I don't know what you have access to in Cal. but the new production Mil-Specs are very well built with decent accuracy out of the box.

 

The Mil-Spec is an excellent pistol, especially at that price point. If you have just a little more budget, the Loaded Series is a great option - a few models are still on the CA roster through 12/31. The Loaded models have a few more features. The do include the front cocking serrations on the slide, which can turn some people off to the styling. I'm not too familiar with shooting ranges in that area.

 

As stated by others, you can't go wrong with a new Milspec, great guns. My kitchen gun is a stainless Milspec, my bedroom gun is a Glock 19.

 

Mil Specs rock, I really love mine. My first Springer was a Target Loaded and it is also fantastic. The new Loaded's have some different features than the old line and there is a parked model with night sights if you want to go that way.

They are all very good values at their price point and none would be a bad choice. But if you want to be close to the old GI model the Mil Spec is the way to go with the most noticeable difference being sights that are actually usable!

 

Tim,
Here's a link to the CA roster for approved handguns. http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/

I recently bought a "Loaded Target" model which I've found to be incredibly accurate and reliable. It has adjustable sights which I find to be a basic requirement for a range gun. It also has a beavertail grip safety to prevent pinching the web of your hand, lowered ejection port to improve reliability. It was tightly fit from the factory.

Regardless of which model you choose, if it's primarily for range shooting, consider having a professional 1911 gunsmith do a decent trigger job on it. You find it infinitely more enjoyable to shoot.

I have an Excel spreadsheet of all the current California approved Springfield approved 1911s that I can send you via email, if you like. I'll post the list here to see if it works on the site.

Model Gun Type Barrel Length Caliber Exp Date
1911 EMP Compact PI9209L / Alloy, Steel Pistol 3.1" 9mm 1/1/2017
PI9134L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" 9mm 1/1/2017 9mm LOADED model, SS polished sides matte top, Bomar sights, Beavertail, match barrel, long trigger front slide serrations, full length guide rod
PI9134L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" 9mm 1/1/2017 9mm LOADED model, SS polished sides matte top, Bomar sights, Beavertail, match barrel, long trigger front slide serrations, full length guide rod
PX9130L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" 9mm 1/1/2017 9mm SS, Fixed Novak sights, front and rear slide serrations, beavertail, long trigger, ambi safety, polished flats, matte top. No grip checkering
PX9130L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" 9mm 1/1/2017 9mm SS, Fixed Novak sights, front and rear slide serrations, beavertail, long trigger, polished flats, matte top. No grip checkering
PB9113L (ambi safety) / Steel Pistol 5" .38 Super 1/1/2017 Super MIL SPEC Parkerized $576
PB9113L / Steel Pistol 5" .38 Super 1/1/2017 Super MIL SPEC Parkerized
PX9801L (ambi safety) / Alloy, Stainless Steel Pistol 3" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 3" barrel, SS slide/Black Aluminum frame, 6+1 rounds, Novak fixed tritium. Beavertail, 24 oz $1060 msrp
PX9801L / Alloy, Stainless Steel Pistol 3" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 3" barrel, SS slide/Black Aluminum frame, 6+1 rounds, Novak fixed tritium. Beavertail, 24 oz
PX9161L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 3.5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 SS, 3.5" barrel 6+1 rounds, beavertail novak tritium sights, 32 oz ss frame, ambi safety $725
PX9161L / Stainless Steel Pistol 3.5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 ULTRA COMPACT SS, 3.5" barrel 6+1 rounds, beavertail novak tritium sights, 32 oz ss frame $725
PX9301L (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 3.5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 ULTRA COMPACT Parkerized, 3.5" barrel 6+1 rounds, beavertail novak tritium sights, 32 oz ss frame $680
PX9301L / Carbon Steel Pistol 3.5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 ULTRA COMPACT Parkerized, 3.5" barrel 6+1 rounds, beavertail novak tritium sights, 32 oz ss frame $680
PX9142L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 4" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 4" CHAMPION CUSTOM LOADED SS, Ramped barrel, beavertail $712
PX9142L / Stainless Steel Pistol 4" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 4" CHAMPION CUSTOM LOADED SS, Ramped barrel, beavertail
PX9511L (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 4" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 4" CHAMPION CUSTOM LOADED SS, Ramped barrel, beavertail
PX9511L / Carbon Steel Pistol 4" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 4" CHAMPION CUSTOM LOADED SS, Ramped barrel, beavertail
PW9142L / Carbon Steel Pistol 4.0" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 GI CHAMPION (commander size) GI sights & grip safety
PX9149L / Alloy, Carbon Steel Pistol 4.0" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED CHAMPION (commander size) OD green frame/black slide, long trigger, beavertail, Aluminum frame, Novak fixed tritium sights, 4" bull barrel, ambi safety
PB9108 / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 MIL SPEC $510
PB9108L (Integrated Locking System)) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 MIL SPEC $510
PB9151L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 Stainless GI Model w/wood grips, angled rear slide serrations, GI sights & grip safety, short trigger
PC9102 / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 CUSTOM SHOP fixed sight, beavertail, checkered front strap, long trigger, wood grips, some have mag well
PC9105LCA (ambi safety) / Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TRP model full length rail, Bull Barrel, adjustable Bomar type Tritium, mag well, beavertail, long trigger $1,305
PC9105LCA / Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TRP model full length rail, Bull Barrel, adjustable Bomar type Tritium, mag well, beavertail, long trigger $1,305
PC9106L / Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 CUSTOM SHOP Rob Leatham Legend Series,
PC9107L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TRP model, fixed Novak Tritium, mag well, beavertail, long trigger match barrel
PC9107L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TRP model, fixed Novak Tritium, mag well, beavertail, long trigger match barrel
PC9108L (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TRP model, fixed Novak Tritium, mag well, beavertail, long trigger match barrel $1,322
PC9108L (wood grips) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TRP model, fixed Novak Tritium, mag well, beavertail, long trigger match barrel $1,322
PC9111 (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 FBI Professional
PC9111 / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 FBI Professional
PC9111LR / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 FBI Professional w/Light Rail
PC9206 / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 Rob Leatham TGO-1 $3500 - up
PI9132L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 CUSTOM LOADED SS TARGET, ramped barrel, adjustable rear sight, full length guide rod. $716
PI9132L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 CUSTOM LOADED SS TARGET, ramped barrel, adjustable rear sight, full length guide rod. $716
PI9140L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TROPHY MATCH, SS matte with polished sides, checkered strap, mag well, long trigger, beavertail, Bomar sight
PI9140L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TROPHY MATCH, SS matte with polished sides, checkered strap, mag well, long trigger, beavertail, Bomar sight
PW9108L / Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 GI MIL SPEC GI sights & grip safety WW2 version
PW9151L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 Stainless GI MIL SPEC GI sights & grip safety WW2 version
PW9609L / Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 OLIVE DRAB GI MIL SPEC GI sights & grip safety WW2 version
PX9104L / Alloy, Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 BLACK Aluminum Frame/SS slide, front and rear slide serrations, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger, ambi safety
PX9109L (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED model Parkerized, front and rear slide serrations, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger, ambi safety
PX9109L / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED model Parkerized, front and rear slide serrations, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger, $875
PX9151L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED model, fixed Novak 3 white dot sights, Beavertail, ramped match barrel, long trigger front slide serrations, full length guide rod $800
PX9151L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED model, fixed Novak 3 white dot sights, Beavertail, ramped match barrel, long trigger front slide serrations, full length guide rod $800
PX9152L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 TARGET CUSTOM LOADED model, Black w/polished SS sides of slide and frame, Bomar Tritium adjustable sights, Beavertail, ramped match barrel, long trigger front slide serrations, full length guide rod, mag well
PX9154L / Stainless Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 BLACK SS frame/slide, front and rear slide serrations, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger,
PX9608L (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED model BLACK frame/slide, front and rear slide serrations, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger, mag well
PX9608L / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED model BLACK frame/slide, front and rear slide serrations, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger, mag well
PX9105ML / Carbon Steel Pistol 5.0" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LOADED MC Operator model, Light Rail, Pachmayr grips, Novak fixed tritium sights, beavertail, long trigger, ambi safety
PX9628L (ambi safety) / Stainless Steel Pistol 6" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LONG SLIDE LOADED, Bomar adj sight, beavertail, long trigger, ambi safety
PX9628L / Stainless Steel Pistol 6" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 LONG SLIDE LOADED, Bomar adj sight, beavertail, long trigger

