1911

Anyone mess with the 1911 by Ruger yet? What would you go with for under 1K when it comes to 1911?

 

Sig used to make some of the finest firearms- ever since they hired that retard from Kimber their quality has gone to hell. Kimber continues to have QC issues.

Springfield still makes good stuff. The Ruger is getting very positive reviews and the ones I've handled seemed to have good fit and finish although I haven't shot one yet. The S&W 1911s are actually very good guns although they're slightly different from Browning's original design with their external extractor (and Schwartz safety).
Remington is making a decent 1911 and for the truly budget minded, Rock Island makes a very serviceable gun.

 

Springfield gets my vote.
Best customer service out there. They don't question your problems.

 

Kimber....... Not in your vote choices

 

I vote with my dollars.
I currently own a Kimber TLE with external extractor...flawless, smooth, great features, nothing I don't need....$600 second-hand with an extra Wilson mag and magwell.
Last year I bought an STI Spartan which was unattractive (parkerized) but was incredibly smooth, and excellent trigger. $625.
Unfortunately I experienced two case-head separations and sent it back.
They replaced it with an upgrade...STI Trojan.
Excellent pistol, slide feels like it rides on bearings. Trigger could be better.
Runs perfectly.
Can be had for $1000.
I would not buy a SW or Sig because I don't like the look of an external extractor on a 1911.
I have used two Springfields with some issues.
One had a slide that looked like it was machined with tools made by the Flintstones. It required three hands to reassemble. Ran like shit even after a return trip to SA for a fluff and buff.
No thank you.
I would buy Kimber, Colt, STI, Dan Wesson (you have to look to find one under a K) all before the manufacturers mentioned by the OP.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

look into a Rock Island Armory. i personally have one and its a very good, reliable gun for the price

 

Agreed on the RIA, and you can get both a GI and Tactical for $1000...
But that's if you just want something cheap and reliable (or, as reliable as a 1911 is).
Of the list? Springfield, primarily due to their customer service.

Why not the RIA? It's imported? So is the Springfield, and virtually all sub-$1500 1911 frames. Even the higher end Springfields are starting to use Imbel (Brazil) frames, but the final assembly and fitting is done here.

My RIA...

RIA Tactical, Raasco "Dymwood" grips, Ed Brown arched MSH, Colt GI (non-ambi) safety, and I replaced the FLGR, plug, and spring with a GI guide rod and plug, SpringCo 16# spring.

 

Kimber.

used of course.

 

HEY NICE... MINE ALMOST LOOKS THE SAME!!

 

.... here's mine with the Raasco "Cocobolo" grips.

 

I'm still not decided on the grips.

Stock grips were of course slicker than snot, so they had to go.
I replaced them with some generic Cocobolo from CDNN, and they were nice, but I wanted something with more "character" and better figuring.
Next I went with a set of Pach's. I really liked those, with the rubber insert and finger grooves.



The problem was the emblem. I was at the range, and when I dropped a mag a screw fell out
I quickly field stripped and looked for a spot for a similar screw and couldn't think of WHERE it came from.
I then noticed that the "P" medallion was missing from one panel. The medallion was about 3ft over the line in front of my station. Snagged it with the squeegee and reassembled it... then bought the Dymwood grips that night.

I hate to think of what might have happened had that screw come out while I was inserting a magazine, rather than dropping it!

So if I ever again get a set of grips with a medallion retained by a screw, it's getting blue Loctite!


Anyways...

The Raasco grips are very nice, but they are VERY "hard".
They are excellent grips for those who shoot wearing gloves, but the diamond texture has just enough "bite" to be slightly uncomfortable after a long session at the range (I normally run 150-200rds).


RIA accuracy? This was from one of my first trips with it and one of my first times shooting something larger than a 9mm.
This is 48 rounds at 12 yards. I was pulling about the same distance low on both the head and body shots. My pattern was 2 to the chest, 1 to the head, so the "mouth" grouping was not repetitive fire at the same aim point... 16 rounds in the head and 32 in the body on this one.

 

Aww man. You guys are making me want a 1911. I'm thinking the RIA Tactical two-tone because it's definitely in my price range.

 

Is the 2-tone on the roster?
If not, you can always single-shot one through Riflegear.

I've been having a hankerin' to pick up one of the RIA 38-Super (on roster) and do the 9mm conversion (9mm not on the roster).

 

This is probably a dumb question, but what does "on the roster mean?"

I like the 2-tone styling over the gun metal black or nickel plating.

 

http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

For a handgun to be sold by a dealer to a non-exempt person, it must be on the "safe" handgun roster.
Once on the roster, it remains as long as the manufacturer continues to renew the listing (or until it qualifies as C&R which exempts it).

We will never see a "new" 1911 or 2011 on the roster because the basic design precludes the loaded chamber indicator and magazine disconnect. The LCI can be easily done on a 1911 with an external extractor, but as of 2007, the mag disconnect was added (prior it was "either-or" which is how the XD got on the roster, but the XD45 Bi-Tone did not make it before the mag disconnect rule was added).

Non-rostered handguns MAY be transferred person-to-person (through a gun shop of course), but they may not be shipped and transferred via non-PPT transaction.


But....

There are exemptions. A handgun is exempt from the roster if it is single shot, with a barrel at least 6" long and an OAL of at least 10.5" (or maybe it's 6.5" and 10", I don't remember exactly).
So the solution to import a non-rostered handgun?
A friendly FFL such as Riflegear in Fountain Valley can temporarily install a zero-round sled, magazine locking device, and longer barrel, in order to allow the gun to be transferred under the exemption.
Once you take possession, you, or your gunsmith, can legally modify the gun to a conventional semiautomatic configuration with the stock barrel.

 

Edit: Looking at the roster I'm not seeing the Bi-Tone Tactical.

 

It's not on the ca department of justice approved handgun list.

 

I believe a loop hole is buying if off a law enforcement officer through a ppt.

 

That is another exemption, but finding one available is the problem.

Departments and officers are getting a bit more paranoid on straw purchases. A number of officers in Sacramento, and I believe LA, have been busted over the last 6 months for buying guns and reselling them to civilians.

It's not legal to purchase a handgun with the intention of immediately reselling it. It may be purchased as a gift.
So we get into the "wink wink" territory of the officer having to testify that he bought the gun and decided he didn't like it, so he sold it to you.
Ya, it happens. But it doesn't happen frequently, and it doesn't just happen to happen 2 weeks after you post on an internet forum your intention to PPT one from a cop.