This is getting stupid

[AKpredator]

Cylinder & Slide can build you a custom 1911 using a SA Mil-Spec for about $2300, according to their web site pricing. I like their R&D 1911 for $1695 but it doesn't have night sights, checkering or a match grade barrel. They do advertise 1.5" at 25 yards.

I have seen some used Wilson's for about $1500 to $1800. That might be the way to go for most.

[1BN/75th]

I would suggest this one. Retails for a grand less that the Nighthawks $2700+ price and can shoot 5 shots well under an inch at 25 from a rest and just over an inch(me shooting) off hand at 25. Its model # is PC9105LP.

[jnclement]

You don't buy one of those customs because it's that much better than a lesser priced 1911. You buy it so you can tell people you have it, and who built. It's a status thing. Same reason you buy any big ticket item. Oh, you can blow smoke up your own a$$ with all kinds of justification why you need it, but bottom line doesn't change........

[AKpredator]

Originally Posted by jnclement

You don't buy one of those customs because it's that much better than a lesser priced 1911. You buy it so you can tell people you have it, and who built. It's a status thing. Same reason you buy any big ticket item. Oh, you can blow smoke up your own a$$ with all kinds of justification why you need it, but bottom line doesn't change........

Huh?

Do you own a custom or semi-custom or even a factory 1911?

Do you shoot competitively?

If you owned all three, then you would be able to tell the difference.

I don't pay for the name... I pay for performance.

[Frenchy]

It comes down to what fit's you needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Would I like to own a high-end 1911?...Yes.
Can I live with my low-end 1911?...Yes.
My needs, lifestyle, and budget are served.

[The Knight Of Light]

Originally Posted by AKpredator

Huh?

Do you own a custom or semi-custom or even a factory 1911?

Do you shoot competitively?

If you owned all three, then you would be able to tell the difference.

I don't pay for the name... I pay for performance.

I second that one.

Predator has some very nice firearms and I have personally seen and fired several. Quality is not just a price tag. It is an assurance that your gun will work every single time you pull the trigger as well as being very accurate.

[The Knight Of Light]

Originally Posted by Frenchy

It comes down to what fit's you needs, lifestyle, and budget.
Would I like to own a high-end 1911?...Yes.
Can I live with my low-end 1911?...Yes.
My needs, lifestyle, and budget are served.

Predator isn't trying to start that kind of debate.

He is trying to say that the quality of Full-house custom guns has gone down over the past 15 years. There was no way in hell you would ins a 1911 with poorly fitted sights in the 90's these company's have been knocked down by cheaper companies touting cheaper prices for high zoot custom features. With that comes a certain lack of quality. MIM parts, chrome plated bits on stainless guns and cookie cutter sights that are basic insert tab-A into slot-B. Giving up 800-1500$ for features like that has become the norm. What companies like Kimber and Springfield have done is takne the business away from Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, Les Baer, and others. They are forced to jack-up their prices in order to meet with the demand placed on them. Less pistols sold means higher prices.

[ichy_trigger]

Custom guns (if built properly) are VERY reliable, smooth, tight, accurate...

Find someone with a gun that was built from the frame up and see if they will let you shoot it. You will be totaly amazed at what attention to detail can do to a gun!

[MGD 45]

Guys this 1911 debate, I can equate to cars....can you buy a Covervette that's been "tuned" to give supercar great performance for under $100K? Yep, but will it be built as solid & work as smoothly as say....a Ferrari, Porsche, Lambo?

These cars cost more becuz they're custom built as compared to the Corvette, (assembly line) which takes longer, which raises the cost because they don't build as many as Chevy....

Is a Corvette a great sports car? Yep.
Are the other cars better...maybe...maybe not, but there is a good reason why they cost more than the Corvette. Same as the 1911's.....

[MGD 45]

A while back, someone posted a link to an article that compared as Rock Island Armory, Kimber, & Wilson Combat 1911 against each other. He put them all through the same "torture" tests to see if the cheap 1911 could hold up as the same as the custom built "high end" 1911's....

One of the theories he debunked was that a 1911 built to high tolerances would seize up or fail when introduced to dirt/grime/grit, because of how tight the gun is built. The Wilson Combat performed just as well after being dumped in muddy water, dirt, & mud as a loosely fitted Rock Island Armory.

All guns performed great with all different kind of ammo & under all different kinds of tests. It was a great read for 1911's......

I think if your reason for buying a 1911 is strickly for up close personal defense situations, then ANY 1911 will do just fine. If you want one for precision shooting or competition....then the custom built guns are probably the way to go.