One of The Horde has asked for a Top 5 1911 list. This is difficult, because saying 1911 is like saying Pickup Truck. There are different types, classes of truck. Class wasn’t specified. So this is going to be an overall pick, cross classes.
1. Springfield TRP
2. SIG 1911 TacOps
3. Dan Wesson V-Bob
4. STI Ranger II
5. Springfield 1911 GI
Three of the five selections are full sized, 5” guns. The other two are Commander length guns. There are no three inch guns on my list for a reason. The smaller sized guns get more finicky in terms of reliability and for me, that’s a huge disqualification. The full size and the Commander length guns are where it’s at.
If I was going to pick a few more, the other guns on my list would be the guns in the Colt CCO type configuration with a Commander length barrel and slide on an Officer’s length frame. Such as the SIG C3 and RCS. Both would make the list for sure. Also, if I had another spot, I’d have to put an STI Tactical 4.15, which would also be the only double stacked 1911 on this list, and the only one in 9mm.
If I was going to pick something on the more Budge Minded level, the options are fewer, but some stand out. The pistols from ATI have a strong showing with tolerances on par with guns that cost 3 times as much. The newish Remington R1 is a nice pistol, if you can find one. The Para GI Expert is a very similar gun at a similar price point, and it’s a good one. Then there are the guns from Taurus which are solid values and surprisingly good shooters.
Notice I am not talking about the Semi-Custom Production guns from makers such as Wilson Combat, Les Baer, and Ed Brown. They are certainly good, but the cost level is puts them far and away above the reach of a lot of shooters, without a drastic or tangible increase in returns for the money.
