Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns which 1911 for a Marine?

My son will be going off to San Diego for boot camp in January. He said he wants a 1911 for his 21st birthday. I'm thinking that his becoming a Marine (praying he makes it) is more fitting. I'm all ears as to what would be the most fitting 1911 for a Marine...

Dan Wesson Valor should be a very good choice.

My first thought would be Colt Series 70 Government model with the 100 years of service roll mark if you can find one. Reports that I've read say it's a really nice shooter and very accurate.

When he goes active, unless in Spec Ops, they'll take it away and give him a 9mm Italian peashooter.

I would buy a full size Springfield 1911

Loaded Target or Trophy Match. Either is great.

I think the 5" Springfield is a wise choice also. Given the open-ended nature of the question, it doesn't sound like the young man has any experience with 1911s yet, or any preferences either. A solid basic full size would be a good place to start. After he's shot it a lot, he can send it back to SA's custom shop for whatever tweaking he'd like.

My first stop would be Colt's these days. The classic Series 70 (They are made new from the factory once again) is very nice. If you want one with all the bells and whistles, then the XSE series are very good also. I fell in love with the XSE LW Commander in .38 Super, just wish I had seen it before I bought my S&W.

After the Colt's, my next stop would be S&W, then Springfield.

If it's a gift for a special occasion, and not a "one and only 1911 to do everything," I'd make it a Colt 1911, 5" 45ACP, blued, with some tasteful engraving to personalize it.

A buddy of mine took a Springfield with him to Iraq as a recon Marine. I think he said it was the pre cursor to what became the Springfielf Operator. I have also read articles that some Marine SOCOM units are issued Kimbers. Check out their Desert Warrior.

I have a Kimber Pro Carry which is their plane Jane 4 inch and it is a good gun. Tell your son to be loud and do good things. He will be fine as long as he keeps a positive mental attitude.

Kind of depends on what the OP wants to spend. I have owned a variety of 1911's over the years (all were OK), but I never really got on the bandwagon until I bought my first Wilson Combat.

If I may make a slightly different suggestion.

A smart thing to do would be to buy him a few days at a top ranking handgun school, such as Thunder Ranch or Gunsite, along with his new sidearm.

Most kids coming out of basic/boot have no real idea how to properly manipulate a handgun (conventional military trains it as almost an afterthought)and it would put him light years ahead of 99% of his coworkers. It will also prevent him from ingraining piss poor habits from non comms who themselves are completely clueless.

That gift to him would be far more rewarding over the course of his career than either of you may ever realize.

Right now (when he comes home on leave)is the time to put the young man in contact with a true pro he can emulate.

We do not need loud dumb Marines.

We need thinkers who are shooters and shooters who are thinkers.

Sincerely,

Mackay Sagebrush.

Amen.

Read this article right here first.

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/evolution-of-the-custom-combat-45/

Pay particular attention to the Combat section were it says the handling, reliability, and durability are the most important.

There are many fine combat 1911's today that have good handling, are durable but are not very reliable because they are to tight. Many 1911's are real maintenance hogs today and that's not a good thing where maintenance is a catch as catch can.

I enjoy the videos that Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch has put out and wanted to sign up for a class this winter. According to their web site, the next available class is February.......2013.

i have quite a few 1911's, some high end, some low end, and collect military 1911's. John Moses wanted the sucker to work all the time, every time, the intent was not bullseye competition. I enjoy shooting some of the WWII stuff or there modern counterparts probably as much or more as i do the tight stuff.
That series 70, mark IV by the way with the collet bushing by the way works real good, minute of pop can. I had a grandson last year, never shot a .45 before make a beer can dance at about 10yards with a full mag, first time he shot it. Wondered if i was gonna get it back. Mickey's advice is good, i would listen to it.

mackay:
I took the liberty of copy/pasting your post to someone i know that spent a lot of time in special ops. I am pretty sure he would agree 100% with you particularly as to the last sentence, which he brought up in some discussions on what makes our military different than others around the world.

That's a great post.

RE: "... most fitting 1911 for a marine."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- A MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT -

- MEU (SOC) COLT M1911 A1 - (Modified Pistol)

Sometimes referred to as "Near Match" or "Combat Accuratized".

Tell him "Thanks" for being willing to protect our Freedom.

I think the Colt would be my choice.


ddj