Tip of the Week: Now is the Time to Buy a 1911

The 1911 may arguably be the most iconic handgun of all time.

Its design, ergonomics, and shootability have allowed it to withstand the test of time. Even over 100 years later, untold numbers of 1911s are still being produced, purchased, and shot to this day.

But alas, the 1911 is also a polarizing pistol. Some of you may love them, some of you may despise them.

While being in either of these camps is perfectly fine, this article is targeted more toward those who don’t have a 1911 yet but still have an interest in the platform and also those who haven’t really formed an opinion on them yet.

This isn’t a list of the best 1911s to buy (we already have one of those) or a history of the gun (we have that, too!), but more a quick rundown of a few reasons why 2024 is the best time to buy a 1911.

Why Buy One At All?

I could wax poetic about my love of the 1911 in this section and why they are so great, but I am going to keep it as brief as possible.

Ergonomics

John Browning absolutely nailed the grip angle when he designed this gun. With a grip angle of around 18 degrees, it makes for a very natural-pointing gun that is comfortable to hold, easy on the wrists, and makes for excellent trigger finger positioning.

In addition to the gun being very natural to aim, the slide and frame of the 1911 are very thin, even by modern standards. Despite being full-sized guns that can be heavy, their slender profile makes them feel much more svelte and balanced than they look.

Trigger

For those of you that know…you know. For those that don’t, well, there are almost no production semi-auto pistols that have a better trigger than a good 1911.

The design of the trigger is simple and elegant. It uses two transfer bars (known as the trigger bow) that are directly attached to the trigger shoe itself. When you pull the trigger, these bars move straight back until they trip the sear that releases the hammer.

It is an entirely linear motion with no pivoting or rocking. This allows the gun to have a very clean, predictable, short, and crisp trigger. Most 1911 triggers come in around 2.5 – 4.5 lbs but can be even lower on match pistols.

Shootability

When you combine a natural and comfortable grip with an excellent trigger, it is a recipe for success.

Whether they are chambered in the original .45 ACP caliber or 9mm, I have seen it time and time again where people will get more accurate groups out of a 1911 than they can get with most other standard service pistols.

This goes for shooters of all shapes and sizes, too, from smaller female shooters to the biggest lumberjack builds I’ve seen.

While the gun may not be a fit for everyone, it sure seems to work for a heck of a lot of people. My fiancée is 5’ 1” with small-ish hands and absolutely loves her 1911s, so much so that she bought three of them.

History & Cool Factor

As mentioned before, the history of the 1911 is long and distinguished. Whether you believe they are fit for duty or not, they are still neat guns with a hell of a pedigree.

Despite how commonplace they are, they tend to draw interest from other people, whether you are at the range or just showing guns off to your friends or family.

The 1911 is like The Shawshank Redemption or the original Star Wars trilogy. Everyone needs to see it (or shoot it in this case) at least once, but really, everyone should own their own copy.

Why Buy Now?

This one is easy — price and variety.

1911s have never been cheaper. You can buy a fully forged and machined WWII GI-style 1911 from Tisas for $299. Yep, you read that right. Even with shipping, tax, and transfer fees, you are looking at getting one in your hands for under $400.

These aren’t junk guns that perform poorly. These are quality-built pistols that shoot well, are reliable, and look nice.

But say you want to step up to something nicer and American-made. Well, the market still has you covered. You can get the excellent Springfield Mil-Spec Defender for around $550-600. Or better yet, you can snag the tack-driving, drop-dead gorgeous Springfield Garrison for $650-750.

Want to go bigger? You can get a threaded barrel, optics-ready 10mm Nightstalker 1911 from Tisas for under $600, or you can grab the excellent Springfield Ronin in 10mm for around $700.

Even with higher-end semi-custom and custom 1911s, there are so many more models and options available now than there were even 10 years ago. It is truly a buyer’s market for 1911s right now.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, 1911s are fun, easy to shoot for most people, and the price-to-performance ratio is better than it has ever been. If you have been on the fence about one, now is the time.

Whether you just want something cool or you just want a gun that will legitimately make it easier to improve your pistol marksmanship, you may want to consider hopping on the 1911 train sooner rather than later.

Have you considered buying a 1911? Have you purchased one recently? Let us know in the comments below! Remember, good 1911s need good mags to run. So be sure to check out our article on the Best 1911 Magazines!