Recommendations for a better 1911

[Doc Holloman]

OK, I know this is a perennial question but here goes again:

I'm considering treating myself to a higher quality 1911 than what I have been shooting (Springfield Garrison) and am looking for recommendations.  This was actually triggered by a Facebook post by Capt George Baylor, extoling the virtues of the Standard Manufacturing pistol that he has been testing.  Looks like a good gun and will certainly be worth considering.  But, I want to know what my other options might be.

Criteria:  Wild Bunch MODERN legal.  Price limit $2000.  Series 70-type mechanicals. Minimum work to be done out of the box (I would be willing to change out a front sight to make it WB legal.) Fixed high vis sights.  Single stack. 

Must be readily available ( I have been waiting a year for a gun now and don't want to do that again. )  Would prefer a new gun.
I have no real manufacturer preference.  That being said, I have had bad experiences with Kimber and Desert Eagle.

[DeaconKC]

Ruger SR1911, S&W and the Sig 1911s are all excellent guns. They will come with good triggers, excellent sights and magazines. Use grease on the frame rails, especially with a stainless gun. Use good magazines, Actmag, Mec-gar, Chip McCormick, Novak, Ed Brown and Wilson are all VERY good quality. Avoid Promag, Kimber's standard magazines [the Kimpro ones are okay] and "mystery" magazines.

[Coffinmaker]

WELL DOC 

Lemmie wadę in Herę with no real recommendations.  First up though, I give a really big
PLUS ONE for the Deacon!!

You will find, often the only real difference in run of the mill and "High End" guns is the name roll stamped on the slide.  There is a single criteria:  Does it run reliably EVERY TIME?? (Buy It).  Then there is the next consideration:  Magazines.  I lost count of the number if 1911s brought to my shop to be Fix'd/Modified/Changed and the only problem was the cheap garbage magazines.  Do not skimp on Magazines.

Personally, I played Wild Bunch with a pair of Springfield Armory 1911s.  Dead reliable.  Ambi everything as I played with a double strong side rig and shot Gunfighter (Before SASS screwed the game into the mud).  So:  Let function be your guide.  NOT Price.

Yes Auntie Agness, People are Still Hazardous to Yer Health

[Jeremiah Jones]

My EDC gun has been an M1911 since ~1979.  My experience is the magazines and ammo make more of a difference than the make of gun.

[Abilene]

.... Use good magazines, Actmag, Mec-gar, Chip McCormick, Novak, Ed Brown and Wilson are all VERY good quality. Avoid Promag, Kimber's standard magazines [the Kimpro ones are okay] and "mystery" magazines.

Yep, magazines.  In addition to those, it seems that a lot of the SERIOUS Wild Bunch guys are using Tripp mags, or at least Tripp springs and followers in other mags.  Rather pricey.  Sure see a lot of jams with folks shooting WB.  I'm sure it's ammo if not magazines.  My various mags and ammo all run well in my Armscor-made Cimarron.  I'm just glacially slow changing mags (and I don't practice). 

[Professor Marvel]

Personally I see nothing wrong (and everything to like) with the current Colt Series 70
the GovtClassic is still around $1k

as the other gents pointed out, most of the other major players putouta really fine 1911.

My personal opinion is that Standard Manufacturing is long on hype and short on value-for-price

yhs
prof mumbles

[Coffinmaker]

A Large and LOUD PLUS ONE for The Perfesser 

I must admit I have never been a fan of "Standard Manufacturing."  Mostly I found Standard to be "All Hat and No Cattle."  While nice guns, no where near worth the asking price.  Nowhere at all near.


People be Hazardous to Yer Health

[Galen]

Tisas 1911. Forged steel no plastic and they work.

[Froogal]

Tisas 1911. Forged steel no plastic and they work.

I second the motion on the Tisas.

[Major 2]

With well over 100 different manufacturers producing the 1911 platform at one time or another
whom is or was the best is transitory?
There is the Tisas (made in Turkey) at one end of the spectrum.
Then there is the $2000 and beyond mark that puts some of the biggest names, the slickest actions & finishes in you gun safe.
Manufactures like. Colts Gold Cup Trophy, Kimber, Smith & Wesson Performance Center. Dan Wesson and Sig Sauer come in around or just under your 2 grand.

In between, there a is entire group of mid-priced and fine performing 1911's.
If Springfield Armory and Colt Series 70 doesn't float your boat, you can spend way more.

In the end, only you can decide were your desire lays.
Anywhere between casual shooting, competing or mega value safe queen.
Was I any help? ...no ?

For me personally, the ultimate mega value safe queen, would be a rare Singer produced WW2 1911. 
When I did compete, the 1st. was Cimarron/Rock Island 1911,
  a bit later I acquired a NIB Springfield Armory in a trade UP! for a won door prize a NIB Glock,
and now casually shooting that same Springfield and a Springfield Armory's EMP.

and on very, very rare occasion the safe queen, a WW2 Ithica with provenance acquired from the B-26 pilot that carried it, over France, Belgum and Germany.

