Help me pick a 1911!

[johnlives4christ]

while i dont own a taurus.... it appears there quality is questionable at best. i'd go with the magnum research if it were me

[Boris]

The only 1911 that is not full of MIM parts is SIG 1911s. Not a single MIM part in a SIG 1911.

MIM is 90-97% as dense as barstock or cast. Even if I had the highest quality 97% as dense as barstock MIM part, I would switch it out in a 1911.

I am not a MIM hater. I am a MIM in place of a part not originaly designed to be MIM hater. My P22 has over 10,000 rounds through it and it is hard to find a part not MIM on it. It was designed to be MIM and had its limits designed in.

My Uncle is an engineer and my cousin is a metalurgist. MIM is inferior by at least 3%. Dont know about you all. But a part as critical as a sear? I want 100%, not 90-97%..

Just my take, Don't even ask my opinion lol.....

[johnlives4christ]

i dont have a problem with mim parts from a springfield 1911.

[Para Cassatt]

Originally Posted by nafornow

Im wanting to buy a pair of 1911's, customize them a little (for looks), ....and give one to my dad for christmas. I ThINK Ive got it narrowed down to three models. Price IS an issue, especially since Im buying two.

Ive read good reviews, on all three. My price range is $550-650. Theres just a lot of them out there to choose from. I would prefer a stainless gun, ..though the last isnt stainless. Any comments/criticism/suggestions are welcome.

The first is a Taurus pt1911ss1. Can be had for $647.



You could probably go with either of the three and enjoy it. I have Para's and love them and also a early model Taurus that has grown on me. I haven't heard much at all about MR but stainless always seems a good choice.

Second is the Para Ordnance GI45S. $565





The last is the Magnum Research DE1911G. $635

[Stealthcarry]

Para. Have four and only one very minor glitch since 1999. Don't ask me how many rounds I've put through 'em, my calculator doesn't go that high.

[Mr.T]

I've got at Taurus and I love it...comes with a nice amount of bells and whistles for the price. Some people bash Taurus but i've had Taurus guns, colt guns, S&W guns, Llama guns, Browning guns, and I think Taurus's are fine...I actually bought my first Taurus 1911 about a week and a half ago and its one of the best purchases i've ever made.


One thing I would recommend is if you are going to carry the gun on you dont buy one with an accessory rail...they are a pain to fit in a holster.

[superbc1911]

Without getting too technical. Which I don't know much of anyway. I would have to put it to few words:
Brazilian's are known for sugarcane (Taurus is Brazilian).
Philipinos are known for mangos. (Armscorp is Philipino).
Americans...we are known for our guns.


Smith & Wesson has some nice 1911 at a good price range. Try them out. I liked the ones I handled.
Just purchase homeland firearms.

[Shooter45]

You seem to have left out the Norinco "junk" 1911 made in China.

[hogger129]

Originally Posted by Shooter45

You seem to have left out the Norinco "junk" 1911 made in China.

If built to correct specs, Norinco's 1911s are as good as anything else on market.

[Shooter45]

Really ? You mean those pistols are not junk ??

[CampingJosh]

Originally Posted by Shooter45

Really ? You mean those pistols are not junk ??

Shooter, you gotta lay the sarcasm on a little more thickly in print. You're confusing the poor boy.

[312shooter]

Originally Posted by superbc1911

Without getting too technical. Which I don't know much of anyway. I would have to put it to few words:
Brazilian's are known for sugarcane (Taurus is Brazilian).
Philipinos are known for mangos. (Armscorp is Philipino).
Americans...we are known for our guns.


Smith & Wesson has some nice 1911 at a good price range. Try them out. I liked the ones I handled.
Just purchase homeland firearms.

Before you get yourself too deep with the brazil statement, remember Springfield 1911's are made there too

[yogiboobooranger]

Of the three you listed, I can attest to the quality of the only one I had previously owned, the Taurus 1911. I owned the stainless model without rail. I absolutely loved the gun, it shot better than I can, and was worth every penny spent. I no longer own this gun however since I sold it to get cash to buy a Sig P229 in 40 caliber. I had no issues at all with the Taurus 1911 and in fact sold it to my land lord who still owns it and loves it to this day. Good luck on what ever choice you make. Ron S.

[Teejay9]

Look at Springfield Armory. They have several models to choose from in SS and Parkerized. I have a "Mil Spec." I wanted mine to be as close to military as possible, so it has better sights and a lowered and enlarged ejection port. It's forged steel and made in Brazil and the US. Has a lifetime guarantee also. Nice gun at an affordable price. You can buy an upgraded one with all the bells and whistles if you like that sort of thing. The only thing I DIDN'T like was the somewhat gaudy grips, but they are easily replaced. Good luck, and tell us what you get. TJ

[hogger129]

This is my Loaded model. It's like the Mil-Spec, but with different sights, and it's got all the bells & whistles. Only thing I would do to it is get a match barrel fitted to it.


Mil-Spec


This is the GI. This is a Champion. All that means is that it's a 4 1/2" barrel, not a 5".


TRP Operator


The GI is the plain Jane, nothing on it, military-spec version. Doesn't have the lowered & flared port. If you reload, you want the lowered & flared port or your casings will get smashed. The Mil-Spec's got better sights on it, different slide serrations, better grips, stainless barrel. Loaded has all the "preferred" options on it like the skeletonized trigger & hammer, stainless barrel, the Novak sights, front & rear cocking serrations. Only thing I would put down as a dislike of the pistol is that the takedown is a little odd because you need an Allen wrench to take out the plunger tube and remove the barrel bushing. Otherwise it's a good gun. I've just about broken mine in and it shoots good groups. Then there's that other one the TRP Operator. That's probably their best 1911. Has all the same options as the Loaded model, different grips and adds a rail and I think the Operator is a bull barrel. The regular TRP comes with the bushing style barrel.


