1911 choices

1548 Views 11 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Overkill0084, Feb 14, 2013

custom1911

Discussion Starter · Feb 12, 2013

So I've had many many 1911"s over the years but I don't currently have one. I'm in the market hard for one and I've narrowed it down too three! I'm looking at the Springfield range officer, kimber stainless target 2 or the colt gold up trophy. I assume that the kimber and SA will run about the same as far as action and accuracy. But the big question is it worth the extra money to buy the colt? I've had several several Kimbers and from my experience the more u spend the guns don't get any better, unless u step to the custom shop series obviously. U get more bells an whistles but the gun itself isn't any better. So would it be worth spending the extra 500 to buy the colt or will they shoot the same as far as recoil and accuracy? I hope someone is knowledgeable about SA and colt bc I am def not!

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broke-again124

· #2 · Feb 14, 2013

custom1911 said:
So I've had many many 1911"s over the years but I don't currently have one. I'm in the market hard for one and I've narrowed it down too three! I'm looking at the Springfield range officer, kimber stainless target 2 or the colt gold up trophy. I assume that the kimber and SA will run about the same as far as action and accuracy. But the big question is it worth the extra money to buy the colt? I've had several several Kimbers and from my experience the more u spend the guns don't get any better, unless u step to the custom shop series obviously. U get more bells an whistles but the gun itself isn't any better. So would it be worth spending the extra 500 to buy the colt or will they shoot the same as far as recoil and accuracy? I hope someone is knowledgeable about SA and colt bc I am def not!

That's your problem, you've been dealing with kimbers. Beautiful guns sure. Way overpriced for what you get in my opinion. Colt gold cup is THE 1911 all others are compared too. For the money, you can't get a better deal than a range officer in my opinion. The kimber is pretty but so is the plastic chrome on my baby boys battery powered Harley. Really pretty, but won't last long. I'd go RO, but a gold cup sure is iconic.

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Axxe55

· #3 · Feb 14, 2013

if you can afford it, get the Colt. i seriously doubt that many regret ever buying a Colt 1911.

i like the SA Range Officer and have owned several SA 1911's over the years and still currently own one, but Colt is just one fine pistol and there's no way of etting around that fact.

the Kimber's look nice and some people are very pleased with them, but IMO, they are a little overpriced and have too short a warranty period for the amount of maoney spent.

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barnjoer

· #4 · Feb 14, 2013

In my book the Springfield is the one that all others are copied after!!!

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Olympus

· #5 · Feb 14, 2013

barnjoer said:
In my book the Springfield is the one that all others are copied after!!!

I think a lot of people would strongly disagree with your book. Springfield makes some decent guns, but none of their sub-$1000 guns impress me. Trophy Match and TRP are the only ones that raise an eyebrow for me.

If the OP is only considering those options then the Gold Cup would easily be my choice.

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Squawk

· #6 · Feb 14, 2013

I believe if you look up 1911 pistol in the dictionary, you will find a picture of a Colt 1911.

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broke-again124

· #7 · Feb 14, 2013

Olympus said:
I think a lot of people would strongly disagree with your book. Springfield makes some decent guns, but none of their sub-$1000 guns impress me. Trophy Match and TRP are the only ones that raise an eyebrow for me.

If the OP is only considering those options then the Gold Cup would easily be my choice.

Not even the RO impresses you? That's a ton of gun for the money!!

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HOSSFLY

· #8 · Feb 14, 2013

barnjoer said:
In my book the Springfield is the one that all others are copied after!!!

Not hardly----------
Go Colt

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trip286

· #9 · Feb 14, 2013

custom1911 said:
I've had several several Kimbers and from my experience the more u spend the guns don't get any better, unless u step to the custom shop series obviously. U get more bells an whistles but the gun itself isn't any better. So would it be worth spending the extra 500 to buy the colt or will they shoot the same as far as recoil and accuracy?

If you feel that more money doesn't get you more gun, but only more bells and whistles...

Then maybe a home build is in order. I would start with a cheaper basic model from a reputable maker, like a 70 series Colt or SA milspec. You could also go completely custom and just get a frame/slide set from a company like Caspian and build completely from the ground up.

I priced out a custom build about this time last year, and I could build one EXACTLY how I want it for about $1,100.

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Olympus

· #10 · Feb 14, 2013

broke-again124 said:
Not even the RO impresses you? That's a ton of gun for the money!!

Not especially. I don't see the TRP quality that they are marketing it to have. Don't get me wrong, it's still a good gun. But there are a lot of other good guns in the same price range. And the RO, to me, doesn't stand out in the crowd. That's just my take on it.

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Stillersfan

· #11 · Feb 14, 2013

My first choice would be to get the Kimber but you stated that you were already against doing that so my next choice would be the SA. Worth the money all the way and you cant beat the warranty!

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Overkill0084

· #12 · Feb 14, 2013

custom1911 said:
So I've had many many 1911"s over the years but I don't currently have one. I'm in the market hard for one and I've narrowed it down too three! I'm looking at the Springfield range officer, kimber stainless target 2 or the colt gold up trophy. I assume that the kimber and SA will run about the same as far as action and accuracy. But the big question is it worth the extra money to buy the colt? I've had several several Kimbers and from my experience the more u spend the guns don't get any better, unless u step to the custom shop series obviously. U get more bells an whistles but the gun itself isn't any better. So would it be worth spending the extra 500 to buy the colt or will they shoot the same as far as recoil and accuracy? I hope someone is knowledgeable about SA and colt bc I am def not!

The Range Officer is a bit more entry level when compared to the rest of the group you are considering. A fine shooter, but not a direct competitor for a Gold Cup or even the Target II. Nor is it intended to be. It's designed to get price conscious shooters into the game. Which it does nicely. It would very likely serve you well for many years, but it's no Gold Cup. Of the Springfield stable, a fairer comparison would be with the Trophy Match.
Of your three choices, to the exclusion of all other options, I'd go with the Colt.
I have a problem with Kimber's one year warranty. IMHO, if you want to play in the big leagues with a premium price structure, you should have a competitive warranty. (Whether you buy into Kimber's reputation for lapses in quality is an entirely different discussion.)
FWIW, I own a SA Trophy Match and it is an excellent pistol.
Oh, one more thing about Springfields, you will want to budget for a trigger job. One humorous explanation that I've heard is that the Springfield Armory Legal Department does the triggers. While not horrible, the trigger on my TM didn't hold a candle to the ones on my Dan Wessons. One $45 trigger job later and it's excellent.
Say...Have you had a look at the Dan Wesson product line?

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