View Full Version : Which 1911
I will be looking into getting a 3in maybe a 4in 1911 in December. I have been looking at the Kimbers and Colt New Agent. I want this gun to be something special for me. I will hopefully have it the rest of my life and pass it down. What do you guys think and any other recommendations! Budget will be about $1500 ish
JohnTRourke
08-01-2012, 05:57
The 4" ones (commander sized) are as JMB intended and they work well and you rarely hear of a problem.
But the 3" ones are hit or miss.
in the 4", Dan Wesson Guardian is right in your price range and is quite the value.
Another vote for the DW.
I've also been partial to the springfield TRP.
I have been looking at the Guardians. I need to handle one though.
What do you want in one? Custom build? [Coffee]
I need to handle one though.
Probably a good idea if you are going to drop $1500 on something.
Tinelement
08-01-2012, 13:26
$1500 price range.
Dan Wesson
You won't get the perfect-for-you 1911 the first time, just get one and learn what you like/dislike and move forward from there. I've bought/sold a lot of $2500-$3500 1911's and look back on it as a learning process. If you stick with the platform long enough, you'll go custom.
Take a look at the Sig Ultra 1911. You'll even have money left over for the ammo. Just my 2 cents.
Cylinder Head
08-02-2012, 00:04
Take a look at the Sig Ultra 1911. You'll even have money left over for the ammo. Just my 2 cents.
Hopefully enough money left to make it work right too.
The 4.25" ones (commander sized) are as JMB intended and they work well and you rarely hear of a problem.
But the 3" ones are hit or miss.
in the 4", Dan Wesson Guardian is right in your price range and is quite the value.
Fixed, and couldn't agree more. [Beer]
I'm not a huge Kimber fan but their super carry pro is pretty slick, give me a holler if you're up north and you can see for yourself.
I vote for a custom build, have someone build one for you. Then you will know what's in it, and it will shoot correctly as all the custom work will be done.
Or, you could buy an STI:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=299609007
http://pics.gunbroker.com/GB/299609000/299609007/pix895015231.jpg
I'm leaning towards a Dan Wesson ECO. Need to.find a place with one I can fondle. How would I get a custom built one
I'm leaning towards a Dan Wesson ECO. Need to.find a place with one I can fondle. How would I get a custom built one
I wouldn't go all out custom right off the bat, but it's likely where you'll want to go. Get the feel for a couple quality off the shelf models, then decide what you like and don't like about them. There are more than a few members in your neck of the woods that'll be glad to show you what a real trigger feels like, youre hooked at that point. [Weight]
Hopefully enough money left to make it work right too.
So, which one did you get and what problems did you have with it?
If you want.... I am getting some moving help from one of my instructors from the school that does friggen fantastic custom 1911's.... I will see what he will charge ya for a custom, if ya want, PM me. [Beer]
I wouldn't go all out custom right off the bat
Could not agree more - going custom from the get-go is a mistake as people don't really know what they like due to not having had any experience with various parts/makers. Do you really know if you prefer a Caspian frame to a Colt or Springer frame? How about the slide stop, is the Wilson really more to your liking than the Brown if you don't have any mileage on either?
Shoot/borrow/rent/own as many 1911's as possible before going full-custom, and "custom" is not just a named model from Brown/Kimber/Wilson/Nighthawk/Etc, those aren't any more "custom" than the cheapest model from any maker, they simply cost more due to parts used (that were not specified by you). A custom is you dictating every single part in the gun, right down to the springs and grip screw makers based on what works best for YOU.
TriggerHappy
08-11-2012, 18:51
I have a Kimber TLE RL, runs excellent. Probably out of 2000 rounds only had a handful of FTE. Some of the newer Kimbers have had serious QC issues with FTE/FTF. A couple buddies had bought the dessert warriors Nd had nothing but problems, even after a trip back to Kimber. It's a hit or miss. Dan Wesson, Springfield, or nighthawk if you want to spend some dough.
I don't know how much 1911 experience you have, but you might consider buying Rock Island and putting the rest of the money in ammo. Shoot it and figure out what you like/ dislike about it and go from there. 1911s are a tinkerer's dream and you can modify it to your liking, then order a custom you know will be exactly what you want. You will get another one anyway. No one I know who is into 1911s owns only one. Just a thought.
I'm wanting to go with a higher end model have had rock island, springfield, own a sr1911 now
82ndShooter
08-26-2012, 19:43
I have a Kimber Pro CDP II. It is my first 1911, and the last Kimber I'll ever buy. The gun itself is nice, but Kimber's Customer Support SUCKS!!!! I accidentally stripped the frame installing a grip screw bushing. I called them over a month ago and 12 calls and mails later, still no resolution. The damage is covered under warranty. The problem is the incompetence of their Customer Support staff.
