- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Best officers sized 1911
Posted on 9/27/23 at 11:50 pm
Posted on 9/27/23 at 11:50 pm
Any of you baws have any experience with either the Colt Defender or Kimber ultra carry TLE II? I’d like to get an officers sized .45 for ccw and both are at my LGS for around the same price. I’m also open to any other models.
9
Posted on 9/28/23 at 8:05 am to nvcowboyfan
Look at the Kimber Raptor or Ultra Raptor II
Posted on 9/28/23 at 9:09 am to nvcowboyfan
Kimber used to make a good gun.
Notorious for bad quality now.
There are three tiers, generally, for 1911’s.
Tier one is the entry level, you get what you get are the Ria’s, Tisas, etc. usually less than 6 or 700 bucks. It’s a crapshoot. Might get serviceable, might not.
Mid level guns are Sig, Springfield, Ruger and several others. I have several Sigs and, for the money, they are good, dependable firearms. Usually in the $900 to $1200 range.
The upper end guns, Wilson, Nighthawk, Brown and Colt. Prices here can be pretty high.
Personally, I think the mid grade 1911’s are a better value.
Do some google work and I think you will learn some valuable info. I would def google Kimber and ask a few gun stores about the brand before you buy one.
Notorious for bad quality now.
There are three tiers, generally, for 1911’s.
Tier one is the entry level, you get what you get are the Ria’s, Tisas, etc. usually less than 6 or 700 bucks. It’s a crapshoot. Might get serviceable, might not.
Mid level guns are Sig, Springfield, Ruger and several others. I have several Sigs and, for the money, they are good, dependable firearms. Usually in the $900 to $1200 range.
The upper end guns, Wilson, Nighthawk, Brown and Colt. Prices here can be pretty high.
Personally, I think the mid grade 1911’s are a better value.
Do some google work and I think you will learn some valuable info. I would def google Kimber and ask a few gun stores about the brand before you buy one.
This post was edited on 9/28/23 at 9:12 am
Posted on 9/28/23 at 9:21 am to Bigsampson
I thought the kimber solo was so cool when it came out.
Not even for sale anymore.
Not even for sale anymore.
Posted on 9/28/23 at 9:43 am to Bigsampson
I have a colt and a sig.
Both great guns. Fit and finish is about the same. You just pay a bit extra for that colt name.
Both great guns. Fit and finish is about the same. You just pay a bit extra for that colt name.
Posted on 9/28/23 at 10:26 am to nvcowboyfan
I've got a Springfield range officer champion and love it. Full size frame, but a 4" barrel. Should be able to find it for less than $1000
Posted on 9/28/23 at 11:18 am to Bigsampson
quote:
It’s a crapshoot
This is a very broad statement. I haven't seen a Tisas or RIA that wasn't serviceable. On the other hand I've had several Springfields and Colts with functional problems and defects that you'd expect with a cheaper gun, but that's just not the case. The only reason Tisas and RIA are cheaper is because of cheaper labor costs overseas. They still have top notch quality control.
Posted on 9/28/23 at 2:28 pm to nvcowboyfan
I have a nighthawk Talon IV.
one of the best shooting guns I ever shot.
one of the best shooting guns I ever shot.
Posted on 9/28/23 at 4:33 pm to nvcowboyfan
My cousin had a Colt defender, he loved it. After break in, he said it was fantastic. I’ve been going back and forth between the defender or DW eco for my next buy. I’ve heard newer kimbers have qc problems.
Posted on 9/28/23 at 5:13 pm to nvcowboyfan
I like my Colt Light weight commander.
Not bad for a carry gun but still 5.5 inch. Barrel.
Not bad for a carry gun but still 5.5 inch. Barrel.
Posted on 9/28/23 at 8:01 pm to nvcowboyfan
I have a Springfield EMP 3 that I love. Springfield designed it around the 9mm round. I carry it in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II. I changed the sight out to Heinie Ledge Straight 8’s. I bought it used off of GB for $650. You can find a good used one for less than $700 pretty easy. It has some proprietary parts like magazine, trigger, recoil spring. Most internal parts are standard 1911. Grips are easy to find. Mine are VZ.
It’s the one in top. The bottom is a EMP4 Contour.
It’s the one in top. The bottom is a EMP4 Contour.
This post was edited on 9/28/23 at 8:09 pm
Posted on 9/28/23 at 8:18 pm to Buck_Rogers
quote:
The only reason Tisas and RIA are cheaper is because of cheaper labor costs overseas. They still have top notch quality control.
