quote:

Originally posted by DaBigBR:
I would definitely go nicer than a milspec if I could only have one. Colt, Dan Wesson, and nicer Springfields would all be suitable. I wouldn't even limit myself to .45 anymore (the horror!). I would want it to be a government and I would stay away from light rails and aluminum frames. Capture more of the essence of what the gun is.

Lots of help here, I know.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
for range or carry ,I can't fault either the Ruger or the Springfield line.
I have had both brands and no complaints.

now if you wanted to include bling factor and
precision, then I'd be looking in to
offerings at at least twice the price line.

my preference of those you stated would be the .45 acp

of the 8 or 9 people that fired the springfield professional, only three did not like it.

have you fired a 1911 to confirm that you would like one?

quote:

Originally posted by newmexican:
I went down this road about 3 years ago, I wanted one 1911 and didn’t have the budget to get a Wilson or a nighthawk so I “settled” for a Dan Wesson valor.

quote:

Originally posted by FN in MT:
If I was to own only one....It would HAVE to be a Colt. Yes in .45 acp.

UNLESS...it was a Nighthawk, Ed Brown or Wilson.

Do have a current Colt in 9mm though and really like it. Reliable and accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
I see you sort of have 2 different things going on here. 1, you want a range gun. 2, you don't see the value on buying something really nice. I'll have 5 1911's right now and have several others I've sold over the years. A few I've sold were combat commanders, as I've found I much prefer the 1911 in a government model (5" barrel). I have a Wilson Combat .45, Ed Brown .45, S+W .45, a original Colt series 70 gov't in 9mm (mark IV) and a Colt Competition S/S 9mm. The S+W, just doesn't call my name and I haven't shot it in over 5 years, even though it has nice sights and trigger, S+W did a trigger job on it.....it just doesn't feel right when I shoot it.

For a range gun, I'd rule out 10 mm, just for the ammo costs and availability of purchasing ammo. That being said, for a range gun, 9mm government 1911's are a REALLY NICE shooting gun and ammo is half the price of .45. I really love the 1911's in 9mm, and they have enough recoil to be fun at the range, but not enough that 300 rounds through one in a range session is tiring, and the ammo doesn't break the bank. I love my .45's too, but generally I bring 4 pistols (or 3 pistols 1 carbine to the range). I'll generally shoot 200-300 rounds through a 9mm 1911 and only 50-100 rounds of .45 through a .45 1911. Also bring a .22 LR, and ususally a different type of 9mm.

For a range 1911, the most important thing to me besides reliability are the sights and this is where a mil spec gun is REALLY lacking. A nice trigger is second, and then the rest of the "bells and whistles" such as checkering, main spring housing and grips on a 1911 don't mean so much.

That being said, my Ed Brown is by far my favorite, much better than even my WC. There is a difference in the way it shoots in a high end gun, they just really recoil so nice and smoothly, and the triggers are top notch. Even though my WC has an incredible trigger, slightly better than the Brown I just love the brown.

My second favorite is the Colt S/S competition 9mm I bought a few years back (they also come in .45, and blued or Stainless). I ordered this pistol sight unseen when they first came out in Stainless and my serial number is 3XX. I was incredibly impressed with the pistol. The slide to frame fit and the barrel bushing fit is incredibly right, and cosmetically it rivals my Brown and WC. The trigger has a great feel, no take up and really clean break, but is a little heavy.....I'd guess about 5 lbs. The grip safety has a little side to side movement, and trigger has a little up and down movement in the frame are the only things I could find with it. It has terrific sights, G10 grips, is accurate and a great shooter. THIS is what I'd recommend for your price range and use. DW makes a very nice gun too, and a lot of members rave about them here...….My suggestion is buy something that will last you, right off the bat that you don't have to modify (sights/trigger) to make you happy in the long run.