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$2500 to spend on a 1911...your choice is...

11892 Views 167 Replies 109 Participants Last post by  1911NewGuy, 
Grunt35710
Hello everyone! Im a single parent...Military veteran and im on a limited budget. I want to "splurge" and spent within my means and I have around $2200-$2500. I would like to get into the upper echelon but I might not have enough funds...
If you had around that budget what you get???

Happy Shooting and Semper Fidelis!

Matt
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Yankee Fist
curtmini14 said:
id buy a kimber and more ammo before i bought an sti pos.
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Newer Kimbers are not worth the money. They were great years ago but quality these days is bad . Dont own an STI but I have a Staccato that runs great. I own Wilson Combat and Les Baer . Love both .
curtmini14 said:
id buy a kimber and more ammo before i bought an sti pos.
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Flintlock62
I have a Wilson Combat Protector Elite I may be putting up for sale soon. $2,500 shipped. PM me if you're interested.
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M
I am probably in the minority here, but I have carried a 1911 in government and law enforcement service for almost 40 years. I have shot and/or carried just about every single make and manufacture of mainstream 1911s. I think you need to decide what exactly you’re looking for in a 1911. Is it for every day carry, target use, occasional carry, or whatever criteria you have decided upon. Of course there are very expensive models, but in my experience, it is more the shooter than the gun. I have an old Springfield armory mil spec that I changed a few parts on (sear, disconnector, mainspring housing, sights) that out shoots some Ed Browns and Les Baers. I kid you not. It is one of the most accurate handguns I ever shot and I have even commented about it to the people at Springfield armory. I have an older Springfield armory range officer that I changed the sights on and some internal parts, and that pistol also shoots exceptionally well. More importantly, both are utterly reliable. I have an old colt series 70 1911 that shoots exceptionally well, but not as well as my two Springfields. IMHO there are many factors that should go into the purchase of a 1911, but to me accuracy and reliability are two of the most important factors to consider. I guess what I am getting at is you can get an excellent 1911 for much less money than you’re willing to spend, and either upgrade the sights to your liking or internals/thumb Davey, etc. to your liking. Just my humble opinion. Again, there are many to choose from and that’s what makes it so interesting. By the way thank you for your service. Spent quite a bit of time imbedded with the Marines overseas. Regards to you and to everyone else on this forum.
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R
I would look at a Dan Wesson. I love mine!
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DarknessComes
I would get a Rock Island, and use the rest for a LOT of ammo. Got several RIA's, good shooters, tight grouping, and if there is something you want to modify, hey... it's a 1921.
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Merton
I believe there are many correct answers. Even though I went crazy and already have gone through more semi-customs than I ever thought and have no intention of stopping, I started in a financial spot much like yours. I believe I had $2800 and I set out looking for...... something. I found a WC CQB in 9mm that was unfired for $2500 and it was a great gun. I would recommend the CQB to anyone, but DW, Baer, etc. are pretty great as well. I briefly owned a GI NN .45 and I am very impressed with the quality from the few that I have seen in person.

Knowing what I know now, I would try to get $3-3500 together and wait for the right ACW Prime. Fortunately there are many great answers and they should all be fine guns. Good luck to you and congratulations on your purchase. I am not in your exact situation, but I relate and respect it entirely, Sir.
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10ther
Hands down, save for (or buy used) an Alchemy Custom Weaponry Quantico. If you order now, you’ll have 8-9 months to save up the difference. It’s worth the price and wait. Semper Fi
Buy once. Cry once.
alchemy1911.com

Quantico - Alchemy Custom Weaponry

The Quantico is the ideal custom 1911 designed for tactical and duty use with a frame rail and high visibility sights.
alchemy1911.com alchemy1911.com
Air gun Wood Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory
Air gun Wood Trigger Gun accessory Tints and shades
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WC145
SemperFi1074 said:
Good morning Matt! I am new to 1911 Addicts, but I must say that one of the best semi-custom 1911 platforms I have found in the last couple of years has been BUL Armory out of Israel. Oryx Arms is one of their distributors, and you can get a 1911 single stack in 45 ACP or 9mm (I know you purists would shudder at the thought of this caliber LOL!!!), or a 2011 double stack optics ready,19 rounds (9mm) or 14 rounds (45 ACP) SAS II from the price points of $1350 to $1850, no tax, and $45 shipping. The BUL armory fit and finish, butter smooth slide and phenomenal View attachment 990554 3.5-4# trigger out of the box with a reset that is outstanding. All with 3 dot sights on single stack, or fiber optics on 2011 model, and G10 grips with 2 mags. Seriously consider this for a top quality 1911 platform IMHO!

