I'm looking to add a full size 1911 to my arsenal. I have a Colt Commander and a Light weight commander. I've narrowed my choices to these 2. My question: Is the Colt XSE worth the extra money over the Ruger? The difference in price would buy a lot of ammo.
SR 1911 or Colt XSE Goverment
- Thread starter reid
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Given your ability to afford it ... Always get the Colt.
If its range use only ... I'd get a Gold Cup instead ... Most of the stuff on the XSE is cosmetic doo dads anyway. I ALWAYS go for accuracy first ... Never cosmetics.
If you want to save $200 and still have the accuracy .... Get a Range Officer (around $825-850).
If you want a bare bones 1911, and you can deal with all the cheap looking black MIM parts, the Ruger is a good choice at the $600 price point. At $700 I'd probably get the R1 SS Enhanced.
If you don't already own a Gold Cup, and you're a Colt guy ... I would HIGHLY recommend the GC. I have 2 ... They are spectacularly accurate, and most have great triggers right out of the box.
Any of the Springfield Loaded Target models are also very nice, especially in stainless.
The Ruger is a great gun at the right price ($600 or so), but the two tone look has really started to turn me off lately. Especially after seeing the R1 stainless at about the same price. A very classy looking gun.
REV
If its range use only ... I'd get a Gold Cup instead ... Most of the stuff on the XSE is cosmetic doo dads anyway. I ALWAYS go for accuracy first ... Never cosmetics.
If you want to save $200 and still have the accuracy .... Get a Range Officer (around $825-850).
If you want a bare bones 1911, and you can deal with all the cheap looking black MIM parts, the Ruger is a good choice at the $600 price point. At $700 I'd probably get the R1 SS Enhanced.
If you don't already own a Gold Cup, and you're a Colt guy ... I would HIGHLY recommend the GC. I have 2 ... They are spectacularly accurate, and most have great triggers right out of the box.
Any of the Springfield Loaded Target models are also very nice, especially in stainless.
The Ruger is a great gun at the right price ($600 or so), but the two tone look has really started to turn me off lately. Especially after seeing the R1 stainless at about the same price. A very classy looking gun.
REV
dakota1911
Buckeye
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I would buy the Ruger SR1911. I have a couple. Down the road you will like owning it. If you have the money and see one then buy a new Colt Series 70. I got one a month or so ago in SS for $1019.
Colt is the original and iconic 1911...but the Ruger is a solid choice. If you want a shooter, the Ruger will suit you well. If you need service, Colt may take a couple of months or more, while Ruger will be much faster and better. Of course, Colt will likely hold its value or even increase some...not sure what the SR1911s will do, but I wouldn't expect them to appreciate in value a lot, if at all.
Personally, I don't like a 1911 with a FPS...or FCS...and if money IS an object, the Ruger will cost you about $200 less. But then, a Colt is a Colt.
Personally, I don't like a 1911 with a FPS...or FCS...and if money IS an object, the Ruger will cost you about $200 less. But then, a Colt is a Colt.
GKC said:
It's a rare Colt that needs service or QC work in my experience. I own dozens of Colts and only one has ever needed service ... A very old Python that was bought by me well used that needed a new pawl. Colt repaired it, retimed it, and it cost me $45 for the repair. As for Ruger ... It's probably a very good idea to consider the quickness of their service and repair performance these days, especially if you rely on, and need your gun on a daily basis.
Saying you don't like FPS's is fine ... But do you really have a justifiable reason for that stance ? I don't. I could care less what 'series' a Colt 1911 is ... It doesn't affect their functionality, and I can't tell the difference in triggers either way. I have examples of Colt 1911's in all different series. I don't buy a gun with a bad trigger, no matter the brand. Saying 'I don't like FPS's' is no different than me saying 'I don't like green'. It's your opinion, and that's fine. If I gave you a bunch of 1911's to shoot ... I guarantee you'd never be able to tell the difference. As a matter of fact .... I'd put money on it.
I read about all the feeding issues, mag issues, sight issues, rust issues, etc etc, that people have with other 1911's ... and I think ... Hell ..... I've never had ANY issues with my Colts ... Not too hard to connect the dots .... to say nothing about retained value.
If you can afford the Colt ... Buy it ... You'll never go wrong buying a Colt ... Especially a Gold Cup.
