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What 1911 would you buy in the range of $650-$1000?
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Author:  EJSG19 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  What 1911 would you buy in the range of $650-$1000?

Curious. Some are harder to find than others right now. Some are more expensive than others.

Kimber? Colt? SA?

Only interested in the 1911 platform for this thread, don't really need recommendations for any other pistol you might like instead.

Taurus is out because of the price range I'm looking at. Just my preference.

The preference is also for brand new, so we don't have to worry about used (except maybe with the Colts). Though I have found new models that fall within this range.

Please share your thoughts, I'm lucky enough to be in the position to go for one and thought I'd gather some other people's thought process on the subject. Thanks.

Author:  jac714 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:53 am ]
Post subject: 

I voted for the Kimber Custom, only because my experience with the Black Oxide finish on the Eclispe was that it tended to scratch easily.

If you are looking for a georgous range gun then the Eclipse is the way to go, if you are looking for a carry gun I think you would be better served with the Custom.

Just my .02

Author:  Hunter07 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:15 am ]
Post subject: 

Springfield Armory has a lifetime warranty on all guns (even if you're not the original owner), and their Customer Service is one of the best in the business, along with their turn-around times if by chance you have a warranty issue.

Author:  Macx [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:39 am ]
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SA fan here. . . If Ruger doesn't make it I want it to come from Springfield.

Author:  Scott Hughes [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hunter07 wrote:
Springfield Armory has a lifetime warranty on all guns (even if you're not the original owner), and their Customer Service is one of the best in the business, along with their turn-around times if by chance you have a warranty issue.


Can't say it any better myself....I am SA tainted though :wink: :)

Having said that Kimbers and Colts are fine guns.

Author:  EJSG19 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:23 pm ]
Post subject: 

Good response so far, I'll add a little more info in case it sparks anymore responses.

This 1911 is for me to enjoy from a distance, but is mainly for my fiance. She's had the chance to fire a lot of different pistols in the last couple months, and has come to enjoy the 1911 platform. Of the ones she's tried (SA, Kimber, Dan Wesson, Para) she keeps enjoying the 5'' Kimbers the best. Likes their triggers, and tends to shoot well with the 1911 in general.

She isn't into the researching as much as I am, she enjoys the shooting and the looks of it at this stage in the game. Black or stainless seems to be the preference. It'll be a range gun, but she does want to do some holster work and see if she gets more comfortable with the idea of carry. She's specified the 5'' for now, as a nicer range gun, and will work as a carry, leaving options open down the road if she wants a different dedicated carry firearm.

Anyway, I'm just having fun shopping for guns and being part of the process. I have no complaints with her choices so far. Don't think she could go wrong with any of the above choices to be honest.

Author:  SultanOfBrunei [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:28 pm ]
Post subject: 

I'd see if you could get her to try out one with an aluminum frame, and maybe a 4" or 4.25" bbl.

They will be lighter, but not so light as to increase felt recoil.

Author:  EJSG19 [ Fri Apr 10, 2009 3:33 pm ]
Post subject: 

She borrowed a friends Kimber Eclipse Pro, which is about a 4'' slide, has a bull barrel and a similar frame so it was pretty heavy in the right places. I would go as far to say that she is pretty recoil sensitive right now. It was funny when she compared my G21 to a 5'' 1911 she said something along the lines of "man your gun sucks!" talking about the difference in recoil for her.

She doesn't seem to mind the weight, in fact the last Kimber she tried I had to gently ask for it back as my friend and his step-daughter were packing up and getting ready to go, and it was his that he was letting us try out.

That was the most rounds I've ever seen her wanting to fire in one range session. You can imagine the proud smirk on my face I guess. Of course her groups are about 6'' at 21 feet with borrowed 1911's, compared to 12'' when she shoots my glock. That puts a smile on both our faces too.

Author:  ScottM [ Sun Apr 12, 2009 9:51 am ]
Post subject: 

I voted for the SA I used to have one and liked it a bunch.

Author:  Pat Cannon [ Sun Apr 12, 2009 10:33 am ]
Post subject: 

I didn't vote, because I couldn't decide: I owned a Kimber Custom II and there was nothing wrong with it (except that it was not a revolver, but we're not going there right now), so I can personally recommend that one.

But the Eclipse is so pretty!

But, dollar for dollar, I like the Springfields. Or maybe the Taurus.

But I like the Series 70s for their lack of the silly firing pin safety, which was the only thing I didn't like about my Kimber, and that was only a hassle when reassembling the gun.

And anyway I always thought owning a Colt would be cool, 'cause they're the original 1911. But for that purpose I'd actually want an old one.


So I am no help I guess. I don't see much wrong with any of them, so the only factor that matters is what she likes best.

Author:  EJSG19 [ Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:26 am ]
Post subject: 

Pat Cannon wrote:
I didn't vote, because I couldn't decide: I owned a Kimber Custom II and there was nothing wrong with it (except that it was not a revolver, but we're not going there right now), so I can personally recommend that one.

But the Eclipse is so pretty!

But, dollar for dollar, I like the Springfields. Or maybe the Taurus.

But I like the Series 70s for their lack of the silly firing pin safety, which was the only thing I didn't like about my Kimber, and that was only a hassle when reassembling the gun.

And anyway I always thought owning a Colt would be cool, 'cause they're the original 1911. But for that purpose I'd actually want an old one.


So I am no help I guess. I don't see much wrong with any of them, so the only factor that matters is what she likes best.


You had a lot of the same thoughts on the different models that I did Pat. She decided she'd like a black finish, which rules out an awful lot of the choices. She ended up wanting night sights, so there went a few more. Budget also became a consideration. In looking at them she decided on a Kimber TLE II, which has all of the above. So I called larry and put an order in.

Turnaround time is stated as 3-4 months, so we'll see. I hope its a good example of QC from Kimber.

Author:  GABCO [ Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:29 pm ]
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So where can I buy a new stainless full size "Springfield Loaded model" for $1000 or less - I'll buy it today. You did say "range of $650-$1000".

As I wrote in a different thread - I'm retiring in one month after 35 years at 3M Co. and I want to buy a nice stainless full size 1911 as a present from me to me so I'm asking for opinions.

Author:  DTDK [ Thu Apr 16, 2009 5:17 pm ]
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personaly i voted for other, and this is for Gabco really:
If i had 1000 to spend on a 1911 and wanted something truely top shelf I would order up a matched caspian frame and slide with the ejector in stalled and the plunger tube machined into the frame, and any other options i may want, some times you can even find what you want on GA or GB that someone else decided not to build. then i would sit down with a brownells catologue and order up the rest of the parts for the pisltol, maybe a wilson combat barrel and you can choose what internals you like be it wilson combat, ed brown, or les baer. then a wolf spring kit, i you shop around a bit you can assemble a far finer weapon for around 1000 dollars then you can buy, imho. pearsonally the finest shooting 1911 i ever owned was a norinco that i put together with the help of a browness catologue, the reason i used a norinco was, as a college student i was able to afford to buy the norinco and shoot it as i put together all the hop up parts for it. just my 2 cents

Author:  GABCO [ Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:12 pm ]
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Thanks for your ideas. I had not thought of building one but you are the second person to mention it. My first career was a Tool&Die Maker so I'm not afraid to tackle that - in fact it sounds like a lot of fun.

Author:  Lawyer_in_Training [ Sun Apr 19, 2009 9:00 pm ]
Post subject: 

If you have big hands you might want to try out a Para-Ordnance double stack 1911.

http://www.paraord.com/new/product_pistol.php?id=63

Some may say it isn't a "True 1911" but I like mine.

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