When I began this report, I did not think it would be an introduction to the unfamiliar. Most everyone interested in shooting is aware of the 1911 handgun. This is a survey of a few of the handguns available. These handguns are useful within their niche. And that is something that must be understood. All 1911s are not created equal.
Some are barely serviceable; others are works of art in steel. The 1911 by virtue of its hand fitting requires considerable effort to get right. The two halves of the feed ramp demand polish. The slide lock safety must be properly fitted.
The extractor must have sufficient tension but not too much to properly guide the cartridge during its feed cycle. The 1911 is a controlled feed handgun. A good example is as reliable as a machine may be. A poor example is much less so.
There are several grades of 1911 handgun. These grades don’t exist with Glocks — all Glocks are the same. SIG pistols are much the same. The 1911 is available in economy grade guns. Some like to get their feet wet in the 1911 without a huge outlay. They may wish to own a 1911 but carry a Glock or rely on some other handgun.
Revolvers are much the same with grades. A recreational gun is OK, a hunting grade gun another. Collector grade guns are another creature altogether. So, the economy gun is OK for informal target practice. An entry-grade 1911, purchased new, may need the extractor tuned and the feed ramp polished. This is a great learning experience that some enjoy. Some shooters don’t enjoy this fiddling and detail work.
Then we have pistols suitable for defense use. They are a higher grade with better fit and finish and good sights. They are suited to personal defense and have proven reliable. Service grade 1911 handguns are well fitted and accurate with better controls. They are likely to be as reliable as a machine can be.
I understand the emotional attachment and a sense of history that comes with owning a 1911. But history favors the best made guns of the era, not the cheapest. I narrowed down the offerings to five worthwhile 1911 handguns. While I own Wilson Combat and Les Baer pistols, I did not include these types. They are the minority of 1911 handguns in use. While excellent firearms, the chore may be done with less expensive, but not cheap, handguns.
Girsan 1911
My friend Virgil doesn’t purchase jewelry that turns the wrist green. His watch doesn’t come from Walmart. He didn’t like the Girsan much but had to admit it is worth its price. The sights are Novak type with an acceptable sight picture. The pistol tested is a five-inch barrel Government Model with steel frame. The pistol features ambidextrous safety levers and a nicely designed beavertail grip safety.
The barrel and barrel bushing are well fitted. The feed ramps are polished OK and fed the half dozen hollow point loads tested. This is good to have on a pistol retailing for less than $500. Trigger compression is 7.4 pounds. The grips are plastic checkered slabs. The front strap is slightly serrated.
The pistol was initially tested with 230-grain full metal jacket loads. The Girsan short cycled or failed to go into battery about a half dozen times during the first 50 cartridges but apparently smoothed in. Some 1911 handguns endure a break-in period.
I also tuned the extractor as it was too tight from the factory, failing to take a bite of the .45 ACP extractor groove. This is a minor thing for someone with my experience, and for a recreational handgun, not a huge deal. This is a good hobbyist pistol. In absolute accuracy the Girsan proved to be accurate enough for most chores. Federal 230-grain FMJ grouped five shots into four inches from a solid rest at 25 yards.
Tisas 1911 Duty
If a 1911 may be manufactured for less expense, but not cheaply, there is a recipe for success. The primary advantage of the Tisas 1911 is that the pistol is of forged steel rather than cast material. Tisas offers a pistol with GI type sights and controls. This is fine if you want a recreational shooter or a GI gun.
The Tisas Duty offers several improved features. The stainless steel Duty pistol seems well machined and free of internal and external tool marks. The barrel bushing is only finger tight and does not require a bushing wrench. The slide lock safety is an ambidextrous type. The Tisas safety indents properly. The sights are Novak types with three dot inserts.
The slide is well fitted and polished with minimal lateral play against the frame. The pistol features a cut out behind the trigger guard that lowers the bore axis. When the line of the bore above the hand is lower, muzzle flip is less.
The slide stop is polished flat with the receiver on the right side. The slide features forward cocking serrations. The grips are utilitarian plastic. The trigger is smooth, breaking at a relatively clean 6.9 pounds. Reset is sharp.
Performance is the key to value. I lubricated the pistol on the long bearing surfaces, barrel hood, and barrel bushing. Firing the pistol with Remington 230-grain FMJ ammunition, results were good. The pistol is fast on target, and drills out the X-ring on demand in true 1911 fashion.
