Best 1911

[9mmfish]

Taurus 1911 with Hogue grips is real comfortable. Have a little over 500 rounds through mine and have had zero issues.

good info.

See that you only had a 34 or 35 day lapse between sitting for and receiving your CHL. Wow. There was a 5 month procees for me.

[dadoo]

With all the Springfield, Kimber, Taurus, and others being mentioned, I would have to ask a couple of questions:
What is this gun for? is it just to have a 1911 that you can pass on? Or do you want a good solid EDC that is accurate, dependable and reliable?
Someone suggested a Rock Island as a "starter" gun, but I would go one step farther; The Rock Island Tactical models are fine weapons that will give you good looks, reliability, accuracy and everything else you would want in a carry piece that won't break the bank.
You can get a variety of barrell lengths from 3.5 to 5, or even 6". I have a compact model with nearly 1000 rounds through it and ZERO problems:


and a full sized, 2tone model with about 400 rounds and no problems:


If you're looking for a show piece, go with a Colt, Wilson, or other high dollar 1911, but if you are looking for a carry piece that you can trust your life to, without going into hock, chect out the Rock Island Armory (BTW, RIA also makes the STI model)

[Oldgringo]

With all the Springfield, Kimber, Taurus, and others being mentioned, I would have to ask a couple of questions:
What is this gun for? is it just to have a 1911 that you can pass on? Or do you want a good solid EDC that is accurate, dependable and reliable?
Someone suggested a Rock Island as a "starter" gun, but I would go one step farther; The Rock Island Tactical models are fine weapons that will give you good looks, reliability, accuracy and everything else you would want in a carry piece that won't break the bank.
You can get a variety of barrell lengths from 3.5 to 5, or even 6". I have a compact model with nearly 1000 rounds through it and ZERO problems:


and a full sized, 2tone model with about 400 rounds and no problems:


If you're looking for a show piece, go with a Colt, Wilson, or other high dollar 1911, but if you are looking for a carry piece that you can trust your life to, without going into hock, chect out the Rock Island Armory (BTW, RIA also makes the STI model)

You're comment that RIA makes the highly praised STI is sure to draw some fire ; however, I'd like to have a RIA Tactical Compact.

[gabe]

STI does source from the Philippines but I don't know what models.

[marksiwel]

So basically, you can get parts from a Full Sized Kimber 1911 and throw them in a Rock Island, I mean like the Barrell, Trigger, Slide? Can they take the same magazines? If I go on the Brownells website can I order parts and put them in my Rock Island?

[9mmfish]

With all the Springfield, Kimber, Taurus, and others being mentioned, I would have to ask a couple of questions:
What is this gun for? is it just to have a 1911 that you can pass on? Or do you want a good solid EDC that is accurate, dependable and reliable?
Someone suggested a Rock Island as a "starter" gun, but I would go one step farther; The Rock Island Tactical models are fine weapons that will give you good looks, reliability, accuracy and everything else you would want in a carry piece that won't break the bank.
You can get a variety of barrell lengths from 3.5 to 5, or even 6". I have a compact model with nearly 1000 rounds through it and ZERO problems:


and a full sized, 2tone model with about 400 rounds and no problems:


If you're looking for a show piece, go with a Colt, Wilson, or other high dollar 1911, but if you are looking for a carry piece that you can trust your life to, without going into hock, chect out the Rock Island Armory (BTW, RIA also makes the STI model)

I have my conceal carry and home defense situation well covered.

I'm now looking for a two fold option. 1) Something I can enjoy shooting at the range. 2) Something I can pass on to my future generations.

Your RIA's look really nice. The full size RIA is an option and I know they are solid. I've almost picked up one several times in the last year and will eventually get one.

I'm also considering a high end 9mm not really sure what that means right now. I have a M&P 9C and I know the full size is a solid piece. Sigs don't feel that good in my hand and a double action trigger or s/a trigger with a heavy sided pull is the minimum requirement.

I'm a solid middle ground kind of guy and I'm looking in the 600-800 dollar range. Kind of like between the M&P and Colt line.

Keep the suggestions rolling.

Thanks

[MoJo]

STI does source from the Philippines but I don't know what models.

The STI Spartan is built in the Philippenes to STI specs and with STI internal parts. I have one it is a 100% reliable gun.

