Qustion on New 1911 Versions

View · by **Le Pistolero** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:07 am

I'm in the market and I'd like to hear opinion about the Remington, Ruger, and any other recent new versions of the old 1911 that have come out.

What's the best? Jeff Cooper fan!

View · by **Eric Marleau** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 11:43 am

I have an R1 and for the price the quality is really good.
Fit and feel are much like the old GI 1911s, but it is not in the same quality league as my Springfield Range Officer or my Kimber Custom Target II.
However, it is much better out of the box, and has much better quality consistency than my PT 1911 which I had to send back to Taurus for issues.
I've never shot the Ruger, but with Ruger you know what you are getting and that isn't too bad of a firearm.

Eric

View · by **rugersol** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:12 pm

... may be a little out of date?!

I recently acquired a Ruger 1911! (http://www.mnguntalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=37819&p=419222&hilit=ruger+1911#p419222) ... frankly, if not fer the ****ed up beavertail (with the 1/4in scallops cut out of it, leavin' a 90° corner to rub on yer thumb-knuckle), it's a very nice pistol! Mine was ever-so-gently used ... but it was 100% as is! ... IIRC, it shot a bit low fer me ... but, frankly, lately, it seems like a lotta brand new pistols don't shoot anywhere near POA! :roll:

As of yet, IMO, no one (reliably) makes the best 1911 (fer under $1,500) ... Colt's "Wiley Clapp" models come very, very close, though! ... albeit, nearly $1,500! At which, ya'll need to compromise something ... I made that chart, to help folks figure out what they might be willin' to compromise on!

FWIW, I would not compromise the warranty!

View · by **PRS** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:46 pm

I'm a big fan of the Springfield Loaded. The R1's have had some very serious quality control issues with fit and finish.

View · by **Snowgun** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:47 pm

rugersol wrote:

... may be a little out of date?!

I recently acquired a Ruger 1911! (http://www.mnguntalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=37819&p=419222&hilit=ruger+1911#p419222) ... frankly, if not fer the ****ed up beavertail (with the 1/4in scallops cut out of it, leavin' a 90° corner to rub on yer thumb-knuckle), it's a very nice pistol! Mine was ever-so-gently used ... but it was 100% as is! ... IIRC, it shot a bit low fer me ... but, frankly, lately, it seems like a lotta brand new pistols don't shoot anywhere near POA!

As of yet, IMO, no one (reliably) makes the best 1911 (fer under $1,500) ... Colt's "Wiley Clapp" models come very, very close, though! ... albeit, nearly $1,500! At which, ya'll need to compromise something ... I made that chart, to help folks figure out what they might be willin' to compromise on!

FWIW, I would not compromise the warranty!

You need to update that chart (though it is an awesome chart BTW).

I think the Springfield Loaded is quite possibly the best bang for your buck that you can obtain. It's just a bitch to find one.

View · by **PRS** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:49 pm

Arnzen Arms has two of them.....

View · by **rugersol** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 12:55 pm

Snowgun wrote:(though it is an awesome chart BTW)

Thanks!

Snowgun wrote:You need to update that chart

Prices, maybe?! ... available SKU, possibly?! ... what, exactly?!

I'd be happy to update anything that's out of date ... given a proper link to more accurate info! :geek:

Snowgun wrote:I think the Springfield Loaded is quite possibly the best bang for your buck that you can obtain. It's just a bitch to find one.

Ya sayin' I should replace the RO with the Loaded?!

View · by **gunforhire** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:32 pm

If you like to tinker or don't mind a gunsmithing bill, maybe start with a Springfield Mil spec? the common upgrade parts are cheap enough to obtain, but the best ones need to be carefully fitted to the gun. I am in the process of obtaining my stack o parts, and basically I am going to end up with a non colt-colt CCG in stainless(if you need a comparable gun to reference) I don't want or need front cocking serrations or a ambi safety, but that's me, your mileage may vary and I am by no means a expert on the 1911 platform because I just got one a month ago.

View · by **Snowgun** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 1:47 pm

PRS wrote:Arnzen Arms has two of them.....

I call BS. I havn't seen them there. You must be thinking of another model.

View · by **Le Pistolero** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:08 pm

Thankks for info and especially the good chart.

Refining this a bit, though that Springfld loaded is great, my interest is more like basic andz simple but still high quality that can be expected to be totaly reliable. Forged instead of cast frame and slide would be good.

View · by **rugersol** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:11 pm

Le Pistolero wrote:Forged instead of cast frame and slide would be good.

... don't know of anyone usin' a cast slide ... so I don't think ya gotta worry about that?!

From that chart, that leaves ya with a Colt, S&W, 'er Springfield ... not a horrible field to choose from!

View · by **Le Pistolero** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:53 pm

It may be that the Springfld Mil Spec will turn out to be what I'm looking for.

View · by **rugersol** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:58 pm

Le Pistolero wrote:It may be that the Springfld Mil Spec will turn out to be what I'm looking for.

FWIW, Colt has a very nice 70-Series "mil-spec" ... albeit, fer a couple hunderd, more!

Only thing with mil-spec's is the grip-safety and hammer ... the mil-spec grip-safety does nothing to protect the web of yer hand, from the mil-spec spur hammer! :cry:

Purdy much everything ya'd wanna replace on a mil-spec 1911 is a drop-in part (ya basically detail-strip the pistol, re-assemble, replacing whatever new parts, ya bought!) ... except, for a beavertail grip-safety! Some folks try a "drop-in beavertail" ... IMO, it's even worse than the mil-spec! That said, if ya can find a good gunsmith, fitting a nice beavertail shouldn't run much more than $100!

If nothing else, plan to pick up a new Commander hammer fer $10-ish and drop it in!

View · by **Snowgun** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 2:58 pm

Le Pistolero wrote:It may be that the Springfld Mil Spec will turn out to be what I'm looking for.

Very solid choice with plenty of room for upgrades later.

View · by **Eric Marleau** on Tue Mar 05, 2013 3:44 pm

It's the big thing on gun boards to state that you will buy a gun then take it to a gunsmith for refitting.
My idea is to get the gun that I want and go shoot it.
Most 1911s theses days shoot pretty good right out of the box.

I bought both my R1 and Springfied Range Officer last year.
I am getting what I expected out of both. Actually, more than I expected out of the RO.
It is supposed to be the bare bones version of the more expensive Springfields, but with workmanship and tolerances the same.
Using my Presision Black Bullet reloads, I have achieved amazing results shooting at 25 yards, which would make me happy with a gun costing twice as much.
Just pick out the gun that you want, forget the upgrade for now, except maybe a good trigger job, go to the range and have fun with it. {P.S.--My R1 is heading to the gunsmith later this month for a trigger job}

Eric