I see quite a few for sale locally. Sigs, SA, kimbers etc. should a guy stay away from them, what do you look for? Thoughts from the experts.

I know what I like to see and feel, but then I am not one of the 'experts'. lol

I've had excellent results buying previously owned firearms, but I stick to a few basic rules:

1. I only buy used guns that haven't been mucked with by amateurs - and that includes gunsmiths. If the gun doesn't work in factory guise, I stand a pretty good chance of getting the manufacturer to make it right if there's a problem.

2. I only buy used guns at a healthy discount. Buying something the least bit questionable just to save a few bucks is foolish IMO.

3. Be patient ....the real bargain opportunities don't usually come along every day.

Obviously, test-firing the gun before making a purchase is always the best case scenario, but I realize that's often not an option.

I mentioned in a previous 1911 thread that the market is soft an getting softer with each passing month. It's a buyer's market and the opportunities are becoming pretty commonplace.

I have used this list for a long time. Decent info on what to look for when buying a used 1911 The owner of that forum is an old friend
http://www.m1911.org/technic24.htm

Thanks for the link, I bookmarked it.

Whatever you do take it a good 1911 'Smith, I bought a used 1911 Briley Colt custom 45 ACP that was slam full of titanium race gun innards, hit the slide release and the hammer followed it home, BOOM, 230 gr gold dots will knock a fair sized chunk outta your shop porch floor.

I had my 'Smith load it with steel Ed Brown parts and sold it, that little slam fire tainted that pistol for me.

Just make sure you buy from someone reputable. At the time of purchase, I’d recommend having a good 100+ rounds on hand to take it out and test drive it. Have the dealer write in 3 day inspection period, can return for full refund it the gun doesn’t work on the invoice. If it’s a reputable dealer he’ll agree to it. Then make sure you take it out and run some ammo through it.
Pretty much all of 41magfan’s advice is very good advice.

I'd buy a Sig in a heartbeat. Used or not.




Clark

I've been buying used 1911's and rebuilding them as necessary for several decades. I'd say that makes me a sucker for punishment as opposed to an expert. Under 'pistols' on the menu bar at top. http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/home/sarges-1911-articles/


I always buy them cheap enough to invest 100-150 bucks in sears, hammers, extractors springs and such. People often think any their used 1911 worth withing 50 bucks of new price, or that all the crap they tried to bolt on makes it worth more. So you'll pass a lot of used guns finding the ones priced for rebuilding. Unless it's a Colt, stick with 70 series guns. It'll save you some grief (and expense) in the long run.

Look real hard at the where the frame ramp meets the barrel ramp. It's real common for tinkerers to over polish the top of the frame ramp, undercutting barrel ramp and creating a catching point for rounds as the feed from the magazine. It's easier to post a link than explain it.

https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/barrel-overhang-frame-feedramp-barrel-bed-length.2999/

With all the choices out there, it seems endless. I think I am leaning toward the Colt 1991 series.. Purest i guess, nostalgic...

Excellent choice Viking, they are generally as good as this one.

http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/colt-model-01991/

The biggest problem with many of them is that others have [bleep] with them so much. 84 trick moves and add-ons.

I would just about swear that S&W and Sig use the same sub-contractors for their 1911 small parts.

I saw a Sig GSR for 650$. It's a nice looking railed 1911. Thoughts on that model, is that a good price?

I wholeheaertedly agree. I picked up a Springfield 1911A1 that has been completely reworked by Wilson Combat. The slide movement is a thing of beauty. There is absolutely NO side to side play in the slide when mounted, but, if you pull it straight back it slides on the rails like ball bearings in snail snot. The trigger is what sold me, and it's a series 70 model (unless that is reserved for Colts), it has no passive firing pin block. I got it at the LGS I work for and the owner cut me a great deal. I really really like it; it makes carrying a full-sized auto a lot easier than trying to find someway to carry my Glock 20 concealed and comfortable...I'm still looking for that solution. My Springfield is a single stack, the mag holds 8 rounds + 1 in the chamber. It's a LOT thinner than my Glock 20 and hugs my body much flatter than the Glock ever did.

I've been wanting one for a while and when that one came in the shop I snatched it up.

If it's got an idiot mark, I'm out! Dude can't take apart/put together his 1911 correctly, I don't want it.

