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In that price range, my choice would be a Dan Wesson. To answer your question, I'm not using a $1500-2500 1911 in WB. I do shoot a Nighthawk in USPSA. Before last year, I was shooting a $600 STI Spartan for USPSA for a long time. My WB gun is a Kimber that is 25 years old.

Hoss Shoer, I have been out of WB for a few years but when I shot more often than not I used a Springfield Armory GI. Not the current Mil-Spec model, but the older GI model. It worked great and I think I paid $400ish for it probably 2015 or so, maybe earlier. I sold it. Wish I hadn't. I have only one 1911 currently and it is the Colt WW1 1918 reproduction. Super nice gun and it wasn't cheap. It indeed falls into your price range. I have used it in several matches and it has been 100%. I'd prefer to not use it in competition however. Do you need an expensive 1911 for this game? No, but it should be reliable and sometimes, sometimes it might be expensive to get to the reliability we want. I am currently looking for another 1911 and will most likely spend over $1000. Why? Because that is just the price range anymore, if you don't count Tisas, etc... which may very well be an excellent choice but I have never personally seen one. Do we have a want for an expensive 1911? Well maybe so! If you want it, buy it. It won't instantly make you a better shooter of course, but it will be satisfying.

Other than personal preference, there isn't a need to run an expensive 1911. I agree with Joe and Jorge, tuning the pistol, quality ammo and reliable mags are the important parts.

The new production from Colt will be rougher and less tuned than the ones made in the hay-days of Colt Series 70s (1972 to 1985 or so). You certainly would NOT want them to still be making their collet barrel bushing. It was destined to break a leg off and jam the gun - mine did during a match! It's well worth a trip to a good pistol smith to have the gun tuned, trigger set to the pull weight you like (3.5 pounds is my preference), and mag well enhanced for the WB allowed funneling. If you have ever had a 1911 bite you on the web of the shooting hand, I would have the smith add more clearance between the top of grip safety and the tip of the hammer. I would also have the smith replace any MIM (molded and sintered) internal fire control parts with forged-billet-steel. They are easier for him to get a smooth surface on anyway, so if you use a good smith, he should automatically swap those parts out. But then, I'm going by my experience. I put in billet sear and hammer and thumb safety and 100,000 rounds later have not had a bit of problem. Sights on production now are pretty good. About as high as any replacement sight set. If you were expecting to change out the sights, though, now would be the time to do that, too. A new front sight ought to be dovetailed into the slide so it will be driftable and easy to exchange. And much more rugged in use. good luck, GJ

Having not been paying attention to 1911s for a few years I've noticed sometime recently that Colt has brought back out their "series 70" guns. The 1911 Classic Government with typical fixed sights. Yeah, I know there is no collet bushing on these but the action is no longer a series 80... anyway. Blued or stainless, I have seen each and they are fairly tight and solidly built guns. Has anyone had any experience with these and might have a suggestion for a tweak or two IF EVEN NEEDED to have these running well enough for competition? Reliability is my main concern. I shoot Traditional, generally with 230 grain ammo although I've had a few suggest 200 grain and am looking at trying that. Thanks!

And, I forgot to mention that GOOD magazines are a necessity! Spend extra on them.

Agree with GJ. I have used STI, Colt, Ruger, and Rock Island 1911's with success, and I see many others using 1911's costing less than $1200. It is your money, and it is nice to have a nice 1911, but you might be overspending for Wild Bunch. Just as important may be producing good quality ammunition that always functions in the 1911.

What's your most important requirements that a new gun would have to meet? In other words, what fails to give you full confidence with that Springer you have? My experience is that if the gun runs reliably, I can tune the rest quite easily to satisfy my operation of it. good luck, GJ

I’ve been using a Springfield Armory loaded target 1911 for Wild Bunch. Recently I’ve been looking around at what could possibly be the next level 1911. I know that there are plenty to choose from in the $3000 plus range. I’m curious what you are using in the $1500-2500 range and why. thanks in advance. Hoss Shoer

Moonshine Cowboy Action Shooters is a SASS-affiliated club that holds a monthly CAS match on the first Sunday of the month with a start time of 11:00 a.m. Location is 2600 SC Hwy 11, Travelers Rest, SC (about three miles from Hwy 25 North). They do not have a website but there is a Facebook Group. The old group “Moonshine at Dark Corner” is not the current group. To encourage cowboy shooters to “give it a try”, they have allowed shooters to use a 1911 pistol at the September match and will again at their October 4 cowboy match. I was at the September match where half of the shooters “went Wild”. Their first “dedicated” Wild Bunch match is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2026 with an earlier start time (first round downrange at 10:00 a.m.). I can help field questions and provide contact information for the club’s Wild Bunch point man “Lazy Eye”. The club is convenient to Western North Carolina as well. If you are in the region and enjoy Wild Bunch, let’s support this effort!

Gives you a chance to practice "Loading from the Belt" 😄

ugh - i didn notice the shorter mag tube

Barbwire has done that many times at the Arizona State WB and CAS matches. And buckled

I understand that they will follow WB protocols at the October “mixed match” and allow the shooter to insert a magazine at the LT.

Starting December 1, 2026 Every Wednesday, yes, Every Wednesday Registration at 8:00 - Shooting at 9:00 4 Stage, Cowboy, warm up match $10.00 per shooter Register and Pay at Range Every Thursday, yes, Every Thursday Registration at 8:00 - Shooting at 9:00 4 Stage, Wild Bunch, warm up match $10.00 per shooter Register and Pay at Range More info on Cowtown Cowboys facebook page

Lot's of reloads from the belt then 😄

Only holds 4 rounds in the magazine tube.

The Model 12 is allowed in WBAS. No distinction is made between take-down or non take-down.

Hi, I recently came across a Model 12 Lightweight (basically a non-takedown 1912 in 12 guage) and was wondering as to it’s status for shooting in Wild Bunch. I believe it wasn’t available in 1913-14. Would that be the cutoff for model 12 variants?

Club I shoot at did that for a while before sass moved to being able to load 7 in a mag. Worked good until enough interest foe a stand alone wild bunch match. interest seems to be going away from stand alone wild bunch days around here so wouldn't mind going back to mix and match. Rafe

I bought a Springfield milspec 1911 pistol took it out shooting and the grips kept loosening up, it appears that the grip-screw bushing threads are stripped and the existing bushings already appear to be oversized. Got it from the shooters widow so I would not want to send it back for the money (was a great deal to start with) anyone know of a fix? Tried lock tight but loosen up after shooting. Rafe

thanks GJ , i’ll reach out to Boggus

Yep, the factory design of the firing pin was not well thought out, had stress points in them, and were not made of the same quality steel as is available today. 12s are famous for broken FPs. good luck, GJ

now I have to ask - do m12s eat their firing pins? my “new to me” 1912 came with a cracked firing pin

New to the internet, eh?