So many 1911's

jimmyjames8 said:
Custom, semi custom, hand built...whatever you want to call Baer's, theres plenty available at Buds. I have two PII'S. One is 1.5" guaranteed group at 50yd gun. And it will do it on the Ransom rest with FGMM 230ball. Great guns.
Click to expand...
I had a Baer 6 inch Premier that I shot the best group I ever shot in my life with witnesses. Four rounds went in .48 the fifth blew it to .78. This at 25 yards from the bench and with bags and with witnesses. I traded it away about a month ago. I am not a Kimber guy for many reasons mostly because of the problems I see here with about every one that shows up. That being said..I got a 6 inch Kimber that with 2 witnesses shot 4 out of 5 rounds through the mounting hole of a tractor disc at 25 yards. Same conditions as above. I got it to replace the Baer knowing that if it wasn't accurate enough to suit me, at least everything was there to be tweaked. I can tell a difference in the way I can shoot 6 inch guns as opposed to 5s. I have a lot of 1911 45s. Our Pal Millie is coming this week and I have decided to give her a one year loan on a new Springfield 45 to see if it is something she can't live without. She seems eager to try and that is good enough for me.
I have to agree with my Pal Ikarus, we are Colt folks here. Your money, you earned it, buy what you want. For those that throw off on the Old Colt Brand, let's all remember...Bullseye[2700], IPSC, SASS, and Three Gun, when started were all based on Colt equipment. Whether the grand old SAA, 1911, or AR15, we owe Colt a lot when it comes to our chosen pass time.
 
Last edited:
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I had a Baer 6 inch Premier that I shot the best group I ever shot in my life with witnesses. Four rounds went in .48 the fifth blew it to .78. This at 25 yards from the bench and with bags and with witnesses. I traded it away about a month ago. I am not a Kimber guy for many reasons mostly because of the problems I see here with about every one that shows up. That being said..I got a 6 inch Kimber that with 2 witnesses shot 4 out of 5 rounds through the mounting hole of a tractor disc at 25 yards. Same conditions as above. I got it to replace the Baer knowing that if it wasn't accurate enough to suit me, at least everything was there to be tweaked. I can tell a difference in the way I can shoot 6 inch guns as opposed to 5s. I have a lot of 1911 45s. Our Pal Millie is coming this week and I have decided to give her a one year loan on a Springfield 45 to see if it is something she can't live without. She seems eager to try and that is good enough for me.
I have to agree with my Pal Ikarus, we are Colt folks here. Your money, you earned it, buy what you want. For those that throw off on the Old Colt Brand, let's all remember...Bullseye[2700], IPSC, SASS, and Three Gun, when started were all based on Colt equipment. Whether the grand old SAA, 1911, or AR15, we owe Colt a lot when it comes to our chosen pass time.
Click to expand...

Fact.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There a lot of good choices.....
Les Baer,
Springfield Loaded or Range Officer,
Smith and Wesson
and my favorite.....
Dan Wesson.
 
How come so few pics?

Here's Booger's RIA FS Tactical 10mm

5HFw7Tx.jpg


Dan Wesson Pointman2

bp7HYFk.jpg


Colt Combat Commander and Colt LW Commander

vhQO6yX.jpg
 
BowWow said:
There a lot of good choices.....
Les Baer,
Springfield Loaded or Range Officer,
Smith and Wesson
and my favorite.....
Dan Wesson.
Click to expand...

I’ve got a Les Baer TRS 1911, an STI Marauder 2011 and a STI Edge 2011 in the mail. Love the platform but I won’t sit here and tell you a polymer gun is better or worse. I like guns I buy them all, and I like them all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
bigfelipe said:
You might not get a perfectly functional one for $100-1500 either...
Click to expand...

Now you are just being argumentative. Save that for Friday. :p

My sample size is small based on worldwide sales, but up to a point you do get what you pay for. @BatteryOaksBilly didn’t just make up his fear of Kimbers. The 1911 is the one platform that our never ending quest for the bottom dollar really shows up. Being an older design quality and fitted parts can make a big difference in performance and reliability. But if you are just shooting paper buy whatever you’d like. Not much chance the paper will shoot back. And if you like tinkering anc adjusting it can be a fun gun to figure out.
 
DaleGribble82 said:
I’ve owned two RIAs previously that ran like a damn Singer sewing machine, and seen a gun next to me four times as much jam up all sorts of crazy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

My uncle owns one that is made by Singer... I covet that sidearm more than any other.
 
I've owned and ran quite a few 1911s. I'm happy with my Colts (of which my enjoyment borders on fetish), Ruger, Springfields, and RIAs. All of them are reliable and more accurate than me.

