If you were buying your first 1911

[HRColey]

As the title says, if you were starting from scratch buying your first 1911, what would you go with?

Since about 1980 I have been carrying a Colt Lightweight Commander in .45 ACP. Custom sights, custom grips, ambidextrous safeties, beaver tail grip safety, heavy duty recoil spring and mainspring. I also install arched mainspring housings on all my 1911s. I carry the commander, a custom Browning High Power, or a S&W 442 depending on where I'm going or how I'm dressed. If I was limited to one handgun I'd pick my Series 70 Gold Cup with a .22 LR conversion kit.

 

[mm1911]

I am living in a low $1000's budget realm. Not ready for a Ferrari, but would like a nicely equipped Corvette.

I'm leaning to .45 ACP. A couple that have caught my eye that I am rather interested in at the local shop include:

DW Valor - stainless (used)
Colt Gold Cup '80 National Match (used)
Colt Commander 100 years of service (used)
Sig Sauer Model 1911 Sig Sauer (used)
Springfield Armory Model 1911-A1 (used)
Springfield Range Officer (used)

Desert Eagles are incredibly nice 1911's, 750 or less, my 9mm my go to IDPA pistol, I have several Kimbers, Custom 2's and the TLE 2's and they have been great as well, all probably less than 800

 

[Mike Galway]

I would buy a high end semi custom (your dream gun) first time out. Like most of us, I started out buying mid range (approx. $1,000.00) 1911s. At some point I found myself with 12 to 15 mid range 1911s. I was fortunate enough to trade into some pretty nice used Semi customs with the inventory I collected. But I think I wasted a lot of time & $. In hind sight, I wish I would have purchased my dream gun first. JMHO.

We learn what our dream gun is by trying these out a long the way . We learn what we like , and what we don't want , like FCS .

 

[Mike Galway]

If all mine were gone , and I had to start over , I'd look for a good used 5 inch Wilson , GunCrafter , or Night Hawk in 9mm . But , who's stopping at one ? Variety of calibers is the spice of life .

 

[ThePlumber]

I basically jumped in with both feet. I started off with a Bill Wilson Carry model from Wilson Combat, my father still owns that gun. I then transitioned over the following couple of years to full custom pistols. Go big, or go home.

 

[Bender]

Go big, or go home.

I suppose you can say that.....

 

[fieldgrade]

As the title says, if you were starting from scratch buying your first 1911, what would you go with?

Based on the posts above I'm going to say this would be a great first 1911.

Sold/Expired - Wilson Combat 5" CQB 1911 .45acp with magwell - black ArmorTuff

*Withdrawn- pending local sale * - $2550 shipped. Full sized .45acp 1911 for sale/sell/sail/cell only, no trades at this time. 180 rounds through it. Otherwise like new. I bought it new. It's a 2014 build with features that are identical to a new CQB, plus the factory installed WC magwell...

www.1911fanatics.com

shameless plug

 

[azpoolguy]

If I were buying my fist 1911 without the intent of build on it or tinkering it would be a Springfield TRP.

 

[6SpeedBowtie]

Based on the posts above I'm going to say this would be a great first 1911.

Sold/Expired - Wilson Combat 5" CQB 1911 .45acp with magwell - black ArmorTuff

*Withdrawn- pending local sale * - $2550 shipped. Full sized .45acp 1911 for sale/sell/sail/cell only, no trades at this time. 180 rounds through it. Otherwise like new. I bought it new. It's a 2014 build with features that are identical to a new CQB, plus the factory installed WC magwell...

www.1911fanatics.com

shameless plug

That is a fine example & would love to go with it, but it's out of my budget right now. GLWS!

 

[boatdoc]

knowing what I know now;;

a les baer P II or custom carry, then another, then another...

then a wc then a nhc and when the custom itch hit--a deep river custom with that awesome cone barrel

 

[Bender]

If I were buying my fist 1911 without the internet I'd build on it or tinkering it would be a Springfield TRP.

That gets me thinking.....the TRP Champ i have is a rather wonderful carry.

 

[nod]

After spending thousands of dollars, if I had to start over I would buy a Les Baer PII. After that I would have stopped.

 

[Bender]

After spending thousands of dollars, if I had to start over I would buy a Les Baer PII. After that I would have stopped.

I was satisfied with a Baer as well,..........for about a year

 

[Monadh]

The Springfield Mil Spec has already been mentioned. I have two. That is the perfect starting point, and the pistol lends itself to modification and customization on down the road.

 

[Whit]

Soo many quality 1911s out there.But there's something special about the feel of a Wilson Combat.

 

[Bender]

Ive always thought Brown had the best feeling models, those are great as well.

Too many darn choices......

 

[nod]

I was satisfied with a Baer as well,..........for about a year

I know the deal! A few years later bought a Ed Brown. Then three Wilsons followed by a Nighthawk. A few years later I sold the Brown, Nighthawk and two Wilsons. Bought another Wilson and another LB. The Premier II is still kicking right along. That being said, if I had the big bucks and was buying one 1911 it would be a Wilson.

 

[Rooster]

Springfield Range Officer

 

[RickOShay]

As the title says, if you were starting from scratch buying your first 1911, what would you go with?

I have a full size Springfield I carried on duty, then for my retirement my association gave me the money to buy a new .45. I choose the S&W round butt PC 1911 from the custom shop. I love shooting it, and get a thrill just looking at it. Very good shooter with beautiful trigger right out of the box.

 

[gunnutvet52]

I've had several .45's over the years and have traded or sold most of them. Now in my mid 60's I'm looking for one that I can shoot regularly and not worry about re-sale or collectible value. So, I've decided to buy a new Inland Mfg 1911A1. The reviews are great, well under a $1,000, and manufactured to milspecs albeit a beveled mag well (which I like) and a Series 80 type transfer bar.