I've been looking into getting back into a 1911, unfortunately money is not what it used to be. I was looking form opinions on a couple of the lower cost 1911's. Which would be a better option a Rock Island or a Taurus?
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I've been looking into getting back into a 1911, unfortunately money is not what it used to be. I was looking form opinions on a couple of the lower cost 1911's. Which would be a better option a Rock Island or a Taurus?
Rock Island
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Between those two options, the RIA Tactical without a doubt. I've owned a couple, and it probably sounds like internet forum cliche, but they've seriously performed just as well as Springfields and Colts that I own.
Just remember, the RIA is still a bargain pistol -- no question about it -- but the customer service is second to none.
Don't forget to include Metro Arms. There are another Filipino 1911 maker and are gtg for $450-500.
No experience with the Taurus. However, my RIA 9mm FS and my Citadel (Armscor) .45 compact are great.
Rock Island, without question, in that price range. They're under rated and run down by some folks, but my sample of one has been 100% and is really, astonishingly, accurate.
I wanted a simple, basic, 1911 and picked this one up used but unfired for $350 at that price it was an absolute no brainier.
http://hkguns.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v6/p115489030-5.jpg
I a buddy who swears by his RIA.
Citadell
Neither represents a satisfactory option, and if money is really this tight, I suspect that little-to nothing is really going to be served by furthering your quest for a 1911 of any type right now.
Save your money until you can invest in something that will do more than merely scratch a very temporary itch. Backing into substandard guns -- especially 1911s -- is bad practice, period.
RIA if push comes to shove, but still a lousy idea.
AC
Can't you get a Springfield GI for around $500?
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The RIA if you MUST have one of the two, but I'd buy a higher quality used 1911 if it were my money.
For example, there's a used Springfield Armory Loaded 1911 (blue) with a buy it now price of $650 on Gunbroker. There's even a new Range Officer for $695.
If you want a cheap really fun 1911 get the RIA 9mm tactical. They are under $500, I got mine for $425. It is fun to shoot and a whole lot cheaper than my 45 to feed. You have to buy mags anyway so why not 9mm. Brownells has SS Checkmates and Metalforms that work great for me. RIA's customer service is suppose to be great. I've never had to use them, but that alone would push me toward RIA over Taurus. David
I own a Rock Island Armory Tactical 1911 in 9mm that I purchased to practice my 1911 gunsmithing skills and so far it has been reliable. I have not hit the 8,000 round mark yet. It's not a top shelf 1911, but it works.
I am running a 20 hour course this week and one of the students is firing a new Rock Island Armory 1911 in .45 ACP. The slide to frame fit is tight, the barrel to barrel bushing fit is acceptable and the student is able to shoot good groups with it at 15 meters.
I would never take a new pistol to a course, but it is what he brought with him and we are going to deal with it. The pistol is not broken in, so I had him apply a generous amount of lubricant to ensure reliability while the pistol breaks in. So far, so good.
The student told me the pistol shot a little low yesterday, so I am going to remove some material from the top of the front sight before we start shooting today. I had to do the same thing with my pistol when I first bought it, so it just might be the front sights are made a little tall so the owner can zero them for whatever ammunition they will be shooting. Dawson Precision makes sights for the RIA and I installed a DP red dot front sight on my 1911.
I have some experience with Taurus handguns and I would never purchase a Taurus.
A lightly used Colt M1191A1 can be had at around 500-600 most times.
That is as "budget" as I would go on any 1911.
Mostly, because you can easily mod it later on to your needs.
I saw one in a pawn shop less than a year ago and the asking price was 599. With cash...I am pretty sure it could have been had for 550-500. It was in very good shape, too.
Tons better than any cast frame, MIM-filled foreign made 1911 at that price range and something you could actually feel good about building on...if the need came up.
Sure, they are not attractive, but neither are the lower end foreign 1911s and Cerakote and a set of wood grips and your Colt is pretty attractive.
I think the Colt M1119A1 or maybe a Springfield GI is the "lowest" anyone should go as far as 1911s are concerned.
-brickboy240
Here's a photo essay I did a couple years ago directly comparing the pieces and parts of a RIA GI and a Springfield GI.
I think folks might be surprised at which parts pictured went with which pistol:
http://www.gunrightsmedia.com/showth...6K-WARNING!%29
Just last week at ar15.com a guy posted he got a colt 1991 orm at a pawn shop for under 500 bucks. I scored a used ww one reproduction colt last year on gun broker for 700 bucks like new in box with all the documents spare mag still in wrapper. Deals are out there key is a little luck and Being PATIENT!
In today's world every wants to rush out and buy, but sometimes the right answer is to brown bag lunch save 15 bucks a week and in a year buy a colt. Honestly I a surprised there are not even more used 1911's out there - I figured once the 100 year centennial frenzy was over ( wanted to buy one in 2011 but the above mentioned gun was picked up in early 2012) that lots of folks would be dumping the spare safe queens.
(all are gone), but
recent GI's for around $500
$540
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_88/12...1_GI_Spec.html
$550
http://www.northwestfirearms.com/han...pion-sold.html
$500
http://forum.pafoa.org/firearms-6/22...-w-extras.html
Colt for $695
http://forum.pafoa.org/classifieds-a...osed-sold.html
Colt for $475 (from last July)
http://forum.pafoa.org/classifieds-a...911s-sale.html
Thanks for the input, I'll have to do some research, maybe shoot a few to decide. wish I could afford to replace the colt delta that I had to part with.