For jumping in at the low end, I've been lucky and happy with RIA. Excellent CS, reliable, and accurate.

Notice that Kimber is nowhere on that list...
 
CZfool68 said:
Now you are just being argumentative. Save that for Friday. :p

My sample size is small based on worldwide sales, but up to a point you do get what you pay for. @BatteryOaksBilly didn’t just make up his fear of Kimbers. The 1911 is the one platform that our never ending quest for the bottom dollar really shows up. Being an older design quality and fitted parts can make a big difference in performance and reliability. But if you are just shooting paper buy whatever you’d like. Not much chance the paper will shoot back. And if you like tinkering anc adjusting it can be a fun gun to figure out.
Click to expand...

Debatable... :D

Of course the easy answer is save your money and buy a Glock...:p
 
bigfelipe said:
Debatable... :D

Of course the easy answer is save your money and buy a Glock...:p
Click to expand...

Well, if we want to compare reliabilty and 1911’s vs Glocks the entire # of parts argument is a good one. More parts means more potential failures at some point. So if you are buying a 1911 that has more parts it seems you would want to buy one that has the highest quality parts possible to make that gun as reliable as possible. Someone with more brains and energy than me can do the math, but compare the parts and come up with some formula for wear and reliability and surely there is a mathematical calculation that can be made between a Glock and a $500 1911 and a Glock and a $1500 1911. Who has no life, lotsa time and Excel on their laptop?
 
CZfool68 said:
Well, if we want to compare reliabilty and 1911’s vs Glocks the entire # of parts argument is a good one. More parts means more potential failures at some point. So if you are buying a 1911 that has more parts it seems you would want to buy one that has the highest quality parts possible to make that gun as reliable as possible. Someone with more brains and energy than me can do the math, but compare the parts and come up with some formula for wear and reliability and surely there is a mathematical calculation that can be made between a Glock and a $500 1911 and a Glock and a $1500 1911. Who has no life, lotsa time and Excel on their laptop?
Click to expand...

We aren’t doing that damn it!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
CZfool68 said:
Well, if we want to compare reliabilty and 1911’s vs Glocks the entire # of parts argument is a good one. More parts means more potential failures at some point. So if you are buying a 1911 that has more parts it seems you would want to buy one that has the highest quality parts possible to make that gun as reliable as possible. Someone with more brains and energy than me can do the math, but compare the parts and come up with some formula for wear and reliability and surely there is a mathematical calculation that can be made between a Glock and a $500 1911 and a Glock and a $1500 1911. Who has no life, lotsa time and Excel on their laptop?
Click to expand...
Yep, a Glock fully disassembled is 34 parts if I remember correctly and a 1911 fully disassembled is 51 parts. The springs (recoil and such) in both will likely have a very similar life spans. But the “Tupperware factor” of the Glocks will lead to quicker wear on some poly parts and even some of the stamp metal parts wear quicker also but Glock replacement parts are interchangeable and user serviceable if you have a little mechanical aptitude while the wear and tear parts of a 1911 likely will require fitting (bushing, link, etc) but those 1911 parts in the mid to upper tier ones like Bullet Proof® From Wilson or Ed Brown stuff will last a looooooooooong time. It’s not really a straight comparison between the two ... it’s more like comparing oranges to grapefruits ... very similar but just enough differences.
 
Last edited:
Namerifrats said:
I had only looked at the SA Loaded 1911s before. Looking at the Range Officer now, I'll add it to the list as a possible.
Click to expand...
You should also look up Springfield Armory supporting gun control in Illinois during the last election. I won't give them another dime until they change leadership..and start actually building most of their guns in the US.
 
Last edited:
I have the same issues with SA, ikarus.

vaskeet, don't ya think RIA has driven everyone's prices down? It is incredible what they have accomplished. I'm likely to get a RIA Commander in 10mm next.
 
CZfool68 said:
I here tell @Jayne is a spreadsheet guru. :D
Click to expand...

I dabble.

So let's see, the spreadsheet says my 2001 era Kimber (low end model) has 14139 rounds through it. I've replaced the recoil spring a hand full of times, it's broken 2 slide stops, 1 safety, been refinished twice (coated the 2nd time so I'm hoping it's the last) and had to have some parts fiddled with inside to make it run reliably. I took some classes way back in the day in CA with John Jardine (Valtro Custom) and when he got tired of seeing me doing awesome malfunction clearings he took my Kimber and did something to it that made it run right. Before I was getting 5+ hard malfunctions per class, now it's much better. Oh, John also melted the edge of the frame and the new safety so it wasn't cutting up my hand, that was done before the first refinish. Mags are all chip mccormic or wilson (yum). 95% of the ammo fired was brass cased commercial 230gr ball. I vaguely recall paying $749 for the gun new.

