Havnt noticed any serious POI shift in my DW, and the barrel is pretty “meaty” for a full size 1911 barrel, especially since it came threaded for a can…
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Can I get some 1911 advice?
- Thread starter darkfader
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Find yourself a DW Vigil. Throw a set of VS grips on it and invest the rest into ammo and Wilson Combat mags
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I have the Vigil that came supressor ready. Swapped in some VZ Grips, and running my Obsidian? It’s a dream. Everyone that has shot the combo immediately falls in love.
I need a 45 can and a DW. I've been waiting for them to drop the dwx but holy hell have they dragged their feet on that release.
Kimber 1911’s are shit, the only “good quality” 1912 pistols I’ve ever had trouble with. They decide not to really fit them and just put them together super tight for some parts but loose for others and let them fit themselves from firing which means a 500+ round break in period until it may be reliable. I use “may be reliable” very loosely.
Colt isn’t much better lately, their quality has gone downhill from where it once was.
I’d be looking at the Dan Wesson personally if you want a great pistol with threaded barrel out of the box.
Colt isn’t much better lately, their quality has gone downhill from where it once was.
I’d be looking at the Dan Wesson personally if you want a great pistol with threaded barrel out of the box.
Old kimber’s are decent but I definitely would not buy any recent offerings or a new colt for that matter.
On a budget for a new 1911 look at Dan Wesson for sure.
I do know DW customer service has a decent reputation as well.
Or a Springfield TRP.
On a budget for a new 1911 look at Dan Wesson for sure.
I do know DW customer service has a decent reputation as well.
Or a Springfield TRP.
Have a Kimber Gold Match I bought around 1997. Had the front strap checkered and a funnel magwell mainspring housing.
Put 6000 plus rounds thru it. Barrel bushing failed, probably a MIM part. Bluing is real nice. It's on my never sell list.
Put 6000 plus rounds thru it. Barrel bushing failed, probably a MIM part. Bluing is real nice. It's on my never sell list.
Springfield TRP with Bull barrel is an excellent answer to most semi-custom-ish 1911 questions.
S&W performance center 1911 should also be on the list
I held the Ed Kobra carry and it could be my next pick.
Well all the ones I have experience with that ran were probably 15 years ago or so.
I’d agree with the S&W PC.
Mine is 2008 production, and I've had absolutely zero mechanical issues. Only issue was the finish wearing off. But Cerakote can fix that pretty cheaply.
Friends don't let friends buy Kimbers. Not even if they ARE John Wick.
Have owned a Les Baer Ultimate Recon for several years. Before that, a Custom Carry. Bunch of buddies went the Kimber route back then (‘07, ‘10?) and were extremely unhappy with the reliability and customer service. Most were returned. I never tried one out. I stuck with what I had and have been happy with it.
Lifelong 1911 hard-core mega geek, having grown up down the road from Clark Custom Guns and my parents owning a gunshop through HS college years 30 years ago. I've been to the NRA summer gunsmithing program's 1911 course, and have built/fixed, and owned/shot just about all of them. Also, I've been into NFA for 20+ years (even before it was cool) and absolutely LOVE shooting a .45 ACP with a nice can that has a little water mixed with wire-pulling gell for extreme mega giggle factor.
With that said.
1. I like my 1911's as tight as possible, and usually only shoot them in matches (unexpressed) and have 4 custom ones, 1 that I built, an STI, and 2 from Ben Hayes (Jim Clark's Grandson) that are shockingly accurate. None of them are threaded as I've shot 1911's with cans and wasn't that impressed.
B. I've owned an H&K USP tactical, FNX .45, and also a Glock 21 with a factory Glock threaded BBL and I sold the HK and still have the Glock and FN. The Glock wears an SWR Hems-2 and the FN, an AAC TiRant.
I could NOT be happier with either, and see pros and cons to each, but honestly, if you want to suppress a .45, you really have to try hard to find something better than the FN.
With that said.
1. I like my 1911's as tight as possible, and usually only shoot them in matches (unexpressed) and have 4 custom ones, 1 that I built, an STI, and 2 from Ben Hayes (Jim Clark's Grandson) that are shockingly accurate. None of them are threaded as I've shot 1911's with cans and wasn't that impressed.
B. I've owned an H&K USP tactical, FNX .45, and also a Glock 21 with a factory Glock threaded BBL and I sold the HK and still have the Glock and FN. The Glock wears an SWR Hems-2 and the FN, an AAC TiRant.
