Buying 1911: Dos and Don'ts

[tspeck007]

I'll be buying a 1911 in the future and am looking for some things to avoid and some things to specifically seek out.

Brand names and models would be helpful, but I'm mostly looking for things beyond this.

On possible example could be something about the difference between a Mil-spec and other. I've heard the term Mil-spec but don't actually no what it means in terms of what it brings to a 1911.

Any all all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Country101]

Brand and model kind of depend on what you want to use it for. Whatever the use, I'd recomend a Kimber. Great quality and service. I'd imagine youd be satisfied with any model they make. I am a little biased, for sure, because my gun has been flawless.
Another 1911 fan will be along in a bit to give you all the info you could want.

[ShakyJake]

Springfield

[inplanotx]

A mil-spec .45 is just that. It is jjust the way it was sold to the military. Low profile sights and no flared ejection ports. What you buy depends on its use and the amount in your wallet. You can figure anywhere from $350 up to $2,500.

[ksswamprat]

I'd steer clear of the Phillipine made 1911's they are poor quality and their parts or mags don't interchange with other 1911's.
A Spanish Firestorm is good quality weapon but again parts don't interchange. However parts are available.
Argentine Sistema's are complete copies of a Colt made under contract from Colt. All parts enterchange.
Argentine Ballister Molina's are not exact colt copies and parts don't enterchange. (I would avoid this weapon).
Spanish Llama's are hit and miss on quality depending on when manufactured. The older models being good, late models bad due to quality control. Parts hard to find as Llama is out of business.
Spanish Stars are good quallity and parts not hard to find. Take down just a bit different from a regular 1911 but not that much. If you can take down one you can do the other.
Thats about all I can offer on the lower end price range of 1911's. I might add I currently own a Llama IX-A made in 1950 and a Star BM made in 1983. And at one time or another have owned all the above mentioned.

Hope this helps,
Swamprat

[yoslick]

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Where'd ya get the Phillipine 1911's mag's don't interchange?? My Rock Island 1911 will take any GI 1911 mag made and vice versa. Dollar for Dollar the Rock Island 1911 45 for 274.00 right now from Sarco http://www.sarcoinc.com/rockislands.html is very hard to beat! Classic Firearms http://www.classicarms.us/ by the way has them also..


As for part's, all 1911's are a shake of the dice, some parts do drop in and others need a little work..


Slick!

[Rotorflyr]

From what I've read the quality of the Phillipine guns (Armscor/Rock Island/Charles Daly) have improved quite a bit over the last year or so as well and there are any number of satisfied owners. They are also built to 1911 spec so parts do interchange though in certin cases a little smithing may be necessary (which as I understand it is the case with any 1911)

[cd45]

I have a Charles Daly that I bought 6 or 7 years ago. It works great, all I have done is replace the extractor after it wore out, and the rear sight. I had one of the old ones that had the small rear sight, I replaced it with a McCormick rear sight. I trust it so much that I gave it to my wife after I bought a Springfield. They are very good guns, and I got mine to where it likes lead. Makes for cheap shooting. A friend just picked one up for for $460 out the door. It doesnt like lead yet but, I will fix it. I like the Springfield too, I bought it from Dad and haven't had to do anything to it, and it likes lead. Look around and find one you like and that is priced in your range, they are great guns, I wouldn't get rid of mine for any reason.

[joecad]

i have a cdefs thats a couple or 3 years old....i recently got a springer mil-spec.
maybe i had good luck but every part that i switched from one to the other functioned...thats barrel,slide stops safety, barrel bushing all worked in either gun....i dont see that problem with my cd

[blackhawkkid308]

i agree with country101, buy a kimber, costs a little more but one heck of a pistol. i have 2 blackhawkkid223

[BigV]

I agree that Kimber makes a top notch 1911. If you go the Kimber route, look for one with an internal ejector. For some reason Kimber went from internal to external ejectors and began to have problems with FTE. They have recently had a change of heart and went back to the internal ejectors.

[Neil]

ok Do's and Don'ts..............Do buy a 1911. Don't buy one that doesn't fit your hand, body, or budget.

[Marlin]

My Springfield Mil-Spec went back to SA and had the ramp polished, the port opened and beveled and low profile sights replaced with low profile 3-dots, so I could see them. I am very happy with the performance now and would get another if I were in the market.

