Sidearms & Scatterguns Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

R

rideHPD

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Mar 4, 2010
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#1
I'm looking to get a 45 for my 21st in Nov., but being a college student while picking up F T/R isn't forthcoming with extra monies. So, plan is to buy a base gun to shoot for now with the plan of having work done to it later once I know what I want. I was thinking along the lines of a Colt, but really don't know a whole lot about the 1911 platform. I've read that smiths don't (like to) work on guns that come with factory options; the Gold Cup NM being one. I'd like something pretty accurate, but entertain the idea of scrapping the barrel when the time comes to send it off. Any suggestions, things to look for when choosing or decisions to make, what to stay away from, what will limit options later on? What do I need to know?

I've also already read through all the side arm topics, and exhausted the search box.
 
#3
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

Ive seen some incredible work done with springfields, if was going to do a build job i imagine i would choose a springfield rangemaster, it lacks any checkering on the front strap leaving that a nice canvas to work on, good gun, dont know if its been ported and polished yet. Good price.
Having said that, I doubt I'll ever do another 1911 build again. I have embraced the custom 1911 and can no longer go back.
 
#4
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

FM: What do you like about the STI, other than the price? I've heard good things about them, but have no experience with them. I'm probably going to have the gun stock for a while so I'd like something a little more frivolous than the Spartan series, albeit a good choice as a base. I've shot Colts, Kimbers, and Springers. I'm not interested in a Kimber, and I was looking at that RO and it's looking very tempting now, especially for the price. Sounds like a really good choice. I really do like colts from a limited shooting perspective, just don't know much from an owner/buyer perspective. Anyone have exp with the Dan Wessons' from CZ?
 
#5
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

If you're going to buy a Dan Wesson, you don't have to worry about doing any custom work on it in the future. GREAT guns at a pretty good price for the options.
 
#9
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

My first build was on a Springfield GI platform. Very base model, nothing special and a real good shooter (not match quality) especially since it was my first 1911. I paid about $500 for it and as time went on, i slowly did my research and bought a few parts at a time (when i had the money) until it became a "match grade" pistol. I was in college at the time as well and that worked really well for me. Also, while doing my research in between buying the parts, i figured out it wasn't very difficult to do my own gunsmithing and now i work on my own 1911's but that might be a personal preference.
 
#10
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

Springfield Armory Mil-Spec or GI. Excellent warranty, forged frame and I am not aware of any smith that will not work on a SA.
 
#11
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

The para ordnance gi is also a good buy for the money. The springfield would be my choice for a project.

If it was me I would get some cash together and watch the sales
Board on here might be able to get a higher end gun for the same amount of cash
 
#13
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

Springfield

If you get a Colt, well, you pay extra for the pony.

My EDC is a Les Baer Custom Carry, I love the thing, absolutely everything I want in a carry gun.

I'm toying with my next handgun purchase being a bare bones Mil spec Springfield and as I have the coin build it up. That way I have a gun I built myself, with the addition of learning a little smithing
 
#14
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: biggenius29</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Springfield

If you get a Colt, well, you pay extra for the pony.

My EDC is a Les Baer Custom Carry, I love the thing, absolutely everything I want in a carry gun.

I'm toying with my next handgun purchase being a bare bones Mil spec Springfield and as I have the coin build it up. That way I have a gun I built myself, with the addition of learning a little smithing </div></div>

+1

Thats what i did and it worked out great. Now my current build is with a Les Baer monolith frame/slide. It is a lot of fun.
 
#15
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

If you're saying from a bare frame, STI has some really nice frames on the market. Stick with their forged frames. Not for the strength of forged versus cast. Their dimensions are really spot on and the machining is well done. The only others that are on the market now that are worth consideration are the Caspian Recon frames and Wilson Combat.

I won't list the ones I'd avoid.

Without being biased, we're finishing the machining on our own 1911 frame and it's frankly going to be THE BEST frame the market has ever seen. It will have everything you need/want and nothing you don't.