 

PC9111 (ambi safety) / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 FBI Professional
PC9111 / Carbon Steel Pistol 5" .45 ACP 1/1/2017 FBI Professional

 

I feel for you in CA land. I bought a nice RO 5 inch in 9mm last year and it had a big sticker on the end of the box "Not for Sale in California". One thought is a used one in nice condition.

 

The libs are gonna go too far some day and then we'll reverse all of this nonsense. :grumble:

 

Maybe we should have federal law that limits people to vote only in the state they're born in? That'd change things a bit.

 

Tim,
have you made any decision on the model?

 

Tim,
I'm guessing you want a U.S. made 1911. Otherwise, I've heard a lot of good about the Dan Wesson (CZ manufactured overseas) 1911s.

That being said. I don't think you can do better than a used Colt Gold Cup Series 70 in good shape. They are running $1000-1500 in the used market. They have a great trigger out of the box and feed about anything you throw in them and they'll hammer bullets into one hole. In my opinion they are a bargain. But they aren't on the CA Roster and you'll have to find one for sale inside CA already.

Consider that if you buy a Mil-Spec Springfield you'll likely want to spend money on the trigger to get it to have a nice trigger that is a pleasure to shoot. You'll likely desire adjustable sights. All those things are already on higher end models and they're less expensive than paying for these things to be added/modified on a Mil-Spec.

 

Tim I have three 1911s one 1991a1 that's got 6lbs trigger that I am working on and a 70s government and a 80s commander with 4lbs triggers. are you looking a 70 or 80 series.

 

New to this what do you mean 70 or 80 series

Tim

 

There is an interesting way for me to get a 1911. My daughter asked what I wanted for Christmas. I said a new 45. She lives in Oregon about 100 miles away. If she gives it to me for Christmas or Festivus, I can do an Intra-Familial Firearm Transaction. I am pretty sure that it does not have to be on CA list. Only rule is no high capacity mag.

Leaning towards a Mil Spec. It is Cal Legal anyway

Tim

 

Dare I admit this here, I own a Colt Gov. Model in 38super series 80. IT's a rattle trap but the trigger is not bad at all,but all the extra bits make for a pita detail strip. It does have a nice blued finish. The series 80 is a deal killer for me now my Mil-Specs are better fitted and a better value in a 45cal. The two I bought in Oct. were both under $550