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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,486
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Best 1911 Under $1500?
In your opinion/experience, what is the best out of the box 1911 for under $1500? Planning on adding to the arsenal. This will probably not be a carry weapon, but will want reliability for home defense. I'm left handed so either needs to be a ambi safety or modified to a left safety. Right now the Springfield Armory TRP is my favorite. At least from my limited research.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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04-11-2008, 05:39 AM
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(the shotguns)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,594
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I don't have a lot of experience with 1911's but at that price point i would be owning something from Bill Wilson or Les Baer. Even if i had to stretch a touch.
Pd less than $1500 for my KZ-45 and love it. Though i would really like a full steel framed 1911.
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***************************************** Well i had #6 adjusted perfectly but then just before i tightened it a butterfly in Zimbabwe farted and now i have to start all over again! I believe we all make mistakes but I will not validate your poor choices and/or perversions and subsidize the results your actions. |
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04-11-2008, 05:50 AM
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Registered
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sunapee,NH
Posts: 1,161
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I am a COLT guy but, for the money SPRINGFIELD does it best for out of the box pistols.
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Rick " too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want to impress people they don't like" Will Smith |
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04-11-2008, 06:14 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 143
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If you don’t need a lot of whistles and bells why not look at a Springfield Mil-Spec 1911. They are available for ~$600 (+$100 for stainless finish). I have put several thousand rounds through mine without a problem over the last 2 years. They are not sensitive to amo. I have been told the Springfield is one of the few 1911 that can reliably handle semi- wad cutters which is what I shoot. My wife loves it so much I need to get another.
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Gary '85 Targa (fastest), '74 914 2.0 (funest), '71 VW Westfalia (slowest), '16 Q70L (wife's), '17 Armada (daily driver) |
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04-11-2008, 06:24 AM
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canna change law physics
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$1500 can get you a low end custom 1911. Out of the box, maybe an trophy Match
 http://www.springfield-armory.com/assets/pdf/SPRINGFIELD_Book_armory_PI9140LP.pdf MSRP: $1573, but you can find it for less.
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James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
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04-11-2008, 06:31 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,355
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I like my plain-Jane Mil-Spec. After shooting a custom Springfield 1911, the only thing I would change on my Mil-Spec is adding a beavertail grip safety. It was about $500 new.
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04-11-2008, 06:39 AM
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,486
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Mil-spec is a great out of the box, general purpose 1911, but a bit loose when it comes to accuracy.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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04-11-2008, 07:03 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Posts: 1,736
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Kurt,
Hopefully RDane will respond to your post. I asked him the same question a few months back. Since he is a pistolsmith by profession, he has a lot of real experience with 1911. I don't want to speak for him but he has some good things to say about certain factory 1911s. Maybe you can PM him. Troy
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Troy Past: 1975 911S Silver Anniversary-rebuilt and sublime. Past: 1988 Carrera-backdated with a 3.6 and all the goodies. Present: 2011 GMC 2500HD with the 6.0 & 4x4!, 2004 Toyota Sequoia (wife's) |
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04-11-2008, 07:04 AM
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Did you get the memo?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wichita, KS
Posts: 32,355
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Quote:
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‘07 Mazda RX8-8 Past: 911T, 911SC, Carrera, 951s, 955, 996s, 987s, 986s, 997s, BMW 5x, C36, C63, XJR, S8, Maserati Coupe, GT500, etc |
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04-11-2008, 07:41 AM
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(the shotguns)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,594
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Quote:
are the triggers on springfields as nice as the full custom jobbers?
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***************************************** Well i had #6 adjusted perfectly but then just before i tightened it a butterfly in Zimbabwe farted and now i have to start all over again! I believe we all make mistakes but I will not validate your poor choices and/or perversions and subsidize the results your actions. |
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04-11-2008, 08:33 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MS.
Posts: 2,322
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I really didn't know that there were any "gun people" here!
You can easily spend $1,500.00 on a "cheap" .45ACP 1911A1 that has had modifications done already. It sounds like you are just wanting a decent gun for a lefty, so that would require ambidextrous safety, slide stop, and throw in the "beaver tail" grip safety for comfort. When I was in uniform, I carried a .45ACP Colt Combat Commander, that was rebuilt at my shop. It was extremely accurate after the work. It would feed wad-cutters, and even empty cases after the ramp and throat work was done. It would digest any .45ACP ammunition available. Had I have been having to pay for all of the work on this Commander, it would have been quite a bit more than the $1,500.00 after all of the "custom" parts and machine work. But, now you can find several new firearms that have already had all of the goodies done. Back in the late 70's early 80's, these were not to be found, you had to build them. I don't think that I have any more 1911 or 1911A1 types left, as I have been liquidating my collection of over 30 years. Most are LE or Military related and fairly rare.
