[97cobra]

What is the absolute best 1911 to buy?

[AznZOhAn]

It depends on how deep are you pockets and what you're using it for. It also depends on the weight you like, the finish you want, how loose you like a gun, caliber, and etc.

[Jpyle]

Unfortunately, like many things in life there are no absolutes...what is best for me may not be best for you or anyone else. Neither price nor reputation makes any one gun the absolute best...I believe that Canebrake once posted a very informative essay on the diminishing returns on 1911 costs, once you get above $1,500 or so the additional price gets you less and less improvements in quality and hardly any performance increase.

Generally, the best for you would be the gun that feels good in your hands as well as being the one that you are most comfortable and confident handling and shooting. Another major consideration is purpose...are you looking for a competition gun, a carry gun, a range gun, a home defense gun, etc. What is your budget....some are willing and able to spend $3,000 for a custom Nighthawk while others love their $600 Rock Island, both guns are equally capable of delivering a threat stopping double tap.

A few models that seem to garner praise from their owners are Colt, Nighthawk, Springfield Armory, Smith & Wesson, Kimber, Dan Wesson (pre CZ USA), Ruger and Remington. (apologies for any I have missed )

Help us out and fill in some of the details mentioned above and elaborate a little on what it is you are looking for. Above all else visit a couple of gun shops or ranges and check out several different models and sizes, i.e. Full Size (government), commander (compact) or agent (sub-compact).

Have fun and good luck...

[Firearms4ever]

Agreed. So far the best 1911 I have handled and fired is a tie between my Springfield 1911A1 and a Sig 1911. For me the best 1911 is a GI configuration with a 3 dot sight system like my Springfield or a Colt. So far the best 1911A1 I have experience with is my Springfield and the best 1911 I have fired was a Sig, but the best 1911 I have handled was a Colt Series 80 1991 model. Canebrake will most likely tell you the best 1911 is a Colt and I have to agree with him, but as to what particular model is where we might disagree based on our own preferences.

[danf_fl]

I like the Ed Brown's line. He provides pistols to some of our fighting elite.

[97cobra]

Originally Posted by Jpyle

Unfortunately, like many things in life there are no absolutes...what is best for me may not be best for you or anyone else. Neither price nor reputation makes any one gun the absolute best...I believe that Canebrake once posted a very informative essay on the diminishing returns on 1911 costs, once you get above $1,500 or so the additional price gets you less and less improvements in quality and hardly any performance increase.

Generally, the best for you would be the gun that feels good in your hands as well as being the one that you are most comfortable and confident handling and shooting. Another major consideration is purpose...are you looking for a competition gun, a carry gun, a range gun, a home defense gun, etc. What is your budget....some are willing and able to spend $3,000 for a custom Nighthawk while others love their $600 Rock Island, both guns are equally capable of delivering a threat stopping double tap.

A few models that seem to garner praise from their owners are Colt, Nighthawk, Springfield Armory, Smith & Wesson, Kimber, Dan Wesson (pre CZ USA), Ruger and Remington. (apologies for any I have missed )

Help us out and fill in some of the details mentioned above and elaborate a little on what it is you are looking for. Above all else visit a couple of gun shops or ranges and check out several different models and sizes, i.e. Full Size (government), commander (compact) or agent (sub-compact).

Have fun and good luck...

I'm looking to use it as a range and home defense gun. Probably in the $1500 range and when I was looking at colts custom options all but one were single action. What's that all about?

[mesinge2]

Originally Posted by 97cobra

I'm looking to use it as a range and home defense gun. Probably in the $1500 range and when I was looking at colts custom options all but one were single action. What's that all about?

All 1911s are single action, except certain DAO models and those are not 'true' 1911s.

"Single-action semi-automatic pistols require that the hammer be cocked before the first round can be fired, although most designs cock the hammer as part of the loading process (e.g., the act of inserting the magazine and operating the slide mechanism to chamber the first round also cocks the hammer or striker into the ready-to-fire position). Once the first round is fired, the automatic movement (recoil) of the slide cocks the hammer for each subsequent shot. The pistol, once cocked, can be fired by pulling the trigger once for each shot until the magazine is empty. The M1911 and Browning Hi-Power are single-action pistols that function in this manner. ." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_(firearms)

[canebrake]

Originally Posted by 97cobra

What is the absolute best 1911 to buy?

IMHO, send your Colt (or BHP) of choice to Ted Yost, Heirloom Precision, Tempe, AZ and have him do a Signature Grade conversion. (Starts at $4,995 + your gun + shipping.)

Heirloom Precision

I would send him a Colt LW Commander and have it done like this:





^ Ted Yost Signature Grade Conversion



^ Built by Jason Burton of Heirloom Precision.



^ Built by Steve Bailey of Heirloom Precision.

Some additional Heirloom Precision guns:

[97cobra]

Originally Posted by canebrake

IMHO, send your Colt (or BHP) of choice to Ted Yost, Heirloom Precision, Tempe, AZ and have him do a Signature Grade conversion. (Starts at $4,995 + your gun + shipping.)

Heirloom Precision

I would send him a Colt LW Commander and have it done like this:

^ Ted Yost Signature Grade Conversion

^ Built by Jason Burton of Heirloom Precision.

^ Built by Steve Bailey of Heirloom Precision.

Some additional Heirloom Precision guns:

What is the signature grade conversion? Based on the threads I've read I've heard you are an extremely excellent person to ask questions. Around how much would the total be including everything.

[97cobra]

Originally Posted by mesinge2

All 1911s are single action, except certain DAO models and those are not 'true' 1911s.

"Single-action semi-automatic pistols require that the hammer be cocked before the first round can be fired, although most designs cock the hammer as part of the loading process (e.g., the act of inserting the magazine and operating the slide mechanism to chamber the first round also cocks the hammer or striker into the ready-to-fire position). Once the first round is fired, the automatic movement (recoil) of the slide cocks the hammer for each subsequent shot. The pistol, once cocked, can be fired by pulling the trigger once for each shot until the magazine is empty. The M1911 and Browning Hi-Power are single-action pistols that function in this manner. ." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_(firearms)

Ok. I read that on colts website and thought cocking the hammer everytime is what they meant. Thanks for clearing that up. I suppose if I thought about it at all I would have realized that the slide would cock the hammer back once fired lol.