Newbie 1911 Questions

by wjwillia 11/6/2023, 12:40 am

Hello all,
I have been shooting 22lr bullseye for many years. I want to venture into a 1911 45acp for bullseye, but I know almost nothing about the 1911. I am looking to buy a good entry level gun that won't break the bank, but one that I can customize as my skills improve. Around $800-1000 would be my starting budget. Any suggestion on where to start? Thanks in advance.

Jimmy in NC

by james r chapman 11/6/2023, 4:58 am

Find a Springfield Armory Range Officer.
Lightly used would be great.

Or,
Contact Dave Salyer in S. Carolina

by shanneba 11/6/2023, 5:06 am

Springfield Armory is a popular suggestion in these forums.
The adjustable sight versions I see are the Loaded Target model at a MSRP of $1119.00.
or the TRP Operator at $1818.00 MSRP
1911 Loaded Target .45 ACP Handgun - Stainless, CA Compliant - Springfield Armory (springfield-armory.com)

Colt Offer a Gold Cup lite with a MSRP of $1199.00 or the Blue Gold Cup at MSRP of $1299.00
Colt's Manufacturing LLC

Ruger also offers an Adjustable sight Target SR1911 MSRP $1269.00
Ruger

SR1911

Target Centerfire Pistol Model 6736

You can probably find those a little under MSRP.

Also watch the For Sale forums here for a 1911.

by BE Mike 11/6/2023, 8:29 am

If I were starting out, I'd definitely consider a retired bullseye pistol shooter's accurized, used 1911, but you won't likely find one in your price range. In the long run a good used accurized 1911 would be a bargain.

by chiz1180 11/6/2023, 8:38 am

BE Mike wrote:If I were starting out, I'd definitely consider a retired bullseye pistol shooter's accurized, used 1911, but you won't likely find one in your price range. In the long run a good used accurized 1911 would be a bargain.

Agree with this whole heartedly. Look for an active club close by that actively has matches and/or leagues. This will do two things, one get you around people that know where the matches are, and two a higher chance of finding a good used gun for sale that you probably could shoot before you buy. This is a far better option than taking a chance on gunbroker or similar.

by rburk 11/7/2023, 12:50 am

When you venture into 45, the other consideration is ammo. Buying enough quality factory target ammo for training and matches is expensive. Reloading can lower your ammo cost and you can customize your loads. You are going to want relatively soft shooting light loads for most of your training and for the 25 yard line.

If you are already reloading pistol or rifle ammo, then you have most of the required equipment, just need dies to get started. Loading lead bullets, I am spending about $.25 to $.30 per round to reload, not counting the cost of the brass.

by **Wobbley** 11/7/2023, 11:31 am

For the gun to choose you have some options. There are often good used pistols for sale here. They’re here often enough that you can get something within 3 months. There are the purpose built match guns from big makers like Kimber, Les Baer, Rock River Arms, and Springfield Armory. Of these 4, pay more attention to Rock River Arms and Springfield. While all four cut corners, Rock River and Springfield cut a few less. I personally have not had much luck with Colt Gold Cups. You might want to consider adding $500 to your budget tho. There’s a lot of difference between a $1500 gun and a $1000 gun even used.

As for ammo, you need a large quantity. Think in multiples of 1000. At you’re level I’d start with 2000 rounds of 200 SWC cast bullets (Brazos brand are highly recommended) load them with 4.0 grains of Bullseye powder and start shooting. As you go through that buy more brass and load even more thousands. Just shooting 150 rounds a month in training, 90 rounds twice per month in local matches adds up to almost 4000 rounds. Loading in big batches gives consistent zeros.

by mbmshooter 11/7/2023, 2:36 pm

james r chapman wrote:Find a Springfield Armory Range Officer.
Lightly used would be great.

Or,
Contact Dave Salyer in S. Carolina

We just had our (probably) last outdoor league match of the year yesterday. One of the shooters was having VERY strange oblong hits on his target that were only half the width of a .45 bullet. I was puzzled and suggested he shoot a few on my loads (185gr Star LSWCHP over 4..0gr of Bullseye). He wanted me to shoot them which I did along with 5 of his load.
3 of the 5 rounds I shot of his loads also had these strange oblong impacts on the target while all of my rounds were perfectly rounds hits. I suggested he had a BULLET problem and not a pistol problem. He is using Missouri bullets.
Sorry for the long posting but the pistol he has is a Springfield RO. This was the first time I actually got to shoot one and was very pleased with the feel, trigger and accuracy.

If I were starting out again and had a limited budget, I would definitely consider the Springfield RO. I agree with James' suggestion to find a lightly used one.