A steel frame Government Model is a joy to fire and use. The Tisas is accurate enough with a five-shot group at 25 yards of 3.5 inches. So far, so good!
Auto Ordnance 1911A1
This pistol gave me pause. Most GI-type pistols are inexpensive pistols that resemble the original in appearance. Auto Ordnance gives us an accurate replica of the 1911A1 as produced from 1928 on. The original 1911 as manufactured by Colt, Ithaca, Remington Rand, and a few others, was well made of good material.
Each had interchangeable parts and performed well. Original specifications were that the pistol be accurate enough to stay in a five inch circle at 25 yards and a 10-inch group at 50 yards. These handguns were models of reliability and durability. Larger sights and controls made the pistol easier to use well in later models.
Some don’t feel that the ‘feature creep’ found in 1911s is always a good thing. In particular, target-style additions, such as an adjustable trigger, are not best for use in service guns. The Auto Ordnance is a GI gun that may be counted on to save your life.
Just as many original GI guns were more accurate than specifications called for, the Auto Ordnance is more accurate than most GI guns. Federal 230-grain American Eagle ammunition gave the author a 3-inch, 25-yard group — plenty accurate for most uses. Remington ball ammunition practically overlapped this group. While the sights are small, they are well regulated.
I sacrificed a magazine of my hoarded Federal 230-grain Punch hollow point loads. Punch is a formidable defense loading. Feed reliability was perfect. I like this pistol more than I first thought I would. It is among a very few modern GI replicas that is also service grade.
Colt Stainless 1911
I acquired a lot of knowledge as I wrote three books on the 1911. I have absorbed quite a bit concerning fit tolerance and even metal hardness. The Colt Stainless Government Model (in current production) in my opinion is the best Colt series ever made. Modern CNC control is one reason.
Colts have the internal parts to beat in a production handgun. The Colt Government Model will last a lifetime. For personal defense, a properly maintained Colt 1911 is all you will need and may be counted on to go many thousands of rounds without a problem. My impression has been that the stainless Colt pistols are fitted slightly tighter and generally have a better level of accuracy. This isn’t something I would testify to in a court of law, but I would bet on it in Vegas.
Stainless steel makes a lot of sense in a service pistol and a handgun to be carried in all conditions including in concealed carry close to the body. The sights are superior to GI sights, but they are not Novak-type sights. The slide lock safety is crisp in operation.
The grip safety properly releases its hold on the trigger about midway into compression. This is a pistol to be fired, trained with, and to save your life — not to live in a safe. The tactical is more important than the technical and this pistol is long on tactical
The slide and frame fit well together. The feed ramp is smooth. The extractor tension and ejector height are correct. The 1/32-inch gap between the two sections of the feed ramp — necessary for good feeding — are spot on. The barrel bushing is snug but not so tight a tool is needed for disassembly.
The stainless steel barrel measures out at .580 at the muzzle and .573 for the rest of the barrel to the barrel hood. The barrel bushing has .003-inch clearance. A tighter bushing may produce greater accuracy for the shooter who recognizes the need. The pistol uses a standard recoil spring plug, recoil spring, and spring guide without a full-length recoil spring guide to complicate matters. The Colt shoots well in fast combat shooting.
As for absolute accuracy, the pistol is quite accurate. While most groups with 230-grain ball run around 3 inches. With Federal Hydra Shok and Remington Golden Saber, I have fired five-shot groups at 25 yards as small as 2.25 inches. This takes a firm consistent hold, good trigger control and sight alignment that are as close to perfect as possible. The Colt is still the 1911 by which all others are judged by.
SIG Classic Two Tone
Sometimes you feel that a pistol was made just for you. The SIG reverse two tone with Nitron stainless slide is among these. SIG manufacturers some of the most reliable and accurate handguns in the world. The SIG 1911 illustrated is a steel frame Government Model.
With a very clean 5-pound trigger and superb sights, the pistol also features a modern beavertail grip safety and well fitted slide lock safety. The sights are an uncommon set up that I find well suited to personal defense. The Bar Dot type sight is a bright tritium front, with a tritium bar in the rear. This makes for a sight that is unlikely to be misaligned in dark or near dark conditions.
The pistol features an external extractor — a departure from the original. When has a SIG extractor given trouble? The pistol has proven reliable with a wide range of ammunition. As for accuracy, the SIG 1911 is among the most accurate factory 1911 handguns.
