So which 1911(s) would you recommend for someone “getting into the 1911 world,” especially for those who intend to use it beyond carrying it from safe to the range?
Also, how would you compare it as a home defense handgun to a 9mm Kimber, a SIG 226 X-5 Tactical or SIG 220 SAO?
Springfield MC Operator…or, if you’re not messing around, the Springfield Professional. Also, Colt’s Rail Gun is going to be available in carbon steel, from what they told me at SHOT.
The Sigs have the advantage of a Picatinny rail for mounting a light…They also (might) have night sights, which are great to have. On the other hand, they’re more expensive. I think your question is better answered in a full article or video.
A friend of mine has the RIA Compact. 45 with the skeletonized hammer, etc. He has zero malfunctions with over 500 rounds. He paid $500 NIB. The sights could be better, it could come with a second magazine, and the grips could be improved… But, for $500, you have the cash to spend…
Nice review. I have had a Custom 1 for several years that I bought new. I have had no problems with it at all. At least as to function. The slide release immediately shed it’s finish on about a forth of it’s surface. Otherwise, so far so good. I don’t shoot nearly as much as you do but for my purposes it’s great.
If 1911’s are so hit and miss and you need to replace so much components why are they still so popular in the States? This is coming from a European whose only significant pistol trigger time was with USPs, Glock, Browning HP and finally a P226…..all 9 milly.
Hard to give a definitive answer…1911s tend to, subjectively, “work” for a lot of people, myself included. This is not the best example of the breed…but even the more expensive ones are more maintenance intensive than other handguns. I would say that, like 1911s, some people still drive cars (many of them European) that have constant and expensive maintenance schedules, because “there’s just something about them.”
Keep in mind that the original 1911 pistol trial involved a 6000 round endurance test – which the 1911 passed without malfunctions, beating out the standard service revolver – and acid, mud, and dirt testing, which it also passed. The design is good, but we ask different things of it today.
I think part of the 1911 “problems” are from people tinkering with them as well. I have/had 3 Colts. One is dead stock. The other has only a different thumb safety. The third had some slight custom (changed out the safeties and trigger) work and they all have been bomb proof. I’ve read enough about people trying to fiddle with feed ramp angles, super light trigger jobs, etc and they end up finicky.
I haven’t had any feeding problems (knock on wood) with my ramped 9mm Kimber Stainless II, with FMJ and various JHP designs. Can’t say much more than that…
I can see that for CC a 1911 style pistol would be nice since its so narrow. Maybe if I end up Stateside post College I might pick one up as my 2nd pistol after a Sig!(If Sig-Usa haven’t butchered the greatness that it was by that time…)
Thanks for taking the time to reply, find your blog very interesting but I can’t personally own a lot of the stuff featured!
Ha, wish I could find him, I’d challenge him to a pistol shooting competition. He hasn’t been at SOTG in a while so his skills have probably deteriorated…
I was just looking at a custom II myself, but after reading this..and hearing other various complaints about the workmanship on one of kimber’s “low end” 1200$ MSRP guns..i’m inclined to look for something else. 1200$ for a 1911 that is meh at best makes me sad. And I thought sigs were expensive….
I’d love to get a Delta Elite but have had reliability problems with all the 1911s I’ve owned. But there is something about the way they shoot. And I am one of those who drives a European car with an extensive maintenance schedule because of how they drive. Follow the maintenance and they are very reliable. If maintaining a 1911 was all there was to it, I’d still be shooting one. Poor quality from the manufacturer is the cause of the 1911 failures I’ve experienced, and you seem to be saying the same thing.
Nice blog and thanks for speaking the truth from real experience.
So which 1911(s) would you recommend for someone “getting into the 1911 world,” especially for those who intend to use it beyond carrying it from safe to the range?
Also, how would you compare it as a home defense handgun to a 9mm Kimber, a SIG 226 X-5 Tactical or SIG 220 SAO?
