- Feb 17, 2011
- 14,024
Who Makes The Best/Most Reliable 1911’s (if $ was no concern)
- Thread starter Mr.Blue
- Start date
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dist1646
Ultimate Member
It is tough to beat a 1911 built to original GI specs. The only modification would be throating the barrel if you plan on using hollow points.
TheOriginalMexicanBob
Ultimate Member
Better sights would help but the GI model will still do the job if you do yours.
davsco
Ultimate Member
wilson is really the only thing i've seen that is 100%. but even when i had some of those, still had a glock 31 at my bedside. i see a few nighthawk votes but of the only three i've seen, two had to go back. i had a baer for a little bit but it was way too tight from the factory and didn't cycle 100%, ain't my job to break in a gun i just pd several thousand for, so i sold it.
TheOriginalMexicanBob
Ultimate Member
Anything mechanical can wear and malfunction...regardless of make. One of the best and worst things about a 1911 is its flexibility and modularity. There are so many makers of 1911 parts...both good and bad...that any Bubba can mix in a bunch of parts thinking he'll have a world beater and all he has is a mechanical nightmare that doesn't work. It's like a small-block Chevy or most any make engine...you can throw in a bunch of quality parts to enhance its performance...but if you don't carefully match the parts to accomplish the desired results necessary for the mission it won't perform well. The 1911 is no different. The same goes for the AR platform...the Glock platform...just because everyone and their brother makes parts for them doesn't mean it will result in a fine tuned machine...it can easily result in a malfunctioning piece of garbage and Bubba will blame the gunmaker.
awesome about your dad
Yeas, I messed up. SR1911. Sorry, I was looking at an SR45 a couple of days ago.
Too late at night.
Yeas, I messed up. SR1911. Sorry, I was looking at an SR45 a couple of days ago.
Too late at night.
hodgepodge
Senior Member (Gold)
I love my Ruger SR1911. It's as accurate as heck.
But I am seriously thinking of a nice used Les Baer as a retirement gift in a year or two.
But I am seriously thinking of a nice used Les Baer as a retirement gift in a year or two.
I have a Sig 45 1911 and a Colt Delta Elite 10mm. Never a problem with either, but don't get to shoot them that much either...
One of the things that seems to be coming out of this thread is that no matter what particular brand of 1911 pistol various people have experience with, they all seem to be ok - no one outright said, "I had [insert manufacturer here] 1911 and it was pure garbage!"
My next pistol will likely be a Springfield RO. It just seems to have the right combination of build quality and upgraded parts vs price, and a few have said some nice things about it in this thread in regard to reliability. My only real quandary at this point is whether or not to get it Park'd or stainless.
My next pistol will likely be a Springfield RO. It just seems to have the right combination of build quality and upgraded parts vs price, and a few have said some nice things about it in this thread in regard to reliability. My only real quandary at this point is whether or not to get it Park'd or stainless.
Any of the above and none of the above, frankly. We can debate its merits all day, but one thing is true and it's that we've had a 100 years of experience figuring out 1911s, subsidized by massive amounts of tinkering and troubleshooting by the armed services. Barring a major flub from the factory, nearly any 1911 problem can be fixed by a competent 1911 smith, of which there are probably thousands.
Mr.Blue
Living In A Bizarro World
As did I!!!
wreckdiver
Ultimate Member
- Nov 13, 2008
- 2,938
I love my Dan Wesson too. However, it's been back to Dan Wesson and I wouldn't trust my life to it. Accurate as hell, but not 100% reliable. If I had to stake my life on any of my handguns it would be my Gen 2 Glock 17 that I've had since 1995.
Bullfrog
Ultimate Member
Actually.... there is a member here, can't recall the name, who had quite a bad experience with a Kimber and he's usually been quick to jump on every 'which 1911...' thread.
I've been wondering why he hasn't chimed in yet.... maybe sitting in an idling car on a cul-de-sac parked in front of a haunted house frantically trying to find his collector letter in the glove box.
Zorros
Ultimate Member
I have had my baer for nearly 20 yrs so memory fuzzy, but back then they suggested 500 rds to break it in. And i don’t like full length guide rods. Its never failed to fire, cycle, eject. But i would say it needs a lot of breaking in. Got a niceeee trigger and sights.
