It (she)* will be a range piece, so I don't need the commander length, but it is proportionally more attractive. Are there any drawbacks to a 4.25" vs 5" barrel? My projected budget will keep me in the Taurus, ATI, Remington, Ruger price range.
The functional difference between commander and full size is nominal.
Of the models you mentioned that I have experience with all of them.
ATI - had an officer FX model. Very accurate but I could never get it to run reliably. Even replaced some internals with Kimber parts - still a jam-o-matic. I understand the full size models are more reliable but I won't be buying...
Taurus PT1911 - I dont care what forum warriors say - I actually have one. It comes with a lot of features with a $500 price tag. Accurate - reliable - haven't had a single FTF of any kind in over 1000 rounds. I've run it hard and had new and youth shooters fire it - it just keeps on trucking. Still looks brand new. No commander size available however.
Ruger - Very solid 1911. Probably the most $ of your wishlist, but also the class of the bunch IMO. The Stainless model looks like a $1000 gun and it has full and commander size models. I do not own one, but have fired one many times. Accurate and reliable.
Remington - the R1 is a great GI model. Very basic parts but also solidly built. If you are into skeleton triggers and hammers and extended beaver tail safeties - you'll have to make those upgrades on your own. They have an enhanced model that comes tricked out but it costs a fair amount more. Lots of folks get one of these specifically so they can make upgrades on their own.
The functional difference between commander and full size is nominal.
Of the models you mentioned that I have experience with all of them.
ATI - had an officer FX model. Very accurate but I could never get it to run reliably. Even replaced some internals with Kimber parts - still a jam-o-matic. I understand the full size models are more reliable but I won't be buying...
Taurus PT1911 - I dont care what forum warriors say - I actually have one. It comes with a lot of features with a $500 price tag. Accurate - reliable - haven't had a single FTF of any kind in over 1000 rounds. I've run it hard and had new and youth shooters fire it - it just keeps on trucking. Still looks brand new. No commander size available however.
Ruger - Very solid 1911. Probably the most $ of your wishlist, but also the class of the bunch IMO. The Stainless model looks like a $1000 gun and it has full and commander size models. I do not own one, but have fired one many times. Accurate and reliable.
Remington - the R1 is a great GI model. Very basic parts but also solidly built. If you are into skeleton triggers and hammers and extended beaver tail safeties - you'll have to make those upgrades on your own. They have an enhanced model that comes tricked out but it costs a fair amount more. Lots of folks get one of these specifically so they can make upgrades on their own.
I too owned a Taurus. but mine was out f specs and had problems with the biggest being that the hammer would follow the slide home when racked. Had to let it go.
Mow I want a TRP but the Rugers are more in my budget range.
I prefer Colt and Dan Wesson 1911s. I prefer government models for my slightly better accuracy with the longer sight radius and slightly less recoil for quicker follow-up shots. If it were a range/target gun only, I would look at six inch long slides.
Like LC, my favorites are Colt and DW - but they're not in the same price range as OP's looking at. My pick of the list would be the Ruger.
Springfield might be an option as well, but probably a little steep too. The Thompson that Zonker posted is intriguing! Haven't seen one of those before. I'm betting it's a lot of bang for the buck. Looks like it may not be available in a Commander-size, though.
The recent addition to my 1911 stable, is a Dan Wesson Razorback. After speaking with many 1911 gurus and firing some DW products, I finally decided to bite the bullet. I have 3 things to say about the Razorback.
1. Yep, it is pricey. $400.00 or so more, compared to other non-customs.
2. Fit, finish, operation and accuracy are exceptional, REALLY exceptional.
3. I have heard some negative comments, all from folks who spent hundreds, or a thousand, more on high end customs.
I have to agree with these posts and, personal 1911 experience aside, this is one of the big reasons why: When I was a kid there was only one person in our family that had money, enough money that everyone called him Rich Uncle Gene. Among the ways Rich Uncle Gene got rich was by keeping as much of his money as possible, however, as tight as he was with cash he freely gave advice to anyone that would listen. One of his tidbits that I've never forgotten was to "always buy up. Save a little longer, spend a little more, and buy better than you initially planned. That way everything you buy will be of higher quality, last longer, and serve you better than what you think you can afford right now." I remember that advice every time I go shopping for something - guns, tools, cars, TVs, clothes, you name it - and it has never failed me. I suggest the OP think about what Rich Uncle Gene had to say.
If you really catch the 1911 bug it doesn't take long to grow out of the quality of a lower end gun. Hang onto the money you've got, save a little more every week, sell off holsters and accessory stuff that you don't need anymore, and sooner than you think you'll have enough for something like a nice Colt or a Springfield or maybe a DW Heritage. Then you've got a gun that's going to last you and will grow with you if you want to modify it. It's an investment, not just a purchase.
Like LC, my favorites are Colt and DW - but they're not in the same price range as OP's looking at. My pick of the list would be the Ruger.
Springfield might be an option as well, but probably a little steep too. The Thompson that Zonker posted is intriguing! Haven't seen one of those before. I'm betting it's a lot of bang for the buck. Looks like it may not be available in a Commander-size, though.
The recent addition to my 1911 stable, is a Dan Wesson Razorback. After speaking with many 1911 gurus and firing some DW products, I finally decided to bite the bullet. I have 3 things to say about the Razorback.
1. Yep, it is pricey. $400.00 or so more, compared to other non-customs.
2. Fit, finish, operation and accuracy are exceptional, REALLY exceptional.
3. I have heard some negative comments, all from folks who spent hundreds, or a thousand, more on high end customs.
I have owned many 1911's over the years in various price ranges up to $1,300.00. All worked from OK to very well but one...that being the Taurus..."I" would suggest you eliminate that brand 1911 from your list. Of the remaining Ruger would be my pick based on my experience with their wheel guns, rifles and a MK111 22/45. I believe they are 70 series guns, "I" will only own 70's, meaning you can add higher end parts from Brown, Wilson, EGW etc. and they are built on the original design principal.
I've never shot a Rock Island but I have heard good things about them. I have shot my son's Commander length Ruger and find it to be a lot of gun for the money. It is a very well made gun and it has been flawless with over a 1,000 rounds put through it.
For the most part, the difference between a 5" and a 4"(4.25") barrel is negligible for most shooters - I am guessing when I say "most", but i am pretty sure you'll like the Commander length.
Heres a Springfield Armory Champion (4") in stainless and of course .45. They don't make them anymore, quit a few years back, but they are truly beautiful and all stainless. I know, your thinking those cant be cheap, and generally you would be right since they usually run as much as a new one. About five months ago there was a guy who bought one on gun broker that had a few fine swirls and fine scratches, it also had a line from where the guy had turned the disassembly leaver. He used gradually finer wet sand paper to buff all of the scratches out and then used a metal polish to buff it, it looked better than new. He had about $600 in it plus sandpaper!
I will see if I can find the thread.
For a range gun (and for carry for that matter), I'd opt for the 5" gun. 5 inchers are more forgiving of less than optimal springs etc. In general, 5 inch guns don't need quite the maintenance than do the shorter guns. All things being equal, they're simply more reliable.
No issues at all with Series 80 parts. Some guys don't like them. And some guys think a Series 80 Colt is close in design to the original, so they obviously don't care.
I doubt you'll find a custom 1911 with the extra parts in it though.
I've never had a problem with them.
I've never seen a PT 1911 that didn't look like it was assembled in a blender.
I've had 1911s ranging from $200 to $3K.
I'd get a Ruger 5" or Commander and call it a day.
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