Best 1911 in $700-$900 price range

Looking at Ruger, Springfield, Colt, and Kimber. My buddy has a Kimber Eclipse which is awesome. I had a Springfield mil-spec which was not very nice. Every Ruger firearm I've owned has been fantastic, so I like them. Just looking for opinions on models. I know nothing about the Colt models, and very little about the difference in the SA Operator, Loaded, Range Officer, etc. And I have no idea how the design and build quality of the different brands compares to one another.

New or used?

Sa RO or loaded

I love Kimber 1911. Springfield is also great.

Preferably new. My luck with used guns isn't great.

Four models which seem to be the best bang for the buck:

Ruger SR1911 $690

SA Range Officer Stainless $857

Kimber SS Target II $814

Kimber Two-Tone Custom $695

Colt, kimber, ruger, Springfield, maybe an sti if you are lucky.

I have a Sig 1911 and love it. I had a Springfield before and I feel like the quality, fit and finish with the Sig is superior to the Springfield.

Sig, para

I have the Ruger in Commander size that I love. Can't go wrong with the ones Jhenderson mentioned.

Love my Ruger. Has a couple hundred rounds through and not so much as a hiccup.

Colt

That is an easy question.

Springfield Range Officer, period.

Read up on them...great gun....Kimber is a joke, IMO....custom gun aka trademark...again read up.

I

Sig hands down. Out of all of them fewest mim parts and has the best results on torture tests. Next would be the sa ro

What model?

Kimber is a joke? My buddy's Eclipse Custom is freaking awesome. But it's an $1100 model.

In all fairness kimber are hit and miss. Some great no issues. Some won't shoot. I've had both.

I own 3 1911 platforms. Sig TacOps 5" 45acp, SA Microcompact 45acp and a SA EMP in 9mm. Love everyone of them but the sig has given me 0 problems, the emp is very picky about ammo.

Love my Springer Loaded.

The E series S&W are really solid and on occasion in your price range.

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Any of them. Too many to list. I also think that in this price range Colts will also hold there resell value better over time. Colts are the original 1911s.

I love my Kimber.

I've owned Kimber, Springfield, and Colt in that price range. They've all been 100% good to go. I really like the Colt XSE though.

There is no "custom" shop at kimber, it is a trademark. Springfield has a true dedicated custom shop. The price is irrelevant.

Oh wait,...700.00 for a Kimber....good to go. More than that, then I would personally go Springfield or Colt.

Kimber is just a mass produced gun, not worth the money, IMO.

They are all good, get the one you like.

Go to Rifle Gear in Plano, you can hold them all side by side. Pricing is all MAP, maybe get a deal on a cash sale if you ask.

Step up to a Dan Wesson Specialist, you will never look back until you wander into Night Hawk Country

Terrible advise. Don't ruin the man up front nothing else will ever compare.

I realize that the Kimber "custom" designation is part of their model name, not because it's from a custom shop. That's why I said Eclipse Custom, because that's the model name. The Custom shop springfield models aren't anywhere near my price range.

As for the Dan Wesson, I'm not interested in a $1000+ handgun. Ruger full size stainless model at $675 plus tax (LGS price) has my interest. Kimber at $700 seems nice also. Bud's has the two-tone Custom II for $695.

I haven't seen a 70 series Colt for anywhere near $700. Not sure if the 80 series Colts are something to consider, or if a 70 series at $900-$1000 is reasonable?

I read on some other forums that all Springfield non-custom models use the same barrel, trigger, assembly, etc. If that's true, I'm avoiding that like the plague. I had a mil spec model several years ago and it was a complete waste of money. Fortunately, I got a great deal on it and sold it for more than I bought it for, but that was the only positive. It had a terrible trigger and terrible accuracy. If the Loaded or Range Officer won't be any better, then there is no point in wasting my time. Here is the forum thread I read:

https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=452982

Look at how the Ruger is built. All American made. Milled out of a single stock of steel. And has Novak sights.

I got mine at GT Distributors. Plus I was able to take advantage of Ruger's LE discount. Ended up getting it out the door for just over $600. Mine is accurate and eats all the ammo that I've fed it. I've run several qualification courses and carry this as my back-up/off-duty weapon. No malfunctions. I'm using Ruger and Wilson Combat 8 round mags. Keep it clean and well lubed.

How is the trigger on the Ruger? I just called the LGS and told him I was looking at Springfield, Kimber, Colt, or Ruger, and he said Ruger was hands-down the best value.

I had a great experience with Ruger customer service in the past, so I'm a Ruger fan.

The trigger is nice. Clean, crisp and not overly heavy. It's adjustable too.

springfield, metro, ruger