good starter 1911?

[rabbivj]

I posted this over on MGO but i know some ppl here dont go to MGO on principle...anyway, im looking @ purchasing a good starter 1911.  Im looking @ spending 600-900...looking @ the Kimber Custom II, Ultra Carry, Taurus PT1911 or Springfield Mil-Spec...if im that Desperate i might go RIA...what syay yall?

[stainless1911]

If I had the money, I would buy the Kimber custom eclipse II right now.

[EM87]

I've heard American Classic is a great brand for the price.

[Bronson]

I've heard American Classic is a great brand for the price.

And he heard that from me.  I have a full size American Classic and an officers (compact) Citadel.  They are both made in the Philippines with the American Classic being made by Metro Arms and the Citadel being made by Armscor.  Armscor also makes all the Rock Island Armory 1911s, the Citadel is the same gun just with a different name on the side.

They are both fine starter 1911s but IMO the American Classic is the better of the two.  The fit and finish is tighter and the bluing is great.  The stock grips are a bit janky but grips are the first thing most 1911 owners change    Mine has been completely flawless with whatever ammo I've run through it.  They have a lifetime warranty for the original owner and one of the main warranty centers, Colorado Gun Works has a really good reputation (as do the Armscor warranty smiths in Pahrump NV).

Hit up the different 1911 forums and look at all the good reviews for this "value" pistol.  The word is getting out and they are sometimes difficult to find because the factory can't keep up with demand.  I am currently waiting for the new commander sized to hit the shelves but I expect to have to look for a while since the pre-orders are stacking up.

Bronson

[nooner426]

I just posted a response to someone on mgo.
Springfield is very nice, as is Colt and S&W...stay away from Kimber... they got too large and the quality and service have suffered greatly.
If you go springer, find one that has a serial # starting with NM..they are assembled in USA.. the M# is not.
Sig has a very nice 1911 with NO mim (metal injection molding) parts which fail more often (kimber is full of these)
and a good price.
I purchased a Springfield TRP Loaded, the loaded is an option package, and it is by far my favorite shooter.

[Beerme]

Springfield
Do not consider taurus
ever

[stainless1911]

Agreed.
SA means Simply Awesome

[Bronson]

I just ran another 50 flawless rounds through each of my cheap, Filippino, 1911s.  One is a full size and one is a compact.  My girlfriend and I shot two handed, one handed strong side, and one handed weak side with zero problems.  We were also shooting el cheapo WWB ammo.  For the best value it's hard to beat the 1911s offered by Metro Arms or Armscor.

A friend also recently picked up an Armscor made Rock Island Armory compact 1911.  He wanted a Sprinfield loaded but couldn't find a stainless one.  He was skeptical about the Philippine made guns but after shooting mine he took the plunge.  He has been running it through some serious endurance tests and he is thoroughly impressed.  It is just as accurate as his Springer full sized and the slide to frame fit is tighter and the overall fit & finish is at least as good if not better.

Bronson

[ISMOID]

Do not consider taurus ever

Taurus PT1911 is my daily carry. I have several thousand rounds through it.
Do you now or have you previously owned one?

[Beerme]

I have owned two taurus' and from my experiences with them I refuse to own or opperate anything that company manufactures

[ISMOID]

were they PT1911?

[Beerme]

the two I have owned were taurus revolvers
I have looked at quite a few of the pt1911s when shopping for them(before i got the revolvers)
they all were loosely fitted, trigger was sloppy, thumb safety was loose on each one I looked at, Even their "special model" (stainless with fake gold accents)
The two revolvers I had both had the same problem of the cylinder retaining screw shooting itself loose and the cylinder falling off the revolver frame, which I found out was a VERY COMMON problem with taurus revolvers.
based on how common that happened to people and that it happened to BOTH of my revolvers, and on the horrible quality I saw in the 1911 I refuse to own or shoot anything taurus makes.

[ISMOID]

the two I have owned were taurus revolvers
I have looked at quite a few of the pt1911s

Maybe I read it wrong but the OP wanted to know about 1911s not revolvers. Maybe you should save your comments until someone wants to know about a Taurus revolver.

[autosurgeon]

Nail polish will correct the loose screw problem.

Also I have shot a friends PT1911 that has over 10,000 rounds through it and the only thing that has had to be replaced are the springs.