Firing from a solid benchrest, it isn’t unusual for the pistol to put five shots into 2.5 inches at 25 yards, sometimes a little less, seldom a little more. This is one of the best buys in the 1911 world. While the price isn’t top end, the performance is.
The 1911 handgun is an American icon but also a great shooter. It is among the finest personal defense handguns in the world in a good example. For different purposes, these five affordable 1911 handguns are good all-around pistols, each worth its price.
It’s hard not to love and revere the 1911 platform. It is considered to be pistol design perfection by shooters around the world. What’s your favorite 1911? Which grade of 1911 do you prefer? Share your answers in the comment section.
The Tisas features forward cocking serrations. Note powder residue from extensive firing. The author feels that SIG’s BAR DOT sight arrangement is ideal for defense use. SIG’s 1911 is among the finest production pistols made. The Tisas 1911 proved reliable and accurate. 
Barrel-to-barrel bushing fit is good with the Girsan. The author finds the modern Colt Government Model a first-class 1911 in every way. If you are looking for a GI-type 1911 Auto Ordnance should be at the top of your list. The Girsan, and all the pistols covered in this report, field strip on the standard template. The Girsan features good sights and follows the 1911 outline closely. Auto Ordnance’s GI pistol is a credible successor to WWII 1911A1 handguns. 
Auto Ordnance offers a superior GI pistol. 
Girsan’s 1911 is a credible 1911 for informal target use.
I’m new to shooting. But my first pistol was a Springfield Ronin 9mm 1911 and I really like it. It shoots great.
I own a Ballister Molina. 45ACP and I’ve had multiple people that want to purchase this weapon from me and one of the local gun stores has offered me a pretty good price but I’ve found it’s been one of my most accurate sidearm to date he also told me he has one and it is very precise and he has never had any problems with his. Unfortunately they stopped producing this gun in or about 1954 and checking my serial numbers mine is a 1953 and I’ve had zero issues with it. So if anyone out there has one like this please let me know and let me know if you’re interested in selling it THANKS MUCH SEMPER FI STAY SAFE PAUL TAV.
My favorite 1911 was produced in 1914. The lower unit made by Colt as indicated by the serial number and the slide by Springfield Armory (the real one). It is in the original configuration unmodified. I also have a 1911a1 made in Brazil for the current Springfield Armory.
No mention of Remington R1. My brother bought one and it’s a hell of a shooter. Digests FMJ and hollow points equally without a hitch to the same point of impact. Just under $600. My wife used it to qualify for her concealed carry.
GT
The current STX is equivalent to the SIG illustrated.
Minor detail changes and certain editions come and go the template remains.
Best
Bob
Tomb TX
I beg to ask
My Kimber LW aluminum frame has a ramped barrel
How is the frame showing wear??????????
Another vote for RIA and Charles Dailey
own quite a few 1911’s , the one that has never failed, in any way was the least expensive , $259.00 a R.I.A , and have shot approx 4500 rnds through it. and ironically bought it at Cheaperthandirt,
I was first introduced to 1911 45’s when I was 6 yrs old by my grand father a.ong other handguns. Once I was old enough I bought my first it was a Thomson Auto Ordinance that was in the late 70’s I only own 1911’s my wife has several ranging from a Springfield Armory officers model ultra carry 3 inch barrel to a couple of commanders one colt and one Tisas they all fire great within 3 in group at 25 yds. Thanks to Recover tactical rail systems she has green laser on all of her guns she prefers old school lasers to the new top mounts. I myself have a couple stock 1911’s that I paid between 329 to 500 that shoot very well. That being said I have a few hot rodded 1911’s my favorite started her life as a Kimber royal custom for 1399 now another 4 grand later is a work of art fires like a dream.1 1/2 inch group at 50 yds so nice that 4 yrs ago just before takin time off for eye surgeries I let a 10 yr old down syndrome boy Bobby shoot it against 3 young police officers at the range they chose distance and targets for some unknown reason they thought they had to draw and rapid fire targets were 15 yds out and 17 shots each with their weapons of choice. Best out of all three was about a 5 1/2 inch group. I didn tell them that I had let Bobby shoot my Kimber 2 other times anyhow Bobby at 25 yds 7 plus 1 in the pipe shot a 2 1/2 inch group for a 1000 dollar each bet to me. Oops they got hustled by a mentally challenged 10 yr old boy. My favorite poster in my shop reads 1911’s are kinda like a glock except for men.