REV
montegomx70
Single-Sixer
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revhigh said:
+ 1 the little horsey rules.
brushunter
Single-Sixer
I have a Range officer and a newly aquired SR 1911 commander. I like them both , but the RO is of better quality ... as it shud be considering price. I have never owned a Colt 1911. I've handled a few ... both older and newer versions. From what I've seen Colt is NOT the Colt of yesterday. IMO ... my RO is of equal quality and will shoot with the newer Colts. AND for a lot less money. I stopped in a gun shop near Erie , Pa a few months back ... deals real heavy in Colts. I handled their new Single Action , New Frontier , I think ... For ( if my memory serves me right ) in the 1000 dollar range ... me thinks not. Sorry to offend the Colt gurus...but the quality just isn't there.
regards brushunter
regards brushunter
If given the choice, I'd go with COLT.
brushunter
Single-Sixer
Yep , Ok then , Pick the Ruger , Colts are overpriced.
brushunter
brushunter
brushunter
Single-Sixer
revhigh said:
Nahhh , Don't think so. Why would a rational person buy a Colt when for very close to the same money you could buy a Les Baer ??? Truely its a matter of opinion ...To me , Colts are way over priced. Period ...My Opinion Only !
regards , brushunter
Jayhawkhuntclub
Buckeye
Nothing wrong with a Colt. But they are not the best made 1911s. But they have the name, and that sells. That said, I don't think the SR1911s are perfect either. So to summarize: neither is the best; both are good; the Colt will hold it's value better in the long haul. Probably can't go wrong with either.
brushunter
Single-Sixer
6gun said:
6Gun ,You have a good point. I wasn't considering the price differences through out the states. My Commander was purchased in W. Pa for $650 out the door , that included a 50 round box of 185 PMC Hollow points , and a nylon belt holster. ( el cheapo, but a holster ) At the lgs in Erie , they had Colt government style ( sorry I don't know the Colt models )with a price tag of $1050, blued edition. Maybe they would deal ... that would be plus tax and fees also.
regards , brushunter
brushunter said:
First ...Range officers are great guns. One of my favorite 1911's.
Next ... so .... you've never owned a Colt .... never shot a Colt .... yet you state that your RO will 'shoot with the newer Colts ... an interesting assumption given the fact that all you've ever done with a Colt 1911 is touch one in a store for a minute or two.
I wish I had the ability to determine a gun's reliability, build quality, and accuracy through osmosis, as you evidently do ... would have saved me a lot of money over the years. I own more than a dozen 1911's ... mostly Colts ... with a few Springfields and others mixed in, so I actually have tens of thousands of rounds of real experience with Colts, but I guess that can't compete with osmosis, guesswork, rumor, and conjecture.
REV
brushunter
Single-Sixer
Believe you over looked one thing ...I stated : "IMO". Guess I based that opinion on how the RO shoots. It shoots well ...very well.
Sorry , I still think the Range Officer will shoot with or better than any production 1911 out there. Thats my opinion ...and I have a right to it ... as you do yours. Your not that far away , lets get together and share our opinions over coffee ?
regards , brushunter
Sorry , I still think the Range Officer will shoot with or better than any production 1911 out there. Thats my opinion ...and I have a right to it ... as you do yours. Your not that far away , lets get together and share our opinions over coffee ?
regards , brushunter
brushunter said:
Sounds good ! You can shoot any of my Colts, and see what you think. As I said I absolutely LOVE the Range Officers. I'm guessing you'll be very impressed with the Gold Cups.
Unfortunately, as I'm in eastern Pa, I think we're about 6 hours away.
REV
brushunter
Single-Sixer
Rev , I would love to shot a Gold Cup...They were the standard everything else was compared to. The older Colts had that rich blue color. Doesn't sound like our meeting is to realistic though. I'm along I-80 between Erie and Pittsburgh. Depending on how far east you are ...yes indeed , a good 6 hours. Maybe in another lifetime :lol:
regards , brushunter
regards , brushunter
montegomx70
Single-Sixer
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brushunter said:
colts are overpriced? compared to what? all the lower priced 1911"s are made of castings or are made in brazil, the phillipines, china or turkey.
19ontheslide
Bearcat
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revhigh said:
-- Really? I did.
dakota1911
Buckeye
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"I'm looking to add a full size 1911 to my arsenal. I have a Colt Commander and a Light weight commander. I've narrowed my choices to these 2. My question: Is the Colt XSE worth the extra money over the Ruger? The difference in price would buy a lot of ammo." 1911,
Curious when your Colt Commanders were made. All Colt Commanders had Aluminum alloy frames till 1970 when Colt came out with the Combat Commander with a steel frame. If it was me I would add the Ruger just to have a different 1911 in my collection, but that is me.
