Handgun Roundup: The Budget 1911s
The 1911-style pistol remains wildly popular more than 100 years after its birth. At last count, roughly 25 manufacturers are producing nearly 400 different 1911 models ranging from mil-spec, GI-type versions that recall John Browning’s original design, to uber-refined and customized 1911s that cost thousands of dollars.
This article pulls together info on the eight least-expensive 1911s in production today into one place. To make this list, a pistol must cost $500 max in actual retail pricing, not MSRP (which is almost always inflated). It appears the Auto-Ordnance offering will run you just a tad over $500; I let it in because it’s so close.
Each pistol’s listing is an excerpt from its main-info page, which contains the full description, specs, more photos, pricing info (when available) and links to external articles and reviews. To go to that page, click on the link included in the excerpt (i.e., the word “here” in blue text).
Only five of the companies listed below are actually manufacturing 1911s; the other two (Rock Island Armory and Taylor’s) are importing guns built for them. And only one manufacturer listed below is building 1911s in the United States (Auto-Ordnance). The others are built in Turkey, the Phillipines and China.
The listings below include only the cheapest model offered by each company. Many of these companies also offer other 1911 models with enhanced features, different finishes, shortened barrels and shortened grips, and in many cases the prices of these models are also relatively low. To see all the 1911s produced by one of the companies below, click on the company’s name.
You can purchase all the below guns new in the United States in gun stores save one, the Chinese-made Norinco, which is no longer imported into the United States. You can still find used Norincos for sale in gun shops and on online sites such as GunBroker.com.
The actual retail prices and price ranges listed below reflect prices seen recently in online gun stores. Those numbers certainly aren’t absolute—you might be able to find better deals at other online or brick-and-mortar gun shops.
I’ve organized these pistols alphabetically by manufacturer. If I’ve failed to include a model, please let me know via the Contact form at this link, or via the Comment form at the bottom of this article.
Armscor
Model: 1911A1 GI
Loading ...MSRP: $500–$591
Actual retail: $385–$440 (approx.)
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Auto-Ordnance
Model: 1911PKZSE
MSRP: $627
Actual retail: $504 (approx.)
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Metro Arms
Model: American Classic
MSRP: $550
Actual retail: $411–$508 (approx.)
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Norinco
Model: 1911A-1
MSRP: n/a
Actual retail: $425–$490
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Rock Island Armory
Model: 1911 GI
MSRP: $500–$591
Actual retail: $380–$489 (approx.)
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Shooters Arms Manufacturing
Model: Military
MSRP: $489.95
Actual retail: $404–$440 (approx.)
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Taylor’s & Co.
Model: 1911
MSRP: $479 (base model)
Actual retail: $468–$472 (approx.)
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Trabzon
Model: Regent R100
MSRP: $499–$599
Actual retail: $423–$437
Click here to visit this gun’s info page.
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Jed Henson is the president of GunsGunsGuns.net.
12 Responses to “Handgun Roundup: The Budget 1911s”
Comment from Jed Henson
Time December 8, 2011 at 8:42 am
The Ruger SR1911 and Remington R1 appear to cost a bit more retail new.
Comment from Dave
Time December 8, 2011 at 9:22 am
Comment from Huey
Time December 8, 2011 at 11:20 am
http://hueysgunsight.blogspot.com/2011/08/regent-r100-1911-a1-45-pistolturkish.html
Comment from TZH
Time December 8, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Huey! yep, seen your Regent video, great review!
Comment from cmblake6
Time December 9, 2011 at 11:15 am
Comment from KDL
Time December 12, 2011 at 3:17 pm
I very much like the look of the RIA-GI and nothing but glowing reviews for a most popular choice. Though I absolutely love the idea of a TACOPS I think my husband is getting me a PX4 Storm subcompact 9mm (Impact gun) for Christmas. I did have a question though after doing a little research between the Storm and the Taurus 648 Pro Compact. I cant remember the name of the article but the editor mentioned that during the unveiling and testing at the Winchester Pistol range, they experienced a “Stove-pipe stoppage” within the first few magazines. They also went on to say of Taurus pistols that they go through a break in period? Could you please tell me what a Stove-pipe stoppage is and what comments you may have on this particular pistol? Also when trying to find an answer to my own question earlier I found a sight that had similar Q&A…one in regards to how long does a particular gun, I believe the answer was 15000 rounds. Assault rifles obviously have to be made to shoot an obscene amount of ammo but is there a shelf life for pistols and if so…is there some kind of list of how some stack against others?
Comment from KDL
Time December 12, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Comment from Jed Henson
Time December 15, 2011 at 9:50 am
I located a photo of a stovepipe jam on TheFiringLine.com forum. Here’s the link:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/tharmsen/Forums/guns/Kimber/52142-VerticalStovepipe.jpg
I’m thinking you might have meant the Taurus 638, not 648? I don’t know of a 648. Anyway, I don’t have any personal experience with either the PX4 Storm Subcompact or the Taurus 638 Pro Compact, but we do have in-depth reviews up on both. Here are the links:
http://gunsgunsguns.net/beretta-px4-storm-type-f-sub-compact/
http://gunsgunsguns.net/taurus-638-pro-compact/
I’m also sorry to report I don’t know of a list or study that discusses how many rounds a particular gun can handle (i.e., a lifespan list). That might be a question for a particular gun’s manufacturer. Here’s our page with links to most of the handgun manufacturers:
http://gunsgunsguns.net/mfg-links/
Last, regarding break-in periods, I can’t speak authoritatively about that for Taurus handguns, or any others, actually. My Glock 19 definitely didn’t seem to require a break-in. And from reading in various gun forums over the years, I don’t see much consensus on that topic. Maybe someone else more knowledgeable than me will chime in here.
I hope that helps a little!
Comment from BillCa
Time January 7, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Most folks start off with 50 rounds of full metal jacket (FMJ) ammo to check gun function and get familiar with the gun. For a carry gun, I prefer to shoot a minimum of 100 rounds of the ammo I want to carry to ensure the 1st five to eight rounds feed smoothly as the last 2 rounds. And I’ll fire up to 40 “alternate choice” JHP’s that I might use if my preferred ammo isn’t available. Don’t use it as a carry gun if it has any problems feeding/extracting or accuracy with the ammo.
Re: Longevity – non-magnum handguns do not stress the barrel like rifles do. A local college had a police firing line. Some of their S&W revolvers had well over 100,000 rounds through them and looked almost new (firing mostly target wadcutters). Well made arms should be able to fire 100-500,000 rounds (or more) before a barrel needs replacement. In pistols, it’s suggested to replace springs every 5,000 to 8,000 rounds as they do lose some strength. Revolver springs tend to last longer, with replacements around 50-80,000 rounds suggested by some.
Comment from Jed Henson
Time March 28, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Comment from TZH
Time April 2, 2012 at 12:38 am
This is a standard barrel, not a match barrel. So I figure these guns should do similar since they ain’t rifles like BillCa said.
Comment from Tony
Time December 8, 2011 at 1:04 am