Want to buy a 1911, I think?

[jaymark6655]

An STI Spartan is just an American assembled Armsco from what I studied.  Between the Armsco and Metro Arms, Armsco has been along longer, but Metro seems to be better made and the company was founded by a pistol competitor.  Is that Imbel forging thing confirmed or just a rumor?  The frames still say Il and don't have any Brazil markings on them.  Yes I would only need to save about $200 to break into the Kimber market, but if there isn't something that definately makes them worth $200 more why get them?

[fillthefreezer]

Save a little longer, buy a Kimber and be done with it.

i dont get the fascination with kimbers, dollar for dollar i would pick a springfield trp or any of their higher end guns over a kimber or even get a para with a doublestack and save some $$$.


problem with all this talk is it much more than the OP was planning to spend...

[CementFinisher]

Kimbers are far overrated, you cant go wrong with a colt or smith & wesson. If price is a big deal ive seen Sig Sauer 1911's go for decent prices

[thinkingman]

STI Spartan is an Armscor cast frame, forged slide.
Assembled and finished in Texas(possibly a foreign country, depending on who you ask)
Very good fit and finish, function and accuracy in an STI.
Sights are way way better than a Springer GI or Milspec.
Beavertail safety and much better trigger.
If one thinks Kimber is overrated, which they may be, Colt has been gliding on reputation and Koolaid for many years.
Discriminating 1911 buyers know Colts all rattle out of the box.

[FC]

Kimbers are far overrated

Agreed.

Discriminating 1911 buyers know Colts all rattle out of the box.

What rattles on a Colt?

I've shot a few 1911's recently, having been on the search for the one I like best. Kimbers are extremely tight fit guns, so tight that I wonder how well they run when dirty. I shot one alongside a Rock Island and actually ended up liking the RI better in every way, pretty sad IMO. Having a shot a few Kimbers now and even repairing a friends that had issues with fmj bullets pushing up the slide release...I wouldn't buy a Kimber at half price, I would sooner own a RI or Springfield.

[thinkingman]

Kimbers are far overrated

Agreed.

Discriminating 1911 buyers know Colts all rattle out of the box.

What rattles on a Colt?

I've shot a few 1911's recently, having been on the search for the one I like best. Kimbers are extremely tight fit guns, so tight that I wonder how well they run when dirty. I shot one alongside a Rock Island and actually ended up liking the RI better in every way, pretty sad IMO. Having a shot a few Kimbers now and even repairing a friends that had issues with fmj bullets pushing up the slide release...I wouldn't buy a Kimber at half price, I would sooner own a RI or Springfield.

Try modern Dan Wesson for THE TIGHTEST fit I've ever seen.
Slide to frame was unbelievable.
It's hard to rack the slide or release the slide when brand new.
Colt.....they just rattle...probably the slide, possibly the grip safety.
They just do....and the guys in the shop just smile and roll their eyes.
People just love The Pony.

[CementFinisher]