If you want to customize your 1911 most 1911 gunsmiths won’t work on RIA guns. They are a crapshoot on fitting parts. One common issue with RIA double stacks are the ejectors are terrible. They don’t pin them they are glued. I got one in a trade and it would cycle anything reliably. I replaced it with a Wilson series 70 and pinned it. Issue resolved. This is one way tgey save money.
I own Several Colts, Springfield’s an ED brown and waiting on a Nighthawk Custom Colt. The Springfield’s are best bang for the buck. Very easy to fit aftermarket parts. They have a really good customer service department and their Operator line is feature rich for a gun that’s $1100 OTD.
This post was edited on 9/28/23 at 8:22 pm
Posted on 9/29/23 at 7:48 am to lsufan1971
quote:
most 1911 gunsmiths won’t work on RIA guns.
I've never had problems working on one. Mostly hard fitted barrels, but I don't use a milling machine. Everything is done by hand filing.
quote:
They are a crapshoot on fitting parts.
The same can be said of old colts. Newer generation gunsmiths panic whenever something isn't built to exacting tolerances. Hand fitting parts was the name of the game for gunsmiths back before cnc. Now they just want to assemble things.
quote:
They don’t pin them they are glued.
The two 10mm's I'm looking at now say otherwise. Maybe not with lower pressure rounds, but that's a $25 fix.
quote:
I own several Colts
Colts are notorious for having chatter marks in what they call their "National Match" barrels. Call them up though, and they'll tell you they're within specs. A lot more expensive to fix than a loose ejector.
quote:
Springfield
I don't have time to cross this bridge, but they are a real "crapshoot".
This post was edited on 9/29/23 at 8:02 am
Posted on 9/29/23 at 9:17 am to Buck_Rogers
quote:
The same can be said of old colts. Newer generation gunsmiths panic whenever something isn't built to exacting tolerances. Hand fitting parts was the name of the game for gunsmiths back before cnc. Now they just want to assemble things.
I am not talking about your LGS smith. I am talking about guys that work primality on 1911's. Custom shops that build and redo 1911 custom guns.
quote:
Colts are notorious for having chatter marks in what they call their "National Match" barrels. Call them up though, and they'll tell you they're within specs. A lot more expensive to fix than a loose ejector.
Chatter marks usually don't effect accuracy. Most barrels that aren't polished have marks from the factory. Those marks are not chatter. Simply marks from the drill and ream that did not clear up during the broaching process.
Most are gone after the first 10 or so shots.
If you have a Colt GC or National Match that doesn't shoot well I'm pretty sure that Colt will fix the issue. If it shoots well and you want it gone just get some J-B Bore Paste and polish it.
This post was edited on 9/29/23 at 9:24 am
Posted on 9/29/23 at 9:27 am to lsufan1971
Delete
This post was edited on 9/29/23 at 11:21 am
Posted on 9/29/23 at 9:35 am to lsufan1971
quote:
Every barrel that isn't polished has chatter marks from the factory.
This is not true but leads to the question:
So, it's OK for Colt to cut corners?
quote:
get some J-B Bore Paste and polish it.
You obviously haven't seen the Colt barrels I've seen
Posted on 9/30/23 at 6:39 am to nvcowboyfan
I have a Dan Wesson ECO . Beautiful fit and finish, accurate and runs like a top.
Posted on 9/30/23 at 8:46 am to bbvdd
quote:
one of the best shooting guns I ever shot.
I feel like this should be a lyric in a country song where a man compares his sidearm to a woman.
I remember when I got her
Paid a price but she was sure
Took her to the range a day
Yeah she was worth the pay
She was the best shooting gun that I ever shot
Im still here shooting but she’s not
Yeah I’d buy her all over again
But now shes shootin with my best friend
As for the OP: I love my Rock Island 1911. It’s fired without problem since I got it. The only issue is the frame occasionally has rust. I bought a cold blueing kit but haven’t gotten around to using it yet. Wipe it down and polish it hasn’t been a problem.
This post was edited on 9/30/23 at 8:48 am
Posted on 10/1/23 at 1:04 am to nvcowboyfan
My buddy has a Kimber 1911 but I forget which model. It looks nice but doesn’t feel tight. Feels flimsier than my Taurus 1911 which gave me zero problems.
Posted on 10/1/23 at 2:37 pm to TrueBaldPate
Turkey is putting out some damn good 1911 at a great price
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News