[Beerme]

the two I have owned were taurus revolvers
I have looked at quite a few of the pt1911s

Maybe I read it wrong but the OP wanted to know about 1911s not revolvers. Maybe you should save your comments until someone wants to know about a Taurus revolver.

If youre done flexing your E Badass muscle's now and read what I said about Taurus revolvers instead of ignoring what you dont want to see you will see where I mention 1911s
I stated a comment about TAURUS in general, not just their 1911s all of their cheaply made cheaply priced handguns.
When they produce something with actual quality and originality instead of a knockoff of another design(judge, 24/7 series, their PT92) then they will earn a little bit of respect back.
As for yourself keep your pompus arrogant attitude off your keyboard.
You asked
I answered

[autosurgeon]

the two I have owned were taurus revolvers
I have looked at quite a few of the pt1911s

Maybe I read it wrong but the OP wanted to know about 1911s not revolvers. Maybe you should save your comments until someone wants to know about a Taurus revolver.

If youre done flexing your E Badass muscle's now and read what I said about Taurus revolvers instead of ignoring what you dont want to see you will see where I mention 1911s
I stated a comment about TAURUS in general, not just their 1911s all of their cheaply made cheaply priced handguns.
When they produce something with actual quality and originality instead of a knockoff of another design(judge, 24/7 series, their PT92) then they will earn a little bit of respect back.
As for yourself keep your pompus arrogant attitude off your keyboard.
You asked
I answered

This is getting very close to an inappropriate post folks take note as we are.

As far as Taurus you are entitled to your opinion but to base a blanket slam on a product off of 2 guns out of millions produced...well that is fairly weak IMOP.

However you are entitled to your opinion and you made it known. There is no need to keep beating the same dead horse. Those that are swayed by your opinion will be due to your first post and those that are not likely will not be no matter how much you post on the topic.

[Beerme]

he came at me with a snootie attitude and I responded
The person who asked me a question modified my post in his quote and chose to ignore part of my answer.
And a blanket slam, when I call taurus and they inform me that their revolvers have a reputation of shooting the cylinder loose then I have every right to consider their quality control garbage.
When I research that problem online and find tons of threads dedicated to it, it is not just a problem to two guns.
It is a problem with the company.
I spent money on them and I learned my lesson
You get what you pay for

[ISMOID]

Snootie? No.
Sarcastic? Yes.
Your reply was nothing but a blanket slam against a fine company. I was just pointing out the fact that you have zero knowledge of Taurus PT1911s which is what the OP was asking. I have seen, but not owned, many Kimbers, SA, and other 1911s that have issues, should I assume those companys make crap? Maybe the owner has made some mods to the gun that aren't working out.
Bottom line is you took a cheap shot and I called you on it.

[Beerme]

you chose to ignore what I put about pt1911s
my experiences with handling them
and that led to my refusal to shoot them
and the owner made mods to the guns?
The owner of what?
they were sitting in a glass display case brand new.
and look up taurus complaint forums you'll see why I do not like them, if you don't like my views on cheap guns then you're gonna have to deal with it.
I warned the OP on what to not get when he asked for a good starter

[autosurgeon]

OK gentleman either let it go or this one is done.

Beerme you have made your point you don't like Taurus. Some of the rest of us do so we will have to agree to disagree.

[FatboyCykes]

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/AC-RI1911TACA.aspx

[Bronson]

I finally got my High Standard Crusader Compact 1911 set up for my small handed girlfriend.  She really likes the 1911 platform and she likes the balance and feel of the officer's size the most.  I had already replaced the standard safety with an extended one and I just installed a short shoe trigger and slim line grips.

The trigger is a little scratched up but it was free.  A non-gun friend of mine gave me a box of parts that had been sitting around since his dad passed away and in that box was a short 1911 trigger....yeah free    The slim line grip bushings and screws came from Fusion Firearms and they cost me about $12.00 with shipping, I made the grips for free out of maple, they are 5/32" thick instead of the standard 1/4".  That brings the grand total of my modifications to about $50.00.  I am thinking of putting on some XS Big Dot sights since the factory installed black-on-black sights are tough to see.

Here's pics:






I can't say enough how happy I am with my inexpensive Filipino 1911s.

