I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. My series 70 Colt I bought in early 2000's costed me near 1000. It's beautiful, but it sits in the safe. I won't sell it, and I happy I bought it, however I shoot my other 1911's far more. Honestly I prefer to carry a HiPower over anything else other my usual nickel 36 no dash. I lead a very quiet life in a very small town. We have a decent Sheriff who appears to be pro 2A. At least it appears that way. I'm not getting any younger either lol. Sorry for rambling, it seems to come with age! Stay safe all.
Wilson Combat vs. Dan Wesson – Which 1911 Should I Buy?
- Thread starter RustyPickle
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- dan wesson wilson combat
ratwhacker
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I think I'd buy the Dan Wesson and spend the rest on ammo. I'm cheap (or thrifty), and I've been burned by "big name" guns before. That colors everything I do these days.
We've got a slew of good 1911s, and the fanciest these days are Colts, and just two of them. The other 13 are Rock Island (2), Tisas (5), and Springfield Armory (5), and a lone Ruger. I've had more aggravations with Colt than any of the others, though the current two are "okay" I've just owned more Colts than the other brands, which stands to reason, I suppose.
I shoot the Tisas and Springfields more than the others combined, and they're doing just great for me.
Just because they have a big name, doesn't make them perfect, or even okay, everyone makes lemons, and no one has a good QC department any more, either. Find a decent smith in your hometown, and buy a mid-priced pistol, and then let them work it over, and you'll probably have a better pistol than any with a fancy name.
We've got a slew of good 1911s, and the fanciest these days are Colts, and just two of them. The other 13 are Rock Island (2), Tisas (5), and Springfield Armory (5), and a lone Ruger. I've had more aggravations with Colt than any of the others, though the current two are "okay" I've just owned more Colts than the other brands, which stands to reason, I suppose.
I shoot the Tisas and Springfields more than the others combined, and they're doing just great for me.
Just because they have a big name, doesn't make them perfect, or even okay, everyone makes lemons, and no one has a good QC department any more, either. Find a decent smith in your hometown, and buy a mid-priced pistol, and then let them work it over, and you'll probably have a better pistol than any with a fancy name.
I like that you left out kimber. They are more flash than substance and their customer service and my recent experience is pretty bad. I would not count on getting any kind of quality repair work from them.
I like Ed Browns. The older, traditional models, not the "Bobtail" or the newer "Fueled" models. Have owned Wilsons, Colts, Ruger etc. but never a Dan Wesson. Having spent the money to try various options, I've personally settled on Ed Brown. If I were you, I'd look around for a lightly used Special Forces or Executive Elite. Most guys buy them and never shoot them very much. Where I live you could pick one up for between $2,000 - $2,400.
I have handled one Ed Brown in my life and it was the most incredible feeling 1911 I've ever handled.By my reckoning if I bought a semi custom 1911 it would be a full size older Brown hands down. I've checked out Wilson and Les Baer too. Baer would be my next choice. Never been a big Wilson fan. Not sure why. Mine are all basic.
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Pierre
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I'd save money and look at the springfield.
Mike D
Well-Known Fanatic
Good call, I remember carrying a Belgian Browning 9 in a shoulder rig, in Vietnam so many years ago. That was one dam fine pistol! I let it go, to a friend,and then left the country early, without finding another. My bad! A truly great companion.
Thank you sir. I trulylike HiPowers, but then I like almost any gun.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
" I like almost any gun ".. I've got the same problem ( and the same problem with motorcycles ) can't seem to get rid of them,
no matter how long I've had them. Because of my mediocre shooting skill, I (mostly) avoided higher end firearms.. for me
this means > $1k.. Good thing I started building my collection in the 80's, otherwise my collection would be much smaller.
Part of my "problem" is /was, I like revolvers, too.(. Esp. S&W's.)
I have no Top -Tier / brand name semi-custom's , but have a few previously owned "Custom Shop" models,
a few Dan Wesson, more Colts & Springfields ,+( 3) Rock Island 1911s, & a few others. While I can afford more expensive 1911's,
I be frustrated by my inability to see an improvement in my shooting accuracy for the $ spent.
The guns I own are already capable of greater accuracy than I can shoot
If you want a 1911 because you enjoy shooting, a mid -priced 1911 model worked over by a gunsmith that knows 1911's will provide the best bang-for the buck.
If you desire a 1911 with visual & tactile perfection, maybe a Wilson, Baer ,Brown, etc.. may be what you should spend your $ on.
Only you can answer your needs vs wants..
Lastly, If you have never seen a Bul Armory 1911, I'd suggest checking them out.
To me, they're equal to a Dan Wesson but a more reasonable price... if you can find one.
no matter how long I've had them. Because of my mediocre shooting skill, I (mostly) avoided higher end firearms.. for me
this means > $1k.. Good thing I started building my collection in the 80's, otherwise my collection would be much smaller.