See...they ARE out there...but you will have to search and hunt for a Colt at or under 500 bucks.
My cousin bought a lightly used ORM M1991A1 at a pawn shop for 450 cash about a year ago.
Someone else posted a few. Again....they are out there.
-brickboy240
That's a great point. Still double the price maybe. But is twice as good, PROBABLY. There are people that don't use for defensive purposes and shoot 6 times a year and could enjoy that RIA. Nothing wrong with that, it's just for a little more your into a loaded gun. Which is awesome by comparison.
loaded for $650, looks like he may be flexible
http://forum.pafoa.org/firearms-6/23...reduction.html
tough to beat the SF lifetime warranty
SA GI is a solid base pistol with a great warranty. I see Norincos at good prices every now and then. Colts in my neck of the woods are out of sight, price wise.
My Springfield GI WWII clone fitted with USGI parts with some high end company a WC and NH.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...0/DSC00503.jpg
Man I temporarily forgot about the Norinco 1911! If you search hard enough, they can be had for around $500ish. I just saw one at a gun show in October for $550 asking price. Those are very good baseline 1911's!
I recommend searching for a used Kimber custom II....great gun for the money IMO.
I found out a long time ago...like the XD...there is no love here for anything Kimber.
I too have a lower end Kimber (TLE II) that runs very well. However...I knew I was rolling the dice and I never tell anyone "go grab a Kimber...they're great." I know buying a Kimber is very 50-50 on whether you will get one that runs.
That said...yes...if you can get a lightly used "Custom II" series Kimber that runs well...that is a decent base gun. The resale on Kimbers is terrible so you might be able to pick up a Custom II or TLE II in the 600 dollar range. If you can test-fire it ahead and make sure it is reliable...even better.
However, due to the hit and miss QC of all things Kimber...I rarely tell anyone to run out and get a Kimber as a low end base 1911.
It is easy to toss the silly full length guide rod and you can deactivate the silly Swartz Safety by swapping the firing pin for a Series 70 one. That gets rid of the worst goofy parts of the Kimber. The plastic MSH is also easy to swap but many Colts came with these and the one on my M1991A1 never broke.
Do it if it is cheap, you can test it and you know what you are getting into with any Kimber.
I got lucky and my TLE II is accurate and reliable but my experience is NOT the norm.
-brickboy240
If you buy another gun from another board, chances are, that gun was rarely fired. Now if you are buying a gun from a M4C member that's another story. I have seen some smoking deals on some used guns and may just impulse buy some good deals in the future.
As for a budget 1911, I would try real hard to find a deal on a lightly used Colt or Springfield and call it a day.
I have a TLE I bought several years ago. The thumb safety broke at about 350 rounds. It broke at a point where I believe there was a void inside of it due to the MIM process. I did not want to pay shipping to and from Kimber, so I ordered a new part from Brownells and installed it myself. At this point the pistol has roughly 6,000 rounds fired through it without any other parts breakage, but I don't know if that is the exception or the rule.
I have a Kimber Ultra Carry II that is a CCW piece. I keep meticulous records on it and the pistol has run reliably for 4,450 rounds.
I have read several complaints about Kimbers on the internet, but I have not heard any complaints locally. Most folks haven't fired more than 2,000 rounds through their pistols and that may be why I haven't heard any complaints.
If the OP has the funds, he might consider a Springfield Armory pistol if he does not take exception to most of the parts being made in Brazil.
Yeah, my TLE II has about 3k rounds through it and has never jammed.
I also have a stainless Springfield GI that has about the same number of rounds and it too has been trouble free.
I also don't know if these are exceptions or the rule but it still amazes me that you can buy a 1911 for 450-700 bucks and the chances that it will run 100% rght out of the box are very, very good. 10-15 years ago....that was some sort of miracle! LOL
Like the Kimber, the Springfields are also chock full of MIM parts. This is one reason I suggest getting an older M1991A1 Colt and building from there.
-brickboy240
That's a joke, right? You know that to get a profile here and start posting, one only has to register for a free account?Quote:
If you buy another gun from another board, chances are, that gun was rarely fired. Now if you are buying a gun from a M4C member that's another story.
OP: If you are interested in hunting around for the best deal you can possibly find on a used 1911, that's a good idea. If you are interested in going to a store and buying a NIB Rock Island for $100 less, that's a good idea also. Occasionally parts will break in the first few hundred rounds with a new gun. It isn't common but it does happen. But the idea that a RIA is for people who don't shoot that much is moronic. You aren't going to wear it out.
The purpose of the gun should determine the type or brand
I can't speak for RI, but I've seen PT1911's break straight out of the box. I wouldn't even rely on those POS to work for a good pistol-whipping.
RUN, don't walk from Taurus.
If you are dead set on a 1911, I would save until you can get a quality factory pistol. I am not sure I would even get a base model SA mil-spec or a regular Colt government if you plan to add a grip safety and better sights. The XSE series Colts have a lot of features for the money. The same is true for the SA loaded or Range Officer. That is the starting point I would work from.