1911 ready to go out of the box

[KI4LIV]

I have about $650 (maybe $700) that I can spend, and am looking at NIB 1911's.

I want one with a beavertail safety to prevent hammer bite, and it must be able to reliably feed JHP ammo right out of the box. RIA has said themselves that all they can guarantee is ball ammo - so obviously some work will need to be done to the pistol... Nope - I want it to work out of the box.

The finish must be good and even (Recent posts here and other 1911forums have scared me away from the Taurus PT1911 because of uneven finish, and wear already occuring after such a short period of time!) - stainless if possible, but either way I need one with a finish that will resist corrosion a little better than plain blue, as I will occasionally carry this pistol.

Hi-cap is an option...but not a must.

Calibers other than .45ACP are fine - but no smaller than 9mm.

Sights - plain jane government style is fine by me.

Am I asking too much for spending so little?

Any suggestions of what brand/model to go with?

[Baldy]

Get a Mil-spec SA. Don't worry about rust, unless you never clean it. JHP ammo is a flip of the coin. You got to find what works for your pistol after it's broke in. At $700 you are so close to getting a better all around pistol. Why not wait a little longer.
I got a 1911 S&W PD scandium for $714 + tax. Shop around and save. Go to gun shows, and go to the range and talk to people. You'll find one. Good Luck

[KI4LIV]

Get a Mil-spec SA. Don't worry about rust, unless you never clean it. JHP ammo is a flip of the coin. You got to find what works for your pistol after it's broke in. At $700 you are so close to getting a better all around pistol. Why not wait a little longer.
I got a 1911 S&W PD scandium for $714 + tax. Shop around and save. Go to gun shows, and go to the range and talk to people. You'll find one. Good Luck

The Mil-spec doesn't have the beaver-tail safety - I fired an RIA this past weekend and am still doctoring the hole in my hand from the hammer bite! I could be wrong though - but I could swear it didn't have one.

[garrettwc]

KI4LIV, welcome to the forum.

Am I asking too much for spending so little?
Maybe, unless you would consider used. In order to get a beavertail from the factory, you are looking at Dan Wesson, Kimber, Springfield Loaded, Colt XSE, and S&W off the top of my head. $650 -700 is going to be the minimum if you are patient and really shop around. Add stainless into the mix and that bumps it up another $50-100 depending on the brand.

We just did this thread a couple of days ago. Try the search function and look at what has already been posted.

Nope - I want it to work out of the box.
Then get a Glock or a Sig. Not trying to be sarcastic, that's just the way it is. And even those would be iffy.

The only person who can say a 1911(or any other gun for that matter) is reliable out of the box is you. It would apply only to your 1911, and only after you have personally verified it by shooting 200-500 rounds of your chosen carry ammo through it.

[wichaka]

A modern production 1911 (made in the last 20 years or so) will need a little gunsmith attention at some point in its life.

It is not the same as the GI issue gun that was handcrafted at the Colt factory almost 100 years ago. When Colt first started producing the gun, they were the only ones making it - their parts, their mags, ammo to their spec.

Problem is, the 1911 is now made with parts by various venders and made to various specs that are not close to the original, and is fed with ammo and mags that have the same problems.

This is the reason why the 1911 does well with tuning by a knowledgeable 1911 'smith, something that it most of the time does not get nowadays at the factory.

The 1911 also needs proper care and cleaning to be fully reliable. You take care of it, it will (and I guarantee) take care of you.

[pa_guns]

Hi

I own a number of pistols. I'm not sure I would call *any* of them totaly reliable straight out of the box on 100% of what is made. The closest you probably will come will be with a non-1911 pistol. A Sig P-226 might be an interesting one to look at.

On a 1911, the Smith and Wesson SW 1911 has shown up for time to time at around $650. It's got all the features you are looking for and it's stainless steel. They are as reliable as any 1911 and more reliable than a few that will remain nameless.

The big difference with a 1911 is that they are *easy* to work on. A number of the other pistols I own are a real bear to work on. They may be slightly more reliable out of the box. The first time you go to work on something (like say the trigger pull) you hit a major brick wall.

To me that makes the 1911 the better choice ...

Bob

[gqucool1911]

Even the ready to go 1911 out of the box if there is one, will someday need attention. If you have $650-700 dollars to spend like the advice you have recieved you want the custom features you will pay more. True you can spend less on a Charles Daly or the new Taurus but also remember the saying is not alway's true you get what you pay for!! Alot of members of the Cheap Gun Snobs Club out there will agree!! I remember seeing a post several months ago about a Les Bauer Gun giving a forum member fits as well as Kimbers, Colts, Springfields , Rock River, Wilson Combat etc. so the very expensive 2-3000 dollars guns can run rough also!!! But I am not saying this to built up Colt but on the forum about 2 days ago there was posting on the good old Colt being about the best right out of the box gun you can get!!! Ask Hunter he will definitely sell you on Colt!!!!