Owning 3 out of the bunch, tisas, girsan and sig, all are very reliable, well built and are good quality. I tend to carry, shoot, and all around use the girsan more than others. Great post.
I own and shoot 2 ,1911’s . Sequential serial number by ATI , FXH 45.full frame. I did have to upgrade grips and mags, Grips for personal reasons, Mags for shooting performance. Stock mags are known for hanging up. I’ve got a thousand rounds since with no issues. They are awesome personal defense weapons. Skeleonized trigger , tru glo front sights , dual safety, vented slide , accessory rail & only weighs 2.8 lbs empty from the factory, When I ordered mine , the price point was 600 ish each . Highly recommend giving them a try if you can locate one. Rear sights are interchangeable with Glock rear sights . And with these handguns and my trigger pull tendencies, these are the first ones to use true aimpoints, instead of my standard 1930 to hit bullseye.
Myself I prefer 1911 bowl Armory commander 4 1/4 inch barrel bushing full length guide rod 3 pound trigger brakes like glass I have several other 1911s but if you and the government size barrel but they got to give that bull Armory credit 50 yards and I’m shooting just as accurate with that kind of hard to find but they’re extremely tight tolerances and I have yet to run into any hiccups because of it being too tight. I also have a magnum research 19 1110 mm both handguns for assembled in Israel. They’re a little pricey but for the buck for the quality, you can’t complain I love the 10 mm in the 1911 as well takes away some of the snappiness that the 10 has being the 1911 are heavier than your striker, fired and guns all together. It’s well working handgun love them both.
Picked up a Tisas 1911/full sized/5inch barrel on the cheap a couple months ago. Have run a couple hundred rounds thru it and had a couple feed issues around the 25 round mark. No issues after that. Happy to see it is considered a decent weapon at a low price. No, it isn’t my ancient Colt 1911. But for under $300 plus the $25 NICS charge from my local FFL I was pleasantly surprise how well it performs and how closely the fit and finish is.
Very much enjoyed the article on .45’s. My entire military career was w/ the Colt .45. I have owned a Mark IV Colt for 47 yrs. Unbelievably accurate pistol. I had new sights put on for easier aiming (red front & rear white beads). Best pistol I have ever fired.
Thanks again for a great article.
I liked your article and I am a 1911 fan. My most accurate 45 is a Les Baer Custom Premier II Tactical. My EDC is a stainless LW Kimber Compact Carry e/w 4″ barrel and night sights that I carry IWB at the SOB. I haven’t tried the Tisas or Girsan models, but have fired Colt, Auto Ordnance, & Sig. I have 1911’s by Springfield Armory, S&W, Para Ordnance, and a WWII era parts gun that has a Colt frame with a Rem-Rand slide that rattles quite a bit but still shoots good groups. I also have other handguns in 45 ACP but always go back to the 1911. My father taught me how to shoot handguns on his match 1911. He would have like the Les Baer model as I believe it shoots tight groups as well as his match 1911.
I’m not sure why the SIG model is on this list, it’s years out of production. It’s not exactly affordable if it’s not available.
I have several 1911s, including a couple of home-builts where I machined the frame to fit the slide. All are more accurate than I am, but the trigger action sure affects my accuracy with them. My Dan Wessons (45 & 9) I can shoot best with their very light triggers. The Ruger does very well at the range and as a carry gun. A Kimber wouldn’t go into battery until I tuned the over-tight extractor. Once that was fixed it shoots very well, but the aluminum frame is already showing wear on the ramp. A fun one for the range is the Eagle XL with 6″ barrel: very accurate since I lightened the trigger, and quite inexpensive.
I always enjoy your articles, Bob. Relatedly unrelated, several years ago I was planning on buying a 1911. I went to an indoor range to rent and try out a few to get an idea of what I might like. The guy at the counter said, “We’ll be happy for you to shoot any 1911 we have but before you do try this Sig P220 Combat.” I shot it and then a couple of 1911s. I went with the Sig P220 Combat (not in the same category of price as the 1911s you reviewed, but worth it).
Glenn
Use nail polish on the sights. Red front, green rear, or vice versa, or a combination of colors including green orange or yellow.
Mark
The primary problem with Coonan was management and overpricing.
