Best maker of 1911 .45

[ccdjeep]

I know a lot of gun makers have a variation of the 1911 .45 but I'm curious as to everyone's opinion of the best one? I plan on buying one pretty soon (before HE Who must not be Named) takes office. I already plan on buying a S&W M&P .40 but I want a .45 too. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[2k2wranglerx]

SOOOOO many people are going to say Kimber, and while they're nice... i'm just not convinced.

I had an old Colt Mark IV from the 70's that was the BEST gun i've ever owned. Hands down. I never should have sold it. I picked it up for 600 bucks at a gun show.

It was hard chromed and WELL worn in. I never jammed, it never misfed, it was accurate as hell, it was FANTASTIC!

Since it was hard chromed it never rusted (hard chrome kinda looks like a brushed nickel, that's the best i can describe it since photobucket is blocked here at work)

my only complaints were it had the old school beaver tail (the rear safety) and i used to get the hammer bite. A recessed beaver tail would have fixed that.

I replaced the trigger with a skeletonized trigger and did some different springs (parts are SOOOO Plentiful). I also added a compensator on the end but it didn't really do much so i ditched it.

that thing rattled and was loose, but man, you could drop it in the mud or the sand it would NOT jam! it was a fantastic gun that travelled accross the country with me seeing use in the desert of CA (out in the BLM land) and holstered in my kayak.

I loved that gun.

[Ivanko]

Wilson Combat Supergrade, Caspian Custom, Ed Brown, Les Baer.

[Robar]

Also Colt & Sig Sauer.

[yetibear]

Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Nighthawk in the semi custom. ($1500-2500 & up)

Colt, S&W, Rock River, Sig, and Dan Wesson (CZ) in the production. Dan Wesson seems to be moving into the place Kimber used to claim title to, semi-custom at a production price. (I am personally not a fan of Kimber, Para, and Springfield, but a lot of people are. It's really just a matter of opinion.)($850-1500+)

Then the budget 1911's, RIA, Charles Daley, Auto Ordinance, Taurus, and a few other real minor players.($500-700 =/-)

I'm very happy with my Colts:thumbsup:, the S&W seem good, and Dan Wesson is really making a name for themselves in 1911's.

Then, of course, you could spend some real big $ on a true custom. For my money your biggest bang is either a Colt or D. Wesson.

[Coy]

They were contracted to fill govt orders. as good as originals.:wink:

[RedneckJeep]

The Colt Mark IV is hard to beat. I have two. One in .45ACP and the other is a Delta Elite in 10MM. The 10MM is a bad beotch.

[GreytSilly]

While the Les Baer, Wilson, etc. guns are nice, be prepared to spend mucho money to get one in your hand. I'll say Kimber because I have one, the plain jane Custom Classic that will shoot groups at 50 feet that a quarter will cover. I have a Tasco Optima 2000 sight mounted in the rear dovetail, gives me that advantage of an optic but it still fits in a holster. Other brands that show up at the range where I shoot that I would not hesitate to buy are Springfield Armory and Para Ordinance. Both are very nice, well built, accurate. Any one of these three brands would make me happy to have in my gun safe and holster. I love a .45 ACP, you can load them for target use and shoot them all day long without breaking your wrist, or you can drop full house defensive rounds in them for carry. Let us know what you finally decide on, you'll love a 1911. Just be sure to buy good quality magazines. I use Chip McCormick and have had excellent luck with them. Wilson's are awesome too. Here is a photo of the plain old Kimber. The other two guns are our .22's that we shoot steel plates with in the winter.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h113/GreytSilly/pistols.jpg

[Leave Town]

I have an older Colt stainless Gold Cup that I had a smith work over. It is a pretty amazing piece. Never a problem and it shoots tiny groups.

I also picked up one of the S&W 945's form the Perf Center... Ih has the Smith lower but the 1922 slide. Wow, it shoots and runs just as good as the Colt...

I think there are many people building great 1911's right now. I have a friend that let me shoot his Swat LAPD Kimber. Same as my Colt...

[2k2wranglerx]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/flyry110/DSC00997.jpg

there's my old colt the way i bought it. i ditched those ugly ass grips and put black rubber hogue grips on it and the skeletonized trigger.

loved that gun. i miss it.

[08JKsahara]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/flyry110/DSC00997.jpg

there's my old colt the way i bought it. i ditched those ugly ass grips and put black rubber hogue grips on it and the skeletonized trigger.

loved that gun. i miss it.

I like this piece. ALOT. With or without the grip.:yup:

[ccdjeep]

Nice. Thanks for the input folks. I'll let you know what I end up with....Leaning towards the Colt...gonna check out the S&W since I already have one and trust it.
I currently carry a S&W Airweight, hammerless .38+p

[Leave Town]

Here's a Colt Gold Cup and the S&W 945...

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=15513&stc=1&d=1226531374

[Ctimrun]

I have shot a lot of 1911's, and have carried quite a few for work, and out of all of them I prefer a Colt. Not exactly sure why, maybe because they made the 1911's carried by my grandfather during WWII. Anyways, I bought a bare bones Colt Commander and had it built the way I wanted it. Like the Jeep it is a work in progress, and I have some more plans for it, but I have other firearms higher on the list. Here is my Colt, which has quite a bit of work done to it by a good pal who happens to be a very sought after gun smith.

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/43113/2730228870084149825S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2730228870084149825JJHngC)

[ccdjeep]

Okay I've found two Smith & Wesson 1911 acp .45's I liked. ONE is a few hundred out of my range. The other is just about 100 bucks more than I paid for my S&W .38 ...then I talked to my dad and his fire dept capt (we both work for the same dept btw) said he carries a Taurus 1911... :thinking: And says its a great gun. I've always heard Taurus blows, any input? He said I can get a brand new one for around $700. :dontknow2:

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Kimber, Colt, or Springfield. In no particular order.


although... there is a nice Sig i wouldnt mind trying....

[GreytSilly]

I've always heard Taurus blows, any input?

I can't answer about their 1911 as I haven't seen one in the real, just what I've read about them. I do, however, have one of their 2 inch barrel alloy frame .38 Specials and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one of their guns. It is well made, the price was right, and it will shoot groups off a rest that are incredible for such a small light revolver. Actually, the .38 is my wife's carry gun, I bought it for her as a birthday gift. Wasn't that nice of me? :clap:

[RubiRascal]

I have to go with Colt on this one. Use quality magazines, I like the Wilson Rogers 8 round mags for mine!