Who is producing the best model 1911 .45 caliber pistol for the money?

Answer 1

Colt. I cannot understand why anybody would want a 1911 produced by anybody else. If you are looking at other makes why not look at better guns? I would like to own a 1911 but it would have to be a colt. Buying a Taurus instead of a Berretta is about getting a good gun at a decent price but buying a 1911 model is about buying a colt.

Answer 2

That's so much a matter of opinion and depends on what value you place on your cash.

Some would say that only the custom or semi-custom 1911s are worth having, Les Baer, Jardine, Ed Brown and the like. Some would point you to the Sig GSR pistols or the Kimbers. I have a Kimber and it's pretty well made and very reliable, but so is the Sig.

You are never going to get a consensus on this, people are too emotionally attached to their favorites.

What would I buy today? I didn't like the last Colt I held, I'm not entirely convinced by Kimber and I already have one. I'd buy the Sig Revolution XO if I was just going for value, but more likely the TTT for my wants/needs.

Answer 3

That depends on what options you want, for the bare bones Springfield is the best shooting and operating, I paid a little over 450 for mine. My first 1911 was a colt government enhanced, which cost in the high 700's and was the worst gun I ever purchased, it had a hard time shooting 5 inch group at 25 yards with any type or brand ammo, took it to a gunsmith and they play around with it replacing the bushing, but it still couldn't hold group under 4 inches so I got rid of it. Now I got a Kimber eclipse II with adj night sights and several other features that I wanted for 950 and it shoots like a dream keeping all groups under 2 1/2 inches at 25 yards if your careful. All of these guns were very reliable, Ive never had one jam. I have shot them in competition IPSC so I have but A LOT of rounds down range with them (read tens of thousands). I have friends that have colt's that rave about them. I purchased the colt when they were going though several chapter 13's so I may have just gotten a lemon. And looking back if I would have sent it back they may have fixed some of the problems for free, when I spoke with the gunsmith he had advised that it has several out of spec parts, but the bushing was the worst he had ever seen.

Answer 4

Kimbers are nice, Colts aren't as cracked up as they used to be, S&W's are over priced..............

My primary carry is a Charles Daly 1911A1. Picked it up when I was shopping a handgun and it felt natural in my hand (weight felt good, natural point of aim felt right, price was in my range). Took it to the range, aclimented myself to it's "quirks"( it tends to want to throw to the right a bit), never looked back. I trust my life with that handgun. I've also put countless rounds through it and have never had misfire or jam and it ALWAYS rips he paper where I aim it (from 10' to 30 yards).

Lot of people out there will automatically go to the most expensive, most exotic firearm on the market. IMO, its pointless. Get yourself a cheap .22, take a few shooting courses and spend lot of time on the range. Find out what you're capable of doing, then buy with your head.

Far as 1911's go, honestly they're all pretty much the same. Not much you can do to improve perfection...

Would I turn down a Kimber? Probably not, its a great gun, but in the real world, would I order one without handling it? again, probably not.

Don't get hung up on names, especially with 1911's.

Answer 5

I prefer Kimber myself. I bought a Kimber Stainless II (pretty much their base model) about 8 months ago and I love it. I've fired over 1450 rounds, and it still has yet to malfunction once. Groupings are very nice also. This gun sold for $850 when I bought it (almost $1000 after all the taxes and fees), and it was worth every penny.

Answer 6

The best bang for your buck would be the Taurus PT1911. It costs about $500 and comes with a load of extras.

Most people would say Kimbers are the very good but I'd go with the Springfields.

Answer 7

Colt is the best.

Check out www.1911forum.com for more insight. Other decent models are Springfield (probably not GI model), and Kimber. I have read good things about the Taurus 1911 as well.

Answer 8

Check out the new Taurus PT1911!

http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=59&category=Pistol

Answer 9

KImber Custom II (Yes, the one with the unecessary firing pin block). I just saw a sale in my local gunshop flyer and they are going for $599 (base model). Beat that.

Answer 10

Springfield...I own 2, 45 compact and a 38 super competition race gun.