Name Your Best Out of The Box 1911

["DoubleAction"]

For for money that I spent, Colt's Gold Cup Trophy / Model 05070X the best bang for my money.

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[TMan]

(I hope by "Best" you don't mean best value. That would be a really hard question to answer.)

My answer is: the S&W 1911 DK

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Why would I say that? Simple reason. Prior to shooting this pistol, Sharon only wanted to be in our will for one thing: an ivory carved painting we got in India years ago. After shooting the DK she looked at me and said: "Dad, in addition to the painting... I really want this gun!!!". Sorry Bill Wilson, sorry Les Baer, sorry STI. Wait, she has never shot the STI TargetMaster. Hmmm, her brother probably wouldn't want her shooting it or there might be 3 things that she wants.

["DoubleAction"]

...Well; I could have said the Wilson's, but, I had to be reasonable.

....For the money, The Trophy is one good bargain in a Target Grade 1911.

A few years ago Colt re-introduced the Gold Cup Trophy in the Series 80. The Trophy continues to offer the wide triggers, as found on the National Match, with the absence of the internal Sear Depressor. With a Dove Tail mounted front sight, Lowered and Flared ejection port, Gold Cup half cocked hammer notch, National Match barrel ( With narrowed hood), polished feed ramp, throated barrel chamber, checkered steel mainspring housing, beveled magazine well, shorter grip tangs, oval style hammer , 3 1/2 lb. factory trigger, and a BoMar rear sight; The price of this pistol is a bargain.
The very first thing I did to mine was install a drop in Wilson Combat Grip Safety. With the shorter grip tangs on the frame, in my opinion, the Wilson is much better than the factory safety. The Gold Cups have long been criticized for their rear Elliiason sight and long sight cut on the slide; Installing a Bomar on these required welding in the old cut and re milling a new cut for the BoMar. The Model 05070X solves that old problem.
This pistol is from Colt's Custom Shop, it is accurized, with a round top slide, and polished flats. I paid $859. for mine at my local dealership. I did not compare prices, nor was I looking around for deals on other 1911s; I saw this pistol, handled it, and bought it with no regrets. This is a well fitted pistol, very solid, and a real pleasure to shoot.

[NeilCasper]

Name my best out of the box 1911.

I've owned a whole bunch over the last 45 years. AMT, Colt, Kimber, Springfield, and Star. I think that's all of the different manufacturers. In 9mm, .45 acp and one Ciener .22 conversion. A couple of Gold Cups, 3" Kimber Ultra CDP II, and a whole bunch of just plain old 1911 A1 pistols.

The very best out of the box ones for me, have been Kimbers. I carry the Ultra CDP II every day and my wife has taken over the 5" Stainless Custom. Both are .45 acp.

[MLB]

It's been a while Neil. Good to hear from you again.