What are your opinions on a which one to buy?

I have a Springfield. I think that it's the best value. Get a loaded version today and they come with all the modifications you'd want to have done.

Mine's one of the 89 vintage GSP's (Gunsite shooting school Service Pistol). I really like it.

Steve

i have a mil spec 1911 i got a couple years ago. replaced the slide, put a heavier recoil spring in it, recoil bushing, new adjustable trigger, different sights, and a hogue grip. never had a single jam, and it is just as accurate as any other gun i own.
i would recommend a 1911 to anyone. i have shot some of the high-end 1911, GSR, Kimber, they all shoot very nice. something about the mil-spec for me though, don't think i would ever buy another version.

Nickblaze,

Was that the MilSpec version put out by Springfield?

Steve

Who makes the mil spec? I was considering the Kimber. How does it compare to the springfield? I don't know much about the 1011, but apparently there are many versions and brands. Can anyone give me a brief history on them? Thanks, Dave

Depends on what you want to do with the 1911.

My favorite is a Colt Series 80 in stainless with hogue grips and nothing else changed. I spent a couple hours with a cratex wheel on a Dremel when I first got it and it is smooth as can be and shoots 4" or better at 25 yds with anything you feed it and never jams. It kills paper and cans dead the first shot and also a few deer, possum, coon, rabbits, fox and whatever. It has been beat around for years and years and still goes bang when you squeeze the trigger....pretty it ain't, but it is a great tool!!

kinda depends on how much you want to spend. The old colt 70 series are good, the kimbers used to be top notch, but the last year or 2 seem to have taken a downhill dive. springfields seem to have maintained their quality, or take a look at the new S&W's, from what see at the matches they are working well. The new colts are mostly junk that needs several hundred dollars worth of work to be proper, with the exception of perhaps the WWI and WWII commeratives, which aren't really made by colt anyway.

As far as out of the box 1911s, both Kimber and Springfield make a very good product. If you have meaty hands, the mil spec version will probably result in hammer bite. I personally think the extra $ is justifed for a "loaded" 1911 with improved sights, checkering, lowered and flared ejection port, and beavertail grip safety. But then again, the web of my hand is bleeding after a few rounds with a mil spec, so I'm biased. Owners of some of the less expensive 1911s hold them in high regard (Charles Daly and RIA come to mind), but I think in the long run your best money is on a Kimber or Springfield. If you're willing to part with a little extra, the STI Trojan is tough to beat. In my experience it's hands down the tightest, most accurate, and best finished 1911 in that price range (about $1K).

Thanks for the help guys. I went with the kimber CDP. I hate to hear the comment that their quality has gone down, but that is the first negative comment I've heard on Kimber, so I'm hoping either he maybe just got an isolated lemon or I got lucky and got a cherry. I'm very excited though...it is beautiful and feels good in my hand. Thanks again for the advice, Dave

I have 3 Springfields and they are by far the best gun for the price you pay. The "loaded" version is the way to go.

Perry

quote:

Originally posted by mitchell6873:
Thanks for the help guys. I went with the kimber CDP. I hate to hear the comment that their quality has gone down, but that is the first negative comment I've heard on Kimber, so I'm hoping either he maybe just got an isolated lemon or I got lucky and got a cherry. I'm very excited though...it is beautiful and feels good in my hand. Thanks again for the advice, Dave

Its a good gun for a guy that doesn't hammer 300+
rounds a week.

quote:

Originally posted by CSH:
As far as out of the box 1911s, both Kimber and Springfield make a very good product. If you have meaty hands, the mil spec version will probably result in hammer bite. I personally think the extra $ is justifed for a "loaded" 1911 with improved sights, checkering, lowered and flared ejection port, and beavertail grip safety. But then again, the web of my hand is bleeding after a few rounds with a mil spec, so I'm biased. Owners of some of the less expensive 1911s hold them in high regard (Charles Daly and RIA come to mind), but I think in the long run your best money is on a Kimber or Springfield. If you're willing to part with a little extra, the STI Trojan is tough to beat. In my experience it's hands down the tightest, most accurate, and best finished 1911 in that price range (about $1K).

#! IN THE WORLD #2 WOULD BE THE SPRINGFIELD TGO SERIES

www.stiguns.com

http://www.springfield-armory.com/TGO.shtml