1911 buying advice needed
 

Because 911's are so damned expensive, i've recently picked up on shooting at the range.. But Belgian laws are rather strict, so was limited to .22 for the last 6 months.

either way, improvement has been made, my groupings aren't bad considering i have to use a range beater pistol (vostok .22) and everybody fiddles with the sights all the time.

But now i've been regular for enough time , to get me a licensed pistol of my own.

This got me thinking.

I like the 1911, the look, the fact that everybody everywhere says it's a great design... It's JMB all the way.. It's metal (don't like plastic).. it's .45 and will stop zombies.

But 1911's here, are hard to find, especially in Belgium because of import , gun licensing rules etc etc. Browning and S&W is easy enough to find, but Browning doesn't sell a real 1911 in .45... S&W does , but no shop has those in stock..

Realistically i'm limited to what i can find or second hand gear.
I would rather stay away from second hand, for 2 reasons,
1 I don't like the idea of no knowing the history... Not knowing what might have been done with the pistol by the PO
2 If it's worn and needs barrel replacement or what not, Belgian laws expects me to swap my license, and possibly have the gun homologated again.. it's a pain in the ass.

I've read good reviews about Springfield Armory... impossible to find unless import one myself.. Except there's this shop who just happens to have one in stock..
a GI45 Hi Capacity

BRAND: Springfield Armory # OF MAGS: 1
MODEL: 1911|GI High Capacity 45 Model with GI Package
SAFETY: Manual Thumb, Grip Safety, Integral Locking Sys
TYPE: Semi-Automatic Pistol
SIGHTS: GI Non 3-Dot Low Military Sights
CALIBER: 45AP
BARREL LENGTH: 5"
FINISH: Parkerized
OVERALL LENGTH: 8.5"
ACTION: Single Action
WEIGHT: 36 oz
STOCK: Black Polymer Grips
PACKAGING: Green Plastic Case, W, Belt Slide Holster
CAPACITY: 14+1
FEATURES: Loaded Chamber Indicator, Forged Slide, Frame, BBL
CHOKES:
FEATURES: Titnm Firing Pin, Spur Hammer, Lanyard Loop on Hsng
CHAMBER:
BUTT PLATE:
MUZZLE: RECEIVER:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1308075204.gif

Ok the grips are plastic, but that's the least of my worries...
price wise, it's cheaper then the other new 1911's i find
Para Ordnance P14 costs more around here.
Same shop has a P14 for about 20 % more money, or a P14 limitedfor about 30 % more... And i'm reading more bad feedback on the Para's then i read from Springfield...

It's a High Capacity, bit wider...

The thing is, i cannot test fire this or any other similar gun ...
hardly anybody has a .45 1911 around here.. most carry euro shooters, German, Austrian, FN, etc etc...So i kinda have to live with it once i made my choice.


Can you talk me out of this?
(Or tell me something i should know about Springfield Armory , 1911's, or other advice? )

I'm not a fan of high cap 1911 (ska as a 2011). The nice thing about the 1911 grip is that it's thin and feels right...starting out with a fat double stack grip might not be a good starting point.

I'd wait for a 1911. YMMV

SA makes a good gun, but that's not strictly a 1911....

Btw. Springfields are nice pistols. I've found that there is a level (of cost) where guns stop being worth what guys are paying for to get that extra bragging right. A GI model 1911 from Springfield will do just fine.

So much is marketing in the weapons arena...

That's what i was thinking myself, good to get it confirmed.

EDIT, especially since i don't have big hands..
Not like i have tiny girls hands , but they aren't lumberjack/coalminder/bricklayer hands either

Have you looked at a.......
 

Sig 220 in .45 acp caliber? They use a single column magazine so the grip is not huge, but with aftermarket rubber grips, they are just thick enough in the grip to help spread out the felt recoil. I think the mags hold 7-8 rounds so there is no issue with "hi-cap" mags. And, of course, Sig builds a very fine pistol! Another possibility might be the CZ47. It is a full sized pistol in the .45 acp chambering. I know that they are not 1911s, but both are certainly worth considering. Good luck with your search!

It's just that , i'm kinda sold on the 1911 it's the classic 911 of pistols if you ask me.. and not just by model number... It's been around for ages, it works, it's reliable, it looks the shizzle, it can be tuned, modified, tweaked....it makes nice round holes , stops zombies, and supposedly they are pretty accurate too...

I'm sure the Sig 220 is a nice gun, and the CZ47 does plenty good things, but it's a pain in the neck to get a gun here, so i figure i might as well get the one that i like the most.

