Your favorite 1911 around $1,500. Give or take.

Heywood · Apr 17, 2015

Hello all. I am looking for a great 1911 for around $1500? I was hoping to gather ideas, what's your favorite?. Please post picks if you have them.
This is going to be my BBQ gun with a lot of range time and some CC.
Thanks for your suggestions

Just Jim · Apr 17, 2015

I like this model of Kimber,it's a future gun for me.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...4/Kimber+3200128+Grand+Raptor+II+8+1+45ACP+5"

Heywood · Apr 17, 2015

Just Jim said:
I like this model of Kimber,it's a future gun for me.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_40/products_id/411534384/Kimber+3200128+Grand+Raptor+II+8+1+45ACP+5"

I have been looking at that same one. She's purdy.

JV100 · Apr 17, 2015

Go old school/new school!! I bought a new colt 70 series. Combat sites, all black, wood grips...perfection... Its a dream, I love it. I've shot 550ish rounds so far. The steel frame is what tames the gun, me and my fathers Kimber's have a little more pop because of alloy frame. I'd stay away from any 80 series, less desirable if you go to resell later. I'm a 1911 addict and honestly love ANY 1911. If you wanna go real deal, go Colt govt model 70 series model 1911a1. I got mine from NW armory, $999.99 plus the BC. If you decide you ever want to upgrade it you can send it strait to colt, keep your records for possible future sales. Colts are like toyotas, everyone wants one and they don't depreciate. My 2 cents.

Bigbaddude · Apr 17, 2015

I would go with the Colt 70 series. I love mine it's the one pistol I will never sell.

Classic · Apr 17, 2015

Colt... I have a Gold Cup Trophy model that after putting 7000 rounds through it the MIM parts started to wear out. I put in a tactical 2 setup and replaced the extractor (Cylinder & Slide pieces), a trigger reduction setup (C&S also) and replaced the slide release and safety with Ed Brown pieces. Total I'm in it max 1500. It shoots every bit as good as my Les Baer TRS so it's my go to handgun. I currently have approx 25K rounds and I still drive tacks at 25 yards. I also shoot shaving cream cans at over 100 years with it.
Ya cant go wrong with a Colt!

Sstrand · Apr 17, 2015

Classic
That has to be VINTAGE shaving cream . . .

Sheldon

oknow · Apr 17, 2015

Sstrand said:
Classic
That has to be VINTAGE shaving cream . . .

Sheldon

Don't you just love auto correct

Classic · Apr 17, 2015

Sstrand said:
Classic
That has to be VINTAGE shaving cream . . .

Sheldon

Barbasol has been around a long time and the dollar store carries it for $1 a can

When I go to a shooting pit I drop into the Dollar store and buy everything on the shelves. Ya hit one with a 45 and you get instant gratification as white stuff goes all over!

Roger65 · Apr 17, 2015

At that price point, nothing can touch Dan Wesson in my opinion

asiparks · Apr 19, 2015

Do you have any other 1911's ?
You can get a lot of decent 1911's for around a grand, the Colts as mentioned above, but if you want to go the full $1500, Dan Wesson stainless Valor or you might find a gently used Baer premier or TRS for around the same. The Valor is the better finished of the two, but some people love Baers "hard fit" philosophy which make his guns a pain to rack when new...
The fitting and finishing of the Valor compares very well with higher priced guns from Brown, Nighthawk and dare I say, Wilson. If you want to pay more for some frills and fluff, Dan Wesson has a custom shop.

All that said, any $600+ 1911 from a main manufacturer should shoot well into 2" at 15yrds, most will do better. Broadly speaking, the ammo you pick will make a bigger difference accuracy wise than the brand of gun.

one of my Valors...

my Baer ( not particularly gently used...)

orygun · Apr 19, 2015

If you want a BBQ gun then you better buy a 40s or 50s vintage Colt. NOTHING else has that quality of bluing. Think I'm kidding? Go on a hunt and look at the older Colts. Even the newer high dollar guns just don't match the shine and finish of the Colt Royal Blue.
For a working gun in that price range a used Dan Wesson would be my choice. Or, should I say, is my choice. After several years of "packin" mine's not so pretty anymore, but it's beautiful to me.

SCARed · Apr 19, 2015

Springfield TRP.

boogerhook · Apr 19, 2015

Dan Wesson PM9. Excellent trigger, FO front sight, cheap to shoot in 9mm, and no recoil.

coop44 · Apr 20, 2015

under 1500? one I build up from a quality frame.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMAG00981.JPG

asiparks · Apr 20, 2015

Nice bits, got any finished ones to show ?

If you know what you're doing or don't and don't mind rebuying parts, its easy to go nuts with a Brownell's catalogue and a credit card. Even with zero knowledge and a couple of Youtube vids, you can buy the parts and assemble something and there's a 95% chance it'll work. But the timing might be off, you might be hammering the barrel lugs or your hammer might only just be engaging with the sear nose and you'd be unaware until something went wrong. And like many homebuilds, it might well look like a dog's dinner to every body but you....

orygun · Apr 20, 2015

Forgot the the pic. This is a 1951 Colt Government "Commercial". My picture taking skills don't match the quality of the bluing on this gun by any means. My choice in grips may be a little plain for a BBQ gun, but whatever you like is only 4 screws away.

And this is the same gun along with the 1962 Colt National Match (Pre Gold Cup) I had and my Dan Wesson. Check out the difference in the shine between the 50's vintage colt and the 60's vintage Colt. The old ones shine like no other.