Posted: 8/5/2009 9:10:01 PM EDT
|
I am going to buy a 1911 and my question is which one to buy. I have had been told to spend the xtra and buy a colt instead of buying a Smith or a Springfield. The reason i was given was I would have to spend money to make the Smith or Springfield shoot as good as the colt. Is this true or have I been the target of BS. I like the looks of all three.
Mike |
|
If you are sold on the 1911, go for it. Personally, I carry a XD45 (Springfield) and it has NEVER failed in any manner*. One ragged hole groups at 5 yards, kneeling, out of the box.
*I DID make it fail to cycle by using light target loads that weren't powerful enough to cycle the action. |
|
All depends on what you are looking for. I wanted a Govt model like the one I carried in the Corps.....I don't need all that fancyness cause I'm not gonna compete with it......If I have to use it for self defense it'll do the job, although it may take 3 rounds vs 2 (my S&W has trijicons) |
|
The Colts and the S&Ws have great reputations. The Colt will feel, well, "real" and it's hard to argue with that. They do feel better. The SA's are problematic for many as many of them ship with inferior extractors and have reliability problems, and the lower-priced ones are foreign built and that irks some folks. S&W and Colt are at least US manufacturers.
Between S&W and Colt, I own more S&Ws - but those are revolvers. When it comes to 1911s, the Colt feels better to me - many small details that add up. I do not believe the story that you have to spend money with S&W to make it "shoot as well" as a Colt. With an SA, sometimes that is true but not always. |
|
I think you will find that new Colts are not that far off in price, if not cheaper than, modern springers S&W's.
Get a Colt!  98 years can't be wrong! There are great guns at every price range, but the Colt packs a ton of value into a gun. There are better guns, but they will cost a lot more. Don't get wrapped-up in the minute features that differentiate one gun from another. Everyone has an opinion on each brand out there. Someone doesn't like kimber, or "blah blah thats not "custom" blah blah". Can't really argue with a Colt.
Check out the WWI reporductions
|
| I have a few Colts and like them. However I would buy a 1911 from S&W, Dan Wesson, Kimber, or Sig just as fast if it was priced right. I know guys that have each and I have shot them all. They all have minor differences but are all great choices (currently). Actually with some of Colt's recent issues with dust cover rubs and such, I would not buy a new Colt without inspecting it. |
| out of a hundred people asked, you will get a 100 different answers to this question. I personally have a SA and love it. They also have excellent customer service, a great custom shop, and lifetime warranty. Put your hands on as many as you can and fire twice as many. Only you can determine what is best. |
|
I'm not a fan of external extractors on a 1911, even though S&W's design seems to work. When I think of a 1911 I think of Colt, it's the standard by which all others are judged. You can pay a little less or a little more on your initial purchase, but if you have the Colt bug now you won't be happy until you get one. Try to handle and examine a few examples of whatever gun you decide to buy. |
|
I'll catch hell for this but oh well...
If I were going to buy a 1911 the one I'd get was a basic 5" GI model by Rock Island. They are absurdly cheap for a great pistol. I've shot quite a few of them and they've all been great. A close friend carries their commander model and has taken it to some pretty difficult classes without issue. You can spend more if you want... I just don't think its necessary. |
|
Quoted:
I'll catch hell for this but oh well... If I were going to buy a 1911 the one I'd get was a basic 5" GI model by Rock Island. They are absurdly cheap for a great pistol. I've shot quite a few of them and they've all been great. A close friend carries their commander model and has taken it to some pretty difficult classes without issue. You can spend more if you want... I just don't think its necessary. I've got a Rock government model. Extractor was tighter than hell and had to be adjusted. Other than that, it runs just fine as long as I do a good job making reloads for it. I can't comment much on accuracy. I'm such a piss poor shot with a handgun I can't really tell what the uppermost accuracy potential of the gun is. The only pistol I shoot accurately is my S&W 22A pistol, and thats chiefly because it has a red dot. |
|
Colt, S&W, and Springfield all make excellent basic 1911s in the $700-1000 range. Of the three, S&W is the least traditional since they use an external extractor and a Swartz-type firing pin safety. Most Colts use a Series 80 trigger actuated firing pin safety. Springfield is internally the closest to the original design, since it lacks a separate firing pin safety.
On the lower end, the Rock Island/Armscor 1911s are pretty nice. Very traditional, though they do use a cast frame. Colt has a big recall right now on its 1911s, so that is something to keep in mind if you are buying new. |
|
Quoted:
Thanks everyone for the input. I bought a Colt from a guy whose wife was giving him grief. I plan on putting a Ultradot on it and punch some paper. OK, even though you don't have many posts here, you should know the drill by now. We need pics and a range report asap! 
Congratulations on your new Colt –– they make a fine pistol. |
My Kimber kicked ass. Great pistol, loved it, no problems with it. It's now kicking ass for the friend I sold it to. (no problems, just needed the money )
There are alot of makers of good production 1911s out there right now. S&W, Springfield, STI, Charles Daly (had one of those too, great pistol), RIA, RRA, just to name a few off the top of my head. And of course Colt. I'd gladly own one from any one of those companies. |
|
Well......The guy I was going to purchase from had a 1991 A1 instead of a 1911. I backed out of the sale when I saw the gun. He was wanting 50$ more used than I could buy it new. There was the plus of no tax & FLL fee, but the guy was trying to be less than honest and I felt like this was a time to pass. I will purchase a 1911 of some brand either new or used. From replies I have got on this forum I have decided to buy any of the major brands and I am thinking I will get a nice piece regardless of choice. Again... thanks for info.
Mike |