Hey Bumpus,

Take a close look at a used Kimber Target.

Later, Mark

 

I don't think you could go wrong with any 1911 in that class such as the Springfield Range Officer. I own a S&W 1911 E and it has been a total sweetheart!. I think a Kimber, the S&W, or Springfield would fit the bill. You can also get a new series 70 Colt for 850-950 depending on where you go. I have also heard great things about the new Ruger 1911. I have handled one and if I were in the market again it would be another choice I would seriously consider. As far as models, I am all about the government model simply cause I have no plans on using a 1911 for ccw purposes. Hope this helps.:biggrin:

 

First of all, well done on choosing a 1911 -45 for your first centerfire handgun !! :top:




All good advice from DDS.

Kimbers are nice but overpriced if you ask me. Springfields are a good value in a 1911

The S&W incorporates the improvements that John Browning himself came up with for the 1911 (which was his design originally) I'm seriously thinking of getting one.

And you can never go wrong with a Colt

Just stay away from the Remington !!!!

 

The main thing is to get a quality 1911. Me i chose Kimber...
Heres my Kimber Compact

 

well i have a couple colt 1911 pistols.a govt model an an officers model.i carry both at different time.i think highly of the .45acp round.more than any other in a semiauto.and you can learn to shoot them well and they are very accurate.just my thoughts

 

I have two full size Kimbers and my wife just recently bought herself a Custom Carry... I love them. I have had Colts and Para's... but I always come back to Kimber. I have a buddy on Memphis' PD and his off duty is a Kimber... And he's been in a few gun fights. That kind of speaks to it's reliability.

 

I have a buddy on Memphis' PD and his off duty is a Kimber... And he's been in a few gun fights.

I used to drive a big truck out of Memphis... if I was on the Memphis PD, I'd carry TWO! ...and a shotgun. ...and a Socom16.

Can't go wrong with a quality name 1911... just look for the size and features you want. I have a 4" Kimber (full-size grip) that I carried quite a bit, and still do occasionally, that I love. Never a problem with it. Shooting my old Springfield (I sold it to my brother) Gov't 5" it seems like it's huge compared to my 4".

I handled a early production Ruger 1911, it seemed like a very well built pistol.

If I was in the market for a 1911 tomorrow, I would be looking at Colt, Kimber and Springfield; maybe Dan Wesson or Ruger.

 

The springfield range officer is a fine 1911. It will serve you well.
My advice is to buy a 22lr pistol like a ruger 22-45 or a browning buckmark.
Ammo for the 1911 will run you $14-24 a box of 50. The 22 about $1.50
That means you can practice much more and practicing the fundamentals will make you a good shot.
You also need quality professional training. Blasting with the buddies is fun. A good instructor will teach you how to be a great shot.
He may also have one to several 1911s so you may not even have to have a gun to take a class.
Once you become a good shooter you will learn how to shoot all guns well.
Ps. Have you tried a Glock 19? I have found it fits most people well.

 

Sounds like you have already done some homework, Bumpus...the SA Range Officer is most likely the best buy in a target-sighted 5" 1911 and should meet the needs you set forth nicely. Since daily carry is not on the agenda, it's weight and sharp-edged Bomar style rear sight is not a detriment, and it would even make a good showing for entry into the various action-shooting sports such as USPSA or IDPA, if you're ever inclined. All it lacks is a bit of texture on the frontstrap (a strip of skateboard tape is a quick and easy cure) and possibly an unobtrusive magwell funnel.

The Kimber Target II is very similar and sells for about $50 more, although there's probably not a nickle's worth of practical difference between them. Smith & Wesson's lowest priced target-sighted 1911 is the Melonite-finished SW1911 (sku# 108299) that despite it's black appearance is actually built on a stainless steel frame and slide. The examples of the S&W 1911's I've handled have shown very good fit and finish, better than the SA's in my opinion, but only you can determine if it's worth the extra $$$.

Colt has made quite a comeback in the 1911 market and the quality of their products are once again nearing excellence...far better than the dismal efforts of the '70's and '80's. To get a new Colt with a target rear sight, it's necessary to go all the way up to the Gold Cup which easily exceeds a grand. That is a bit relative, as the resale value of a 1911 with that 4-letter word on the slide always carries a premium. It'll cost more now... but with a modicum of care, you'll get it back later.

Many of the 1911's on the market use the excellent Novak fixed sights and those models that do would allow you to replace the fixed rear with one if his adjustable low mounts. It doesn't give the sight picture a Bomar clone does, but it's an option if adjustable sights are necessary for your applications...and would open up the field to a far larger number of models from all four of those manufactures already mentioned, along with others. It's something to keep in mind as you continue your quest.

Happy shopping!

