Posted: 1/30/2013 7:47:32 PM EDT
| I am in the market for my first handgun, looking at the 1911 (and the sinful M9). I'm 95% sure I have settled on a 1911, and a few good local friends swear by Kimber. I'm all for getting a good quality "name" but I can only start in their low end arms. Could anyone recommend a few other options around $800? I'm looking for customizable aftermarket so I can upgrade if I want. Would a rail gun be feasible as a carry weapon? |
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I don't like Kimber because I don't like the Schwartz saftey.
I would go with a Dan Wesson VBOB if choosing a new carry gun today. Also check out the colt XSE and springfields. Nothing wrong with a rail gun, but you will find it is really unnecessary in a carry gun. Look at cz SP-01 or P-01over the M9 if you want 9mm. |
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Springfield range officer I might be a little bias as I have one but it is a very well made gun for the price. I played around 740 for mine. This^^^ If I was looking for a 1911 and only had ~$800 to drop on it, I'd be looking at the RO and the Colt 1991. I've owned two Kimbers (Pro CDP and Stainless Pro Carry II). One was great and the other was the biggest POS I've ever owned. I don't have any interest in owning anything else with the K-word on it. |
| Springfield armory milspec or range officer. You'll need to complain if your ejector is not pinned in place, and SA will fix it for free if you pay shipping. Range officer is nice but if you like GI models, the milspec is hard to beat. Change your firing pin to a non titanium when it wears as they arent as durable as steel. |
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Another vote for the Springfield Range Officer.
It fits within your stated price range. I've found it to be very accurate and reliable. Shoot it, carry it. If you find the rear sight is not to your likeing install a Harrison rear sight as I did. I've had many 1911's. I'm at three now. Two Colts and this RO. I am very impressed with this 1911. |
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I think the 1911 is a terrible first handgun. It is an enthusiast's pistol. Kind of like buying a Corvette for a first car. I love the 1911, as the proud owner of 5. But, I believe they are better left to people experienced in running pistols to extract the performance. Just see what Ken Hackathorn or Larry Vickers says. They pretty much agree with me.
However, if you must, I would recommend a Colt XSE Govt., Combat Elite if you can afford it. They are about 1000. Great 1911 to get started with. |
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I think the 1911 is a terrible first handgun. It is an enthusiast's pistol. Kind of like buying a Corvette for a first car. I love the 1911, as the proud owner of 5. But, I believe they are better left to people experienced in running pistols to extract the performance. Just see what Ken Hackathorn or Larry Vickers says. They pretty much agree with me. However, if you must, I would recommend a Colt XSE Govt., Combat Elite if you can afford it. They are about 1000. Great 1911 to get started with. I kinda agree here. I primarily shoot 1911s but I carry a Glock. Weight, passive safeties, more bullets, etc. You can get a great 1911 and have confidence it will run. I have far more rounds through a 1911 than anything else by thousands and thousands of rounds but as far as carry guns go, trigger is about the only thing it has that trumps some other options. |
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Go shoot some OP, dont just go off what other folks say is good or bad. I say Springfield as well, but only because of their kick-ass customer service. My kimber is my go-to gun, just the base line kimber and I wouldnt trade it for any other handgun. It just flat works with any ammo, any mag, no matter how dirty. Im at 10k rounds without a single failure, no "break-in" required. I understand people have bad stories about kimber but personaly the only issues i have ever seen have been on the ultra carry guns. I personally know multiple people who run the shit out of their full-size kimbers and have never had issues. The finish does suck on them, it looks great until you run it in and out of a holster
I have a Springfield milspec and loaded and love em both, both have been 100% reliable with about 6k through the mil spec and only 1500 through the loaded You said your other option was an M9, its a good pistol but its gonna be harder to conceal |
| Don't be taken back by some of the responses. You can learn any platform. If you plan on your 1911 to be a carry weapon and do not plan on shooting it alot as a range gun I would go with the Springfield Loaded or Champion Operator if looking for a railed model. This is a four inch alloy frame model. For carry it would be a great choice and should fall right into your budget. The downside for a high round count would be the alloy frame. You said carry and thats why I suggested the alloy. Good luck in your search. |
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Oh yeah, and a 1911 is a great first pistol. All 3 of my first pistols were full-size 1911s (besides my ruger single six.22). The old guys just say its an "experienced shooter gun" because they want to seem more, well uh...experienced   Quoted:
Don't be taken back by some of the responses. You can learn any platform. If you plan on your 1911 to be a carry weapon and do not plan on shooting it alot as a range gun I would go with the Springfield Loaded or Champion Operator if looking for a railed model. This is a four inch alloy frame model. For carry it would be a great choice and should fall right into your budget. The downside for a high round count would be the alloy frame. You said carry and thats why I suggested the alloy. Good luck in your search. Quoted:
If the 1911 is going to be your go to gun, and you're going to put in the time to master it, then its great. But if you're going to play with it occasionally and bustacap at tho range dawg.... get a glock or similar. Not to get into a peeing match, but two of these three posts show a lot of inexperience. It's your money. I have only been in the game about 25 years. What do I know 
For one, the alloy frame in a Springfield is not an issue. It has an unlimited lifetime warranty. If you ever shoot it enough to break the frame I would consider YOU well experienced, and then advise you to send it to Springfield to be repaired or replaced which will be done free of charge to you and in a very timely manner. Of course, by then, you will have fired in excess of 50,000 rds and probably tired of carrying a 4" Lightweight pistol with a rail that is a bastardized piece of equipment that is confused as to what it is supposed to do. Is it a carry gun (LW 4") or is it a duty gun (tactical rail)? Will do neither well and always be confused. And yea, you CAN learn on any platform, but wouldn't you want to know a little about the pistol craft before you start having to deal with odd failures and magazine springs that weaken, along with everybody on the internet telling you what you should modify to your gun that runs just fine when you get it, until you change it based on internet advise. 
Look, I love the 1911 and carry one of my five daily when I am not at work. I also have several Glocks that I swap in and out of carry and train others with. I put in many years to understand the 1911 and all of its mechanical genius. Just do some research and see how many people induce failures into their 1911s and you will understand what I am talking about. If you truly WANT a 1911, get a good one like mentioned, a Colt XSE, Combat Elite, or a Springfield Loaded or TRP (and hope the Loaded is well fitted). |
| If you want to test the durability of the alloy frame thats fine. Every gun magazine that I have read will advise not getting an alloy frame if you are going to put alot of rounds down range. The suggestion is also that you don't use +P loads all the time for practice in order to help reduce stress on any weapon. The post read carry gun, I don't want my alloy frame back at Springfield warranty or not because I used the alloy frame as a range weapon. I want it on my side in good condition to protect my life. By your reasoning any 4 inch with a rail is not sure of its direction in life, tell that to Glock the rail on the 19 and 23 should have been only placed on the 17 and 22. Also Springfield sells a 3 inch 45 with rail and light attached as a selling point so rails are not only reserved for the full size weapons. Futher there are many holster companies that make holsters for light baring weapons to supply a much broader variety of weapons. One size does not fit all. The person posting wanted information it is up to him to decide what he or her would deem valuable to them. I have carried a handgun daily since 1978 and would not consider myself to be an expert, I continue to learn everyday. Thats why most come to this forum to learn as I do daily we post when we think we have something to contribute so the reader can determine what value each post has. Your view is not mine or the others who post on any given subject but it is information and that again is why we come not to let one who thinks he is superior or an expert in all gun information in the world. Good luck to the original poster in your search. |