They are great guns.
Bob
Great article so thanks for that. I have a SIG 1911 STX from their custom shop. Came from the factory with a matched hammer, trigger and barrel. I’m able to get a 1.5” grouping of 5 shots at 30 yards from a rest. Shooting off hand my groups are usually 1.75-2”. I’m not a competition shooter so I think your opinion of SIG’s 1911s is spot on. Not bad for pistol that was under $1,400.
I did buy a para ordonace p14-45 for several years ago and i have fired 10 000 rounds with this one with no problems at all . The only problem that we have here in Norway is too buy parts too this gun . So after many years off use ill should have changed the slide stopper and Get a new set off adjustable rear sights on this one . So if any one now about a proper and a solid place or shop who sells parts and ship them please inform me … best regards kaare
I own a 1911 gov model.I bought it from a IE deputy,that had it worked over. Barstool barrel& bushing,armoloyed frame,slide. I paid $230.00 for it and used it for completion steelshooting a lot of rounds down that barrel.I still have it, put an adjustable rear sight on it and it shoots just fine. The arnaloy finish is wearing thin, but it is still a good1911shooter. Reload for it, and still have a plastic bag of 1943 cases I never opened, that came with the gun.this not my cowboy carry gun, but I have hunted with it many times. If I recall, I got this gun around 1970.still reload for it,and shoot it.I am looking for another partner for it,maybe a rock island gov. Model.you cannot beat the feel and preformance of the 1911.
Really good article. I own a few 1911 pistols. Im glad to see the auto ordinance on your list. I own one and is as you described it. Very reliable and accurate right out of the box. It is not my go to 1911, but it’s a good one. My Colts are good as well. Only thing I would add to the comments listed by others is that I also own a RI. It was my first 1911 and J learned how to field strip and reassemble a 1911 on it. It is my least accurate and least dependable 1911, but it was nice to use it as practice so as not to put the infamous idiot scratch on the rest.
Was issued 1911a1 .45 when serving in cavalry units before Beretta. Always “felt” the tradition of having a Colt or similar model with me. Used mine a couple of times in Vietnam. I own two Tisas M1911a1. One government model and one commander model both with standard plastic grips to reflect the original issue. Not meant for concealed carry but are powerful home defense guns and you can’t put a price on nostalgia!
Best
I have fired many 191A1 I at one time tried out for Ft Carsn pistol team unfortunately there were a few better shots than me . When I brought a SR1911 Ruger I fell in love with the 1911 all over again.The best gun ever right out of the box.Held a 3in group25 yrd no adjustment needed
I treasure the Colt Combat Commander I bought 50 years ago. I haven’t changed a thing on it, and won’t. I recently bought an SDS Tisas 1911 Carry in stainless. It has worked flawlessly out of the box, but I don’t care for the flat backstrap or the ambi safety. To that end I have ordered an arched backstrap and a Wilson Combat one sided thumb safety. I may or may not replace the grip safety since I don’t care for the bump on the bottom that most 1911s, including this one, have these days. All in all I couldn’t be happier with the very affordable Tisas.
I joined the Army in 1978. I was introduced to the M 1911a1 in the 82nd Airborne Division. I fell in love with that pistol. I own an Auto ordnance 1911a1 now.
Just as reliable and fun to shoot as any I carried. Truer to the original than any other versions out there.
There are 1911s and then there is every thing else.
I purchased a coonan 1911 in 357mag a few years ago and I rarely see or hear anything about it. I really like it no problems at all. Curious as to why? I thought it would be more popular.
Thank you for the grate article, so many 45 articles have been written over the years which encouraged me to buy 45’s back in the day. I had the unusual foresight back in the 80’s to purchase 3 Colts. 1st was the government model, second was the Gold Cup and the last was the Officers model. All three are stainless, unfortunately I turn steel into rust. I love steel but stainless is better. I would go out to the desert with my buds and one time I had a competition with a soda pop can. I sort of cheated, my pal had an Auto Ordnance and I had my Gold Cup. It was like in the movies, my bud would sight in in the can, I would squeeze the trigger before he could hitting the target moving the can down the road, 9 times, no competition. At another company, the gentlemen at lunch said women couldn’t pull the slide back on a 45, I took my wife up to the hills, she was shooting a .25 auto, she asked what I was shooting and said gimme that, needless to say, she dam near ripped the slide off and out shot me. To this day, my wife has my back 😉 45’s have not changed much over the years, some makers have just perfected the design. If I were to purchase a modern 45 today, it would be the Sig, when buying protection, I don’t skimp on my life. Thanks again for the update.