Roe

 

I started my 1911 education with a Rock Island Armory 5" because I wanted to learn how to field strip and clean a 1911 while getting familiar with the operating mechanics. The RIA turned out to be a surprisingly nice pistol for under $500. The 1911 is more complex than a Glock, and 'idiot scratches' on the frame can happen if reassembly isn't properly done; this isn't a big deal, but I like to learn about a gun's idiosyncrasies before investing big bucks in one to keep long term. The RIA was a great 'starter' 1911, and I still own it.

1911s are kinda like Marlins in that they are addicting. I added a Sig Compact model and a Colt Combat Elite. The Sig is a great mid-size gun and I love the Colt. You already know these .45s are so much fun to shoot, and you won't be disappointed with any of the recommendations received here.

I would probably buy a Colt if the 'need' for another 1911 moved me. They cost a little more, but the tradition of vintage Colt 1911 pistols makes them special in my mind. And if you want one to tinker with and learn from, consider a RIA for $400-$450; it's a good way to get started.

 

Springfield makes decent 1911s.

Also, for the money the STI Spartan comes with a lot of the same features and is priced very well.

In 1911s the most reliable ones are the full size. Commanders can be o.k. but once you go much smaller, extended range sessions can point out that the really compact ones become finicky. The full size are also generally more pleasant to shoot, and the long sight radius is better for target shooting. Since you mention it may be used for home defense, but not likely a carry piece, I don't think you would find a ful size to be a handicap of any sort.

Pre Series II Kimbers were really nice. I'm not a fan of the Schwartz firing pin safety that Kimber put in with the series II guns and find that it makes them a bit more aof a pain to work on. Also in our humid and somewhat salty air in my current gorner of coastal Georgia, many of the used Kimbers I see have rust on the barrels, though they are supposed to be stainless barrels. Some folks are true Kimber fans and they can't all be wrong. Thesea re just my opinions and observations.

 

There are lots of choices (maybe too many) in 1911s. A plinker and possible home defense pistol can be had for under $500. Kimbers, Colts, Rugers (even Remingtons--sorry!) and on and on may run $1000 or more. Gunbroker has over 2500 listed!!

I can recommend Rock Island Armory 1911s. They make a variety of models and can be had for 360 to 700 depending on the bells and whistles.
Look here: Centerfire Systems - 1911

DD

 

I own a Range Officer. It is very well made and shots extremely well for the price. It would make an excellent home defense gun. My nightstand gun is a big brother to the Range Officer, a TRP Light Rail with a Surefire X 400 light. You will not regret a Range Officer. The only thing I changed was the front sight. I put a fiber optic front sight on mine.

Questions welcome.

 

Looks like you have been given lots of sound advise here. I do want to add that A full size 1911 is not hard at all to carry concealed if you have A good holster. I'm A small fella and it is my prefered carry pistol altho I can't carry it workdays due to clothing restrictions.

 

Now that I have a better keyboard let me add a few things.

One, all of the advice above is very good. A quality 1911 from Kimber, Rock Island, Springfield Armory, Colt, S&W, Dan Wesson, STI, NighHawk... will last you a lifetime and shoot the lights out.

If you are getting a 1911 be sure to learn some of the history and learn hot to disassemble your gun all the way down like this. This is a Range Officer disassembled:

Reassembled:

Each part has a story and the more you learn about the 1911 the more you will believe that John Moses Browning was an inspired genious. Inspired by God and driven by his own quest for perfection. His guns have saved more lives than any gunmaker in history.

In honor to JMB

 

I REALLY appreciate all the advice. Thanks, guys!

A few more things I left out:
-My buddy's 1911 is a Rock Island. Lots of fun.
-Definately looking for a full size 5 in. barrel
-CC at work is NOT an option. (I'm a teacher. School+firearm=unemployed)
-I'm only planning on owning one pistol - may as well invest in quality. (OK, I'll probably add a revolver to the arsenal at some point)

 

I've seen quite a few problems with Kimbers produced in the last 5 years or so. I can't recommend them as of yet. They might have cleaned up their act recently, but I'm not sure. The older ones tend to be solid. Besides, they are generally at a different price point than the O.P.'s mentioned RangeMaster.

I think the Springfield RangeMaster is a solid choice, along with the Ruger 1911. Second tier choices would be the Taurus and the Sig 1911. Although the Sig might be pushing the price point again.

 

I agree that any of the name brand 1911's are the best choice but I prefer Kimber. I have 3 Kimber 1911's and have never had a single failure with any of them.

My carry gun is a Kimber Custom Compact Stainless Carry II .45ACP,

My best shooter is my Kimber Gold Match II .45ACP on the left and can't complain about the groups I get with my Kimber Custom Stainless II 9mm on the right.