This is another one I'd look at too.

Rock Island Armory M1911A1. I had this gun only for a couple months but I really liked it. Comfortable to shoot. But it's cast, not forged. Some say forged steel is better. Fed everything I put through it. I paid $500 for it brand new.


And if you get a 1911, get a couple magazines with supported followers. Especially if you get a Springfield because their magazines aren't the best.

[thomas44]

Originally Posted by nafornow

Im wanting to buy a pair of 1911's, customize them a little (for looks), ....and give one to my dad for christmas. I ThINK Ive got it narrowed down to three models. Price IS an issue, especially since Im buying two.

Ive read good reviews, on all three. My price range is $550-650. Theres just a lot of them out there to choose from. I would prefer a stainless gun, ..though the last isnt stainless. Any comments/criticism/suggestions are welcome.

The first is a Taurus pt1911ss1. Can be had for $647.



Second is the Para Ordnance GI45S. $565





The last is the Magnum Research DE1911G. $635

I'm gonna go ahead and guess you're even more confused and not any closer to a decision at this point. Although some people hate them, I've heard great things about the Taurus 1911's. I have a Para LTC that I love and have no complaints about. Bought it new for about $550. Don't know a thing about the MR. I know I'm in the minority here, but I will never own another Kimber. One too many bad experiences for me. The best 1911 I've ever owned has been my Dan Wesson/CZ PM7 in .45. That puppy is accurate ! Yes, the very thin skeletonized hammer broke, but that may have been because my rounds were loaded too hot and they were pounding that hammer. I don't know, but I replaced the hammer and it's back to excellent ! Out of those 3 pistols, I'd probably recommend the Para. Just my two pesos...

[Infidel]

Originally Posted by Shooter45

You seem to have left out the Norinco "junk" 1911 made in China.

Originally Posted by hogger129

If built to correct specs, Norinco's 1911s are as good as anything else on market.

Guns are the only things that China makes that WON'T kill you!

[fritz]

I have a Smith & Wesson 1911 with the tactical rail, great pistol, most accurate 1911 i have ever owned, spendy but well worth it. My theory with most things in life is you get what you pay for. Every time i have tried to go cheap on something it usually bites me in the butt, and ends up costing me more in the long run. Just my two cents worth.

[fritz]

Originally Posted by Mr.T

I've got at Taurus and I love it...comes with a nice amount of bells and whistles for the price. Some people bash Taurus but i've had Taurus guns, colt guns, S&W guns, Llama guns, Browning guns, and I think Taurus's are fine...I actually bought my first Taurus 1911 about a week and a half ago and its one of the best purchases i've ever made.


One thing I would recommend is if you are going to carry the gun on you dont buy one with an accessory rail...they are a pain to fit in a holster.

Blackhawk makes a sweet holster for the 1911 with a accessory rail, gun snaps in and wont fall out unless you push the release. Buy American!

[fritz]

Originally Posted by twangy

I'd go with either a $400 (used) Isreali copy, or a $500 (used) Charles Daly. Be sure to get the fully loaded model, with the better sights, speed safety lever, and ducktail grip safety tang, enlarged ejection port, etc. Having a smith add these improvements will cost you $500, man, and the resulting gun will be hard to sell for $500. Don't take the hit in the wallet. You can always sell the 2 I suggest for at most a $100 loss, and sometimes you can make money on such guns. So why have the inferior sights, etc, of a standard 1911?

My Smith came with everything you listed, as far as not being able to get more than $500 out of it, you are in a dream world!

[RunningOnMT]

Originally Posted by Infidel

Guns are the only things that China makes that WON'T kill you!

Quite a few names on the wall were killed by Chinese guns.

[Infidel]

Originally Posted by RunningOnMT

Quite a few names on the wall were killed by Chinese guns.

Its sarcasm dude.

To explain, the consumer products they produce today could be considered more dangerous than thier POS guns. That was the reference.

No disrespect to the 54,000 plus that didn't come home. I got more friends that served in nam than served with me in the 80's.

Rolling Thunder, chapter3 MO in the 90's. Patriot guard rider in the 2000's. I'm there man.

[nikole957]

Originally Posted by Kieran McCaig

I have the Para and the only problem to watch for are weak hammer(cast)the good part is their cover for life.

One thing that i think needs to be discussed here is the barrels for the different guns. I have a buddie with a springfield 45. It gives him problems with certain types of ammo. He got disgusted and then bought a Kimber. No feed problems. I too purchased a Kimber in 10mm. The ramp on the bbl is made in a way to make it easier for ammo to feed. IMO. That is also what the salesperson told me. I looked at the bbls for various manufacturers and decided to go with the Kimber after I saw the different ramps for myself. I hope I am using the right terms. I agree with Glocknut's statement.

[Chickasaw Gator]

I second 911 Man's rec. I recent got a Springfield GI Mil Spec and love it. Though I was advised to use a lighter cal for ccl, i used the .45 and it hit where I wanted-threw 1 shot outsite the target-qualified with flying colors. Have had no problem with jams. Probably too heavy for cc though.

[DGG!]

I shoot a Para PXT1445S high capacity and have had zero problems with it. However, I'm usually shooting 230 gr fmj ball ammo. I have shot 200 gr hollow points also. It is a big heavy gun but I like it. Mine is a special Marine version made in a coyote brown finish with Trijicon tritium night sights sold only to the troops stationed in Afghanistan.

http://www.para-usa.com/new/product_pistol.php?id=63

http://www.opticsplanet.net/tritium-...ht-sights.html