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04-11-2008, 08:37 AM
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I have a couple of 1911's, a Kimber Ultra CDP from their Custom Shop, and a Para Ord double stack. Both were under $1,500, as a matter of fact the Para was about $675, but it was a limited edition available to a PJ Unit commemorating their last tour, and I just happened to be lucky enough to know one of them...
Don't overlook the Kimbers. Now that they ditched that goofy ass side extractor and went back to proven method, I haven't even had a hiccup out of mine. They also have the ambi safeties on them. Here is mine. 
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04-11-2008, 08:43 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: N. Phoenix AZ USA
Posts: 28,943
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Kimber Custom is nuts on right out of the box. Try one... and its a lot less than $1500 and worthe very penny.
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04-11-2008, 09:14 AM
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I got my Springfield Mil-Spec for $275 delivered and it was only missing the barrel. I got all the parts I wanted on eBay, mailed it all off to Robar and now it's a gem and I have about $800 into it, including night sights and the front one cut for dovetail. $1500 should get you just about into Les Baer or Wilson territory.
My dad is a lefty and he has a super nice and accurate Commander. I helped my mom pick it out for him for Xmas for $175 new when I was about six yrs. old. Same gun is around $800 now. So for $1500 you should be able to get any decent 1911 and make it adequate for your purposes.
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2022 BMW 530i 2021 MB GLA250 2020 BMW R1250GS |
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04-11-2008, 09:28 AM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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I have a Kimber Custom II that I've been shooting the past 3 months fairly reguarly. Not a hiccup, except for a few failure-to-extracts with some really crappy, grimy 30-year-old reloads I was determined to use up.
If you can get a Custom I (with the internal extractor) JUMP on it. HOWEVER--there have been a few reports lately with Kimber's recent stuff not being up to snuff with regards to their metal-injection-molded pieces breaking. And I know one fella who had an Ultra Carry II that jammed on every round (Kimber replaced it for him under warranty). For this reason my next 1911 will be a Colt New Agent--I had my eye on a Kimber RCP II but I've seen a LOT of complaints lately that have me a little spooked.
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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04-11-2008, 09:41 AM
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Thats too bad to hear BSJ. Granted mine is about 3 years old I think, but when I dealt with them, Kimber's customer service was great.
I love shooting the Para, but the damn thing weighs so much, its pretty impractical, unless of course you have it strapped to your leg in a tactical holster of some type. On a side note, it came from Para, with 5 15 round magazines. Bill edit: Does your Custom II have the external extractor? If so, just call Kimber, and talk to them. I sent mine in and got an entirely new slide etc, and had it back in three days.... Last edited by 911boost; 04-11-2008 at 09:51 AM.. |
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04-11-2008, 09:49 AM
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B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
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Quote:
Quote:
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
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04-11-2008, 10:01 AM
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Yeah I am on 1911forum.com, and did lots of research on there when I was having minor issues with my Kimber.
I agree on the hi-cap mags. I need to take a picture of the Para, its a sweet 1911. |
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04-11-2008, 10:10 AM
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I had a Para P-12 back when compact was all the rage. Great little gun, but bulky and heavy and I could never shoot it, despite all the mods, as well as my out of the box SIG's. I still can't shoot my full-size Springfield as well as I'd need to in order to make it a carry gun. But I'm working on it. I may inherit Dad's Commander before I get proficient enough with my Springfield. For now I rotate my SIG's for carry duty and am on the P229 with a .40 barrel at the moment.
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2022 BMW 530i 2021 MB GLA250 2020 BMW R1250GS |
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04-11-2008, 10:27 AM
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A Man of Wealth and Taste
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Out there somewhere beyond the doors of perception
Posts: 51,063
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Ya know I read these reponses to see if anyone has a brain in thier heads or should I isn't an ignorant git. So far NO ONE has thought out of the box. U have a whole range of 1911 pistols to think about and what comes to mind are the modern incarnations.
Very simply put one of the best outa the box 1911s EVER MADE...virtual tack drivers is the Colt PRE Series 70 National Match Gold Cup that were built in the 1960's. They were the last of the best and right out of the box they were nail drivers. For 1500 you can buy one NIB, and not only will it shoot it will GO UP IN VALUE as a collector gun... So you can keep your modern fancy schmancy custom geegaw 1911's give me a Colt NM.
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Copyright "Some Observer" |
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04-11-2008, 11:28 AM
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1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
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