Ok to make a long story short, I traded my XD40 for a belgium BAR my uncle had sold about 15 years ago, and gave it back to him. Wonderful look in his eyes when he realized it was his old gun. But to the point, I want another pistol, and a 1911. I really love the stainless GI issue. I know there are more expensive/nicer guns out there, but I am a college student on a tight budget. There will be times for Ed Brown's later. Anyone own one of these and can tell me a little about it?

That was a very nice thing you did for your uncle. I had a SA GI for several years. It was a reliable pistol. I traded it a couple of years ago. I did not have the stainless model. The only thing that I didn't like about the gun was the lack of adjustable sights. The poi with the factory sights was fine, but I like the option of being able to adjust them. I did buy a couple of 8 round magazines for it (Novak, I think). Springfield makes good guns.

Of all the Colt Government models, I think the Series 70 pistols are still considered the best of the bunch. They are a wonderful pistol as is (change the original barrel bushing) and if you want to have a trigger job and carry package done to it they are one of the best. They aren't cheap of course.

http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=G01070A1CS

Springfield makes one of the better 1911s. You'll be happy w/ a SSGI. I have an older one that has been lightly customized; Novak sights & Barsto bbl. It shoots right there w/ a match 1911 & just goes & goes.