There are many reasons the 1911 has remained such a popular choice for gun enthusiasts for more than a century. From superior ergonomics to proven reliability, not to mention the iconic aesthetic, 1911s offer attractive features to almost every shooter. 

While some 1911s, like the Nighthawk Custom Agent 2, cost more than double the national average mortgage payment, plenty of quality 1911s float around $1,000 or less – in some cases, significantly less. 

The best part is, low price tags do not equate to low quality. 
 

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A 1911


Before we dive into our top affordable 1911s, you should consider a few features before pulling the trigger on one. The original 1911 was chambered in .45 ACP, and many 1911 fanatics will argue that is how it should stay. However, you can now find them chambered in every caliber from .22 LR to 10mm
 

Related: Two Guys One Gun, Episode 4 – What's the Best Caliber for a 1911?


Naturally, the different calibers will result in different magazine capacities. So, you’ll want to determine what you plan to use your 1911 for to help narrow your search. Will you be concealed carrying the gun? Are you going to want to throw some night sights on?  These are questions you should ask yourself. 

Long story short, make sure you know the intended purpose of your 1911 before buying one, as with any firearm. With that out of the way, it’s time for the fun part. Here are our top picks in affordable 1911s.
 

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY RONIN

With its forged frame and slide, the entire Ronin series is built on durability and strength. Driving the superior performance and accuracy is a 5-inch hammer-forged barrel and a Gen 2 Speed Trigger. 

Subtly engraved on the checkered wooden grips is the Springfield Cross Cannon logo. Up top, you’ll find a tactical rack rear sight with a fiber-optic front sight. All together, the Ronin offers an updated aesthetic without completely steering away from the classic 1911 vibe.
 

Related Review: Smooth Samurai – Springfield Armory Ronin Operator 1911


You can find it with a 4.25-inch barrel as well, and chambered in 9mm, .45 ACP, and 10mm. If you want an even more compact and ready-to-carry Ronin, check out the Ronin EMP. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP, 9mm, 10mm
  • Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds, 9 rounds, 8 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 5.5 inches
  • Overall Length: 8.6 inches
  • Weight: 40 ounces, 41 ounces, 40 ounces

 

TISAS 1911A1 TANKER

For those of you on a super tight budget, the Tisas Tanker is the one for you! It has everything needed, just without much extra. But hey, you can often find these for under $350 brand-new, so it’s hard to complain.

The Tanker features your classic Commander-sized configuration with a 4.25-inch barrel and is chambered in .45 ACP. Its frame, slide, and barrel are all hammer-forged, with the barrel also being chrome-plated. It’s truly built like a tank.
 

Related: Unboxing A Tisas 1911 A1 Tanker


You’ll also find a flared ejection port, beveled mag well, and Series 70 internals. It may not win any beauty pageants, but it’s reliable and functional. Honestly, I kind of like the subdued all-black aesthetic. That may just be me, though.
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP
  • Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 4.25 inches
  • Overall Length: 7.92 inches
  • Weight: 36.3 ounces
     

COLT 1911 GOVERNMENT

If you’re looking at 1911s, this one probably doesn’t need much of an introduction. From its looks to its features, the Colt Government delivers classic 1911 vibes all day. It’s one for those who truly appreciate a throwback. 

Of course, it features the Series 70 firing system and even has the pre-70 rollmarks. With a 5-inch National match barrel, a staked front sight, and beautiful double-diamond checkered rosewood grips, it offers a great balance of functionality and class.

If you like simple and authentic firearms, I’d highly consider one of these as your next 1911.
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP
  • Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 5 inches
  • Overall Length: 8.5 inches
  • Weight: 35.2 ounces
     

CITADEL M-1911 GOVERNMENT

Released in 2009, it didn’t take long for the Citadel 1911 to become popular. It offers many sought-after features without breaking the bank. 

It features a skeletonized hammer and trigger, a beveled mag well, and an extended beavertail, all of which are nice touches. Additionally, it comes standard with Novak-style sights and an ambidextrous thumb safety.

Citadel refers to this 1911 as having a “tactical design,” which means it has deeper front slide serrations, but those are a welcomed addition in my book. The backstrap texturing is also rather aggressive, making it easy to grasp when mag-dumping at the range.

