Best Bang for the Buck?

[Bman505]

Thought I would see what you guys thought was the best bang for the buck when it comes to a 1911? There are a lot to choose from.

[NMDawg]

Well Bman, I only have one 1911 and I really like it. I have a Kimber Tactical Ultra II in .45. It was pricey but the research I did at the time convinced me it was an excellent gun for the money. Just my two cents worth.:D

[Sam]

If you want a nice 1911, you need to get a 1911 and not one of the modern wannabee tight toleranced clones. There is exactly one 1911 on the market right now. JUST ONE and that is the Rock Island (and it's co-manufactured clones labeled High Standard, KBI etc.etc.etc.. None of the others have proper tolerances, too tight.

Sam

[calvin]

Good call Sam. I've been kind of looking to get another 1911 and the Rock Island has caught my eye more than once. Feels right, looks right and the price is right.

[AGust82]

Springfield Mil-Spec GIs can be had in blue for around $500-550. I've got a stainless one that is rock solid.

[Grampa]

Everyone has their favorites, especially in 1911's. I've had, shot, own and owned Springers, Colts, Kimbers and Taurus. It's funny that so many parts are interchangeable yet they all feel and shoot different. Springfield Armory has an excellent reputation. Kimbers, when new are really tight and need breaking in. I had a Colt in the Army. Breaking it in wasn't an issue as I'm sure it already had thousands of rounds through it. It was a good shooter though and pretty accurate when you consider the mileage. The Taurus was OK, but just OK. The right side of the ambi safety fell out after only 20 rounds. I replaced it with a conventional (left side) safety and there were no issues after that. It was an average shooter. I have a new Colt series 70 (one of the re-issue guns with the solid barrel bushing) and it feels like an old friend with no new gun break-in at all. The Rock Island's are getting a real strong following lately. Not just 1911's either, but for all their products. You really need to check them out and see what feels best to you. After all, you can always get a second or third job to get more.:D 1911's are very addicting.

[MasterBlaster]

I have one of the last made of the Llama Max-I L/F that I bought in '04 nib for $275+tx & bgc. This particular brand and model has alot of critic's and not many followers but this hand-cannon has never gave me any reason to doubt it because it is solid, tight, basic, straight shooter, feeds flawlessly and has never failed to report with a trigger pull. I have up-graded with a spring kit after a few thousand rounds and made some red oak grips to replace the rubber ones.
The last time I checked that is what it's all about but I suppose that I could have lucked-up and bought the only Spanish .45 that is reliable? Probably but not likely.

[calvin]

If you want a nice 1911, you need to get a 1911 and not one of the modern wannabee tight toleranced clones. There is exactly one 1911 on the market right now. JUST ONE and that is the Rock Island (and it's co-manufactured clones labeled High Standard, KBI etc.etc.etc.. None of the others have proper tolerances, too tight.

Sam

I just saw an ad for one of our local gun show's, they advertised the Rock Island for $419.00 very good price.

[Jizzle]

They have a double stack version at the BX for 4 and a half. I was seriously considering buying it. It fits my hand peerrfect. I have to pass this bill through congress and get a passing vote on the funding for it. I dont think i'll be able to slaughter bill it.

[calvin]

They have a double stack version at the BX for 4 and a half. I was seriously considering buying it. It fits my hand peerrfect. I have to pass this bill through congress and get a passing vote on the funding for it. I dont think i'll be able to slaughter bill it.

Like all good politicians I'm sure you will get it passed:)

[Deacon Jim]

They have a double stack version at the BX for 4 and a half. I was seriously considering buying it. It fits my hand peerrfect. I have to pass this bill through congress and get a passing vote on the funding for it. I dont think i'll be able to slaughter bill it.

I'll be glad to sell it to you whenever you are ready.

[Jizzle]

Yep. I gotta get congress her own SD weapon first. :)

[Bman505]

If you want a nice 1911, you need to get a 1911 and not one of the modern wannabee tight toleranced clones. There is exactly one 1911 on the market right now. JUST ONE and that is the Rock Island (and it's co-manufactured clones labeled High Standard, KBI etc.etc.etc.. None of the others have proper tolerances, too tight.

Sam

Sam, I am not all that familiar with Rock Island. Why is it that they are so much less than other 1911's?

