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After reading this forum for months and months I finally rented a 1911 at my local range and fell head over heals in love with it.

I was worried about the recoil since I had only shot 9mm before.

I loaded one round braced for impact lined up the sights and fired...
Then grinned cheek to cheek
Then went through the next 49 faster than I thought I would.

That had to be the most pleasant shooting experience I have ever had! I seriously almost laughed at how smooth it shot. (My other two guns I shot before were a SW Sigma and PF9) Now I understand the fascination with the 1911, I am hooked.

What are others experience when first firing a 1911 or first shooting experiences in general?

By the way it was a Kimber custom II I believe, with standard FMJ rounds. I am definitely in the market for a 1911 now.

I don't want to sound stupid how will the springfield gi compare to the kimber I shot or are their other recommended 1911's that a little more affordable?

I know Kimber's are generally really nice 1911's from what I've read. But I'm looking for something on the cheaper end with quality, not looking for a ccw weapon just a fun range gun.

I'm sure the "cheap 1911" topic has been beaten to death here but I am still interested in others first experiences and impressions.

Rock Island Armory....

So much gun for so little money....

You can also go for Armscor, American CLassic or American Tactical Imports for a decent priced .45 with a lot of features.
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/defa ... TIGFX45TIB" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/49736" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.internetguncatalog.com/Defau ... ?tabid=179" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lostcow550 wrote: What are others experience when first firing a 1911 or first shooting experiences in general?

Pretty much the same as yours.
My previous guns have been polymer framed, sub compacts... So shooting a 1911 for the first time was a pleasure.

BTW..It was when I was shooting at moving steel plates
that I realized the full potential of a 1911.

I'll take my 1911s over any other gun I own as far as comfort to shoot. Never leave the house without one.

lostcow550 wrote: I know Kimber's are generally really nice 1911's from what I've read. But I'm looking for something on the cheaper end with quality, not looking for a ccw weapon just a fun range gun.

I'm sure the "cheap 1911" topic has been beaten to death here but I am still interested in others first experiences and impressions.

STI Spartan - can be found for about $600 and is extremely high quality (better than Kimber, IMHO -- let the flame wars begin, I suppose). It's the kind of 1911 that you'd never consider giving up.

lostcow550 wrote:I don't want to sound stupid how will the springfield gi compare to the kimber I shot or are their other recommended 1911's that a little more affordable?

I know Kimber's are generally really nice 1911's from what I've read. But I'm looking for something on the cheaper end with quality, not looking for a ccw weapon just a fun range gun.

I'm sure the "cheap 1911" topic has been beaten to death here but I am still interested in others first experiences and impressions.

I own both a Kimber and a Springfield - different models than you're asking about. Both manufacturers are excellent brands. But if you're going to compare a Springfield GI to a Kimber Custom II, the Kimber is definitely the nicer gun - considering the beavertail grip safety, upgraded sights, a match grade barrel and match grade barrel bushing, and match grade trigger. The Springfield GI is your "basic" 1911 without those upgrades. Springfield has offerings similar to the Kimber Custom II, but not at the GI price.

If you want to buy into the 1911 mystique without breaking the bank, Rock Island Armory pistols are definitely worth a long look. There is nothing wrong with those pistols at all.

Aw, C'mon guys! What about the Taurus PT-1911?

Lots of features, great performance and low price.

I've got Kimbers, Springfields and Tauri and they are all great shooters. The Taurus has had over a 1,000 rounds through it with no troubles.

All that said, you cannot go wrong with a 1911 style pistol.

lostcow550 wrote:After reading this forum for months and months I finally rented a 1911 at my local range and fell head over heals in love with it.

I was worried about the recoil since I had only shot 9mm before.

I loaded one round braced for impact lined up the sights and fired...
Then grinned cheek to cheek
Then went through the next 49 faster than I thought I would.

That had to be the most pleasant shooting experience I have ever had! I seriously almost laughed at how smooth it shot. (My other two guns I shot before were a SW Sigma and PF9) Now I understand the fascination with the 1911, I am hooked.

What are others experience when first firing a 1911 or first shooting experiences in general?