Part of my "problem" is /was, I like revolvers, too.(. Esp. S&W's.)
I have no Top -Tier / brand name semi-custom's , but have a few previously owned "Custom Shop" models,
a few Dan Wesson, more Colts & Springfields ,+( 3) Rock Island 1911s, & a few others. While I can afford more expensive 1911's,
I be frustrated by my inability to see an improvement in my shooting accuracy for the $ spent.
The guns I own are already capable of greater accuracy than I can shoot
If you want a 1911 because you enjoy shooting, a mid -priced 1911 model worked over by a gunsmith that knows 1911's will provide the best bang-for the buck.
If you desire a 1911 with visual & tactile perfection, maybe a Wilson, Baer ,Brown, etc.. may be what you should spend your $ on.
Only you can answer your needs vs wants..
Lastly, If you have never seen a Bul Armory 1911, I'd suggest checking them out.
To me, they're equal to a Dan Wesson but a more reasonable price... if you can find one.
Precisely re: BUL if you can find one! I wish now I'd bought one when they were more plentiful, and less expensive. I would definitely do better to spend my money on ammo for what I now have, and shoot more often to vastly improve my skills. I recently put a Ruger SR1911 in 9mm on layaway. First 9mm 1911 Ive ever owned.
Petard
Active Fanatic
Interesting discussion. Having worked in a great gunstore/range for a couple of years, I at least got to handle quite a number of Wilson, Nighthawk, Dan Wesson, Ed Brown and all the other "mass produced" brands. One could see and feel the difference in manufacturing quality. My pockets have never been deep and the "high end" 1911's, while beautiful, were kinda like Lamborghinis, Ferraris etc. Beautiful, works of art and engineering...but not practical for everyday usage by the average person. My sidearms are functional for defense of life and liberty. If I (god forbid) ever had to use my side arm and it was confiscated, maybe never to be returned... that would be painful. Silly worry, should be the least of my worries, I know. Oh, and just FYI, diamonds are a TERRIBLE investment.
ratwhacker
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BUL's distribution system could use some assistance, certainly. I have NEVER seen one.
I have seen a few of their other brand (which I can't remember the name of right now), but never a BUL by name. And I live in Kentucky, with all those great gunshops located within a two-hour drive of me (KYGUNCO and Bud's, to name a couple, and Knob Creek is right up the road). We just never seen them for sale, and I won't buy a pig in a poke, I want to handle them before I pull out my money.
I have seen a few of their other brand (which I can't remember the name of right now), but never a BUL by name. And I live in Kentucky, with all those great gunshops located within a two-hour drive of me (KYGUNCO and Bud's, to name a couple, and Knob Creek is right up the road). We just never seen them for sale, and I won't buy a pig in a poke, I want to handle them before I pull out my money.
Could you be thinking of Desert Eagle?
ratwhacker
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Magnum Research, it came to me earlier today! I do see a Magnum Research pistol from time to time, but I've never seen one with BUL markings. I'm curious and not ruling one out if I can find it, but I've never seen one, either at KYGUNCO, or Bud's, two of the largest shops in Kentucky, or at Knob Creek, another well-stocked shop right up the road, or at Sportsman's Rod and Gun, just down the road. I'm not opposed to buying a BUL and trying it out, but the MR pistols have pretty ugly roll-markings on them, so I've ignored them. I don't care much for garish stuff.
Thank you sir, my answer didn't sound quite right when I posted it. The Magnum Research guns did/do have some gaudy markings on them.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
Here's a "lower level" basic Bul Armory 1911, this one a Cmdr in 9mm. Has many "deluxe" features not found on most entry level 1911s
The front dtrap checkering is a $300 option (if done @ my gunsmith) has skeleton hammer, duckbill grip safety, G-10 grips, flat spring housing,
and this model has a bull barrel. In SS, for < $1 K ( ! )
I have 2 bull-barreled 1911's & my experience is they are more accurate than the traditional barrel bushing models.
( due to tighter lock up?) If I didn't already have an asst. of other 1911's I'd for sure be adding more Bul 1911's to my collection.
I've heard you can order a Bul directly from the USA distributer, & have it mailed to your FFL.
The front dtrap checkering is a $300 option (if done @ my gunsmith) has skeleton hammer, duckbill grip safety, G-10 grips, flat spring housing,
and this model has a bull barrel. In SS, for < $1 K ( ! )
I have 2 bull-barreled 1911's & my experience is they are more accurate than the traditional barrel bushing models.
( due to tighter lock up?) If I didn't already have an asst. of other 1911's I'd for sure be adding more Bul 1911's to my collection.
I've heard you can order a Bul directly from the USA distributer, & have it mailed to your FFL.
