a MC Operator.

Agreed. I would rank the MC Operator and DW the highest. The only 1911 I would add to that list is the STI Trojan.

STI Trojan for $1100.00

Thanks for the great advice, guys.  What is an MSH?  I will post my purchase when it happens.

No particular order to those other then the TRP on top.

OP - You can get an STI Trojan or an STI Ranger (if you like the shorter slide) for around $1000, probably less.  I saw a few mentions but generally speaking the STIs get left out of the consideration, for some reason.

STI Ranger II 45acp, great pistol, made in Texas, I liked it so much I purchased the same pistol in 9mm as well.