1911s built for reliability

[sohmdaddy]

I've been reading Mr. Ayoob's In the Gravest Extreme, and he mentions that (at the time) the Colt 1911 was one of his picks for an automatic pistol because of its loose tolerances and reliability. Is there an off-the-shelf 1911 that will run reliably, that isn't a $3,000 Nighthawk Custom? (Yes of course it would need to be broken in, good magazines, reasonable maintenance etc. . .)

[kfail7]

Try the Ruger SR1911.  Luv mine.
Ken

[SirBrass]

Smith & Wesson E-series.  Less than half the cost of a $3k Wilson or Nighthawk, faster turn-around time, and they come with most of the reliability bells & whistles: enlarged and external extractor, combat ejection port, etc., etc.  Not to mention that they come with even more "niceties."

Most of your above-entry-level 1911's these days come set for reliability.  That's one reason why they cost so much too (I'm talking the springfields, kimbers, and smiths mainly... I have heard nothing about the basic reliability of the Ruger 1911).

It used to be that a basic colt government model DID need to be taken to a gunsmith before it was ever used.  That is not the case today in general.  We're not talking about old rattling slab sides anymore.  Well... some of the colts I've seen sold are still rattle-traps where the triggers and lockup are concerned, but your smiths, sigs, springfields, and kimbers aren't (though I've not heard good things about Kimber's QA on products as of late, and there are some mutterings now about sigs going down the same road as well.... though my Sig P238 functions flawlessly).

[Kimerazor]

I've never had a reliability issue with my S&W Performance Center model 1911,  Which is the reason I spent the extra cash.

Saying "1911's" have a problem is comparable to saying "cars" are unreliable.  There are differences in brands.  Yugo v. Ford v. Toyota, etc.


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[Kevin]

I've got a Springfield Armory that I bought for 600 bucks that's incredibly reliable and dead nuts accurate. It does have a 10,000 round trigger job though  I'm guessing after that many rounds without a failure that I couldn't relate directly to handloads that went awry, it's safe to say that it's reliable. Now that I think about it a little more, I can't even remember a failure due to handloads... had a few tumbling rounds, but no failures. All the failures were my Glock jamming up on some 9mm that I didn't size properly...
-Kevin

[Devereaux]

Most 1911's are reliable if you take care of them. This doesn't mean constant cleaning as much as seeing to it that they are well lubed. But then, that's a requirement for most autos. For a carry 1911, a quality grease is probably a good way to insure lubrication of the rails while not getting oil stains on the shirt/pants/holsters. I don't carry, as the Soviet State of Illinois doesn't allow me to, so my guns are usually oiled rather than greased. But lube is lube, and if it's good lube, it works.

[SirBrass]

Wilson combat grease is what I use on my gun, and I use CLP spray to clean, so there's some internal lubrication going on there when it's cleaned as well.  It doesn't squirt grease every time it fires, but it does tend to leak a little past the dust cover.  No biggie.  I clean the thing about once a week simply b/c the shiny stainless looks dirty after range time.

I'd like to take my 1911 to Robar for them to Roguard the scandium frame (if that's possible, I'd have to ask), NP3 plus the internals and NP3 Plus the slide (and Roguard the extractor, safety, and slide-stop lever).

[sohmdaddy]

I've got a Springfield Armory that I bought for 600 bucks that's incredibly reliable and dead nuts accurate. It does have a 10,000 round trigger job though  I'm guessing after that many rounds without a failure that I couldn't relate directly to handloads that went awry, it's safe to say that it's reliable. Now that I think about it a little more, I can't even remember a failure due to handloads... had a few tumbling rounds, but no failures. All the failures were my Glock jamming up on some 9mm that I didn't size properly...
-Kevin

Is it a Milspec? I'm sorta kinda leaning towards a no bells and whistles model with the A1 beavertail and hammer. Though I would have to shoot one first to make sure it doesn't pinch my hand.

I like the idea of the ruger, with all the comforts AND a practical price point. I'm not interested in owning a piece of art, I like the 1911s that I've shot because they were accurate and comfortable to shoot.
I'm also not interested in paying even $800 - $1000. I want to know if I bought a $700 Mil-Spec or a $400 Metro Arms, if it would cycle reliably after being broken in, and with reasonable maintenance. (And quality magazines)

Does that make sense?

[SirBrass]

You're asking quite a bit for that low of a price.  $800-$1000 is normal for any 1911 except the most barebones, entry-level, permanent sights kind of model.

[Kevin]

It's a Loaded Black and Stainless with Novak sights and non-ambi safety. I bought it second hand for $600. That's where you'll get your deals on guns. You'll get so much more gun for less money than you would spend on a lesser model new gun. Start asking around the range with other shooters you know, let them know what you're looking for without being so specific that nobody will be able to come up with your gun. I was looking for a Kimber, and have seen quite a few nice ones go for the same money I spent on the SA, but they weren't available when I got this one. It's been flawless, I love the gun, and am thrilled I didn't have to spend a grand to get it. I've got a G-17 I bought for $380 that has never failed me, except when I screwed up the ammo, a model 66 for $300... the list goes on and on.

The key is to not be so brand specific that you screw yourself out of a good deal. When the Glock came available, I was looking for a polymer 9 and would have taken an M&P, an XD, a Glock, or a High Point... OK, kidding about the High Point, but the Glock came up cheap and first.

If you're worried about buying a lemon, find a good gunsmith and ask him to go over it before you buy it...
-Kevin

[SirBrass]

Hot dang!  I haven't seen a gun that nice used in the Phoenix area, but maybe that's b/c I haven't been looking as hard as I should've.

Considering I'd like to get ANOTHER 1911 sometime in the next year or so, I think that's the route I'll be going on first and foremost in my searches: used.

[sohmdaddy]

You're asking quite a bit for that low of a price.  $800-$1000 is normal for any 1911 except the most barebones, entry-level, permanent sights kind of model.

But will that bare bones, fixed sight 1911 function reliably after it's broken in?

[Kevin]

Hot dang!  I haven't seen a gun that nice used in the Phoenix area, but maybe that's b/c I haven't been looking as hard as I should've.

Considering I'd like to get ANOTHER 1911 sometime in the next year or so, I think that's the route I'll be going on first and foremost in my searches: used.

Get involved with a BUNCH of other shooters. Let everybody know you're looking. Eventually somebody will go all "Gun Whore" and have to have something else, and will sell one they have for a very reasonable price... it's all right place at the right time. I've also sold a few for pretty dang cheap so I could get something else I just "had to have". I'm almost over all that now... almost.

-Kevin, living the gun whore life since 1962...

[SirBrass]

I get involved as much as possible.  I've got other things going on, so shooting with people I know is relegated to Tuesday night IDPA, and I'm still very much the new guy in that regular group.