In econo-M1911’s, another vote for RIA. Have carried and messed about with various M1911 versions for 4+ decades. Currently have two (2) Philippine – made M1911’s – a RIA M1911-GI 5″ in .38 Super.
Excellent pistol, accurate, reliable, fully supported chamber, enabling judicious handloading to get the absolute most out of the .38 Super round with 124/5 gr. JHP’s.
The other – a Charles Daly M1911 .45 5″, essentially an Armscor gun (parent company of RIA) with a nicer finish. It shoots absolutely on par with a customized Colt Series 70 I’ve owned since the mid-70’s and shot competitively with for years.
Good article – forwarded to friend who may be getting his first M1911 soon. Just don’t forget the value for dollar in the RIA’s.
Some years ago I went looking for a top performing 1911 at an affordable price. After I lot of research I went with STI’s Spartan. The Spartan used RIA/Armscor match barrel, slide and frame with all the internal supplied by STI. It was hand assembled and fit in the Philippines and sent to STI for final inspection. For $700 I got a 1911 with quality and assembly a hair’s breadth away from STI’s own line that sold for 2X – 3X. 70 Series trigger with a creep free crisp 4.5 – 5 pound break. It’ll shoot 2″ groups at 25 yards. Of all the pistols in the safes this 1911 and my 1984 vintage Dan Wesson 715 357 are by far the two best in the hand and the ones I will bet my life on. STI figured out the the Spartan was cutting into the sales of their much more expensive pistols and the line was dropped. I’m happy I got mine when they were in production.
Bul Armory 1911 45
I have a 1973 Colt 1911 special edition European theater. It is soo attractive and the accuracy is amazing compared to my S&W 45acp pistol.
I own a Springfield Armory National Trophy Match 1911 that doesn’t sit in a safe. Many rounds have gone down the pipe and it’s never failed to fire or extract. I only have one glaring issue with it, the sights are terrible, black front blade with no white dot and a black rear blade with no white outline. Unless you’re shooting on white paper the sight picture alignment is impossible to see. I need to change these but don’t know what to get. Any suggestions?
I carried 1911 for 15 years as a Deputy. I started with the Para Ordnance P14-14 double stack. I found it to be accurate, but too heavy after a long day. Then switched to the Para Black Ops Both guns shot really well and very reliable.
I had a old Kimber (before they went into mass production) and it shot really good, but I sold it and bought a Springfield 1911 .45 and it shoots just as good as the Kimber did but it has less recoil than the Kimder and it cost less
I have more than one 1911, all of them are in .45ACP. One is a Government model with a Caspian frame and I carry it when I am out in the woods. The one that I prefer above all the other guns in my collection is a Smith ProSeries. It has a 3″ barrel and feels like it aims itself, It is a sweet shooter, accurate and will digest almost everything I can put through it.
But that being said, should I come across another 1911 that meets the criteria that I have for my next purchase, I would be happy to bring another one aboard. It will go into hiding for some months before I bring it out, as my wife will say, “When did you get that gun?”
I will, of course, respond with “This gun… I’ve had this for quite a while… Don’t you remember when…” She will shake her head and her eyes will glaze over and she will go to the other room rather than listen to the story I will be telling her., which will go off on a rabbit trail, far away from her question. Then and only then, will I be able to take it out to start putting some serious ammo through it. Not that I have ever done that before, mind you. Well, there was that time in ’89…
Mike
Thanks for reading!
You must have had one of the West Hurley AO guns, They were basically a parts gun.
The later Kahr made guns are much better.
Best
Bob Campbell
i have concure with the ther RIA fans i have 2 one in.45 and another in 38 super. they both will shot rings around my wifes Kimbers. can’t believe how accurate the 45 is and how flat shooting the 38 super. why you didn’t feature a RIA is beyond me
I have carried/fired pretty much every 1911 manufactured, including all on the list. Only one I absolutely hated was the Auto Ordnance 1911. It shot WAY to the left. The frame isn’t machined the same way as a REAL 1911. Just poor quality control overall. It LOOKS real nice, but I wish it was a Tisas. They are LESS expensive, have great quality control, and are 100% FORGED.
