There a few things to consider...but is still a bit of apples to oranges.
Quality wise, with a Colt you are getting more of a hand fit gun, along with better quality parts to start out with, and put together by armorers.
But don't leave out Dan Wesson, they are full of better parts as well.
Springfield, while full of MIM parts, which don't seem to break as much as some others do, still is a production gun put together by assemblers.
Feature for feature, you will always pay more for a Colt than a Springfield, and again there's a reason.
I have run into a few Springfields that were out of spec, but is not the norm. One such TRP would not take an aftermarket sear, as the pin placement was off. So had to keep the stock sear, and upgrade the other parts as the customer wanted.
Even with 1911's that look much like the semi-custom guns (sorry 'penguin!), there's a reason why they are cheaper. There has to be cost savings somewhere, which means corners are cut.
As MountainBear stated;
"I would much prefer to start with the Rock Island Armory 1911 as a base gun. The steel is better and I have found them to be closer to GI spec than the Springfield."
As for steel, am not convinced as I don't think the Phillipine made gun uses anything better than Brazil does. The GI spec thing matters little if one is looking for a base gun to start doing upgrades with.
As for RIA quality, I've seen the usual reliability issues, out of spec parts etc.
For 300-400+ gun, they are what they are...so don't expect the quality of a Wilson, or the factory support you'd get with an American company.
I really don't see them as any better or worse than a Springfield. I've seen some RIA's that really sing, and some fall flat on their face with the first magazine being shot...same with Springfield.
Gunner3456, I hope I answered your question. If not, give it another shot.
If I had the choice of a base gun to start a build from, it would be a Series 70 Colt, or older model.
If I was starting a build from the ground up, I would choose Caspian.
Hilton Yam has some good articles on 1911's, you'd be well advised to read. Good basic information any 1911 owner, or perspective owner should have knowledge of.
I don't agree with everything he states, as he is on the conservative side of things...but it's better to be that way, than have problems with you gun when you really need it to work for you.
http://www.10-8performance.com/Articles.html
Quality wise, with a Colt you are getting more of a hand fit gun, along with better quality parts to start out with, and put together by armorers.
But don't leave out Dan Wesson, they are full of better parts as well.
Springfield, while full of MIM parts, which don't seem to break as much as some others do, still is a production gun put together by assemblers.
Feature for feature, you will always pay more for a Colt than a Springfield, and again there's a reason.
I have run into a few Springfields that were out of spec, but is not the norm. One such TRP would not take an aftermarket sear, as the pin placement was off. So had to keep the stock sear, and upgrade the other parts as the customer wanted.
Even with 1911's that look much like the semi-custom guns (sorry 'penguin!), there's a reason why they are cheaper. There has to be cost savings somewhere, which means corners are cut.
As MountainBear stated;
"I would much prefer to start with the Rock Island Armory 1911 as a base gun. The steel is better and I have found them to be closer to GI spec than the Springfield."
As for steel, am not convinced as I don't think the Phillipine made gun uses anything better than Brazil does. The GI spec thing matters little if one is looking for a base gun to start doing upgrades with.
As for RIA quality, I've seen the usual reliability issues, out of spec parts etc.
For 300-400+ gun, they are what they are...so don't expect the quality of a Wilson, or the factory support you'd get with an American company.
I really don't see them as any better or worse than a Springfield. I've seen some RIA's that really sing, and some fall flat on their face with the first magazine being shot...same with Springfield.
Gunner3456, I hope I answered your question. If not, give it another shot.
If I had the choice of a base gun to start a build from, it would be a Series 70 Colt, or older model.
If I was starting a build from the ground up, I would choose Caspian.
Hilton Yam has some good articles on 1911's, you'd be well advised to read. Good basic information any 1911 owner, or perspective owner should have knowledge of.
I don't agree with everything he states, as he is on the conservative side of things...but it's better to be that way, than have problems with you gun when you really need it to work for you.
http://www.10-8performance.com/Articles.html