By the way it was a Kimber custom II I believe, with standard FMJ rounds. I am definitely in the market for a 1911 now.

I don't want to sound stupid how will the springfield gi compare to the kimber I shot or are their other recommended 1911's that a little more affordable?

I know Kimber's are generally really nice 1911's from what I've read. But I'm looking for something on the cheaper end with quality, not looking for a ccw weapon just a fun range gun.

I'm sure the "cheap 1911" topic has been beaten to death here but I am still interested in others first experiences and impressions.

You've discovered a secret:

All those folks who've been telling you that the recoil of a .45 will put a grown man flat on his back either never fired one themselves, or held it in their teeth when they did.

My son and daughter have been shooting them quite competently since they were about 12 years old.

lostcow550 wrote:What are others experience when first firing a 1911 or first shooting experiences in general?

I forgot to add that the very first pistol I ever shot was the 1911 I inherited from my dad when he passed away. It is a 1943 Ithaca, and it was his sidearm during WW2. Anyway, when I shot it, I had no other frame of reference, so it was great. And like you, after the first shot, I looked over at the friend who was teaching me to shoot, and I grinned from ear to ear and said, "I could get used to this!"

PS: I just noticed that 10 more posts will put me over 6,000!

Excaliber wrote:You've discovered a secret:

All those folks who've been telling you that the recoil of a .45 will put a grown man flat on his back either never fired one themselves, or held it in their teeth when they did.

My son and daughter have been shooting them quite competently since they were about 12 years old.

What about the one that "if you don't hold a .357 Magnum with a death grip it will come flying out of your hand" and the "recoil of a .44 Magnum will bring a grown man to tears."

I definetly recommend doing your homework before you purchase. In the 1911 world, you get what you pay for. I started off with a 600 dollar 1911 and soon found out that I wanted more and had to upgrade twice before I settled on a pistol that I truly love. here is my baby.

I own two 1911's and have had the pleasure of shooting two others a'fore I owned either. The first I shot was an honest-to-goodness WWII manufactured, but 'parently never issued piece that a buddy's grandfather brought back from the aforementioned war, and upon his death, willed it to his daughter, my friend's mother. She loaned it to him, and aside from a safely downrange flung ND on my part (bad follow-thorough, not used to that light of a single action trigger,then), I found it to be quite accurate (all seven rounds in the head after a bit of practice.) I will admit to a certain amount of enthrallment involved in simply touching, much less having the honor to shoot such a firearm. The other was a Springfield Sub-Compact. Nice shootin' piece. I went out later and found, then subsequently paid too much for, a Loaded Champion that I will have to send back to Genesco, Ill. due to weak or non-existent extraction. Even after a trip to a 'smith. This was all followed by a search for a full sized 1911. Thought I wanted a bare-bones model. Ended up buying a Taurus PT1911 Duo Tone. Darned thing has worked beautifully out of the box, FMJ and my choice of Golden Saber JHP. Only hiccup was the well documented walking out of the off-hand side safety. Couple quick taps with the handle of a screwdriver sent it back in. This is not a prob for me, as I plan on replacing the ambi safeties on both with a quality single sided, once the SA comes back. This would be facilitated with my sending off the Springer. I ramble. I love botha these guns for different reasons, but my go-to, still, for bumps in the night, or more often, business alarm company calling, remains my 92FS. Fave to shoot, most accurate when I do. The 1911 platform takes mucho training and practice for proficiency. I haven't allowed my drool for an elegant weapon from a more civilized age to cloud my acceptance for the demanding calling of reality. That being said, I normally carry a J-frame S&W. 637 with 135 gr. Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel JHP. That being the least cumbersome thing I can deal with whilst bartending twelve hours at a time. The SP101 was gettin' heavy.

I know this is from Glocktalk of all places, but it's a pretty comprehensive look at different 1911s.

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.ph ... stcount=17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.ph ... stcount=18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.ph ... stcount=19" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.ph ... stcount=20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.ph ... stcount=21" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you want to see the rest, here is the link: http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1269683" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WildBill wrote:the "recoil of a .44 Magnum will bring a grown man to tears."

I wouldn't say it will bring a grown man to tears, but it does sting a little. I know, I'm a wuss