1911 pistols?

Question

Who manufactures the best NEW 1911 pistol on the market today and why.

Answer 1

Taurus is the best bang for your buck. Has all the bells and whistles at about 700-750. They shoot well too.

Answer 2

That answer is a wide open as who makes the best car today.

Well... it depends on what your definition of "best" is.

Best Value
Best Performer
Best Looking

Most new 1911's are reasonably accurate (at least combat accurate) and quite a few are Tack drivers right out of the Box.

You get what you pay for.

Springfield has everything from a GI for a few hundred to the top of the line for 1000++++

GI - A little gritty trigger, and (for me) not so great sights
Go up the ladder... they get markedly better, and are great guns (not to say that the GI is a bad gun... just not for me)

Kimber Makes some great guns (own a few) as well as Colt.

Go up the Ladder even further, and you get in to the Semi Custom and the Full Custom

Semi Custom - Wilson Combat and Night Hawk Custom. Many of the larger / better manufacturers offer custom work at additional prices.

Full Custom - Clark, Yost, EGW, and quite a few more.

For a Basic Gun... 3-500 or so
Mid Level gun with decent trigger and sights... 500 - 1100
Semi Custom... 1700 - 3500
Custom 2000 .... ??????

Basic Guns through Semi Custom can be bought off the shelves or with a nominal wait period.

Custom Guns ... well they are custom and have a longer wait period and can take QUITE a bit longer than expected. I know people who have been on lists for MANY months to a year or more before work even starts on their weapon.


EDIT:
David C. There are quite a few other manufacturers that were left out. Not on purpose or to knock any one manufacturer (they all have lemons and all have GREAT runners), but for the sake of brevity.

Answer 3

Depends. If money is no issue Wilson, Kimber, Baer, Springfield, and others make outstanding 1911's. Para makes good guns for the price (either the high cap, or the single stack) but I would spend a little more and get a Kimber. Colt customs are good, but I have found even the lower end Kimber's to be outstanding for performance and accuracy. Thompson (auto-ordinance) is inexpensive and durable but not the most reliable or accurate. I recommend you do some reading up, decide exactly what options you are looking for and how much you can afford. Expect to pay $800- $4000 depending on your choices and needs.

Answer 4

Take the 1911 down to major parts ... clean out any factory gunk and lightly re-lubricate the pistol and re assemble it. Obtain 500 rounds of 45 ACP FMJ ammunition of known quality (if you shoot reloads the warranty is likely voided... I shoot reloads... but they are always loaded to factory pressures). Load and fire the pistol...fire at a slow, sane rate for the first 50 to 100 rounds (I don't like to overheat a new barrel). During the first few hundred rounds keep a little Rem oil or Break free around and lubricate lightly if the pistol runs dry of lubrication. If you don't fire all 500 rounds the first session (or two or three) give the gun a good wipe down and put it up. If I had a bore snake.. I'd run the bore with that... and just get the finger prints of the outside of the gun. Wilson and the other custom makers will tell you NOT to field strip and clean the gun for 500 rounds.... the powder residue and other stuff you pick up helps to hone the moving parts to each other. Plus... after 500 rounds any high spots on moving parts that need stoning will become evident. After you get past 500 rounds ... detail clean the pistol and use it as you may. That works with the RIA's, Springers, Charles Daley's, etc......

Answer 5

I agree that this question is very vague and knowing what you were going to use it for would be a great help in selecting my reccommendations.

I do agree with "C M" on most counts but it saddens me to see that S&W as a manufacturer and their "Performance Center" lineup isn't included.

The 1911 design has been incorporated by nearly every firearm manufacturer and knowing your budget would also be quite helpful.

Kimber as a manufacturer makes amazingly good quality products straight out of the box.

Now in your question you ask for "NEW 1911." The latest trend with these models is the reduction of size and weight to assist in concealability, while still trying to maintain the dependability and accuracy we all want.

In this case I would reccommend the Kimber Ultra Covert II, or for less money, the Springfield EMP. Both are new models of a timeless design.

Answer 6

Everyone has thier own choice on whats 'Best' but I believe it comes down to what suits you and what fits you. Personally my choice of a 1911 would be either Kimber or Springfield Armoury,
Ive shot both and also colt's but the springfield armoury model fits me like a glove...shop around and try some different models out before you buy

Answer 7

The absolute best 1911 on teh market today is the Wilson combat. http://www.wilsoncombat.com/index.htm

You can get no finer 1911 that a WIlson Combat. They will cost you from $2000 to $4000 + There are some pistols that Wilson Combat makes that you have to have bought all the previous editions to get on to the waiting list for the few Bill Wilson signature series there is no price on them. Because they will set you back $5000+ I bet.

Answer 8

true 1911 style? Kimber. 1911 high capacity? Para Ordinance.

Answer 9

Best is the matter of one's bank account.

Answer 10

Colt