I could NOT be happier with either, and see pros and cons to each, but honestly, if you want to suppress a .45, you really have to try hard to find something better than the FN.
Les Baer are the finest guns for the money. I love mine. But you get what you pay for. $500 guns go bang a couple of times. 2000 rounds later and mine is even better.
Sadly, Wilson has been yammering as of late about less actual gunsmithing (Not hating on CNCs) and less QC. One fella I talked to remarked "They should start calling themselves Smith and Wilson" <sigh> They are pricey as fuck but I have two Nighthawks headed home soon. Councilor is getting an IOS cut and the Agent 2 is getting fitted with a TFS barrel.
Agreed! I love 1911s and I like what Nighthawk stands for. Was it a silly amount of money? Yep! But we all have our addictions and 1911s are mine!
My babies...
Kimber was one on top of the list, I have a Kimber Pro CDP II and a TLE II. They are really nice but kimber went downhill somehow.
I guess they had poor quality control.
Kimber: the brand that says "I bought this before I knew shit about 1911's".
Yep. I wasn't exactly new to 1911s as I spent years shooting them in the Marines and owned a Colt and Rock Island. That said I was far from a 1911 expert.
One year for Christmas while at our LGS, my wife told me she would buy me any gun in the case. The Kimber Pro CDP II I chose was $1300 based on thinking they were quality. I should have spent the extra couple hundred for the Les Baer instead.
After my issues with Kimber, a google found page after page of issues with Kimbers.
Over the last week of scouring, I haven’t read or heard anything about Kimber, except warnings to stay away, overpriced, bad CS, etc. I found a Kimber desert warrior (not TFS) in an LGS and handled it. It wasn’t awe inspiring for the price for sure. It also had the cream colored chain link type grips so I think that was older. Maybe sitting in the case for quite a while.
This thread has forced me to research a lot on the 1911. I handled a Wilson combat at my favorite LGS, and I thought the trigger was nothing short of amazing. 2700$, and I’m not sure I want to drop that much on it. I really like the looks of the DW Specialist, but I haven’t been able to handle one. This is tough and I know I’ll end up with more than one at this point.
This thread has forced me to research a lot on the 1911. I handled a Wilson combat at my favorite LGS, and I thought the trigger was nothing short of amazing. 2700$, and I’m not sure I want to drop that much on it. I really like the looks of the DW Specialist, but I haven’t been able to handle one. This is tough and I know I’ll end up with more than one at this point.
I was mostly joking about Kimber.. but they're not cheap guns, and seems like too many guys find out about the whole 70-series vs 80-series/Swartz-safety stuff they probably wanted to know after it's already too late.
JMHO, but all 1911's should be 70-series, the 80-series/Swartz guns should be called something else.
For a someone who's going to shoot it more than polish it, "best bang for the buck" and all that... I will always recommend a 1911 put together by an actual texan in Texas who
Old STI's can be found for ~$1k (if you're lucky) and aren't outclassed by fancier or more expensive 1911's from Arkansas or anywhere else.
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My Rock Island has gone bang WAY more than a few times.
....go with the strongest urge you are feeling, your "impatience". Getting a Colt 1911 is never a bad decision for compatibility, financial (value), reliability, enhancement ability, and they always function in their stock, "rack grade" condition. Even in rack grade, they are accurate, most certainly reliable. Swapping the barrel is relatively easy, especially due the many "drop-in" offerings that will actually drop in and function in any 1911 format that is true to the Colt design. The "fitting required" parts are the ones that might give one problems, especially if not mechanically inclined. Threaded barrels are also relatively plentiful in both drop-in and "fitting required" models. Sight changes are not difficult to accomplish by just about anyone that can handle a hammer and punch rod, especially if the sight doesn't contain a tritium tube(s). Brownell's, Midway, etc. have large selections of barrels and sights, look for the "drop-in" barrels, not anything that has "gunsmithing/fitting required". Despite what alot of replies are saying about tightness, slop, etc., you want a little bit of "slop" in your handgun so it will function reliably when dirty, fouled, and you need it to go "BANG". If you don't want to do the parts swapping (and that really is what it is) of the barrel and sights, even the most basic of gunshop smiths should be able to do that for you. If you buy & provide the parts, even better turnaround time can be had. Just remember, there is a reason why the 1911 has been around for so long....