I am sticking to my plan which is to buy at least 1 1911 per year, I bought 2 so far this year so that is not working . I notice that if there are no 1911's at the gunshops I frequent I don't tend to stay long .

I cannot afford the luxury of buying a used one If I don't know the previous owner because if there were a problem it would have to be shipped elsewhere since A. We have very few 1911 smiths that are worth a crap B. They charge more then Dr's for their work and take longer.

I put an idiot mark on a beautiful Colt Trophy Gold cup first time I took it apart. I am sure someone would buy it rather quickly if I decided to sell it.(Which won't happen anyway)

Good advice in this thread.
Colt's quality is better the last few years. Though with that said the 3 new Colts I bought prior to '08 all required minor work to be 100%. But I have a built in "Turd magnet" when it comes to purchasing things.
Buy quality mags. I like Wilson 47d's or ETM's, Cobra mags & Chip McCormick Power mags are good too.
As stated previously avoid modified pistols, watch for "Bubba Ramp Jobs".
And please don't buy every gadget in the Brownells catalog for your 1911. I personally think one piece guide rods and extended slide releases are junk.
Sig makes a great 1911. But I don't care for the proprietary external extractor. same goes for S&W.

I have two GSR's. Not a bad price.

I haven't drop the hammer just yet on a 1911. Instead I went window shopping today. I found a couple of used Sig Tacops, one with a rail. There were a couple of Rugers and an STI Tactical for just over a grand.

I really like the Sigs, they seem very well built. Oh and I got to fondle the Kimber TLE, they are really nice. The LGS even had the SA RO Elite on hand.

I have had the following:

-older Kimber Gold Match: I bought this one new 12 years ago. The most accurate 1911 I have owned but didn't feed reliably. I am sure it could have been repaired, but instead I took it to the store I bought it from and they allowed a trade for Something else.

-Ed Brown: super nice and beautifully executed gun. Chamber was a little tighter than mainstream guns so had to watch using commercially cast bullets. While a work of art, I am not sure accuracy was better than the other 1911s I have had.

-Newer production Colt Gold Cup: this was one of the newer guns made to look like an older Gold Cup. I shoot a high grip so had to convert to a beaver tail grip safety to keep from getting bitten. A little expensive for what you get but a beautiful gun and looks like a 1911 should. I sold this when I found a deal on the Ed Brown and really regret selling the Colt. Wish I still had it.

-Ruger SR1911: I love these. I have had three and two remain in that my commander length was given to a friend that allowed my daughter to take her first deer on his place. I liked my older Ruger so well I sold my Ed Brown and bought a second newer Ruger but with adjustable sights. All of mine have been accurate and reliable. My dad has an SR1911 also and has had a similar experience to mine. These are a lot of gun for the $$$.

That's a pretty heavy endorsement.

Thanks.

My opinion is there are a lot of good 1911s out there these days. I would be happy with a newer Colt or a Kimber or Ruger among others, but still think the Ruger is a great gun and reasonably priced given the features. I have also heard good things about DWs, STIs, Springfields and others but haven't owned them. As mentioned, I really liked my newer Colt Gold Cup I sold. After the extended safety, the Colt performed equally to my Rugers for me, but I loved the traditional blued look, which the Ruger doesn't have.

There's no magic in the Sigs & they are no built than any other similar level 1911............& depending on model, they don't all conform to 1911 slide dimensions either.

I own a fair number of 1911's & none are Sigs...............not that I wouldn't, but I don't see them as standing out in any particular area, but they are a good gun, just no better than most others.

MM

How do the recoil springs effect accuracy if at all in one of the bull barrel lock to the frame models?

I think the Sig's use a non-standard barrel hood/hood recess in the slide as well. I have never worked on a Sig 1911, but a friend of mine told me that Sig's won't take anyone else's barrel. To me, standardized parts is a significant plus of the 1911, so making a 1911 suddenly proprietary just seems like a not too bright thing to do.

For the price I paid a number of years ago for my Sig, I got a great shooting gun with all the options I wanted. I think still a great deal. The hood on my Sig is only about .005 different from the hood on my Remington 1911. The Remington I got has very few options but didn't cost much used either. There are some great 1911's out there. Just list the options you are willing to pay for and go find one. That is almost as much fun as the shooting once you do.