The sheet also says the 2015 G34 has 19510 rounds through it. It's had all the springs replaced once (due for another recoil spring here soon) and hasn't broken any parts yet but the ghost slide release was all mangled at some point so I put the OEM back in. We'll count that. Mags are all glock OEM. 99% of the ammo fired was steel cased commercial 115gr ball. It is the MOS version, so it was $700-ish when I got it new.

The inflation calculator says $749 in 2001 money is $1088 today.

Kimber, $1088. Parts breakage every 4600 rounds, routine maintenance every 2500, hard malfunctions 5 per 1000 (est)
G34 MOS, $700. Parts breakage every 15000 rounds (est), routine maintenance every 10000, hard malfunctions 0.15 per 1000 (I make note of them)

Total cost per round or some such would be interesting, but John was replacing stuff and doing all the gunsmithing for basically nothing since I was another shooter in classes his friend was teaching.

Wait, what was the question?

IMG_4290.jpg
 
Last edited:
Go ahead and flame me but I've 2 .45's. A Colt Gov't Mk IV and a Runger American full-size. The Colt fits the hand well but the Ruger ain't no slouch and it's less finicky about the ammo style. The Colt doesn't like PPU hollow points
 
Namerifrats said:
I like the 45ACP caliber, and want a handgun chambered in it. So I've decided my next gun will be a 1911, 45ACP. Never knew there were so many. I want a decent one. Looking at a few. S&W E Series, Ruger, and Springfield Armory loaded. I don't care about it being GI or not. Just wanting functionality, reliability, and build quality. I have several handguns, but this will be my first 1911. I've read and watched reviews on each of these.....still kinda mixed thoughts on choosing one. Anybody own one or more of these? Thoughts? Pros and cons?
Click to expand...
I'm going to answer your question with a question.

WHY do you want a 1911 specifically? The answer is not in the OP. What do you intend to do with it? Why does the 1911 platform meet that purpose best?

The answer to your question is somewhere in the thoughtful responses above, but no one can point to a specific single one until you tell us what your thinking is.

This is not a lecture or a criticism - it's an honest attempt to help you help us to help you. :D
 
And once we are done with all this back and forth we can go into 9mm vs 45 acp in the 1911. That should be lots of fun and keep this theead active until 2025 or so.
 
LiberTarHeel said:
I'm going to answer your question with a question.

WHY do you want a 1911 specifically? The answer is not in the OP. What do you intend to do with it? Why does the 1911 platform meet that purpose best?

The answer to your question is somewhere in the thoughtful responses above, but no one can point to a specific single one until you tell us what your thinking is.

This is not a lecture or a criticism - it's an honest attempt to help you help us to help you. :D
Click to expand...

To have one, lol. It's a classic design that's been around a long time. I just plan to use it at the range, I won't carry it or use it for home defense. I have other guns that fill those rolls.
 
Namerifrats said:
To have one, lol. It's a classic design that's been around a long time. I just plan to use it at the range, I won't carry it or use it for home defense. I have other guns that fill those rolls.
Click to expand...
  1. Determine the maximum amount of money you are willing to spend on a pistol you will use only as a range gun.
  2. Make a list of all the 1911s at or under your max
  3. Compare features and throw out any that don't have all the features you desire
  4. Assess the remainder for "value" from your personal perspective ("value" here equals price against "functionality, reliability, and build quality")
  5. Pray that you've narrowed it down to one (I am not optimistic that you can!)
You're going to have to work some synapses because your criteria are so non-specific that you've included the entire galaxy of 1911s in it. Good luck!

Alternate plan: buy whichever looks "shiniest" to you. :D
 
Ikarus1 said:
What's the differences between that one and the $515 one I posted earlier besides VZ grips?
Click to expand...
I could not get your link to work but the difference between the tactical and the ultra or TAC II is Mag well , fiber front sight, adjustable rear sights, grooved front strap and the G10 grips
 
Last edited:
Millie will be here this week end for 1911 shooting. The First thing I will show her is that limp wristing the 1911 will do Nothing or cause Anything to happen. This is easily shown by shooting any one of a dozen or so in 9mm and 45 holding only with 2 fingers. Then I turn the gun upside down and repeat. Thumb and middle finger only on the gun. NOW if you try this with short slide guns, from Commanders down to the 3 inchers, you can have a problem. The Original Design is meant to shoot any way you pull the trigger with the thumb safety[which was an add on, not on Browning's original submission] depressed and the grip safety down. John was perfectly content that any cavalry trooper could handle his gun safely with only the grip safety. The Military didn't have the same confidence, hence the thumb safety.
The entire dynamic of functioning changes when the slide is shortened. Not getting into that....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom