The 1911 handgun has continued in service in competition and field use long after other mechanical designs have been out of service or relegated to the museum. A low bore axis, straight-to-the-rear trigger compression, a grip that fits most hands well, and a design that lends itself well to customization has the potential to suit every shooter. Among high-performing 1911 handguns, the primary difference in the pistols isn’t the number of features, although self-luminous sights and extended controls have a bearing on price. Rather, the reason some pistols are so expensive is the quality of machine work and manufacture. Areas of major attention are trigger compression, barrel fit, and frame-to-slide fit, and on the most expensive pistols of the types, the priciest are usually put together as well as human hands can make them, and the cosmetics are almost always top notch. Such guns will almost always be able to outshoot their owners, and their operation is flawlessly reliable.
At Gun Tests, we have tested dozens, if not hundreds, of 1911-style pistols over the years, everything from 5-inch-barrel steel-frame 1911 handguns to 3.0-inch-barrel aluminum-frame Officer’s models, and Commanders in between. And we’ve compared prices of the pistols from below $500 up to around $4000, so the choices are wide and varied. In this list, we’ve attempted to rank a variety of sizes and prices, so you shouldn’t think that the 10th-rated SDS Imports Tisas is as good a pistol as the top-ranked Wilson Combat CQB. It isn’t. But with the notations included, we make the case that those included on the Top 10 list are the best guns in the price and size categories as we describe them. Of course, Gun Tests readers often chide us for not making the gun ratings based solely on performance, without respect to price, so we give them what they want here. The reader will find the highest-ranked guns in the list below also being the most expensive, because they’re the best we’ve tested, irrespective of price.
In the listicle below, the entries include the dates of the original review. If they’re high on this list, they’re worth looking for as used products, or if you’re lucky, overlooked NIB items stuffed into a dusty shelf somewhere. Of course, we haven’t tested every handgun on the market, so we’ll be interested to see which one is your favorite in the comments below. As always, prices reflect what we paid for the gun at the time of the test. Expect the prices of new or used guns to be different. — Todd Woodard
10 SDS Imports Tisas 1911 A1 US Army 45 WG 10100523 45 ACP, $367 (July 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This is Our Pick for the best pistol below $500. The SDS is mostly a clone of the original M1911A1, had great accuracy, and ran well. The SDS offers a lot of value and performance in a gun that looks like a brand-new M1911A1. If you are looking for a near-period-correct M1911A1 that you won’t be afraid to shoot, this is your choice.
9 Rock Island Armory 1911 A1 Tact Standard FS 51484 45 ACP, $580 (November 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This is Our Pick for the $500 to $750 price range, and it was the Best Buy among three MEUSOC-style 1911s tested in this issue. The Tact Standard might be where the MEUSOC 1911 evolved to if it were still being produced. The full dust cover offers a smidge extra weight that helps control the pistol. Accuracy was very good. The one-piece guide rod ensures the pistol cycles smoothly. Comparing features and performance with price, this 1911 is a bargain.
8 Springfield Armory Loaded Operator PX9105LL18 45 ACP, $1409 (October 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Springfield Armory Loaded Operator is a service-grade holster gun and a very good one. The ability to easily field-strip and maintain the pistol without tools is an advantage. The Loaded Operator has hand-filling grips and a magazine well. The forward cocking serrations are more useful than the Emissary’s. The Emissary’s forward serrations will not snag a tightly fitted holster, and the front strap of the Emissary offers greater adhesion without undue abrasion than the Loaded Operator. If price is no object, then the Loaded Operator is Our Pick.
7 SIG Sauer Ultra Compact W1911U-45-BSS 45 ACP, $949 (May 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
This is Our Pick for the smallest of the 1911 actions, and it was also under $1000 at the time of the test. The Ultra Compact features a flared and extended ejection port, an extended ejector, and a lightweight alloy trigger that is part of a very nice trigger pull. Overall Length is 6.9 in., overall height 5.2 in., maximum width 1.39 in., and a barrel length of 3.0 in.
6 Desert Eagle 1911C 45 ACP, $695 (August 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Desert Eagle Commander showed good to excellent fitting, a good trigger action, offered good sights, and delivered good performance. It shares positive attributes with the more-expensive Kimber Pro Carry, so on a value basis, it stands a head above the Kimber.
5 Guncrafter Commander 45 ACP, $3285 (July 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The fitting of this Commander-sized gun is excellent, the sights are ideal for combat, and the trigger is superb. One of our raters is not only a gunsmith, he has taught at the university level. He felt that the Guncrafter was “out of his weight class” because of its build quality. The fit is tight, very tight. He called the assembly a “grease fit,” which the other knowledgeable raters had not heard before. This refers to the fit of the slide to the frame. When the slide is racked, there are no hitches, and you really do not feel the locking lugs locking or unlocking in any significant way.
4 Nighthawk Custom Falcon 45 ACP, $3699 (July 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Nighthawk Falcon was the most accurate in combat terms in firing off hand. The Guncrafter Industries 45 and the Springfield Loaded Operator were very close in this contest, but the Nighthawk pulled away from them to a larger degree as the target got smaller and the range was further. In the Nighthawk, we found an exceptional handgun, without compromise, and without fault. The Nighthawk is worth the money, even better if you find one at a lower price.
3 Dan Wesson Specialist 01802 45 ACP, $1732 (January 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Specialist is the only tested gun this month with a rail, and it’s the heaviest as well. This gave it the lightest felt recoil among the steel-frame pistols. The pistol is accurate, well finished, reliable, and has good features. We didn’t miss forward cocking serrations.
2 Les Baer 1911 Hemi 572 45 ACP, $2853 (January 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
We have previously tested the Les Baer Concept VI pistol. We found an even tighter and more accurate pistol in the 572 Hemi. We like the fit and finish — even the doubters came to like the pistol. It is an expensive, first-rate handgun.
1 Wilson Combat CQB 45 ACP, $2865 (January 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The CQB was Our Pick among four high-end 1911s tested in the January 2023 issue, and any one of them could fit in this spot, or the spots immediately above. But we’ve made a decision to choose other pistols at different price points for this list. The Wilson is an impressive pistol on all counts. It isn’t quite as accurate as the Les Baer, but it is more accurate than the Springfield and Dan Wesson handguns. For a carry and combat handgun, this is the pistol.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Military Armament Corporation 1911 JSOC 45 45 AUTO, $685 (November 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The MAC is a retro-style gun reminiscent of the MEUSOC-style pistol. It performed well, was accurate, and was fast to reload. We would not hesitate to use this as an EDC gun.
Springfield Armory Defend Your Legacy Series 1911 Mil-Spec PBD9108L 45 ACP, $623 (July 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Has a lot of Mil-Spec features that make it look like an original, but modern refinements like the sights make it easier to shoot.
Springfield Armory Emissary PX922OL 45 ACP, $1279 (October 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
We feel the Springfield Armory Emissary is a premier concealed-carry and personal-defense pistol. This is a pricey pistol, but a very good one. The handle is nicely designed for maximum adhesion and abrasion. The sights are among the best personal-defense sights we have tested, bar none. The trigger action is the best of the test. The Emissary is a modern 1911 with unique features.
Metro Arms Mac Bobcut 1911 Deep Blue 45 ACP, $902 (July 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Bobcut came with a bumper-pad magazine that pretty much negated the Bobcut advantage. The Commander-size Bobcut gave up little to the Government Model pistols in performance. While the Bobcut is pricey, it has excellent features.
Springfield Loaded Operator PX9105LL 45 ACP, $1162 (July 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
The Operator designation identifies a pistol as a handgun with a light rail. There are several Operators, some more expensive. This Springfield Operator provided a reliable platform with excellent practical accuracy. If you need a personal-defense handgun rather than a show piece, this is the trick. It will take years of training and practice to get all the performance it offers. It was the Best Buy among the pistols tested that issue, having a substantial price advantage and an only minor performance disadvantage.
Kimber Pro Carry SLE 45 ACP, $750 (August 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A
Good reliability, excellent sights, the best trigger of the test, and more-than-acceptable accuracy.
Colt Night Commander O4840NC 45 ACP, $1105 (Aug-Sept 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Night Commander had decent accuracy, even with the mushy 7-pound trigger, and it ran with no mishaps.
Springfield Armory 1911 TRP 4.25″ CC PC9124LRCB-CC 45 ACP, $1694 (Aug-Sept 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Commander-size TRP CC ran well and had good accuracy. The toothy gripstrap checkering and G10 grip texture ensure you keep your grip under recoil. Features like the accessory rail and forward slide serrations are a bonus.
Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded Marine Corps Operator PX9105MLCA18 45 ACP, $1380 (November 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Marine checked a lot of the MEUSOC boxes. It was accurate with a good trigger and decent sights. Not sure why Springfield ships the Marine with G.I.-style magazines when MEUSOC guns were shipped with Wilson Combat magazines.
Ruger SR1911 06700 45 ACP, $929 (April 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The SR1911 does not have some of the bells and whistles present on the Savage, and some shooters may prefer that. What this pistol did was shoot accurately and function well at a very respectable price.
Colt Government Model O1911C-SS 45 ACP, $1008 (January 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Colt did not have the features of the other handguns; however, the Colt is the best fitted and finished pistol in the test. It’s Our Pick for the $1000 to $1250 price range.
Tisas 1911 Duty Stainless Steel Pistol 1911DSS45 45 ACP, $582 (January 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Tisas ran reliably, as an out-of-the-box pistol should. Combat accuracy was good. The pistol features good sights, an ambi safety, and acceptable combat accuracy.
Springfield Ronin Operator PX9120L 45 ACP, $740 (July 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Springfield Ronin Operator exhibited excellent practical accuracy. The sights, trigger action, and controls were well fitted. The thin, but well-checkered grips and simple outline, along with the traditional recoil system, make this a nice handgun for daily carry at a fair price.
Kimber Custom LW 37000597 45 ACP, $709 (July 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Kimber is a dull black pistol compared to the Ronin, but it offers good fit and finish. We feel that accuracy would have been better with a lighter trigger, but the trigger drew no complaints for threat management. The lightweight frame didn’t materially affect handling.
S&W SW1911 Pro Series 178020 45 ACP, $1249 (May 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
We liked the recoil impulse and movement of the S&W the best. Function was 100% with all ammo.
Dan Wesson 1911 Heritage RZ-45 01981 45 ACP, $1227 (July 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
The Dan Wesson Heritage offers good fit and finish and accuracy. Had break-in malfunctions.
Devil Dog Arms 4.25 Standard DDA-425-BO45 45 ACP, $1150 (July 2020)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
Of the five reviewed in July 2020, this gun makes the most sense for real-world concealed carry.
Taylor’s & Company Compact 1911 51469 45 ACP, $450 (June 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
Had good sights and a good trigger. We would have liked a textured front-grip strap.
American Tactical Firepower Xtreme GI 1911 45 ACP, $398 (June 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: A-
This a traditional GI-style Commander with a nice trigger and good sights.
Smith & Wesson SW1911SC E-Series Round Butt Scandium Frame 108483 45 ACP, $1389 (Aug-Sept 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
The E-Series had the best trigger — crisp and light — and the best accuracy. The full guide rod allowed the pistol to cycle smoothly. Some mags did not fall free, and the slide stop was hard to operate during reloads.
Tisas 1911 Stingray Carry B45BA 10100103 45 ACP, $494 (Aug-Sept 2025)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
The Stingray offers good looks, performance, and okay accuracy. After a few initial FTF jams, the Tisas ran perfectly.
Savage 1911 Govt’ Style Black Nitride 67200 45 ACP, $1328 (April 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
The Savage may be the same platform and the same chambering as the Ruger, but it has a few
more bells and whistles. Depending on the shooter, it may well be worth the extra $400.
Rock Island Armory GI Standard FS 51421 45 ACP, $438 (July 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
An amalgamation of design features from original and modern guns. It is inexpensive and performs
well. Accuracy averaged about 2.5 inches, despite the trigger pull being stiff at 6.8 pounds.
Taylor’s & Co. Full Size A1 1911 PC2-230006 45 ACP, $499 (July 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
The Taylor’s A1 1911 is actually more like an M1911 than an M1911A1. The trigger was heavy, but we still squeezed out some impressive groups.
Springfield Armory Garrison PX9420 45 ACP, $800 (October 2022)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
Reliable and well suited to personal defense. Good sights, a good trigger, and feeds with reliability. We didn’t like the slim grips, but they are easily changed to something you prefer. The Garrison uses a standard barrel bushing and recoil-spring lockup. This is a lot of gun for the dollar.
Taurus 1911 Officer 1-191101OFC 45 ACP, $459 (June 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
Had all the right features, but it did not shoot to point of aim. Would need a new rear sight.
Colt Defender Lightweight Stainless O7000XE, $999 (May 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B+
We want our frames to last for years, so we are not great fans of aluminum feed ramps as on the Colt.
Tisas 1911 Raider B45RDG 45 ACP, $630 (December 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The Tisas Raider is meant to mimic the legendary Colt MK45, which it does superficially. The pistol
is well finished for a gun in the price range, and it performed reliably. We did not like its sight regulation, but this could be addressed by the owner. For most, it’s worth the money, but it could stand improvement.
Springfield Armory 1911 TRP PC9107L18 45 ACP, $1648 (January 2023)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The Springfield TRP is reliable, well suited to tactical use, and more than capable of serving in a harsh environment. It was compared to some of the best of the 1911 world and only in this way was it bested in some regards. The trigger action was heavy and this accurate handgun was the least accurate tested.
Tisas 1911 Duty B45 45 ACP, $449 (July 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
The Tisas Duty has features we like, including an ambidextrous safety, well-designed beavertail grip safety, and forward cocking serrations. The trigger is heavier than we like and accuracy suffered as a result, but that can be fixed.
Ruger SR1911 Officer Stainless 06762, $979 (May 2021)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B
All-steel construction and slightly longer slide-barrel combo resulted in the softest recoil impulse.
OTHER TESTED GUNS
Taurus 1911 Commander 1-191101COM 45 ACP, $500 (August 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: B-
We did not like the fit of the beavertail safety. Less accurate than the previous 2018 test gun.
Global Defense Thunderbolt GDTBBL455 45 ACP, $740 (December 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
The Thunderbolt is an interesting 1911 with many desirable features. One of our raters, an
experienced gunsmith, noted that the magazine funnel is fitted to high standards, practically flawless. The machine-cut checkering on the front strap is very good. We were not happy with malfunctions with some ammunition.
Iver Johnson Polished Hawk Commander 45 ACP, $570 (August 2019)
GUN TESTS GRADE: C
Poor attention to detail in feed-ramp finish, trigger-pull weight, and selection of the proper slide lock.
EAA-Girsan MC1911S XLV 393060 45 ACP, $570 (January 2024)
GUN TESTS GRADE: D
We were disappointed with the Girsan 1911, especially after excellent results with their Hi-Power clones. The pistol simply would not function.