Thanks for your service Matt!

Marc View attachment 990558 View attachment 990560
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BUL makes a nice 1911, I have one of their 2011s that is my dedicated house gun. HOWEVER, I'd never consider them a "semi-custom" manufacturer they are not in the same class as Baer, Brown, Wilson, NH, GI, etc.
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WC145
dnuggett said:
I should have a Guncrafter No Name .45 Commander for sale within the price you mentioned. Probably within the next week and a half I'll have it listed in the classifieds. You can PM me if interested.

View attachment 990533
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OP - Stop looking and pursue this deal!
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Norm321
^^^^^^^^
This!!!! My Guncrafter No Name CCO is by far my favorite pistol.
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Yoemen66
I will add this bit of wisdom. Make certain you buy the style 1911 you want.

There is a world of difference stylistically between a Nighthawk, Alchemy, Guncrafter, Baer, Colt, Springfield, etc. Some are more classically designed and others are more modern. Even with similar models between brands. They just build them differently. I like a really classic style not just design. Most all those builders build a good gun....there are some I just don't like the style of while others I love. Something to consider.
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rch27834
mattyb320ny said:
Hello everyone! Im a single parent...Military veteran and im on a limited budget. I want to "splurge" and spent within my means and I have around $2200-$2500. I would like to get into the upper echelon but I might not have enough funds...
If you had around that budget what you get???

Happy Shooting and Semper Fidelis!

Matt
Click to expand...
mattyb320ny said:
Hello everyone! Im a single parent...Military veteran and im on a limited budget. I want to "splurge" and spent within my means and I have around $2200-$2500. I would like to get into the upper echelon but I might not have enough funds...
If you had around that budget what you get???

Happy Shooting and Semper Fidelis!

Matt
Click to expand...
I bought a lightly used Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special on GunBroker several years ago for under $2000 and it was exactly what I’d been wanting.
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F
mattyb320ny said:
I have around $2200-$2500. I would like to get into the upper echelon but I might not have enough funds...
If you had around that budget what you get??
Click to expand...
I would make a list of features, caliber and style/size gun you want and then research models... you'll eliminate a lot of ground that way.
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Tom_R
You can get some good stuff with that budget.

I would go with one of the following:
A well cared for Ed Brown, Night Hawk or Wilson Combat
A Colt that I would have some customization done to.
A Springfield that I would have some customization done to.

Or maybe one of these:

1911 | Sbardella Arms | United States

Sbardella Arms, Inc. manufactures custom 1911 handguns
www.sbardella-arms.com www.sbardella-arms.com

These look promising.
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SemperFi1074
WC145 said:
BUL makes a nice 1911, I have one of their 2011s that is my dedicated house gun. HOWEVER, I'd never consider them a "semi-custom" manufacturer they are not in the same class as Baer, Brown, Wilson, NH, GI, etc.
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We all have our favorites and opinions, and I understand your response, but for the price point and the fit, finish, and quality of operation and workmanship I have seen in the BUL Armory platforms, they can give some of the manufacturers you have named a run for the money, and you still have money in your pocket to buy ammo and a nice holster. And going back to a previous post, you can spend thousands of dollars, but if you can't shoot worth a flip, what is the point??? LOL!!!
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grainfed
I did have $2200 several weeks ago and bought a new Wesson V-bob Valor Commander. Ditched the ambi safety it came with and fit a new EGW single sided thumb safety. Bobtailed some old Les Baer checkered grips and hit the range. This Wesson is as tight as my Les Baer Super Tac, Monolith and Comanche were when they were new. The bushing was not as tight as those others but firm. Dead nuts solid, accurate and standard with all bar stock parts. It is carried in a very old Milt Sparks Versa-Max. Wessons are one great value for the money.
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P
Used Springfield Custom, Colt Custom.
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Tonysmjc
WC145 said:
OP - Stop looking and pursue this deal!
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hell if he doesn’t I might
And I’ve got one in finish as we speak
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Tonysmjc
SemperFi1074 said:
We all have our favorites and opinions, and I understand your response, but for the price point and the fit, finish, and quality of operation and workmanship I have seen in the BUL Armory platforms, they can give some of the manufacturers you have named a run for the money, and you still have money in your pocket to buy ammo and a nice holster. And going back to a previous post, you can spend thousands of dollars, but if you can't shoot worth a flip, what is the point??? LOL!!!
[/QUOTE

ah forget it bulls great ;)
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Huff
If you are a patient individual, I am not, look for a used ACW in the classifieds, great pistols.

Want an accurate as hell shooter now a new Baer from crazy John, his site has been mentioned several times for good reasons.
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