Curious when your Colt Commanders were made. All Colt Commanders had Aluminum alloy frames till 1970 when Colt came out with the Combat Commander with a steel frame. If it was me I would add the Ruger just to have a different 1911 in my collection, but that is me.
montegomx70
Single-Sixer
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- Feb 29, 2012
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- 384
colt,colt,colt......ruger nice,colt more nice.
bigboredad
Blackhawk
I've never seen a colt xse what does it have that the Ruger doesnt
Forged frame made in USA.
Adherence to Browning original specs.
Less MIM parts than most other 1911's.
Quality of fit and finish, especially finish.
Due to exact adherence to original design, generic parts are almost guaranteed to work.
Accuracy.
Reliability.
Retention of value.
Not functional, but pride of ownership and prestige.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/28/marines-pay-22m-to-go-back-to-their-old-guns-colt-45-caliber-pistols/
Adherence to Browning original specs.
Less MIM parts than most other 1911's.
Quality of fit and finish, especially finish.
Due to exact adherence to original design, generic parts are almost guaranteed to work.
Accuracy.
Reliability.
Retention of value.
Not functional, but pride of ownership and prestige.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/28/marines-pay-22m-to-go-back-to-their-old-guns-colt-45-caliber-pistols/
jrod
Bearcat
I totally agree with revhigh. I've never had an issue with any of my Colt 1911s.
They've all ran flawlessly out the box and were very accurate.
They've all ran flawlessly out the box and were very accurate.
bigboredad
Blackhawk
Just curios if this is common of recent colts or common with ss colts or just a Fridayafternoon gun. A friend just purchased a new ss colt commander last week and the trigger was horrendous. He also had a gold cup that he has oowned for seven years that is blued but the triggers are night and day different neither one has never been massaged by a gunsmith. The ss commander was as fabulous looking gun but I was surprised by the trigger for the money spent????
Triggers in 1911's vary as much as the shapes of clouds. You can get a RIA with a trigger better than a Gold Cup if all the parts fall together right. Or you can get one that feels like it has sand in it and takes two hands to pull.
The difference when you buy higher level guns is that the trigger is one place that's specifically paid attention to .... You don't get Gold Cups with bad triggers. When I buy a 1911, the trigger is generally more important to me than the gun itself. If they have more than one of the model I'm considering buying, I want to see them all. If they won't let me ... I walk.
That's why the old time 1911 guys think it's funny when a newbie with his first gun, the SR9, or LCWhatever goes on and on saying how great the trigger is. It's also why the SR1911 is an ENTRY LEVEL $600 GUN ... To compare it to guns that cost $800 (street price) and up is simply showing that you haven't followed the 1911 market for very long. It's a good gun, but it doesn't compare to guns like the SA Range Officer or the Loadeds in the $800 category. This is not to take anything away from the SR1911 .... It is what it is ... An entry level 1911.
The trigger can make or break a gun. Make it a shooter or a piece of garbage. I have a SA GI model (the lowest model shown below) that cost me $400 used that has the best trigger of any 1911 I've ever shot. Better than BOTH of my Gold Cups.
REV
The difference when you buy higher level guns is that the trigger is one place that's specifically paid attention to .... You don't get Gold Cups with bad triggers. When I buy a 1911, the trigger is generally more important to me than the gun itself. If they have more than one of the model I'm considering buying, I want to see them all. If they won't let me ... I walk.
That's why the old time 1911 guys think it's funny when a newbie with his first gun, the SR9, or LCWhatever goes on and on saying how great the trigger is. It's also why the SR1911 is an ENTRY LEVEL $600 GUN ... To compare it to guns that cost $800 (street price) and up is simply showing that you haven't followed the 1911 market for very long. It's a good gun, but it doesn't compare to guns like the SA Range Officer or the Loadeds in the $800 category. This is not to take anything away from the SR1911 .... It is what it is ... An entry level 1911.
The trigger can make or break a gun. Make it a shooter or a piece of garbage. I have a SA GI model (the lowest model shown below) that cost me $400 used that has the best trigger of any 1911 I've ever shot. Better than BOTH of my Gold Cups.
REV