[NYCMedic]

If your only problem with a Springer GI is the missing bevertail I would buy it and spend the rest on a bevertail instalation and a trigger job.

[John]

Hey Wichaka, aren't there some drop-in beavertails for the Springfields? If there are, then the answer to the original question is simple. Get the Mil-spec, replace the hammer and beavertail, and read the Poor Man's Trigger Job, if the resulting trigger is not what you like.

On a side note, I guess that if Springfield was to offer that Mil-spec with a Commander hammer and a Commander grip safety (or even better a beavertail), it would be an instant hit. I would love a pistol like that. Good sights, no hammer bite and a good trigger is all one needs. And in stainless too! Phew, maybe I should write to Springfield, they may even name it "The M1911.ORG Pistol".

[gottripletsNC]

John, no there is no drop-in for the Springfield, it has a different radius on the tangs, I bought a drop-in from someone on here, and it didn't work, have to order a smith-fit BT, but I've done two of them, its not hard at all.

If there is a drop-in, I haven't been able to find it yet, and am interested to see, cause if there is, I will order one, I still need one.

[Dustoff '68]

I have about $650 (maybe $700) that I can spend, and am looking at NIB 1911's.

I want one with a beavertail safety to prevent hammer bite, and it must be able to reliably feed JHP ammo right out of the box. RIA has said themselves that all they can guarantee is ball ammo - so obviously some work will need to be done to the pistol... Nope - I want it to work out of the box.

The finish must be good and even (Recent posts here and other 1911forums have scared me away from the Taurus PT1911 because of uneven finish, and wear already occuring after such a short period of time!) - stainless if possible, but either way I need one with a finish that will resist corrosion a little better than plain blue, as I will occasionally carry this pistol.

Hi-cap is an option...but not a must.

Calibers other than .45ACP are fine - but no smaller than 9mm.

Sights - plain jane government style is fine by me.

Am I asking too much for spending so little?

Any suggestions of what brand/model to go with?
Get a Series 80 Colt 1991 in blue, and if you MUST have a beavertail, Wilson Combat purportedly sells a drop-in...a new 1991 can be had for around $625.00.

[John]

John, no there is no drop-in for the Springfield, it has a different radius on the tangs, I bought a drop-in from someone on here, and it didn't work, have to order a smith-fit BT, but I've done two of them, its not hard at all.

If there is a drop-in, I haven't been able to find it yet, and am interested to see, cause if there is, I will order one, I still need one.
Steve had mentioned that there is a safety for the Springfields. Or at least I think I remember something like that. I'll PM him and ask.

[wichaka]

Ok I heard the voice of authority call, and was awoke by said voice :D

No, there is no drop in BT for Springfields, unless someone just came out with one.

Me thinks with all the Springers around now, if someone were to come out with one (George, Mr. EGW......you listening here?....hint....hint) that company would do very well in the sales of them.

[pa_guns]

Hi

+1 on the drop in Beaver tail for the Springfield Mil Spec package pistol !!!!

I'd hop in the car and go pick up a pair at EGW today if they were available. For that matter if he needs two pistols to try them out on we could work that out as well.

Bob

[garrettwc]

John, no there is no drop-in for the Springfield, it has a different radius on the tangs, I bought a drop-in from someone on here, and it didn't work, have to order a smith-fit BT, but I've done two of them, its not hard at all.

If there is a drop-in, I haven't been able to find it yet, and am interested to see, cause if there is, I will order one, I still need one.
Let me run this one up the flag pole. If my memory is correct, and most days thats a big IF :p the radius on a full size Springer is the same as that of a Colt Commander. So wouldn't a drop in for a Commander work on the Springfield?

[pa_guns]

Hi

Again, memory is not a good thing to depend on for this kind of stuff.

As I recall a Commander drop in does not do the trick on the Springfield. I believe there's a gap at the bottom of the safety or something like that.

Bob

[mini14jac]

I'd recommend a S&W for a stainless gun, beavertail safety, good-to-go out of the box.
(Also has a slew of quality parts. I can't remember the whole list I know McCormick and Wilson were on there.)

I don't know where you live, but mine was $670 before tax, bg.
(E. TN)

I've had good luck with a Daly and a Colt, but I don't think the Colt would be in your price range.