Need some 1911 opinions

[indiucky]

Also, i'm surprised someone hasn't come along carrying on about RIA 1911's and how great they are and trying to tell you there could be no better 1911 anywhere, ever.

Churchmouse flipped a coin once to decide between and Auto Ordnance and a Rock Island...The coin landed on it's edge and being a good church mouse he took that as a sign from our Lord and Savior (who carries a Colt 1911 since JMB got to Heaven 90 years or so ago) to get neither...Being human he ignored that sign and ended up with an Auto Ordnance possessed by "Legion" and once he Exorcised that weapon of it's Demons he took a solemn vow to never buy another....

At least that is how I read the posts....:0

 

[VERT]

I am still pondering whether I should sell my SW1911...

Any reason why? Other then the external extractor they are decent mid range production 1911s.

 

[jgreiner]

I'm still saving up but looking to purchase my first 1911 this coming winter, I've been shooting them since I was a kid and the ones I'm most familiar with are Kimbers. Now I love Kimbers but I've been doing some research and the Sig 1911's come with 2 mags and most already have night sights which is a big deal to me because that is the first thing I do to any carry pistol I buy is put a set on.

Now I know I want a 4 in barrel and I'm pretty sure I want a bobtailed version , I've been looking at the Sig Nightmare Carry and the Kimber Pro or Master Carry.

So this got me thinking used/new what is the best $800-1400, 4 in 1911 that you think will suite my desire.
Educate me on the more custom ones as I am not to familiar with them.

Before you decide, try to get your hands on a S&W 1911 E series Bobtail. (Mine is my avatar). I looked hard at Kimbers, Colts, and a host of others, but once I picked one of these up, it was true love. And the scary part is that it fits my hand so well, I shoot better with it than any other gun i own. Which is why it is now my daily carry.

The S&W is also cheaper than the Kimbers. Here is a review on it.

 

[jgreiner]

I am still pondering whether I should sell my SW1911...

Why? I will be buried with mine.

 

[jgreiner]

Product: Model SW1911Sc<br>E-Series?, Round Butt, Scandium Frame

Never shot one of these but it is a Smith. Retail is $1499 but I'm sure prices are less than that. Night sights are standard.

LOL GMTA.....i just recommended that gun. It is my daily carry. And the price was $1100. Had mine a couple of years now. GREAT gun.

 

[MikeDVB]

Supposedly the external extractors are more reliable/durable but I really just don't like them aesthetically.

On a carry gun I guess it wouldn't matter though so long as it worked.

 

[jgreiner]

Thanks to everyone that posted, I have some thinking to do for sure but also some saving, whenever I do get my paws on which ever 1911 I choose, I will post pics asap.
Thanks again

If i was still in West Lafayette, would invite you up to shoot my S&W 1911sc E series Bobtail.

 

[VERT]

There was a GunSite version of the Smith Scandium framed commander running around in the classifieds recently. I doubt a person will be able to pickup a new one for $1100 in today's market. But I could be wrong. I went with the Performance Center version. It needed slimmer grips and a shorter trigger.

 

[jgreiner]

If Glock ever makes a 1911, I will buy 10 of them.

And they would be the ugly cousins in the 1911 family.

 

[jgreiner]

There was a GunSite version of the Smith Scandium framed commander running around in the classifieds recently. I doubt a person will be able to pickup a new one for $1100 in today's market. But I could be wrong. I went with the Performance Center version. It needed slimmer grips and a shorter trigger.

It probably depends on the vendor. Definitely not at Gander Mountain.

I am toying with the idea of having my local gunsmith (he lives just down the mountain from me, is a true artist) do a trigger job on S&W 1911sc. I have a S&W model 66 with a trigger job, the pull weight in single action on it is about 3lbs. I would like to get close to that on the 1911. But even with the heavier trigger pull, the 1911 for me EASILY out shoots the 66...which HAD been my carry gun. Not sure why. But my first trip to the range wit hte 1911, I shot the 10 circle out at 15 yards. And i still do, each and every time I shoot it. And believe me, i am not that good of a shot. It just fits my hand perfectly. I am convinced that is a rare thing. I have shot a lot of guns...and a number have felt GREAT in my hand. But never perfect. until this one.

 

[Expat]

Any reason why? Other then the external extractor they are decent mid range production 1911s.

Why? I will be buried with mine.

I guess that is part of what I am pondering. It is a beautiful pistol (other than the extractor). I just never shoot it or carry it. It sits in its box. I occasionally carry the Colt, Kimber or Sig. Never the SW. So why no feeling for it? I have thought of selling it and maybe getting a Les Baer. But I wonder if I would be so worried about scratching it I would just put it away as well.