...and FWIW, for the past 30+ years, Springfield has enjoyed more "out of the box" reliability and functionality reports for both their rack grade and custom models than both Dan Wesson and Kimber. Wilson's as well.
Your passion is the "militaria" aspect, so stick with your M45 choice, you won't regret it as you most likely would if you let yourself be swayed from your original choice....
Your passion is the "militaria" aspect, so stick with your M45 choice, you won't regret it as you most likely would if you let yourself be swayed from your original choice....
One of the coolest guns I ever had was my RIA single stack gun from like 10+ years ago… swapped the guts for an SVI trigger and EGW/Koenig fire control, Dawson sights, and put over 10,000rds through it with no drama… probably was $600 all-in. Never should’ve gotten rid of it…
I wanted the Marine Corp M45, but didn’t want to pay the prices those things go for now. I got a S&W 1911 and had a gunsmith do the work. Gun was $1400 with tax. Gunsmith charge just over $1000. I supplied the threaded barrel and Delta Pro red dote site.
I seem to recall that some special ops units used the .45 due to it's ability to shoot suppressed without use of a vented barrel as is needed for the 9mm, and the corresponding loss of power/terminal ballistics . No matter what you shoot out of a .45, you will never get it to go supersonic.
It was a stretch for me when I bought this, but I don't regret one penny of what I invested and I don't think you would, either. I'm at 5700 rounds without the slightest hiccup and it's a dream to shoot.
No hate for STIs here. Had a pair... A Stacatto P and a Stacatto C from 2019 I'm guessing? The "P" had the full length square dust cover and I loved it. Had a old Wilson CQB as well and that thing ran like a Cummins 12V. Just would not stop! Love the Nighthawks, want a Guncrafters Hellcat. I don't hate any of them!I was mostly joking about Kimber.. but they're not cheap guns, and seems like too many guys find out about the whole 70-series vs 80-series/Swartz-safety stuff they probably wanted to know after it's already too late.
JMHO, but all 1911's should be 70-series, the 80-series/Swartz guns should be called something else.
For a someone who's going to shoot it more than polish it, "best bang for the buck" and all that... I will always recommend a 1911 put together by an actual texan in Texas whobuildsbuilt 1911-style guns all day, at a place that onlymakesmade 1911-style guns, for guys who were going to beat the piss out of them and run them hard: 2000-2015ish STI's, like the Sentry, USPSA, Lawman, and Trojan.
Old STI's can be found for ~$1k (if you're lucky) and aren't outclassed by fancier or more expensive 1911's from Arkansas or anywhere else.
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So I did a few things since I started this thread. You guys may shame me off the internet but flame suit is donned and I’m ready. I really wanted the M45A1, but you guys talked me out of it.
I decided I would build one to my liking. I started with an 80% 70 series frame and sent it and the slide out for engraving to the folks who do my form1 tubes and they worked their magic. Once I had it back, I machined the sear and hammer pin holes, and took the slide rails to within a couple thousandths of where they needed to be. I finished them with 400, 600, and finally 800 grit lapping compound. The slide cycles very smooth and the seams are almost invisible on the rear of the slide. Everything got a couple applications of Norrel’s MolyResin and then a set of VZ grips. It’s first 100rds of Speer ball ammo all cycled, fired and ejected flawlessly, which is more than I can say about the FNX 45T I bought during the same time. I have a threaded barrel ordered for my Mock45A1 so once that comes in, I’ll fit it and try the gun suppressed. Overall, I couldn’t be happier. It is a very smooth shooter.
I also snagged this commander length BUL Armory 1911 in stainless. Never heard of them, but the guys at my favorite shop we’re talking it up so I snagged it for not an obscene amount of money.
And I put a deposit down on a Wilson Combat in stainless that they have and should pick that up after the first of the year.
I’ll be coating that can in the Norrel’s as well.
I decided I would build one to my liking. I started with an 80% 70 series frame and sent it and the slide out for engraving to the folks who do my form1 tubes and they worked their magic. Once I had it back, I machined the sear and hammer pin holes, and took the slide rails to within a couple thousandths of where they needed to be. I finished them with 400, 600, and finally 800 grit lapping compound. The slide cycles very smooth and the seams are almost invisible on the rear of the slide. Everything got a couple applications of Norrel’s MolyResin and then a set of VZ grips. It’s first 100rds of Speer ball ammo all cycled, fired and ejected flawlessly, which is more than I can say about the FNX 45T I bought during the same time. I have a threaded barrel ordered for my Mock45A1 so once that comes in, I’ll fit it and try the gun suppressed. Overall, I couldn’t be happier. It is a very smooth shooter.