Had the opposite Kimber experience. Good CS but had nothing but problems with mine.
Sounds like their QC has gone way downhill. If I could find a Clack I would sure buy it though.
Carried a Kimber in Afganistan and bent the rails (in '02-03ish)...Kimber wouldn't warranty it because it happened outside the US. Great way to take care of customers, especially those working overseas. Figured a company in NY would have been a bit more helpful. NY company = NY attitude & service as well. I'll NEVER recommend a Kimber to anyone.
ChadAmberg
08-27-2012, 14:14
I had a problem with the grip safety on my Rock Island, otherwise it was great. Called up service and they were wonderful, took care of shipping both ways, getting it fixed, and gave it a full fluff and buff while it was there. It's been perfect since I got it back and I'd never hesitate to recommend one to anyone who is looking for a 1911 unless they really wanted to go high end.
I will echo the rest, Dan Wesson.
I wouldn't get a Kimber, I've been told by too many folks with decades of experience not to buy a Kimber. I am going to listen to them.
I will be looking into getting a 3in maybe a 4in 1911 in December. I have been looking at the Kimbers and Colt New Agent. I want this gun to be something special for me. I will hopefully have it the rest of my life and pass it down. What do you guys think and any other recommendations! Budget will be about $1500 ish
I'm not an expert 1911 guy (or an expert at anything gun related really), but I picked up a Springfield EMP last year and it is a sweet shooter and a great carry gun.
I've owned a few 1911's, and it really depends on what you want it to do IMO.
Personal experience - I had a Kimber Eclipse Ultra II - pretty gun, but a jam-o-matic... Hated that gun, but it did get me into Glocks :). I've heard the little Kimbers are touchy - but only had that one experience.
Full size 1911's are heavy, great shooters, but heavy.
I do own a Kimber these days (CDP Custom II), but it's a range gun more than anything else.
1911's are fun to shoot, great to own, accurate (if you get a good one), and easy to maintain. For your price range, the Dan Wesson might be out of the park, but they are super nice 1911's! I had a Wesson Heritage and it was hands-down the best production 1911 I've ever owned.
82ndShooter
09-21-2012, 20:24
I have a Kimber Pro CDP II. It is my first 1911, and the last Kimber I'll ever buy. The gun itself is nice, but Kimber's Customer Support SUCKS!!!! I accidentally stripped the frame installing a grip screw bushing. I called them over a month ago and 12 calls and mails later, still no resolution. The damage is covered under warranty. The problem is the incompetence of their Customer Support staff.
Correction...the stripped grip screw bushing is NOT under warranty AND to top it off, I still don't have my gun back yet. I received a call the other day asking me for my credit card number for return shipping expenses. Lesson learned with Kimber.
All Colt...All the time. Been running them for years.
Zombie Steve
09-23-2012, 02:45
Dan Wessons, while top notch production guns, have gone up so much in the last couple years that you might as well save up a few hundred more and go with a (for lack of a better term) semi-custom Les Baer. I'd say the same thing if you were looking at a Springfield TRP. Five years ago, there was a sizable gap in pricing, now it's $200-$300. I own a TRP, like it, it runs, but have my gripes with non-standard parts (mainspring housing / hammer spur, firing pin, et cetera), finish and the fact that there isn't a square inch on the gun that doesn't have some billboarding on it. If your gun needs to say "Tactical" on it, I'll understand.
Colt - been bad-mouthing them for years, but I have to admit they are turning out the best they've produced in quite a while. Even though I think the QC has improved, they're still 10 years behind the rest of the market... the "fitting" of the grip safety is usually a joke, rarely do they ever do front strap checkering, and I'm not going to get into the MIM argument. They are just rough and they're loose, but they run and they do have a prancing pony on the side...[Tooth]
Kimber - their marketing is much better than their manufacturing consistency. Seen decent guns from them, had one that was a complete turd, even after a trip back to Yonkers, NY. Flip a coin.
Sig - something distasteful about the lines, although from what I hear, they're the only company that has made the external extractor work. Apparently, they run, but again, the non-standard parts bugs the crap out of me. Just an opinion - never owned one, never shot one.
I think if you don't go for a Dan Wesson, you should seriously take a look at Baer. A few hundred more and you're in Brown territory. I have a Brown that is beat to hell and keeps on running as long as I keep fresh springs in it (like any 1911).
I'd hold out for a used Ed Brown.
Tinelement
10-06-2012, 21:36
Kobra Carry!!
Someday
Good call!
Fondled one once, never fired. Love the serrations!
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