1911 questions

[Dud]

If you're really set on a Garand, Fulton Armory builds several varieties such "service grade," "target," etc. Prices are somewhere around $2,300 and upward. If I remember correctly, these are made with new receivers. They also build M1A's. If it was me, I go for the M1A, simply because it's a .308 and has nearly the same ballistics as .30-'06 service loads fired in a Garand. Not to mention, it is "clip-fed" and uses 5, 10, 20, or 30 round mags. No loading or chasing pesky 8-round Garand "en bloc" clips around. Most important: No "M1 thumb!"

Chris Mitchell

I have to disagree. A rack grade CMP Garand is a few hundred dollars and nicer grades are available also.

The M1A is a civilian copy of an M14 and the M14 has not been used much at all.

If a copy is ok, the FN FAL was used in many more conflicts, also magazine fed and cheaper than an M1A. Accuracy isn't quite as good but if you want semi-auto, magazine fed and accurate, you really want an LR308 pattern AR.

 

[Dud]

I shot a 1911 that a friend got from his grand dad, it was 1930ish gun with perfect bluing and the nicest stag grips Ive ever seen. I shot a few magazines of plinking ammo through it, it was nice. I just didn't like it any more than my glock. Big, heavy and only 8 rounds. I want to shoot a modern 1911 maybe a stainless Remington, and a custom before I make up my mind.

People like the 1911 for the ergonomics, trigger and accuracy. If those aren't important to you, a Glock will be fine.

Usually a modern 1911 is a step down from a good pre-war commercial Colt.

Infinity is SVI, they used to partner with STI but I think their paths have diverged. Both have pretty good stuff but the SVI stuff is usually $$$ and race guns. I have bought parts from both but not full guns.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

If your looking for WWII era 1911's keep an eye out for an Ithaca, thousands upon thousands were built right here in Ohio for the war effort and most people look for Colt or Remington but the Ithaca's were well above standards and top quality shooters. Ithaca still builds them today.

 

[rwj]

Maybe STI?? Whats an Infinity??

Strayer Voigt... https://www.sviguns.com/ Smoothest most accurate 1911 I’ve ever handled... but they ain’t inexpensive!

 

[MrMajestic]

I have a 1944 Remington Rand that the original owner shot very few rounds though. He got it from the Quarter Master when he disembarked the ship at the end of WWII. It's my only "safe queen" as I have many .45 ACP's to shoot so it doesn't need to be. He was a very good man and my memories from our time together flash before me when ever I show somebody it. Buy a shooter and save for a collector...JMHO

 

[velocette]

Parts gun? My match 1911 is an Essex GI frame, Colt National Match slide, Bar-Sto barrel, Austin Behlert hammer & sear, Wolff springs. etc etc. Still shoots lights out.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Parts gun? My match 1911 is an Essex GI frame, Colt National Match slide, Bar-Sto barrel, Austin Behlert hammer & sear, Wolff springs. etc etc. Still shoots lights out.

Yeh pretty sure the military wanted the 1911's to be able to just swap parts around at will and the gun still function and shoot. Remember at the time we were not thinking of them being collectors items, they were tools to keep us alive...

 

[Dud]

Ok, what is different between a USGI Garand and your "civilian version"?

It's a rhetorical question...

As for the FAL, it is quite a bit different from your description and would have won the M14 trials if they were not rigged. They call it "the right arm of the free world" for a reason.

Try one.

 

[JimT]

Usually a modern 1911 is a step down from a good pre-war commercial Colt.

Please expound.

 

[Dud]

Please expound.

A pre-war commercial Colt in new condition is made with good steel, has beautiful bluing, no MIM parts and usually very well fit.

I have one, it is nice although it has been worked on.

The usual (as in common) modern 1911 has cast and MIM parts and a finish that isn't as nice. Recently the slide to frame fit has been getting better (probably due to CNC machining) but the rest of the fit and finish is often more about cost saving than craftsmanship.

Some expensive 1911s are much nicer than the usual modern 1911 but that quality starts around $2,000.

 

[Bc'z]

A pre-war commercial Colt in new condition is made with good steel, has beautiful bluing, no MIM parts and usually very well fit.

I have one, it is nice although it has been worked on.

The usual (as in common) modern 1911 has cast and MIM parts and a finish that isn't as nice. Recently the slide to frame fit has been getting better (probably due to CNC machining) but the rest of the fit and finish is often more about cost saving than craftsmanship.

Some expensive 1911s are much nicer than the usual modern 1911 but that quality starts around $2,000.

So your saying my pro carry II is a pos? Lol
@Dud I'm joking

 

[Bc'z]

They are mostly cast parts unfortunately.

Yeah I know, just found out from usmcdoc that the frames are made by S&W.

 

[Dud]

So your saying my pro carry II is a pos? Lol
@Dud I'm joking

Is that a Kimber?

If so, not a pos (unless it's a problem gun which Kimber had some trouble with a few years back), but a step backward from a pre-war commercial Colt.

It's like Mausers, the commercial rifles of the early 1900s were beautiful, the military rifles were quite rough in comparison and now I'm not sure what a modern Mauser really is. I know they exist but I think I have seen one with a plastic stock...

 

[JimT]

Is that a Kimber?

If so, not a pos (unless it's a problem gun which Kimber had some trouble with a few years back), but a step backward from a pre-war commercial Colt.

It's like Mausers, the commercial rifles of the early 1900s were beautiful, the military rifles were quite rough in comparison and now I'm not sure what a modern Mauser really is. I know they exist but I think I have seen one with a plastic stock...

Here you go:

 

[Bc'z]

Is that a Kimber?

If so, not a pos (unless it's a problem gun which Kimber had some trouble with a few years back), but a step backward from a pre-war commercial Colt.

It's like Mausers, the commercial rifles of the early 1900s were beautiful, the military rifles were quite rough in comparison and now I'm not sure what a modern Mauser really is. I know they exist but I think I have seen one with a plastic stock...

Yes sir it is. I was pulling your leg a lil bit.
It's no LesBear custom, it's a working mans pistol.check out the pipe on this thing.

 

[Dud]

Yep, they really cost reduced the barrel bushing.

There are several ways to skin a cat. That one has a bull barrel and a few critical parts made by MIM.

Lucky for you, you can swap out the MIM parts if you feel like it and either way have a damn good gun that you can shoot without worrying about value.

My pre-war commercial Colt is similar, it's a custom so the value is not really changed by use despite what it is.

 

[Dud]

Quantity, quality or history?

A friend of mine has a Valtro which is high on quality. Mine is high on history but not the type of history people pay $$$ for. I have a couple more but I'm sure there are many people who have many more.

 

[Bc'z]

We had a 1911 contest
/ show a couple years ago.

Dusty won....

I Remember the matched set right and left handed, with left side eject.

 

[Spike A]

well gents... things got a little off topic... but here i pose another question... i think they are both decent guns so no bashing please.. but which has been recently made to higher standers... kimber, or springfields?

 

[brokeasajoke]

While I don't have much 1911 knowledge to share, I can say my Kimber Master Carry Custom is trouble free for me so far.