SPRINGFIELD PX9105MLP OPERATOR 45ACP OD : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com

Friend just picked one up, built like a rock..shoots like a wet dream..you can spend a lot more and not get much better.

Could you re-consider looking at used A1's if they are available? I would hope the sellers have some type of warranty as to their ability to function, and when you see one taken apart you can get a pretty good idea of what kind of life it has led.
Ideally speaking, would you like to find an ex-GI gun?
Jim

Stay away from the Springer hi-caps--they were discontinued for a reason.

I'd wait for either a "real" Springfield, a Colt, Dan Wesson (yeah, good luck!), or one of the big-name semi-custom shops (Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Nighthawk, etc.).

Stay away from Kimber; they used to be good but suck donkey now. The SIG and S&W 1911s, while probably very serviceable, are not really "traditional". Para-Ordnance can be a crapshoot quality-wise.

I'd recommend joining m1911.org or 1911forums.com and asking around. There are sure to be some fellow Europeans with some leads for you. Hell, the owner of m1911.org is a Greek.

I have two Springfield 1911's, one a 4" Champion, totally decked out and the other, a full size mil-spec, also tricked out. I believe both frames are made in Brazil. Both are excellent shooters and a great bang for the buck. I stole the mil-spec for $275, missing only the barrel, and it's stainless. Even all decked out, I have less into it than any normal, decked out, off-the-shelf 1911 would cost in a store.

I also have two SIG P220's, one a full size, the other a carry size. Full size has rubber grips and the carry size has the factory slim grips. I know you're sold on the 1911, but the SIG is a better shooter all around. You just can't shoot them badly, they have fewer parts, are easier to strip and clean, they never break and they are generally cheaper than most 1911's. Get a few of each if you can afford it. I'm sure they're crazy expensive in Europe, but I am a very good gun shopper.

In your neck of the woods I'd say a Hi Power would be more appropriate ... and a FAL to go with it :)

I think the best deal $ here in the states is the Rock Island tactical model. If you want straight up GI, their basic models are good too. But, they are made in the Phillipenes and are looked down on by some. Mine has been flawless in several thousand rounds. Next step up would be Springfield, then Colt and then the custom folks.

What kind of budget, can you have one imported, do you want basic or to trick it out?

I've had a SA GI Spec and it fired and fed really well. My only nitpick is the really heavy trigger for my liking.

With some trigger work and a ramp job, this would be a great shooter.

BTW, where in Flanders do you shoot? I visit my wife's family in Roeselare every year and would love to find a range to pass some time.

I was thinking the same thing. The Hi Power is also a JMB gun. And weren't they made in Belgium for years?

I'd love to have a BHP!

CZ75. Done. 1911's are a lot of fun, tho. Go for it!

Yeah FN GP is dime in a dozen round here, they throw second hand ones around like hotcakes,same for FAL.. Ex army or ex coppers..

But the 1911 is something more special.. Looking for a bread n butter , nothing fancy version..

I'd really like a new gun, I'm a Buddhist(not crazy fanatic) and would hate to have a gunthat was used in anger at my house.. It's something I'de rather stick to.. Yeah I know, Buddhist gunnut, what's next?!!!!

I go to Oostende, police range where the Navy folks also have a gun club. It's not military, but most folks at the club are..25 100 meters.. Best equiped range in the area.

There is a range in Roeselare, but haven't seen it, only 25 meter if I'm not mistaken.

Not sure if you as a foreigner could shoot, gun laws are rather strict

Lemme know next time your in Flanders, I'll show you around Flanders Fields.
I live in Boezinge, near Ypres, just 20 clicks from Roeselare.

CZ make a .45 And they make them just up the road from you in Czech. You could probably just get in the car one weekend etc.

This is my springfield and it shoots quite well.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1308136131.jpg

Dan Wesson "Pointsman Seven" .45 acp for sale in a shop not to far away..
35% more expensive then the SA Gi45 ..

http://cms4.proximedia.com/files/448...TMAN_SEVEN.png

i'de prefer a parkerized, non Stainless version and 1350 euro roughly x1.5 for USD ..
Bit to more money then i'm willing to spend on a gun.. every euro spent on the shooter, is a euro i can't spend on ammo.

For half that, i can get this

TANFOGLIO WITNESS 1911 Custom .45 ACP
http://cms4.proximedia.com/files/448...esscus1jpg.jpg

Italian, not sure if that's a bad thing for guns (I hope they don't make em like Alfa Sud's).. ?
Not sold in the US apparantly.
700 euro buys a lot of .45 acp , bout 2000 rounds at regular store prices, probably more if i buy bulk

You start to worry me, Stijn. Guns??


OK, now you ´mericans can flame me. :D