[FatboyCykes]

Heh, as simple as they seem(not condescending...)those grips are friggen gorgeous, I love the furniture on that 1911.

[Bronson]

Heh, as simple as they seem(not condescending...)those grips are friggen gorgeous, I love the furniture on that 1911.

Thanks, I'm a fan of understated aesthetics.  Something simple, done well looks better IMO than something flashy done poorly.

I may end up putting the standard thumb safety back in since I'm setting this up for my girlfriend and her thumbs are too short to ride on top of the extended safety while shooting and it's easy to accidentally flick the extended safety on while firing if your thumb rides below it.

Bronson

[wally1120]

I would have to stay away from 1911 platforms. I had a Kimber Eclipse Pro 2 and had nothing but Malfunctions with the thing, And I just got rid of a Citadel 1911-A1 that I had the back end of come off of the Gun. I will NEVER trust another 1911, NO matter how much they cost. I would have to stay clear of them, Unless you have ALOT of money for repairs, And you want a thorn in your butt from having to spend so much to fix/replace parts on a 1911.

[FatboyCykes]

I would have to stay away from 1911 platforms. I had a Kimber Eclipse Pro 2 and had nothing but Malfunctions with the thing, And I just got rid of a Citadel 1911-A1 that I had the back end of come off of the Gun. I will NEVER trust another 1911, NO matter how much they cost. I would have to stay clear of them, Unless you have ALOT of money for repairs, And you want a thorn in your butt from having to spend so much to fix/replace parts on a 1911.

With all due respect, your experience(s) seem the  exception rather than the rule.  I mean seriously, the 1911 model has been around for almost 100 years with such a HUGE fan base, there is obviously something very right with the platform.

[autosurgeon]

I would have to stay away from 1911 platforms. I had a Kimber Eclipse Pro 2 and had nothing but Malfunctions with the thing, And I just got rid of a Citadel 1911-A1 that I had the back end of come off of the Gun. I will NEVER trust another 1911, NO matter how much they cost. I would have to stay clear of them, Unless you have ALOT of money for repairs, And you want a thorn in your butt from having to spend so much to fix/replace parts on a 1911.

Blaming your troubles on all 1911's seems a bit ex-stream! Considering that almost every firearms company makes a 1911 clone!

Kimbers have a spotty record... as for the Citadel I would be more interested in what specifically came off the backend of a steel frame gun... what failed? pins, screws, bolts? what?

[Beerme]

100 years of service and cloned by almost every gun company says something
The platform is perfection
pure and simple

[Bronson]

I just got rid of a Citadel 1911-A1 that I had the back end of come off of the Gun.

Did you use the great lifetime warranty and get it fixed or did you take a huge hit on selling a broken gun? 

Guns are machines and machines break.  It would be nice if they didn't but they do.  The measure of a company is how well they take care of the unfortunate customer who has a broken machine that needs fixing.  In my experience the folks at the warranty shop for the Armscor line are top notch and they would make it right.

Bronson

[NHCGRPR45]

hello, a 1911 is a great gun i carry a NightHawk Custom GRP (Global Response Pistol) its a true custom gun and its shoots itself more or less, anyway some companies can really turn out a great gun some companies have a harder time. i have had 1911's from many companies taurus, SIG, Kimber, Springfield, Rock River,and of course Colt. My opinion is this, any company can turn out an exceptional piece, whether it is a piece s++++++ or a piece of great gun craftsmanship depends on many things. my favorite company is Nighthawk hands down, and the old addage applies's, "you get what you pay for". i must say that i had more problems from my taurus than anyother 1911, and when it came back from taurus i sold it. i won't say it's  a good company or a bad one my dad has a taurus revolver that has had a very respectable track record for many years. i have had my kimber warrior and eclipse both fail, a part breakage both times it was the slide stop, and i believe it was due to the MIM process of their parts. i see that you already bought a 1911 and you made a great choice for a firearm may it serve you well!  but i would have, of course said buy a nighthawk, i am biased plain and simple! the nighthawk is my carry gun for the forseeable future. but should you think of buying another 1911 for you girlfriend i would recommend the Lady Hawk from NightHawk, i did for my girlfriend she loves it! if we should ever meet i would have no problem showing you my NHC 1911, and should you opt for a nighthawk talk to larry he will take great care of you! shaun