 

[churchmouse]

I guess that is part of what I am pondering. It is a beautiful pistol (other than the extractor). I just never shoot it or carry it. It sits in its box. I occasionally carry the Colt, Kimber or Sig. Never the SW. So why no feeling for it? I have thought of selling it and maybe getting a Les Baer. But I wonder if I would be so worried about scratching it I would just put it away as well.

I have owned a few S&W offerings in 1911. They were all very nicely built/functional/looking guns. I just never got all gooey over them. No fault of the gun as I could find no functional fault with them. I even owned the Scandium framed piece twice. Maybe it was the extractor but I hope I am not that petty..........Well, maybe.

I have fondled Verts S&W's. they are very nice guns as well.

 

[jgreiner]

I guess that is part of what I am pondering. It is a beautiful pistol (other than the extractor). I just never shoot it or carry it. It sits in its box. I occasionally carry the Colt, Kimber or Sig. Never the SW. So why no feeling for it? I have thought of selling it and maybe getting a Les Baer. But I wonder if I would be so worried about scratching it I would just put it away as well.

i decided long ago that I loved shooting mine too much. and if i was going to carry, i wanted the weapon I could BEST defend myself with at my side. so, mine is anything but a safe queen.

Plus, when the dogs start barking at night, i love the NITE SIGHTS when i go outside.

 

[VERT]

Supposedly the external extractors are more reliable/durable but I really just don't like them aesthetically.

On a carry gun I guess it wouldn't matter though so long as it worked.

Can't argue this opinion at all. No reason not to shoot a pretty gun. But honestly on a carry gun I like the large Performance Center external extractor. That great big extractor really rips the case out during a malfunction drill. I also like the idea on the 9mm models as I have always questioned how well the extractor lines up with the case rim on a smaller diameter cartridge. Unfortunately the external extractors gained and bad reputation. I think Smith got theirs right on the Pro Series and E series SW1911s.

I guess that is part of what I am pondering. It is a beautiful pistol (other than the extractor). I just never shoot it or carry it. It sits in its box. I occasionally carry the Colt, Kimber or Sig. Never the SW. So why no feeling for it? I have thought of selling it and maybe getting a Les Baer. But I wonder if I would be so worried about scratching it I would just put it away as well.

Sell the Kimber, Sig and Smith then buy the Les Baer, Nighthawk or Wilson Combat. Then carry it and scratch it up with pride.

I have owned a few S&W offerings in 1911. They were all very nicely built/functional/looking guns. I just never got all gooey over them. No fault of the gun as I could find no functional fault with them. I even owned the Scandium framed piece twice. Maybe it was the extractor but I hope I am not that petty..........Well, maybe.

I have fondled Verts S&W's. they are very nice guns as well.

Nothing to really get gooey about. They are functional, mid grade, production 1911s. I have sentimental value invested in one of mine because it was a gift for my 15th anniversary. Otherwise I carry one and my wife keeps one (in 9mm) in a bedside safe. They are purely tools. I just find it easier to carry a 29 oz scandium gun then a 42 oz steel gun.

 

[calcot7]

Glock 1911

If Glock ever makes a 1911, I will buy 10 of them.

Eventually.......They probably will...........a striker fired 1911!

 

[VERT]

Eventually.......They probably will...........a striker fired 1911!

Striker fired polymer gun with a similar grip angle to a 1911. Too bad somebody doesn't market one of those.

 

[tackshot]

Before you decide, try to get your hands on a S&W 1911 E series Bobtail. (Mine is my avatar). I looked hard at Kimbers, Colts, and a host of others, but once I picked one of these up, it was true love. And the scary part is that it fits my hand so well, I shoot better with it than any other gun i own. Which is why it is now my daily carry.

The S&W is also cheaper than the Kimbers. Here is a review on it.

I held on today at cheeks in plainfield and OH MY GOD! it was so beautiful I can not stop thinking about it, my sights are set I will own one hopefully here soon

 

[Co Th G]

Supposedly the external extractors are more reliable/durable but I really just don't like them aesthetically.

On a carry gun I guess it wouldn't matter though so long as it worked.

Seem to recall them not working so well in MIMbers.

 

[VERT]

Seem to recall them not working so well in MIMbers.

My understanding is that Kimber had problems with their external extractor. Smith & Wesson and Sig Saurer seem to have figured it out. Of course both of those companies have experience with external extractors outside of the 1911 platform.

 

[jgreiner]

I held on today at cheeks in plainfield and OH MY GOD! it was so beautiful I can not stop thinking about it, my sights are set I will own one hopefully here soon

Believe me, it only gets worse once you own one.

BTW...they shoot better than they look.