Mike

by jglenn21 11/7/2023, 2:49 pm

now this may well be a very good alternative to the out of production RO.. Turkish pistol imported by SDS(TISAS). If it's anywhere the quality of the Tisas I just purchased, it should be a great deal.. MSRP $750 but I have seen them online for 650.

https://sdsimports.com/mac-1911-jsoc-45/

going to try and find one to see the quality.

by DA/SA 11/7/2023, 3:35 pm

jglenn21 wrote:now this may well be a very good alternative to the out of production RO.. Turkish pistol imported by SDS(TISAS).

A friend bought one (TISAS) and asked me to check it out. I loaded up 5 and shot from the bench right out of the box. I believe that he said it was $500.00-$600.00 at the time.

Newbie 1911 Questions FE8ucBtl

Possibly have it fitted with an adjustable rear sight, (I don't recall if it was adjustable or not) or just put a rail on it and go shoot.

by shanneba 11/7/2023, 3:53 pm

I see TISAS has a 45 match model with adjustable sights.
MSRP of $1049.99

Classic Firearms shows in stock at $645.34
Impact Guns $681.69
BudsGunshop $636.01
Tisas 1911 Match .45acp 5" Hand Lapped Barrel Stainless 8+1 | 1911MSS45M | Stainless/Silver, 5" Barrel, 8+1 Rounds - Buds Gun Shop

Tisas Forged Foundation Construction – Forged Frame & Slide
Tisas 416R Stainless Match Barrel w/ 11° Crown
Colt Series 70 Based Internals
Titanium Firing Pin
Lowered & Flared Ejection Port
Blasted Stainless Steel Finish
Match Designed Trigger Guard Under Cut
20LPI Forward and Rear Slide Cocking Serrations
25LPI Checkered Frame
Flat Mainspring Housing 25LPI Checkering
G10 Custom Textured Grips
Bomar Cut LPA Adjustable Rear & Serrated Front Sights
Skeletonized Hammer
Skeletonized Adj. Trigger
Ambidextrous Safety & Extended Magazines Release
Extended Beavertail Grip Safety & Competition Magwell
Available in .45ACP

Newbie 1911 Questions Tisas_10100511_Right__23912.1686240770

by jglenn21 11/7/2023, 4:04 pm

I just tore my Mil spec Tisas down today to take a look at it.. crazy good machining.. slide fit is excellent for a mil spec $300 pistol. better than most ROs I've had in house.. every part on the pistol is cerakoted armor black and very well done.. sear and hammer were coated too... after playing with the sear spring a bit got it to a 3.5 lb trigger. the darn thing has a great roll trigger for as long as the coating last on the sear nose and hammer hooks...LOL barrel is hammer forged but the bushing is way big as the barrel is .722.. so a custom EGW bushing is in order..

honestly the pistol would make a fine wad gun base. with a bit of work. oh yeah,, NOT One MIM part in the pistol........ not one

by jglenn21 11/7/2023, 4:09 pm

instead of a stainless pistol the importer ( SDS) also markets under the MAC name... there they have an carbon steel equivalent to above pistol with LPA sights for around the same price.. better option being Carbon Steel

https://sdsimports.com/mac-1911-jsoc-45/

by Gustavo1957 11/7/2023, 5:09 pm

Tisas just came out with parkerized commemorative Marine Corp model and Navy on the way for $340. + shipping taxes etc..

Tisas are worth looking at for as a good starter value option.

by Merick 11/7/2023, 7:22 pm

jglenn21... wrote: ... the barrel is .722..

??

I'd expect a barrel to be .580-ish at the muzzle.

Anyhow the two target models above look like good entry points.
Or an even cheaper basic model with a rock river combo rail would still leave some budget for barrel and trigger work.

by jglenn21 11/8/2023, 4:47 am

Yep for 3 bills it's a great little pistol.. the barrel bushing and the size of the bushing cut in the slide is a bit unique. The bushing area in the slide is around .703 Nothing an EGW bushing can't manage, just differently. The barrel diameter is the one thing I'd like to see changed

by DA/SA 11/11/2023, 1:44 pm

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t22506-fs-springfield-1911-tx

by wjwillia 11/13/2023, 8:20 am

Thanks for all the replies guys. I have a friend who is going to let me shoot some of his 1911's he uses in bullseye. I'll see if I want to go down another rabbit hole after that.

by rich.tullo 11/13/2023, 2:08 pm

I handled the TISAS and I thought is was an OK gun for the price and you get a forged frame which in that price range is non existent. For a starter gun I cannot see you going wrong. Get a GI or base version, replace the fire control parts and get a trigger job ($400), Install a scope rail ($200) , lower the injection port, replace the bushing, and tune the extractor and you should be good for BE for well under $2000.

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