This target was indoors at the farthest back the track will go, 25 yards.
I shot 6 clips of 9 x 9mm in targets 4 and 2 = 54 rounds.
I shot 8 clips of 8 x 45ACP in targets 6 and 3 = 64 rounds.
I shot 8 clips of 10 x .22lr in targets 1 and 5 = 80 rounds.

GB45

 

Ooooopppps. Very sorry not to mention Kimber, please add Kimber to the list. The only Kimber I own is a Solo STS I am breaking in right now. Kimber is certainly another quality gun maker!

 

Thought I would throw a picture of my S&W on here for the OP to view..:top:

 

Another vote for Springfield Armory. Lifetime warranty, even on used pistols. Found this out when a local Gun Smith did a trigger job on my Loaded model and it failed after 75rds. They paid shipping both ways and I had my pistol back in 10 days.

 

I only own one--an older Para--P-14 and I love it. I'm in no way very knowledgeable about 1911's but I do have one thing I would like to add. After my son shot my Para he definitely wanted his own 1911. He tried a few and the one thing that stuck out in my mind, and really affected him, are single stacked guns vs. double stacked. Singles stacked are just to thin in the grip frame for either of us--bigger hands I guess. Just something to think about while you are looking for your first 1911. YMMV. Other opinions are welcomed as I am not very knowledgeable on 1911's.

Steve

 

You raise a good point, Steve. Some folks do prefer the thicker grip of a double stack. That 'feel (ergonomic) factor', makes a big difference in how we relate to a pistol...how well we shoot it and how natural it seems in our hand.

I tend to lean the other way (single stack with thin grip panels) even though I have fairly large hands. It's just a personal choice aspect of choosing a 1911. My first opportunity to hold a 1911 was back in 1958, and the pistol belonged to Uncle Sam. The feel of that government model seemed to leave an impression of how a .45 is supposed to feel, and that notion remains today. Plus, I'm naturally a bit of a traditionalist.

Grip size and feel are important, Bumpus. Try a double stack for fit in your hand before you decide.

 

Ok, so I stopped at Cabela's on the way home today & fondled a Springfield Loaded. (still wiping drool off chin)

Is the difference in price between it and a Range Officer worth it ... esp. for a novice handgun shooter???


BTW, I realize Cabela's ain't exactly the best place to look for a deal ($$$) - but they do carry a great selection.

 

I cannot speak directly about the Loaded but I did own a Trophy Match and sold it and kept the Range Officer. The RO is quite the package for the price. I have more expensive 1911s (Dan Wesson Guardian 45, Springfield TRP LR) and a Pro on order but I won't ever sell the Range Officer.


Top to bottom: Range Officer, TRP LR, Trophy Match (before I sold it)

 

1911s are a pistol you kind of grow into. If you buy too low, you'll want to add more to it or sell or trade your way into a slightly nicer one or one that fits a niche better. I bought a box stock RIA when I got the 1911 bug again to replace the ones I had sold. But that led to me building a Fusion kit for Service pistol competitions, and then I bought a Springfield GI that I ended up customizing over time into a partial MEU/SOC clone.

My recommendation would be to figure out how you intend to use it MOST, and get the model that fits that role best, as your first 1911.

 

I agree with SSGN_DOC - get the best one you can . . I love my KIMBER GOLDMATCH II .45ACP and it has all the bells and whistles I want and need so it is a keeper - however, I bought my Kimber Stainless II in 9mm because it was the only 9mm Kimber they had at the time and while it is a great shooting gun I have been wanting a better trigger and adjustable target sights so now I am either going to sell it and get another GOLDMATCH II in 9mm or I can send it back to Kimber and have the target sight mounts cut into the slide and new target sights installed and also have them rework the trigger. The cost difference favors having Kimber rework the current gun I have but I have an itching for that Gold Match . . .

Biding my time while I ponder what I want to do . . . . .

 

Hold the phone !

I stopped tonite to look at the Sig 1911

What a fantastic piece of firearm :top:

I will definitely be getting me one of these, in the 2-tone I think.

And made in NH for good measure.

1911

 

Hold the phone !

I stopped tonite to look at the Sig 1911

What a fantastic piece of firearm :top:

I will definitely be getting me one of these, in the 2-tone I think.

And made in NH for good measure.

1911

One of my friends just bought a Sig 1911 Scorpion. It's quite a piece, with it's VZ Grips, and that tan Cerakote finish. Fitted tight as a drum, but theslide moves like it's on buttered rails. Nice trigger too.

 

Gun porn

Steed,

You made me do this. Hi jack this thread, for 1911 porn.

Later, Mark

 

Steed,

You made me do this. Hi jack this thread, for 1911 porn.

Later, Mark

Hey Mark, nice 1911's I just pick my first 1911 up about 3 weeks ago.
KIMBER PRO-COVERT II