My 2 cents, anyway

[Baltimore Ed]

Better looking?- better shooting?- better running? I've never thought it was necessary to invest a ton in a shooter like a 1911. I've spent way more on Webleys and New Service revolvers. For WB I alternate between a Heinz Colt 1918 slide/Essex frame, a lovely nickeled Cimarron and an older Auto Ordnance 1911. All run fine with Chip McCormick mags. I will say that those  original 1911 sights are too small. As close as WB steel is nowadays you don't need a Clark bullseye gun, it just needs to be reliable with good ammo and 100% magazines. I've watched tight upscale pistols become jamomatics at matches. Btw I shoot Traditional category. We shoot our first WB of 2023 this month. More fun than a hog killen'.

[Montana Slim]

Adding a second pistol is never a bad idea...but, if you only want one competitive level pistol, the one you have can be massaged by many 1911 smiths. I have a competitive modern model 1911 (Springfield frame, NM parts, fitting, & Bo-Mar rear sight) built by a friend & former NM 1911 armorer from Rock Island (the US Arsenal). He instructed me in fitting the trigger & other small items which I then finished myself. I wanted a traditional pistol & am happy with the TISAS Service 1911 for possible traditional category shooting. Working your pistol over might cost around a grand, purchasing a ready model probably around two grand. I don't keep up with manufacturers enough to make a specific recommendation. I'll also add that I highly considered the basic Colt - priced around 900 clams - may still consider adding one...as I spent a fair bit of my life working closely with Colt's personnel on products and spent time at the manufacturing facility.

Good magazines are essential - I'm using a mix of MecGar & MetalForm. I like the new style follower & welded bases. Also recommend reading up on magazine inspection.

Regards,
Slim

[Border Ruffian]

This!
https://fusionfirearms.com/

They make outstanding 1911pistols.

[RoyceP]

Personally I see nothing wrong (and everything to like) with the current Colt Series 70
the GovtClassic is still around $1k

as the other gents pointed out, most of the other major players putouta really fine 1911.

My personal opinion is that Standard Manufacturing is long on hype and short on value-for-price

yhs
prof mumbles

I agree but why not get the Colt Gold Cup 70 Series while you are at it? Very reliable and worth the extra few bucks.

[Professor Marvel]

I agree but why not get the Colt Gold Cup 70 Series while you are at it? Very reliable and worth the extra few bucks.

But the Gold Cup series is not legal for wild bunch as far as i can tell

[RoyceP]

But the Gold Cup series is not legal for wild bunch as far as i can tell

Oh OK I see the OP said that was important to him. I have no idea about the rules for that game.

[Niederlander]

For what it's worth, a while back someone asked on another forum which 1911's were the highest quality.  A guy who ran a high end shooting school said from his experience, if it wasn't a Colt or a Springfield Armory they didn't tend to make it through the whole class without problems.  He said he knew he was going to get blown up by the Kimber, etc. guys, but those were his observations.  I don't know myself, as I shoot a 1918 Colt.  Best of luck with whatever you get!

[Major 2]

The first 1911 I had was a Mixmaster with a Colt slide on a Remington Rand frame,
It was assembled of miscellaneous parts; it was loose and sort of rattled if you shook it.
But it was fool proof and I never had it fail to feed.

To be honest, the only reason I let it go was pure and simple greed.
I had maybe $350 in it, and an offer of $875 was just too tempting. 

[Coffinmaker]

  Doc H 

I'm really no help here (almost no help).  When I first started shooting Wild Bunch, my match gun was an AMT Hardballer.  Loudly panned by the "all knowing" scribes.  After I started feeding it with good magazines it ran like a Goosed Gorilla.  Ran well enough I also carried it as a LEO Duty Gun.  That Good.  I've mentioned above my next Wild Bunch guns (yep, Plural) were a pair from Springfield Armory.  Same story.  When fed with quality magazines, dead reliable.  Had to be as I shot 'em as "Last Man Standing."

"Others" said it well.  Price should not be the "Prime Directive."  FUNCTION should drive it all.  And function should come right out of the box with quality magazines.

Just my Two Bits.  Six actually.

PS:  Why oh Why did I ever let that Hardballer get away.  It was some sweet.

[Bunk]

Caveat :I do not shoot Wild Bunch but  the 1911 is my favorite cartridge gun as my gun rack will attest. Gold Cup in the 2XXX range, a couple of Commanders and a small herd of Government models that I shoot a lot. A lot being three or four days a week three or four magazines full.
I have a range in my back yard and am learning to shoot Steel Challenge.
Never had a feeding problem even with a couple of Essex frame government size , but they all use Wilson Rodgers magazines and after many many rounds year after year they never failed.
My thought is spend your money on a reasonable price gun and don't skimp on cheap magazines. Get the best.
Hold Center
Bunk