As for complete guns for future builds, Springfield is always the best bang for the buck. Kimber are lower price, but you'll spend it back to get it to a good point. STI is always solid. I'm particularly fond of the Trojan and their USPSA models.

Hope that helped.

Rich

ETA: Being that you're in San Diego and therefore are restricted to guns approved on the California list, I'd go with a "good" Springfield and call it a day. You can always customize from there, since frames aren't an option (unless you go LE).
 
#16
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

I can actually get away with buying pretty much any 1911 I think, as long as the barrels are non-proprietary. Basically replace the barrel with a 9" barrel and replace the magazine with a fixed follower and the pistol falls under the single shot exemption rule. Once you purchase you just replace the barrel and mag; something my local ffl does and has the parts.
 
#19
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rideHPD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I haven't really looked that much at them, but I'd prob not choose a Rock. </div></div>

You ought to at least give them a look. My first 1911 was a Rock Island Tac and it got me hooked. Since then I have gotten Colt, Para, Kimber, and Dan Wesson guns, if I had to start getting rid of them the RI would not be the first one to go. I think Rock Island is about the best bargain out there, it's a by the book series 70 1911 that will work well now and can be modified later if you want to.
 
#25
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

It all depends on what level of work you're willing to invest in. Do you want something modern that can be run with minimal modifications out of the box or are you looking to get a decent frame and slide to get a full custom build? The other factor involved is budget. Is there a certain dollar amount you'd like to stay under? IMHO, its difficult to beat a Springfield Loaded model for less than $1k. Ditch the F/L guide rod for a GI style set-up and you have a decent pistol out of the box. If you're just going to get a bunch of custom work done out of the gate, find a Mil-Spec model. Keep in mind that a build based on an existing frame can get expensive quickly though.
I'm not crazy about the Colt guns. You're paying a lot for the pony. As a Kimber owner, I would skip those as well. The Kimber I bought NIB has never run as well as my Springer that was a range rental gun before I got my hands on it.
If you're willing to spend $2,000 - $2,500+ to get the pistol you want, I'm a big fan of the Springfield Professional, Wilson Combat CQB and the Ed Brown Special Forces. For a little less, the Les Baer options are excellent. If I had it to do over again, I'd skip the production guns and jump right to the semi-customs offered by Wilson, LBC, Ed Brown or Springer.
 
#26
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

Thanks for all the input, it looks like STI or Springfield, and Springfield has the options I'd like. I'd like to cap it at 1200, and have a pistol I can use and be happy with for 2 years or so before doing anything much to it really. Is there anything you get with springer you don't get with colt for the same price point?
 
#27
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

Yes, a slide that is actually fit to the frame. That's something you'll get with one of the nicer Springfields but not on any Colt at any price point.

For $1200 you might be able to find a TRP or Sentinel and not even need any custom work.

That said, I think that if I had $1200, I'd get a Spartan, put my choice of sights, magwell, frontstrap checkering, ambies, and finish on it and end up with an even nicer gun than you can get for that $1200.
 
#30
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

Well, since you have a FFL that will do the single shot exemption, we have a whole new banana to play with. I also would recommend the RIA full rail. Pretty sweet little blaster and I'm a sucker for a full dust cover railed pistol. They're not the sexiest pistol for the "hard core," folks but they run and they do take a beating. A good friend used to work for Armscor and his that's been heavily modified is VERY nice.

Rich
 
#31
Re: Ideas on 1911 Base Gun for Future Custom Work?

My friend is good friends with Guss Norcross and he said the Rugers are some of the best factory 1911's coming off the line right now. Fit a match barrel & bushing, check the slide to frame fit and do a trigger job and they will shoot with anything out there. And if you may want to change the sights but he says they are very well made pistols. Guss knows his busness with 1911, & M1As so I think the Ruger would be worth a look. But Im a sucker for a series 70
wink.gif
 
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