I wouldn’t trade my RIA G.I. 5″ .45 acp for any other handgun out there.
I carry every day. Love the weight, and the feel.
Dear Mr. Campbell,
I really enjoy reading your articles. Oddly enough, I nearly always agree with you and that is, in and of itself, uncommonly rare.
Let me add my support for the RIA/Rock Island offering. I have them in .45 ACP and 10 mm. My RIA .45 out shoots my Colt Gold Cup, not by much, but consistently. I have several 10mms from RIA and while perhaps not quite up to finish standards of some, they out shoot everything else I own, either from machine rest or offhand. I am 81, still shoot regularly, and my EDC is one of several 10mms.
They are rugged and just plain tough. Sights are adequate, but I have replaced them all with aftermarket sights, which I like better. But, they are generally heavy. Further, I like the bushingless bull barrel in my higher grade RIA. It took a while to figure out how to pin the guide rod, but once I got that down, cleaning wasn’t any more difficult than the regular old barrel bushing model. Rock triggers are quite good and certainly good enough for combat carry (possibly a bit light for someone who is excitable, but shouldn’t be for an experienced shooter).
Please keep up the good work.
Andrew,
Thanks for reading!
Spot on with the Rock. Among the best buys of all time. So difficult to narrow down just a few 1911 handguns. Another I have had good luck with is the Metro.
Best
Bob
Mr Kerwin,
You made my day! Thank you so much.
Hemingway was indeed a great man. I re-traced his steps in Paris and I hope I have all his work.
Perhaps he did leave a mark on my writing!
Glad you are happy with the Tisas! I like stainless as well.
BTW
Also catch Elliot Paul, the Last Time I Was In Paris. His experiences and life are very similar to Hemingway.
I can always spot a Bob Campbell article right off the bat. Then I scroll back to confirm. I appreciate the economy of verbiage and the straightforward, businesslike presentation. Almost as though Hemingway was a role model. I am a latecomer to the 1911. I fired 1 magazine from a rattletrap 1911 in Infantry School at Camp Pendleton in 1979. I recently purchased a Tisas Duty full-size w/out rail in stainless. WOW! I like a bargain and I have a near fetish for stainless and the Turks deliver on both counts. Now thoroughly steeped in-manual-of-arms and assembly/disassembly I have gained ‘even more’ admiration for JMB’s genius!
Purchased a COLT 1911 series 70 when they first came out (1972). Trigger pull was bad and it took several hours of polishing to get it fixed (no creep or dragging). New modern tech means that all firearms are built to tolerances that are so much tighter than possible 15 – 20 years ago. So now, any 1911 style pistol is available from any manufacturer that is equal or better than my 1972 COLT model. Too many new shooters don’t understand the advantages of the 1911 design, and even the “shrunk” 9mm versions can be a good EDC pistol for anyone who understands that an accurate first shot is superior to the “spray and pray” practice of so many folks now. A 1911 is a great first timer’s center fired pistol, and easy enough to maintain or customize on the cheap. P.S. – My knock off is a STAR BM 9mm, a mini 1911 but without the grip Safety. Like all steel framed 1911 style pistols, in 9mm, felt recoil is minimal. A commercial model, like mine, is no longer available, but see surplus models still turn up often.
I have carried a 1911, in one size or another, for most of my adult life. Currently, a Ruger Lightweight Commander in .45 ACP is most often carried. I have other 1911 pistols from Ruger, Kimber, Springfield Armory, Colt, Rock Island Armory, and Remington just to name some common manufacturers, In 9mm, .45 ACP or 10mm, the 1911 has never let me down. Some take a bit of tweaking to get them to perform as they should, and some are selective about what magazines to run with them, but once properly tuned and with quality magazines and ammunition, the 1911 still reigns supreme in my world.
The current crop of functioning 1911’s are very good, even at the modest price level. It wasn’t always the case. When I turned 21, I purchased a beautiful Colt Government 1911 with walnut grips. My first range trip, the front sight fell off and was no where to be found, Later, the collet bushing (some call it the finger bushing) had one finger break off inside, locking it up tight and back to the smith. It never was reliable, accurate, or inexpensive.
Add Rock Island to the list of solid 1911’s. I currently have a 10mm and 9mm, both are accurate, reliable, and easy on the wallet. Rock Island 1911 at Cheaper Than Dirt!