I also snagged this commander length BUL Armory 1911 in stainless. Never heard of them, but the guys at my favorite shop we’re talking it up so I snagged it for not an obscene amount of money.
And I put a deposit down on a Wilson Combat in stainless that they have and should pick that up after the first of the year.
I’ll be coating that can in the Norrel’s as well.
I have a buddy who had a smith add an inch of freebore (and threaded) to his tarkarv (sp?) pistol so he could run his 30 cal rifle can. The turnaround was a few weeks and it looks great. I think it was done by the folks he bought the can from, they also threaded a few of his rifles. He bought a Banish.
I also have a Rock Island 1911 that has been positively *amazing*.
It came out of the box looking like it was hand-built by a custom gunsmith. I remember I had ordered it and had it delivered to a local gun shop for the transfer and the guy, who was a nice guy but not necessarily the friendliest (whereas his wife was the friendliest, maybe that's why, he didn't like me making conversation with his wife... What was I supposed to do, say Hey U STFU lady?!) ... he actually mentioned first , "You know, I saw the label of the order and thought, "Oh, this guy doesn't know what he's doing, he bought a Rock Island... then I took it out and started looking at it and I was amazed at how tight it was, the slide-to-frame fit and lockup is something out of a magazine advertisement..."
And it has been pretty damn solid ... amazingly accurate for a $550-ish gun. I will admit- the finish sucks. I have a two-tone ... so the slide is Blued and it has tons of marks (Using a hard Blackhawk holster does that...) and the frame is nickel-plated, and the nickel is not the highest-quality ... but a little bit of Mothers Wax fixed it right up.) - so I admit, it doesn't have a Springfield Black-T finish but the actual firearm, amazing.
And if people don't know - there are documentaries on Youtube etc. The Filipino 'backwoods gunsmith' industry is RIDICULOUS. These dudes *hand build* 1911s out of hand-tools and patterns and it's positively ridiculous... Armscor started hiring them to be gun-builders legally and because of the differences in American labor costs and obviously the Philippines, nobody in the world gives you more hands-on attention and hand-building, hand-fitting, "custom work" on a $500 gun than Rock Island. You have to spend 3-5x more minimum to get the same level of hands-on attention. I'm not saying these $500 guns are Springfield Professionals or anything like that, but for $500 I am *extremely impressed*. Love mine. And because it's not $3500 Custom, I don't care about the scuffs on the slide or anything like that. I carry it on my ~40 acres of woodlands and it's always served me well. Whereas, unlike Jax Teller, if I DID have a Springfield Professional, it would probably live it's life in the drawer or nightstand and not get to play very much, can't be scratching that baby!
Welcome to the “won two world wars” club! Proud member myself…. Cary various pistols, including various flavors of Glocks and Sig 320s, but there is nothing like a well tuned 1911.
I have Colts, and a few others…love them all.
Looks like you’re already on the path, but for the inevitable additions, look at Sig’s 1911s. Great value for the $$. I don’t like their factory grips, but add a set of whatever you like, and over time replace the metal injection molded bits with good stuff from Wilson or whatever strikes your fancy and you can have a $1K gun that shoots like one costing twice as much or more.
Here’s what I did with one I fixed up for my son:
I found one with a very tight slide fit, and spent a weekend lapping it it until it was smooth as buttah…then added the WC trigger (easy fitting job) because I hate vertical play in a 1911 trigger, and be t up one of their main springs to my liking too. Shoots fantastic!
Eventually, you’ll start hankering for higher end guns, and there are a few really good intermediate guns out there…several mentioned above. Dan Wesson, Ed Brown, etc. Great guns for the money.
Then you start getting into the higher end Wilson Combat models, or like I did, a Nighthawk Custom:
… and then go nuts with grips that cost more than some of my pistols and many of my ARs:
…but if you’re lucky, you’ll eventually scrape together the $$ to get a true custom masterpiece. A couple out there, but I settled on a Cabot. Damascus ladder slide, Deluxe. With their new (well new when I got mine) beveled mag well:
… and of course a custom holster and mag pouch from Sam Andrews, and another set of grips from Nate Challis:
Also have a 9mm STI Staccato-C for EDC, and it’s a sweet shooting pistol, but once you shoot a Nighthawk, let alone a Cabot you will be absolutely ruined for everything else.
