Purchasing LOW end 1911's

Geerubb

Geerubb

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Inspired by the HIGH END 1911 thread, I'm starting to look into buying a lower end 1911. needs to be 5" and in 9mm. This gun will be used specifically for Steel Challenge only - so I need it to work 100%, be as soft shooting as posisble, fiber front sights, and a nice trigger.

I've been eyeballing the RIA offering, but open to anything else I may have over looked.
 
Low-end and needs to work 100%. How are your trouble shooting and gun smithing skills? I'd go Fusion first, then RIA. But it depends how low end you want to go. Another good option is to find a slightly beat up gun in the classifieds that runs well. Maybe get a better gun with some cosmetic wear. You can always change sights and grips.
 
Geerubb said:
Inspired by the HIGH END 1911 thread, I'm starting to look into buying a lower end 1911. needs to be 5" and in 9mm. This gun will be used specifically for Steel Challenge only - so I need it to work 100%, be as soft shooting as posisble, fiber front sights, and a nice trigger.

I've been eyeballing the RIA offering, but open to anything else I may have over looked.
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RIA Ultra in 9mm. Handsdown. I never read a bad review and almost bought one. Comes with fiber front sight as I recall, adjustable rear, G10 grips and a magwell.

If you can find one.
 
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Rock island armory, the price, may be low end but the firearm isnt, the ultra in 45 acp is my go-to idpa gun
 
American Tactical makes a 1911 in 9mm. They are made in the Philippines. I picked up a used one in .45 a couple weeks ago because they guy almost gave it to me (100.00 with a leather holster, I lowballed and he bit). Have only put about 50 rounds through it so far, but accuracy is good and have had no failures with all types of ammo so far. Just googled them and the going price seems to be about 400.00 for the 9mms. May be worth checking out.
 
Geerubb said:
This gun will be used specifically for Steel Challenge only - so I need it to work 100%, be as soft shooting as posisble.
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If this is the case, A 40cal shooting 155 gr minor loads is the only way to go. The front sight wont lift out of the rear notch. Softest and flatest shooting you will ever do
 
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Mike Overlay said:
If this is the case, A 40cal shooting 155 gr minor loads is the only way to go. The front sight wont lift out of the rear notch. Softest and flatest shooting you will ever do
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Lighter then 98gr 9mm pills? I have zero 40 experience. Also - seems like a single stack 40 1911 would be even harder to find then a 9mm.
 
Geerubb said:
Lighter then 98gr 9mm pills? I have zero 40 experience. Also - seems like a single stack 40 1911 would be even harder to find then a 9mm.
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40 minor is stupid soft. There's really now way to explain it. It will make you wonder all about 9mm after you shoot it.

The 40's are a bit harder to find, but well worth it.
 
Rock island also makes a 40 single stack.51710-1-thumb.jpg
 
I would say to get a Rock Island. Then spend the money getting a true custom trigger set up for the 2lb range with very little take up and shortest reset you can stand.
 
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Rock Island, American Tactical, Tisas, no problems with the ones that I've owned or shot.
 
I have Tisas in 45 and RIA in 10mm. Tisas took a few hundred rounds to get broken in and have not had any trouble since. The RIA has not had one issue.
 
Mike Overlay said:
40 minor is stupid soft. There's really now way to explain it. It will make you wonder all about 9mm after you shoot it.

The 40's are a bit harder to find, but well worth it.
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I used to run my 2011 USPSA Limited gun in IDPA ESP with minor .40, stupid soft
 
How are the colt competition guns? Found one on Armslist for $700. Better option then getting the RIA and dumping $2-300 into it?
 
Geerubb said:
How are the colt competition guns? Found one on Armslist for $700. Better option then getting the RIA and dumping $2-300 into it?
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You would still probably want to add a magwell. The newer Colt Comps are "70 series" meaning no firing pin safety block.

The RIA Ultra has a magwell, fiber front sight, adjustable rear sight, G10 grips. It pretty much checks all the boxes.
 
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Geerubb said:
How are the colt competition guns? Found one on Armslist for $700. Better option then getting the RIA and dumping $2-300 into it?
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Best deal on a Colt Comp right now is this one for $799 NIB

128074.jpg


https://www.smga.com/p-128074-new-l...usive-series-70-competition-series-45acp.aspx
 
That is a good looking Colt right there.
I believe the OP is looking for a 1911 in 9mm.
 
fieldgrade said:
That is a good looking Colt right there.
I believe the OP is looking for a 1911 in 9mm.
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Yeah then the 9mm Competition is the best deal in a Colt. Their reliability has been spotty. IIRC On the low end side I would go RIA. How do you like your Fusion? Not to Hijack.
 
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If you happen to end up with a Colt 1911 in 9mm, I may have mentioned this earlier, if you are going to run it in comps with some "aggressive" reloads, I would recommend running Tripp's Cobra mags or something other than Wilsons. The Colt in 9mm out of the box doesn't play well with Wilson mags without some adjustments to the ejector.
 
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fieldgrade said:
If you happen to end up with a Colt 1911 in 9mm, I may have mentioned this earlier, if you are going to run it in comps with some "aggressive" reloads, I would recommend running Tripp's Cobra mags or something other than Wilsons. The Colt in 9mm out of the box doesn't play well with Wilson mags without some adjustments to the ejector.
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I like Tripps 9mm for hard use.
 
wvsig said:
Yeah then the 9mm Competition is the best deal in a Colt. Their reliability has been spotty. IIRC On the low end side I would go RIA. How do you like your Fusion? Not to Hijack.
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Ironed out a few wrinkles and I think I've got it ready to rumble. Fitted a new extractor, thumb safety, and front sight which was too low. Added an S&A magwell, and VZ grips and I think it's ready to go.
 
I had a Citadel 9mm. Nothing wrong with it. Ran like a champ. Fixed sights ultimately put me off. Nice gun for the money. Solid and reliable.
 
fieldgrade said:
If you happen to end up with a Colt 1911 in 9mm, I may have mentioned this earlier, if you are going to run it in comps with some "aggressive" reloads, I would recommend running Tripp's Cobra mags or something other than Wilsons. The Colt in 9mm out of the box doesn't play well with Wilson mags without some adjustments to the ejector.
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Thanks for the info. I will actually be running the lightest loads I can get the gun to run (Steel Challenge - no PF) BUT I will probably get those mags for it so I dont have to worry about it if that changes.
 
Geerubb said:
Thanks for the info. I will actually be running the lightest loads I can get the gun to run (Steel Challenge - no PF) BUT I will probably get those mags for it so I dont have to worry about it if that changes.
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The Colt ejector on their 9mm 1911 is the longest one Ive seen on any 9mm 1911 and the Wilson mags come into contact with it if you reload with “gusto”. I can't say that other mags won’t contact the ejector. I just know the Wilson ETMs do.
 
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I have a used RIA in .38 super that I have put a bunch of rounds through. I bought it used so who knows how many rounds the previous owner put through it. It also has a 9mm barrel. Mine is much more accurate in .38 Super but that is probably because the 9mm barrel is a no-name bargain part. Point being the pistol works perfectly. Can't go wrong with RIA.
 
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I've had a Colt 1991A1 since they first came out...including one for a brother of mine.

That's going on 3 decades...neither of us having any problems in all the thousands of rounds we've shot.

Both are .45 acp, but I just googled them and apparently they do come in 9mm as well.
 
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