[raveneap]

I'm really happy with my new Springfield Armory Custom Loaded...

[meandmy45s]

Two Kimbers, two Wilsons, zero complaints.

Les Baer makes some really nice pistols that will take you to the higher end of the kimber price range if not a little beyond.

Ed Brown and Wilson make some really nice firearms. Another member just bought a Nighthawk and has really good things to say about it. Once you get into this price range ($2200+), you ought to be happy with anything you choose.

Kimbers start around $800 bucks and even their entry model (basic model) is a nice firearm, that you can customize further as you go. However out of the box all of the Kimbers shoot well. At least the 7 or so models that I have fired.

[Shooter45]

My current favorite.

[Helldorado]

Originally Posted by meandmy45s

Kimbers start around $800 bucks and even their entry model (basic model) is a nice firearm, that you can customize further as you go. However out of the box all of the Kimbers shoot well. At least the 7 or so models that I have fired.

I recently bought the Kimber Custom II ( the entry/basic model he mentioned) and love it. I chose this one because it was my understanding it should shoot just as sweet as most of the other kimbers out of box. Being my first 1911 I wasnt sure if i would want any kind of custom sights or other additives that might come with the higher end models. But still knew I could always change these things out for something I might like more later. I may get some of them green night sights eventually but really Im very happy with the basic just the way it is! And its accurate as all get out.

[pronghorn]

Does anyone have some info on the new Auto Ord. 1911A1?. It sure looks good parkerized and the roll stamp looks original. Can't afford a Kimber.
I shy away from the Rock Island because of the giant logo they carved on the slide..

[Shooter45]

In their early years,Auto Ordnance had a reputation for making crappy 1911's. Quality has improved and they are finally making a decent 1911. I owned one of the WW II models and liked it. The AO is an excellent entry level 1911.

[pronghorn]

Thanks, I may go that way, if I don't get one of the 1927 Systemas that are coming in.

[meandmy45s]

Does anyone have some info on the new Auto Ord. 1911A1?. It sure looks good parkerized and the roll stamp looks original. Can't afford a Kimber.
I shy away from the Rock Island because of the giant logo they carved on the slide..

I would suggest that you hold off on your purchase until you can afford something that you like or shop the used firearms market for a quality pistol. Despite the number of avid shooters on this site, most people do not put enough rounds through their firearms and you can get a really high quality used firearm at a reasonable price. One of my "don'ts" is don't settle for something particulary if you intend to use it for self defense. It is better to pay a little more rather than lay down hard earned cash on something that you are just settling for; that is the quickest way to buyer's remorse. Worse still, is you may end up with an unreliable firearm.

[IBFrank]

Seen a Kimber fancy tested by a magazine. Next article was about a standard Para-Ord. They shot exactly the same in accuracy. You can spend a lot more, but is it really necessary? The answer is "NO!" I have an Auto-Ordnance GI model basic 1911. Works good. Some people "must have a Colt". Most don't. Some people "have more money than they have sense" and get the most expensive models because "expensive is better". Not necessarily. More people have more fun with the inexpensive guns than those with deep pockets have with their $$$$ follies.

[southernshooter]

My advice is by one that's functional not cool lookin

[KobraCarry]

No offense but Rock Island is garbage with a capital G! I've seen more of them break and fall apart then any other brand out there. Kimbers are great but I've had several lousy customer service experiences with them. Colt and Springfield make good guns to. For the most part, they're all the same. The higher the price, the higher the quality, the less problems you should expect and the better resale (or keep) value they'll have. Of course any item the is man-made or mechanical can have problems. But if you're going to do it, save your pennies and don't buy the cheapest thing you can find. If you have the opportunity, shoot low end and high end guns and see what feels the best to you!

[berto64]

I'm stuck on Springfields. I have 2 milspecs now along with a Systema.

In the past I have owned several Ballester Molinas and a Sringfield Lightweight. Polymer frame, steel slide & barrel with Tritium nite site.

The Ballester Molinas don't like HP's but love ball.

The junky that stole the lightweight from me got the word I put out. He stays outta my little burgh or I will shoot him. Punk traded that beautiful pistol for a !@#$%^&* dime paper of Heroin.

Did I mention I HATE junkies! Oh and I have an anger management problem.