[rm9792]

So basically, you can get parts from a Full Sized Kimber 1911 and throw them in a Rock Island, I mean like the Barrell, Trigger, Slide? Can they take the same magazines? If I go on the Brownells website can I order parts and put them in my Rock Island?

AFAIK you can. As long as the barrel is the same design (ie Ramped or NonRamped) it will work. All this except the trigger might require some fitting but even replacement parts of the same brand might need fitting. Of course you can just put the parts together without fitting usually but accuracy/reliability might suffer, albeit not enough to matter in a CCW. I have mixed and matched parts a few times building mutts and had few issues. I have swapped slides around to get a model thats not available even, my ccw has Kimber Pro CDP slide on a Kimber BP Ten Hicap frame. Only parts i would stress having fitted properly for safety is the fire control parts, dont want a runaway.

[ghostrider]

Here's why I like 9mm in a 1911:

http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/2183276" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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>So basically, you can get parts from a Full Sized Kimber 1911 and throw them in a Rock Island, I mean like
>the Barrell, Trigger, Slide?

yes. Generally, a 1911 is a 1911 is a 1911. In theory, parts from different manufacturers will work together if the parts are all made to spec. However, final fitting of the parts may be require - but this is really what custom pistolsmiths do: select the best (or customer requested) parts to build a 1911.

The 1911 in the picture is really a 'parts box' special in the sense that it was handbuilt with selected parts:

# Caspian Frame (machined for a fully ramped barrel)
# Springfield 9mm slide
# ParaOrdnance fully ramped 9mm 5" barrel
# EGW fibre front sight
# BoMar adjustable rear sight
# Metalform 9mm magazines
# Chip McCormick hammer & sear
# the remaining internal parts are either Ed Brown or Wilson Combat

The target is my CHL qualification target.

[gwtrikenut]

I love all three of my Colts. Although I haven't shot two of them in 10 years, I still take them out of the safe and handle them. Colt is like a good women, fun to touch and hold, and go out to have a great time with. And still be able to bring home with you.

[Jonathanaf]

I've heard Kimber is the best, but I've had great experience with Springfield.

[TxDrifter]

Okay, since it has become a picture thread as well.



All Kimbers. The center is my favorite. It is an Eclipse Pro Honestly though, there are a lot of great brands and models out there. My uncle's and another person I know in the Sheriff's department here carry Springfields. Find what you like and can comfortably shoot.

[The Annoyed Man]

That's likely quite true - however, others swear at Taurus Customer Service should anything need fixing, from what I hear

By the way, that's not a poke at Taurus' firearms - just their support.

That may be true. However, my experience is as follows:

Kimber - 1 trip back

Springfields (2) both new -#1 Springfield refused to take it back, said it would probably get better with use. Spent over $400 to make it reliable.
#2 - 2 trips back

Taurus (4) - no malfunctions ever, thus no need for customer service

On the other hand...

I have a Kimber UCII, and my son has a Taurus PT1911. NIB, my Kimber came with a defective slide stop lever. I placed one call to Kimber, and I had the replacement part in hand within 3 or 4 days. It dropped right in, and the pistol has run flawlessly for an easy 1500 round now. For no particular reason at the time, I held onto the defective part.

About 6 months later, my son and I are at the range and the slide stop lever pin on his Taurus breaks right in half. He is naturally very disappointed, but then I remember the "defective" Kimber part which is still in the Kimber case. We drop it right into the Taurus, and the Taurus has run for a flawless 1000 rounds or so since then. That Kimber part is still in that Taurus pistol.

Go figure.

BTW, I also have a Springfield Loaded, purchased used from HighVelocity, total round count unknown. Runs like a champ.

[CompVest]

Reading this thread the obvious answer to what is the best 1911 is the one you enjoy shooting the most. Model, cost, manufacturer really doesn't matter. I love the STIs because of the way they feel and shoot. I really like my Les Baer and it shoots great, too. However, my favorite is the one SRVA built with collected and hand fit parts. It has a Vega frame and Remington Rand slide. I have shot through one barrel. Replaced it with a Kimber barrel and it is still the one I prefer to shoot. I know I can hit a 8" metal target at 100 yards with it because I have on several occasions. I have even made the shot out to 200 yards with it.

I just feel bad for anyone wanting a 1911 and trying to sort through all of the choices to find the one that is right for them!

[casingpoint]

Colt is like a good women, fun to touch and hold, and go out to have a great time with. And still be able to bring home with you.

Has your gun got a sister?