Springfield MC Operator…or, if you’re not messing around, the Springfield Professional. Also, Colt’s Rail Gun is going to be available in carbon steel, from what they told me at SHOT.
The Sigs have the advantage of a Picatinny rail for mounting a light…They also (might) have night sights, which are great to have. On the other hand, they’re more expensive. I think your question is better answered in a full article or video.
A friend of mine has the RIA Compact. 45 with the skeletonized hammer, etc. He has zero malfunctions with over 500 rounds. He paid $500 NIB. The sights could be better, it could come with a second magazine, and the grips could be improved… But, for $500, you have the cash to spend…
Cheap 1911s are the definition of hit or miss.
Nice review. I have had a Custom 1 for several years that I bought new. I have had no problems with it at all. At least as to function. The slide release immediately shed it’s finish on about a forth of it’s surface. Otherwise, so far so good. I don’t shoot nearly as much as you do but for my purposes it’s great.
Those pre-II Kimbers are really nice.
If 1911’s are so hit and miss and you need to replace so much components why are they still so popular in the States? This is coming from a European whose only significant pistol trigger time was with USPs, Glock, Browning HP and finally a P226…..all 9 milly.
Hard to give a definitive answer…1911s tend to, subjectively, “work” for a lot of people, myself included. This is not the best example of the breed…but even the more expensive ones are more maintenance intensive than other handguns. I would say that, like 1911s, some people still drive cars (many of them European) that have constant and expensive maintenance schedules, because “there’s just something about them.”
Keep in mind that the original 1911 pistol trial involved a 6000 round endurance test – which the 1911 passed without malfunctions, beating out the standard service revolver – and acid, mud, and dirt testing, which it also passed. The design is good, but we ask different things of it today.
I think part of the 1911 “problems” are from people tinkering with them as well. I have/had 3 Colts. One is dead stock. The other has only a different thumb safety. The third had some slight custom (changed out the safeties and trigger) work and they all have been bomb proof. I’ve read enough about people trying to fiddle with feed ramp angles, super light trigger jobs, etc and they end up finicky.
Are you saying 1911’s are not the Honda’s of the pistol world? 🙂 How do you like the 9mm Kimbers with ramped barrels?
I haven’t had any feeding problems (knock on wood) with my ramped 9mm Kimber Stainless II, with FMJ and various JHP designs. Can’t say much more than that…
I can see that for CC a 1911 style pistol would be nice since its so narrow. Maybe if I end up Stateside post College I might pick one up as my 2nd pistol after a Sig!(If Sig-Usa haven’t butchered the greatness that it was by that time…)
Thanks for taking the time to reply, find your blog very interesting but I can’t personally own a lot of the stuff featured!
Out
Andrew, is that the 5th Marines shirt I see in the video? 200 yards with a .45 You should teach Gunny Shilling a thing or two….
Ha, wish I could find him, I’d challenge him to a pistol shooting competition. He hasn’t been at SOTG in a while so his skills have probably deteriorated…
I was just looking at a custom II myself, but after reading this..and hearing other various complaints about the workmanship on one of kimber’s “low end” 1200$ MSRP guns..i’m inclined to look for something else. 1200$ for a 1911 that is meh at best makes me sad. And I thought sigs were expensive….
I’d love to get a Delta Elite but have had reliability problems with all the 1911s I’ve owned. But there is something about the way they shoot. And I am one of those who drives a European car with an extensive maintenance schedule because of how they drive. Follow the maintenance and they are very reliable. If maintaining a 1911 was all there was to it, I’d still be shooting one. Poor quality from the manufacturer is the cause of the 1911 failures I’ve experienced, and you seem to be saying the same thing.
Nice blog and thanks for speaking the truth from real experience.
ok so which full size 1911 would you recommend for a carry gun thats in the $800 dollar range?
Very few…Is $800 your total budget? You’ll need ammunition to practice with, spare magazines, a good holster, etc.