Who Makes The Best/Most Reliable 1911’s (if $ was no concern)

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  • Who Makes The Best/Most Reliable 1911’s (if $ was not a concern)?

    • Colt

      Votes: 33 23.7%
    • Dan Wesson

      Votes: 5 3.6%
    • Nighthawk Custom

      Votes: 7 5.0%
    • Wilson Combat

      Votes: 16 11.5%
    • Ed Brown

      Votes: 9 6.5%
    • Les Baer

      Votes: 12 8.6%
    • RIA

      Votes: 5 3.6%
    • Springfield Armory

      Votes: 19 13.7%
    • Sig Sauer

      Votes: 7 5.0%
    • Kimber

      Votes: 5 3.6%
    • STI

      Votes: 5 3.6%
    • Ruger

      Votes: 4 2.9%
    • S&W

      Votes: 1 0.7%
    • Other (sorry if I forgot someone)

      Votes: 11 7.9%

    • Total voters
      139

    Mr.Blue

    Living In A Bizarro World
    Nov 21, 2011
    1,523
    Miserable in MD
    If money was not a concern, what brand of 1911 would you trust your life with? Yes, I’m aware there are more reliable platforms out there, but humor me. I just have a love of the 1911 and its history. It is pure Americana.
     

    bob finger

    Member
    Jul 24, 2016
    66
    The one in my hand that has never failed to fire, ever. One of my RO's has never failed to fire, ever. Cannot say that about all of mine. bob
     

    TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,178
    Sun City West, AZ
    I have a number of Colts in .45 ACP and 10mm...all have proven perfectly reliable and superbly accurate. I've little experience with other makes but I'm sure there are others equally as good. The boutique, expensive custom pistols may well be nice but for my purposes they're no better. I've heard good things about Rock Island but other makes have mixed reviews from those I know who have used them.
     

    MattTheGunslinger

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 26, 2010
    1,373
    Baltimore county
    My very limited experience tells me Colt. I had a RIA that only malfunctioned once in about 1200rds and it was a JHP with factory supplied mag. My Colt 1991 has about 2200rds with no malfunctions at all with JHP or FMJ. Ran the Colt with Chip McCormick, Checkmate, and factory mags.
     

    Mr.Blue

    Living In A Bizarro World
    Nov 21, 2011
    1,523
    Miserable in MD
    My very limited experience tells me Colt. I had a RIA that only malfunctioned once in about 1200rds and it was a JHP with factory supplied mag. My Colt 1991 has about 2200rds with no malfunctions at all with JHP or FMJ. Ran the Colt with Chip McCormick, Checkmate, and factory mags.

    I have limited experience as far as different brands. I have only owned 1911’s from the below companies:

    Colt
    Dan Wesson
    Wilson Combat
    Nighthawk
     

    Racer Doug14

    Thread killer
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Feb 22, 2013
    8,003
    Millers Maryland
    As a small sample size. I've owned only two 1911s. Colt and Sig. Both never gave me any issues. My radar has picked up that Kimber is the one to be cautious of. YMMV. To the question posed. I would not kick Nighthawk or WC out of bed for eating crackers.
     

    StantonCree

    Watch your beer
    Jan 23, 2011
    23,932
    My Colt runs great but i never shoot it, not a fan of the platform besides visually. I’m really loving the Wilson EDC X9 but obviously no experience
     

    Mr.Blue

    Living In A Bizarro World
    Nov 21, 2011
    1,523
    Miserable in MD
    My Colt runs great but i never shoot it, not a fan of the platform besides visually. I’m really loving the Wilson EDC X9 but obviously no experience

    I too have my eye on the WC EDC X9. It sure is purty and has the right capacity too.
     

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    boothdoc

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 23, 2008
    5,133
    Frederick county
    I love my TRPs and also my Colts. No issues ever. The only one that ever failed to fire was my Kimber(only one I own). I won’t be buying another kimber but the rest I have go great
     

    Mr.Blue

    Living In A Bizarro World
    Nov 21, 2011
    1,523
    Miserable in MD
    I’m surprised there are no votes for Dan Wesson so far. I think DW would have been my vote after WC. I love both my Specialist and Silverback. My Valor was nice too, but I sold it to finance a WC.
     

    Huckleberry

    No One of Consequence
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 19, 2007
    23,313
    Severn & Lewes
    There are no perfect 1911s. Only those have had a FTF and those that are going to have a FTF. Just like life, the shooter does not know the when and where so he must always be prepared for how to deal with it.

    But if I could have only one and one only then I would buy an Ed Brown, probably one of his Special Forces.
     
    Last edited:

    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    Gotta put a lot of rounds thru a les baer before it loosens up enough to be reliable. Never had the other fancy 1911s but bet its the same. The 1911s we were issued in the MPs were rattle traps, but always functioned.
     

    Mr.Blue

    Living In A Bizarro World
    Nov 21, 2011
    1,523
    Miserable in MD
    Gotta put a lot of rounds thru a les baer before it losens up enough to be reliable. Never had the other fancy 1911s but bet its the same. The 1911s we were issued in the MPs were rattle traps, but always functioned.

    My WC’s have been good to go from the first round. My Nighthawk too. One Dan Wesson needed to be broken in.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    I have Colt's and even including the mid-90s POS LW Commander, they have been dead reliable.

    My Para P14 .45 was problematic until I got a few hundred rounds through it, then it was super reliable.
     

    jimbobborg

    Oddball caliber fan
    Aug 2, 2010
    17,112
    Northern Virginia
    I’m surprised there are no votes for Dan Wesson so far. I think DW would have been my vote after WC. I love both my Specialist and Silverback. My Valor was nice too, but I sold it to finance a WC.

    I have a DW Silverback. It is the third most expensive 1911 behind my STI DVC and my SVI-STI custom. I would not trust my life to a competition pistol. I would trust it to the DW or the SA.
     

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