Anotherpyr
Ultimate Member
You forgot Cabot Guns http://cabotgun.com/oak-collection/the-big-bang-pistol-set/#1
I mean if you can make a matched pair from a meteor ...
Out of my price range. Of the 1911s I’ve owned, I thought the Springfield was the most reliable.
I mean if you can make a matched pair from a meteor ...
Out of my price range. Of the 1911s I’ve owned, I thought the Springfield was the most reliable.
Mr.Blue
Living In A Bizarro World
Yeah, I thought of them, but after I posted the poll. I’ve never seen one in person though.
somd_mustangs
-----
- Jul 1, 2012
- 5,732
Actually.... there is a member here, can't recall the name, who had quite a bad experience with a Kimber and he's usually been quick to jump on every 'which1911...' thread.
I've been wondering why he hasn't chimed in yet.... maybe sitting in an idling car on a cul-de-sac parked in front of a haunted house frantically trying to find his collector letter in the glove box.
Not_an_Outlaw? .... I was surprised he hasn't made an appearance yet...Do people actually shoot Cabot's, or just ogle them in their display case?
What about Guncrafter? (if price is no object)
I've had no issues with an old Colt c. 1915 shooting ball ammo (all new springs).
Not all that accurate, but then neither am I... it's good enough for government work
So far my Kimber Eclipse hasn't blown up, plus it has a great trigger.
It seems that those that own, voted for those. So, not many votes for brands that are super reliable. I voted for Nighthawk. A dream gun. But, who knows if it would being any more reliable than the random Remington R1 or RIA. Like buying a new car.
Magnumite
Ultimate Member
As mentioned, best is subjective. There are different configurations of the 1911, mostly found at the rear of the pistol. This will effect how the pistol feels, handkes and tracks when shooting and its shootability for a given person. Beyond that, the level of accurizing varies dependent on how much fitting one desires and wants to pay for. Contrary to internet myth, tight well assembled guns are not less reliable. One of the first 1911’s I ever rebarreled with a Kart exhibited smoother feeding from the first round on. The first one I ever built, Springer Mil Spec, using mostly just the original slide and frame exhibited a similar nature.
All the factory or armorer built 1911’s I owned were reliable. Ran well with no issues. Deviating from typical ammunition available usually yielded reloading adjustments or respringing. A couple were dead nuts match level accurate and never missed a beat.
The military 1911 and 1911-A1’s were good guns but had a couple short comings for more than a few shooters. Most of the modern 1911’s do address those short comings to varying degrees. Picking a 1911 one needs to handle and try to shoot several makes to see which is most shootable for you. All beavertail grip safeties and frames are not identically profiled. Then choose the features you desire and need. Once you get past the fit to the hand, accuacy level desired, sights, and trigger quality the rest is bling (maybe not depending in particular environments or needs). Then choose a model in that brand that works for you, shoot and be happy.
I personally have a few makes I like. Colts do not overwhelmingly inhabit my safe because I don’t care to pay a premium for the horsie when its everyone else’s developments built into their pistols. Lately, though, Colt seems to finally be getting a clue. There is even a model I have been eyeing lately. Ruger, Springfield, Series I Kimbers, Colt, Wilson...Rock Island...one could be happy with any of those on the performance level they chose.
All the factory or armorer built 1911’s I owned were reliable. Ran well with no issues. Deviating from typical ammunition available usually yielded reloading adjustments or respringing. A couple were dead nuts match level accurate and never missed a beat.
The military 1911 and 1911-A1’s were good guns but had a couple short comings for more than a few shooters. Most of the modern 1911’s do address those short comings to varying degrees. Picking a 1911 one needs to handle and try to shoot several makes to see which is most shootable for you. All beavertail grip safeties and frames are not identically profiled. Then choose the features you desire and need. Once you get past the fit to the hand, accuacy level desired, sights, and trigger quality the rest is bling (maybe not depending in particular environments or needs). Then choose a model in that brand that works for you, shoot and be happy.
I personally have a few makes I like. Colts do not overwhelmingly inhabit my safe because I don’t care to pay a premium for the horsie when its everyone else’s developments built into their pistols. Lately, though, Colt seems to finally be getting a clue. There is even a model I have been eyeing lately. Ruger, Springfield, Series I Kimbers, Colt, Wilson...Rock Island...one could be happy with any of those on the performance level they chose.
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