MNGunTalk.com

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Nighthawks are pretty cool. Now, I just happen to know a guy...

Unless someone lets me shoot theirs I don't think I will ever have first hand knowledge of this subject

Knowing nothing of your background my first question is: Do you already own a 1911? If not I would think that spending the kind of money the Nighthawks, Wilsons and even some Kimbers are commanding is a little steep; unless to you that amount of money is pocket change. If your testing the waters then I would look at the S&W, Springfields Loaded, Sig, Colts, Para and even Taurus. You may find that dealing with a 1911 is too much bother because you're more of a point and shoot kind of guy (pun intended).

First there is size. 3, 4, 4.25, and 5 inch barrels are the most common. Then there is capacity. Most are 7-8 in the magazine plus one in the chamber. Feel the need for more? Para and Springfields make large capacity models. Alloy or steel frame? What finish do you want?

I have two; a Colt Combat Commander with a nickel satin finish and a parkerized Springfield 1911 Govt model. For Concealed Carry I really like the size of the Commander. I'm trying to warm up to the Govt for concealed carry, but it just seems...long and heavy. Both have been enhanced with better sights and triggers. For carry I would stay away from the basic govt model (although some folks do use them).

Others here are much more qualified to sing the praises of the different models. I'd just hate to see you sink that kind of money into something only to become disatisfied 6 months later.

(Don't mean to rain on your parade Pat)

JoeH: Could you relate your story about your experience with the S&W M&P vs your 1911's?

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Here is the 1911 forum.

More information / opinions than you'll ever need.

http://forums.1911forum.com/

I own Wilsons, Kimbers, Springfields and Colts, they all work. Some cost more than others. Are the $2,000 Wilsons twice as good as the others? I can't really say I could justify the price difference.

r.

Buy the Taurus and give the rest to charity. There's an opinion for you.

macphisto wrote:Buy the Taurus and give the rest to charity. There's an opinion for you.

I recommend the 'Save the Wally' fund.

Opps, thread drift.

I too have was considering purchasing a Kimber for my first 1911. I currently carry a Sig P220 Carry everyday but am interested in a 1911. I just purchased this one the blued one on the bottom. I am also considering picking a fusion if I like the 1911. I have not shot a 1911 in many years and have not owned yet. Should have it next week.



My next one will be this one if I like the 1911 format. I will have Bob change the sight to 3 dot NS though.

I appreciate where you are coming from.

There are several top line 1911 builders. Ed Brown, the boys at Nighthawk, Wilson, cylinder and slide, Heinie, Novaks, the boys at YoBo, and Les Baer, (I know I am missing some) They all make TOP NOTCH guns. I like Ed, and I like Charlie at C&S. They treat you like a human and do not ridicule you if you want something out of the ordinary, as long as they are comfortable with the function of your choice. Just slightly below these guys are the , STI's, Rock River and EVO gun works, All of these are really really good guns that should function like a good watch and work for a long long time.

Mind you, the prices on the above all dependent on the amount of shop time spent making them. The basic custon gun should run about 1200 to 1500 street cost, that is, a 1911A1 with a set of good fixed sights, a 4 or so pound trigger, a fitted slide and frame, and all the bits properly fitted and finished. The big jumps in costs, are when people want a stone reliable 2 pound trigger, 50 LPI checkering on the back of the slide, 40 lpi on the hammer, safety and front of trigger guard, 30 lpi on the main spring housing, the front strap and the memory pad of the grip safety, with a welded and blended mag well opening, with yada, yada, yada. If the shop charges out at 50 dollars an hour, it does not take long to add another 20 to 30 hours of work to a gun. and that adds up fast. add fancy leather and real ivory grips, and a 5000 dollar package can show up.

Perhaps the most complete show case of the art of the 1911 is the "Louder Than Words" gun porn sight. There are several builder there who have pooled to make a website. YoBo is the most prolific, but the other guys do good work and maybe less in demand.

Also, Ed Brown, Cylinder and Slide, Les Baer, and some others have pretty good websights where you see what you like from their stuff and why they do what the do.

That all said, you can get an awful lot of pistol for a $1000 or so now. Competition has driven prices down on the factory hot rod models, S&W, STI, SA and Kimber have some guns out there that give you a lot for the dollar. Kimber has had some growth issues, Springer in the custom shop guns has been pretty steady, and I am constant impressed with the accuracy of the new S&W 1911's. The Gunsite version I played with this week is one of the more accurate 1911's I have shot in a very long time. My only personal complaint on the S&W is the external extractor, but after a million of so external extractor 39 and 59 series pistols, I think they probably know what they are doing.

justaguy wrote:I don’t want match grade I want combat grade

IF you stick with this, then is a $2000 weapon bettter than a $1000 one, NO!

Keep in mind that somewhere between many and most here shoot paper and do not take them out unless the weather is perfect, no offense intended, but that is fact, thus the answers are going to far more favor match grade, i.e. Baer, Wilson, Custom shop, etc.

Thus, my answer, IF I liked 1911's, would tend to be to point you to ones that are at or just below $1000, and that are combat proven. Would I trust my life to a weapon like this....I have, I do, and I will continue to do so, and so do many in uniforms in real situations, it's their opinion and experience that I trust..................

So, IF you like the Kimber (Raptor) or Springfield (TRP) class/type/price, get it, it will last a lifetime and you will never "need" to buy a more expensive one, but you may "want" a more expensive one, but then that is you choice..

Springfield Armory Loaded.

If you have the extra cash, I have 3 Les Baers, so I guess that speaks for itself.

justaguy wrote:I know there are metal and aluminum frames.

justaguy wrote:This is a small community that I thought I would ask what the difference is between a $2000 gun and a $1000 gun, besides the $1000.

What extra do you get for the $1000? Ambi-safety? Super fancy grips? Different Sights? Super tight put a .45 on a knat's ass at 100 yards? If the manufacture isn't talking about their sales don't buy it. Is any of that stuff worth $1000? As for specific manufactures of 1911s you will meet people who have a strong opinion one way or the other (welcome to gun people and the internet). What matters is why they have those opinions. Some people get one bad gun and bitch and moan for the rest of their lives, some people get bad gun after bad gun and are still a life long customer and when asked will say they have never had a problem.

justaguy wrote:I would even better like to hear from someone that would say 1911’s suck don’t spend the money everyone here is a liar.

1911s both suck and blow. Why would you want a safety that you have to turn off on carry hardware? Only 7 or 8 +1? How about 13+1 in a frame that you can hold? Go check out the Springfield XD .45 Compact. It has a smaller grip then their full size .45s and is easy to hold on to. As for weight it will be lighter then a 1911 so you will be more likely to carry it. As for price an XD will cost you less then $600, get a $150 trigger job from Canyon Creek, a set of night sights for $100, maybe a bit of grip texturing for $10. Take all of that extra money you have saved and practice, practice, practice. If you don't know how to use it, it is useless.