Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Most accurate 45 ACP for $1000 or so?

I want an accurate .45 auto that I can play with (no competition) just something that hits exactly where I aim. I have had a few Sig P220 Elite stainless pistols over the years and found them pretty accurate but I have never owned one of the good 1911 offerings from Smith or Sig or the azz load of other 1911 makers, I do like the looks of the new Smith 1911 E series pistols but will they shoot with a P220 Sig? I have seen 1911 E series pistols for less than a grand and the 220 Elite goes in that same price range.....Any suggestions for an accurate 45 ACP for a grand or so?..............Thanks Hb

I would want a (CZ) Dan Wesson 1911.

(That's on the "or so" side of "$1000 or so.")

Colt Gold Cup Trophy

Any of the name brand upper end guns will shoot to your wants and function reliably with minor tuning.

My kimber pro CDP was around $1000 and shoots great considering. After 1000 you aren't really gaining much but fit, finish or accessories until you get into the semi bullseye guns. I have one of those too.

S&W M&P.

+1

Most of today's good factory 1911 pistols will shoot better than the average guy can.
I think it is more about the shooter's ability, than that of the pistol.

+1 on what Sam said.

Get the pistol that fits you, in terms of style and ergonomics. Accuracy in today's pistols is pretty much a given, although there might be the odd lemon here or there.

If you like the SIG P220, go for it. It's a helluva pistol. The Glock 21 is a helluva 45, too, as is the M&P. All of my 1911's are high-dollar custom or semi-custom models, though, so I can't comment on the quality of factory sub-$1000 pistols except to say I've tried several of them out at the range and they've all shot fine.

Mechanical accuracy (precision) in a 1911 is primarily the fit of the barrel, slide, and bushing, and the quality of the barrel. To get a quality fit and a quality barrel, the 1911 will cost more than $1,000.

There are plenty of 1911's for under $1,000 that will shoot just fine, or even great if you get lucky or know how to pick one out. That level of 1911 will probably get you everything you want except a quality and fit barrel. Figure another $400-$500 more for that.

There are plenty of differences between 1911's in the $1,000 range, but accuracy isn't one of them.

Hard to beat a KIMBER with the parameters outlined.

I've got an old Colt Mk.IV, Series 70 that's been reworked with after market trigger, sear, hammer, and sights, but with the factory barrel. I've got bone stock Kimber Stainless Target that's had nothing more than a trigger job. Both of these guns, off hand at 25 yds. usually turn in 2-2.5 inch groups for five shots. Sometimes they run down to 1.5 inches with the Kimber, but not often.
I've got a new SIG 220 which I'm sure is quite accurate. But I can't shoot it any where nearly this well at 25 yds. Maybe I'll get better after a trigger job, but it depends on how well that comes out.
Would these 1911's do for you ? I learned long ago, a gun that fits well, and easily seen sights are very important. But a first class trigger will make it all work. Without one, I, for one, will never shoot it anywhere near this well.
Adjustable sights are also necessary. That's because I've found to get this kind of acuracy you need to zero it with ammo that it likes. Even premium stuff might not shoot really well. E

The Sig 220 that I have is much more accurate than the Gold Cup I had. Plus the SIG actually works as a semi-auto rather than a magazine fed single shot abomination.

You can get a pretty slicked up factory Tanfoglio (EAA Witness) for around $1K, like a Hunter (6" barrel), Limited, or Stock 2.

+1 & Mannlicher's comment about the shooter is also most appropriate.

Most top tier factory guns today are capable of around 2" or so out of a machine rest at 25 yards & for sure, most shooters can't shoot that good off-hand.

By contrast, by best Bullseye gun would do 1.5" at 50 yards for 10 shots from a machine rest.

Ammo also plays a BIG role in accuracy with a 1911.

MM

Man I get tired of reading "xxx gun shoots better than I can". The idea implies that demanding good accuracy or better accuracy isn't worth the bother, because the shooter won't see any difference.

We all are imperfect shooters, but our personal imperfection can be magnified by whatever inaccuracy is in the gun (rifle, pistol, whatever). If a guy is asking where to go for accuracy, the correct answer is not "you don't need it, 'cause you can't use it". Looked at another way - when you know the gun is highly accurate, it removes all excuses and demands that the shooter do or learn his part.

Apologies.../rant off.

Kimber would likely be the last I'd pick out of the major players, but they do make a nice 1911. That's why the 'Which 1911 for $1,000' question is tough to answer with any certaintly - they're all good.

It's a worthwhile rant. Just think how that argument would go over on one of the rifles/hunting forums - everyone would have to own box stock Savage rifles with Bushnell scopes.

My point exactly............some people just don't know "good" when they see it, much less be good enough to take advantage of it.

2" at 25 yards is not a bad gun by any means of the word, & more than adequate for most shooting outside of the 50 yard bullesye course.

And it's actually adequate there, just not "competition" level.

I really get a chuckle out if some here..............especially the ones that take themselves so seriously.

MM

Bingo.

That said, I'm perfectly pleased with my Kimber Eclipse Target II.

I recently added to my 1911s a Rock Island.....much impressed.
For under $400.00, fit and finish was very good, accuracy was excellent, functioned with every thing I put through it, including my semi wad cutter bullseye loads.