Best Semi-Custom 1911 Poll

[2HOW]

Here is a budget 1911, http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u261/PicSnic/Guns.jpg

[Rastus]

Some thoughts........semi-custom today and semi-custom 20 to 25 years ago are not the same things....which I'm certain you are using contemporary thought so I am assuming you're talking about guns outside the $800 to $1,250 street price range(?).

If you compare a 1970's or 80's gun to today's guns from a good manufacturer you could call today's garden variety gun quality at least near custom..their premium models semi-custom(?).   The major manufacturer's guns are all pretty good today due to CNC techniques...I agree with the earlier post that training will make the difference.

However...I would like to throw in the Kimber Team Match in as a semi-custom @ about $1,200 ;-).

[CDR]

For you guys that voted for Les Baer, any thoughts or experiences you can share?  I'm thinking about a 5" Thunder Ranch Special as they seem to offer tremendous value and quality.   The Ed Brown Special Forces is also a possibility, but I'm not sure if its worth an additional $445 over a new Thunder Ranch Special.

Thanks.

[IDPAshooter]

Since we are on the subject of 1911s and we all know how much MB loves Sig.  I figured I would ask.  Any thoughts on Sig's 1911s this one looks good. 

http://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=25&productid=112

[IDPAshooter]

For the record though... I don't think I will ever part with my Kimber!  So an Amen to the Kimber suggestion

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

For the record though... I don't think I will ever part with my Kimber!  So an Amen to the Kimber suggestion

Or even an Eclipse II in 10 MM....hot hot hot with the Crimson Trace enhancement.

But, alas, I did not see the famed Dectonics on the list?  Michael did a show on Dectonics and they did look quite good...might be too high on the price list though?

[Michael Bane]

The problem is when you get into that "semi-custom" thing.  It's easier to look at 1911s in price brackets:

$350-750
$750-1200
$1200-2000
$2000 plus

If I was going to place my favorite SINGE STACK gun into each of those brackets — based on guns that I have put a lot of rounds through and own — it would be something like this:

$350-750     TAURUS PT-1911 (http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=59&category=Pistol)
$750-1200    SIGARMS REVOLUTION TTT (http://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=25&productid=129)
$1200-2000  S&W 1911PD GUNSITE EDITION (http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=11101&storeId=10001&productId=45928&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=15709&isFirearm=Y)
                       STI LEGACY (http://www.stiguns.com/)
                       C&S RECREATIONAL & DEFENSE (https://shop.cylinder-slide.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.pl?usr=51F874023&rnd=6466979&rrc=N&affl=&cip=206.168.82.12&act=&aff=&pg=prod&ref=CSP800&cat=select&catstr=HOME:select)
$2000 +    WILSON CLASSIC SUPER GRADE (http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_supergrade.asp)
               

On the hgh end, you can quibble all you want. I'd probaby also include one of the TGO-1 Springfield Armory 1911s and the Les Baer Monolith. I haven't handled one of the Nighthawk pistols yet...

Michael B

[CDR]

Thanks Michael for the detailed reply and the links.  I hadn't considered Cylinder and Slide, but the 1911 you highlighted looks very nice.  Any feelings regarding Ed Brown 1911s (I'm considering the Special Forces pistol with Gen III ceramic coating).  Also, what do you think about a "1* Elite" customization on a Series 70 Colt reissue performed by Yost Bonitz?

Many thanks to everyone...much appreciated.

[m25operator]

I think the question is the decider in this debate. What is semi-custom and what is custom? My answer is custom, is a stock gun, rifle or pistol, that is modified from it's original state, by you or your gunsmith. To the requirements that you personally have. It can even be silly like a hot pink stock. A semi-custom is like a Good times van of the 70's, you purchase it with most of what you want, but you had no input into the process. I think once you go over 1200.00 smackers, you should have some input. I've used and massaged Les Bauers, and they are top drawer. A customer brought me his new I think Les calls it a Comanche, ( commander length pistol with alloy frame ) it ran fine, shot great, my customers complaint was it was very hard to work the slide.  I agreed, and lapped the slide to frame, more than once to get it easier to manipulate. The same thing could have been done with a lot of oil, and a case of hardball. Ed Brown, top drawer again, Bill Laughridge, same thing.

The manufacturers who are offering 1911's with most of the bells and whistles are a great deal. Adjustable sights, night sights, slim sights, skeleton triggers with over travel adjustment, beaver tail grip safeties, beveled mag wells, checkered frames and main spring housings. Ambi safeties, cone barrels, barrels with integral feed ramps, accessory rails, ribbed slide on the top. Front and rear cocking serrations. The list go's on, these are the things I used to do for customers.  No heart burn here, I hate checkering frames, your neck  and wrist will hurt for a week.  It actually helps smiths like me, because we will take what you have and tune it, maybe replace some of the factory stuff with something you really want, get your trigger pull to what you like, maybe you like a stainless grip safety against your black frame, or vice versa. CNC machining has brought everyones quality up.

 Once you are part of the process, then it becomes your custom not semi custom gun.

[jaybet]

Since we are on the subject of 1911s and we all know how much MB loves Sig.  I figured I would ask.  Any thoughts on Sig's 1911s this one looks good. 

http://www.sigarms.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=25&productid=112

Just got the target model and I'm in love