[Jizzle]

That's why they are less. Because nobody knows about them. :) Supply and demand baby. People see the price and go... I don't know that brand name and associate it with stuff like hi-points et. Diamond in the rough. Look them up. They're good stuff.

[Sam]

They are made by, as the owner told me when they were called Squires-Bingham, people who respect the .45.

Imported by the gazillions from the Philippines Lots of companies use them as a base to "build" from or just have them labeled for them.
They build them to spec with no BS and the damn things work. Amazing that.
I got my latest from the BX when they started selling them. 2nd gun they sold actually, a 3 1/2" compact model.

Sam

[Jizzle]

They have one at the gunshow it's 460 for the single stack 5in barrel. It's a nice gun. I'm sure you can get them to do 425 or so if you ask. I'd rec picking it up.

[Descreet38]

OK - just my 2 cents worth. There is only one 1911. It has a horse on it and the 1911 is proceeded by an M.

Sorry - I am a die hard Colt M1911 fan. Had my life saved more than once by the pistol that most believed - you couldn't hit the side of a barn even while standing in the barn.

Funny - I came in 3rd place at the DOD pistol championships with a 1911.

[Tucson]

I'm currently partial to the Springfield line of 1911s. I bought a "loaded" stainless full size 1911. The two things I don't like about them are the ILS (intergal locking system) in the MSH (mainspring housing) and the FLGR (full length guide rod). The FLGR makes field stripping without tools impossible. I see this as a problem so I've replaced the FLGR with the GI standard setup. This corrects the problem with the two piece FLGR that comes standard on this particular model.

I've owned Dan Wesson, a couple of Kimbers, Auto Ordnance, and others but the only 1911 I have now is a Springfield and It's reliable and comes with the great service that Springfield offers if ever needed...

I do plan to replace the necessary parts in the MSH to make it "standard"...

[Colt 45]

If you want a nice 1911, you need to get a 1911 and not one of the modern wannabee tight toleranced clones. There is exactly one 1911 on the market right now. JUST ONE and that is the Rock Island (and it's co-manufactured clones labeled High Standard, KBI etc.etc.etc.. None of the others have proper tolerances, too tight.

Sam

This is from another forum (1911forum.com):

"In talking to Mark Roberts a few years ago, who then was in charge of Colt handgun manufacturing, he advised that "if a gun does not run, out of the box, it's broken - send it back". This was in response to a question of why Colt did not fit up their slides and frames ultra tight like Kimber, etc. He advised that there is a "correct" tolerance for an accurate, reliable 1911 - and that tighter is not better, and gives no worthwhile advantages.

He contended that the miniscule gains in accuracy vs. the headaches and unreliability of a tight 1911 made super tight a bad practice for all but target range only guns that are never used for defense.

If it needs break in - it's fitted wrong by people who don't understand the design - or are chasing that last 1/4" on a 2" at 25 yd weapon - foolishly."

[BuffCyclist]

I got to shoot a Rock Island 5" 1911 (for qualification) at the Riclin Class I took back in September. I was VERY impressed with it, it felt great, very sold and was a reliable shot. I was considering getting a Springfield 1911 because I see them everywhere, and they aren't unreasonably priced (in my opinion) like Kimbers, Dan Wessons and other top dollar 1911s. Another guy at the class had a 3.5" or 4" Rock Island and it was a lot newer than Richards RI (which had thousands of rounds through it). He did very well with it and was consistently placing his shots where he aimed. The only problems he had with it was one Wilson mag that the follower didn't quite seat right when empty and it would jam up on the last round.

[Colt 45]

I got to shoot a Rock Island 5" 1911 (for qualification) at the Riclin Class I took back in September. I was VERY impressed with it, it felt great, very sold and was a reliable shot. I was considering getting a Springfield 1911 because I see them everywhere, and they aren't unreasonably priced (in my opinion) like Kimbers, Dan Wessons and other top dollar 1911s. Another guy at the class had a 3.5" or 4" Rock Island and it was a lot newer than Richards RI (which had thousands of rounds through it). He did very well with it and was consistently placing his shots where he aimed. The only problems he had with it was one Wilson mag that the follower didn't quite seat right when empty and it would jam up on the last round.

I had the opportunity to try Jizzle's out, and I must say I was very impressed with it. I am sure I am going to own one at some point.

Max

[Jizzle]

I like it. It goes bang everytime and eats everything I feed it.