Just build one, not much harder than an ar. Caspian frames ( very good) can be picked up pretty cheap, guys start gathering for builds all the time then change what they want and sell off parts for cheap. 1911's are like ars and glocks endless after market options, frame sizes, triggers, slide sizes and types. ask your self what do you want it for? Carry, target, home. This will influence the slide length, grip length, round capacity, site style. Take your time in choosing your gun, dont rush it, get the gun in your hands before you buy. Every gun fits people differently.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Until you've learned to shoot a tuned 1911 efficiently, you probably won't realize the differences between a RIA, Rem, Para or Kimber/DanWession/STI. The Taurus/Sig/S&W/anything from Brazil or the Philipines is just another clone and you get what you pay for in less workmanship, fit and finish. My Bullseye gun is a Kimber. I've tuned it up a bit to be more accurate, But it would feed target LSWC ammo and hot ball ammo with only a recoil spring change even before I touched it.  Will they shoot dirty?  I ran mine in a simulated competition for 850rnds before cleaning it last year shooting LSWC and Bullseye powder. Not the cleanest combination. (A normal day of competition is less than 200rnds) If I had the money, I'd buy a Colt series 70 Gold Cup National Match with a correctly fit KART barrel. (for lead bullets, or Barsto barrel for jacketed bullets) For the money I have spent, the Kimber with just a little tuning has done me well for more than 30,000 rounds. Next to a Colt, the Springer is the next best thing. Yes, Colts rattle and in many cases are not quite as accurate as the tighter slide/frame fit guns, but what comes with that rattle is often ultimate reliability. I have a SS Officer's ACP that rattles but you can feed it rocks and it'll shoot. (It's kinda for sale) But I don't expect it to shoot as accurately as my Kimber at 50yds. So, determine the specific use of your 1911 to help you decide what grade of 1911 you want to spend your money on. For the dollar, the Mil-Spec is tough to beat with great customer service and lasting warranty. It is very rare that a Springer frame won't accept quality drop in parts too. There are a lot of custom guns built from the Mil-Spec.  I've heard many horor stories about Para's lack of correct fit of barrel lugs to slide lockup. This can lead to feed/function issues with different bullets. Same with the Smiths, Taurus, RIA, Rem, Sig. Springfield and Colt have been building 1911's since WWI. That's gotta say something. The new Ruger has me interested as it has the Colt Series 70 trigger design, but I've yet to fire one. In my circles, the jury is out. (everyone shoots a 1911 in my discipline) Lots of Kimbers and Tuned Colts on the firing line. Those that have deeper pockets opt for a Les Baer or Essex custom build by a Bullseye gunsmith.  A few STI's are on the line too but most of the time they aren't quite as accurate as a custom or Les Baer for the same money.
 
Oh and... Uh, building a worthy 1911 when you know nothing about them should be left to gunsmiths that know better. For what you spend on the parts then the tools to assemble it correctly, you'll never be able to sell it for half of what you spent building it. 

-Steve

[Bofire]

 :)I own Springers, A Colt, A Remington Rand, and a Para P14, I have owned S&W 645, (not a 1911), Olympic arms 1911, Brolin, couple other colts, of all of them the two Kimbers I own came from the factory ready to shoot aand shoot very well. thousands of trouble free rounds thru both. very wll fitted, accurate, I would buy more if these were not so good. that said the Springer is a very good gun.
my 2
Carl

[Gutpile]

I didnt read everything but at least consider a Remington R1. I bought one last year and its really been great. they go about $600ish. I have 2 $1000.00 Kimbers and like the R1 just as much as I like them. The trigger leaves a little to be desired but I wouldnt say its necesarily bad.

Just a thought.

[thinkingman]

Jackofalltrades is correct...you don't just slap together a 1911, if you want a decent outcome.
As mentioned before, Colts come with loose tolerances from the factory and just like the GI-issued 1911's they resemble, are more likely to receive parts that don't require fine fitting.
If you want a higher-end fit and finish, you pay.

[Swiftkid]

.
As mentioned before, Colts come with loose tolerances from the factory .

The wiley clapp colt i have doesn't have any "loose tolenrances" the gun is probaly the best pistol i own. I actually have the kimber in the above picture it's an Eclipse Custom II which they don't make anymore in .45, but you can find them in 10mm anyways i would choose my colt any day of the week over the Kimber, Kimbers are very nice but they are also mass produced. The Colt i have gets its specs from TALO so i guess that could be the difference to in the "loose tolerances".

[Harp444]

DONT buy a kimber!!!!!! your paying for the name and they are not as reliable as you would think. i did lots of research before buying a 1911 and talked to lots guys at several gun shops. I ended up buying a springfield mc operator 1911. Shoots like a dream. My dad bought a kimber about 5 months ago even though i told him not to. it had major issues with hollow points. and after about 50 rounds started to jam. He just traded it in for a 223 and said will never buy kimber again.

[Gutpile]

Whatever.   

Thats what I love about the internet. Ive got two that run perfect but all other Kimbers suck? Kimbers are awesome along with so many others. I can find just as many negative (rumors) because thats what they are, rumors,  about springfields. All I have to do is a quick google.

[Redstar]

...