It’s hard to beat for the price and even comes with an additional magazine.
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP
  • Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 5 inches
  • Overall Length: 8.87 inches
  • Weight: 36.8 ounces
     

TAURUS 1911 COMMANDER

Taurus is known for making affordable but reliable firearms, so having this 1911 on our list shouldn’t come as a surprise. 

The Taurus 1911 Commander is one of those types that’s rough around the edges but handles itself like a pro, at least in my experience. The finish isn’t the best; there aren’t many stand-out features, but it’s a workhorse. And it’s accurate while putting in the work. 
 

Related Review: Taurus Full-Size 1911 – Best 1911 Bang for Your Buck?


It has a nice heft to it and feels great in hand, with the extended beavertail adding to the comfort. Mounted on top of the slide are Novak-style sights as to be expected, and in the front of the slide is a nice set of serrations. 

You may not grab people’s attention at the range with this pistol, but performance matters most. This would make a solid home defense or truck gun. 
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP, 9mm
  • Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds, 9 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 4.2 inches, 4.25 inches
  • Overall Length: 8 inches, 7.9 inches
  • Weight: 38 ounces
     

RUGER SR1911

From my experience in talking with other shooters, the Ruger SR1911 is either loved or hated and does not often land in between. However, many of you have commented on some of our other articles about how great these Ruger 1911s are! 

It weighs only 31.1 ounces, thanks to its lightweight aluminum frame, skeletonized trigger, and skeletonized hammer. Each little aspect of the gun where you can reduce weight adds up – unless you want to go with the 10mm version, where you’ll trade weight for stopping power.

The fit and finish are said to be top-notch for a 1911 in this price range, since it’s precision CNC-machined. It’s topped off with Novak-style sights, an oversized beavertail, and an extended thumb safety and slide stop lever. 

It’s impressive to get all these features at such a light weight, for a solid price.
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP, 10mm
  • Magazine Capacity: 8 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 5 inches
  • Overall Length: 8.67 inches
  • Weight: 31.1 ounces, 40.4 ounces
     

KIMBER 1911 STAINLESS PRO CARRY II

This is a gun you’ll want to keep at your side and show off. Since it’s sized to do just that (stay on your side for self-defense), the Kimber 1911 Stainless Pro Carry II features a 4-inch match-grade barrel that helps to keep the overall length under that 8-inch mark. 

It features beautiful rosewood grips, a fiber-optic front sight, and a smooth and consistent three-hole match-grade trigger. It’s reliable, accurate, and can be ordered in 9mm if you want a couple of extra rounds just in case. 

It may be on the pricier side of our affordable 1911 list, but many would say it’s worth even more.  
 

Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP, 9mm
  • Magazine Capacity: 7 rounds, 9 rounds
  • Barrel Length: 4 inches
  • Overall Length: 7.7 inches
  • Weight: 28 ounces
     

Rock Island Armory GI Standard FS

Last but certainly not least, we'd be remiss not to include an offering from budget 1911 master Rock Island Armory. The full-sized RIA GI Standard has that traditional M1911 aesthetic with classic Series 70 internals to match. Rock Island offers the GI Standard in several options including caliber choices of .45 ACP, 9mm, and .38 Super, and eight or 10-round capacities for compliance wth restrictive states.
 

Related: Found on Guns.com - Rock Island Armory M1911


This 1911's slim design, low-profile GI sights, and smooth wood grips make for a quick draw, and a Parkerized finish gives it a durable non-reflective surface. Rock Island advertises the factory trigger pull at a crisp 4 to 6 pounds right out of the box. 


Specifications:

  • Caliber: .45 ACP, 9mm, .38 Super
  • Magazine Capacity: 8 or 10 rounds, depending on model
  • Barrel Length: 5 inches
  • Overall Length: 8.54 inches
  • Weight: 39.5 ounces

 

WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?


Any of the options on the list deliver substantial bang for your buck. We tried to have an option for everybody by including various calibers, capacities, and barrel lengths. 

If I had to pick one from this list, it would probably be the Springfield Armory Ronin, with its updated yet classic aesthetic and upgraded sights and grips. At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with any of these. If you train with and maintain your 1911, it should take care of you just fine. 

If you had $1,000 and not a cent more to spend on a 1911, which would you pick? Let us know in the comments! 

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