Enjoy the trip down the rabbit hole…it’s worth the ride!
I have Colts, and a few others…love them all.
Looks like you’re already on the path, but for the inevitable additions, look at Sig’s 1911s. Great value for the $$. I don’t like their factory grips, but add a set of whatever you like, and over time replace the metal injection molded bits with good stuff from Wilson or whatever strikes your fancy and you can have a $1K gun that shoots like one costing twice as much or more.
Here’s what I did with one I fixed up for my son:
I found one with a very tight slide fit, and spent a weekend lapping it it until it was smooth as buttah…then added the WC trigger (easy fitting job) because I hate vertical play in a 1911 trigger, and be t up one of their main springs to my liking too. Shoots fantastic!
Eventually, you’ll start hankering for higher end guns, and there are a few really good intermediate guns out there…several mentioned above. Dan Wesson, Ed Brown, etc. Great guns for the money.
Then you start getting into the higher end Wilson Combat models, or like I did, a Nighthawk Custom:
… and then go nuts with grips that cost more than some of my pistols and many of my ARs:
…but if you’re lucky, you’ll eventually scrape together the $$ to get a true custom masterpiece. A couple out there, but I settled on a Cabot. Damascus ladder slide, Deluxe. With their new (well new when I got mine) beveled mag well:
… and of course a custom holster and mag pouch from Sam Andrews, and another set of grips from Nate Challis:
Also have a 9mm STI Staccato-C for EDC, and it’s a sweet shooting pistol, but once you shoot a Nighthawk, let alone a Cabot you will be absolutely ruined for everything else.
Enjoy the trip down the rabbit hole…it’s worth the ride!
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And like I have mentioned before, Armscor is the largest manufacturer of 1911s in the world.
Wait until you get your hands on a Yost, Derr, Harrison or Brian.Welcome to the “won two world wars” club! Proud member myself…. Cary various pistols, including various flavors of Glocks and Sig 320s, but there is nothing like a well tuned 1911.
I have Colts, and a few others…love them all.
Looks like you’re already on the path, but for the inevitable additions, look at Sig’s 1911s. Great value for the $$. I don’t like their factory grips, but add a set of whatever you like, and over time replace the metal injection molded bits with good stuff from Wilson or whatever strikes your fancy and you can have a $1K gun that shoots like one costing twice as much or more.
Here’s what I did with one I fixed up for my son:
I found one with a very tight slide fit, and spent a weekend lapping it it until it was smooth as buttah…then added the WC trigger (easy fitting job) because I hate vertical play in a 1911 trigger, and be t up one of their main springs to my liking too. Shoots fantastic!
Eventually, you’ll start hankering for higher end guns, and there are a few really good intermediate guns out there…several mentioned above. Dan Wesson, Ed Brown, etc. Great guns for the money.
Then you start getting into the higher end Wilson Combat models, or like I did, a Nighthawk Custom:
… and then go nuts with grips that cost more than some of my pistols and many of my ARs:
…but if you’re lucky, you’ll eventually scrape together the $$ to get a true custom masterpiece. A couple out there, but I settled on a Cabot. Damascus ladder slide, Deluxe. With their new (well new when I got mine) beveled mag well:
… and of course a custom holster and mag pouch from Sam Andrews, and another set of grips from Nate Challis:
Also have a 9mm STI Staccato-C for EDC, and it’s a sweet shooting pistol, but once you shoot a Nighthawk, let alone a Cabot you will be absolutely ruined for everything else.
Enjoy the trip down the rabbit hole…it’s worth the ride!
Fitting a barrel takes a little bit of work and can be done. I suggest getting "The U.S. M1911/1911A1 Pistols & Commercial M1911 type Pistols, A Shop Manual" by Jerry Kunhausen. I think Brownells sells it if I remember.
Probably the DW Discretion, there is one for sale here on the Hide.
It's really not that hard, but I found it a lot easier to learn from a person than from a book. Apex makes a super helpful jig for cutting the hood so you can do it just about as well as you can on a mill. It's a must if you don't have a mill around IMO.
I did it the hard and slow way, file, test fit, file, test fit, file, test fit etc etc etc etc etc. That jig looks like it helps to create much more precise, straight cuts with the files. I'm going to have to try it next time.
You still have to do it that way, the jug just keeps you dead straight.
