The Best 1911 Pistols Under $1000

Auto Ordnance 1911 A1

This 1911 pistol from the Thompson branch of Auto-Ordnance is affordable, practical, and designed for stopping power at a distance.

Chambered for .45 ACP ammunition and with a 5-inch barrel, it has enough size and accuracy to take down targets quite a ways away. The gun is made with all steel, so you’ll surely benefit from the 1911’s trademark durability even with the relatively low asking price.

The magazine can fit 7 rounds with another in the chamber – an excellent overall capacity for .45 ACP cartridges. I especially like the blade front sight and a drift adjustable rear sight. Combined, you’ll be able to hit targets accurately, even if you don’t add another optic to your 1911 pistol after purchasing.

The gun is made with military spec parts and proportions and features checkered plastic grip panels that are affordable and make this handgun easy to grip, even with a sweaty hand.

The pistol overall weighs less than 3 pounds, and you’ll benefit from a matte black finish that makes this pistol an excellent choice for concealed carry.

This option combines many of the 1911 pistols’ best features without charging too much or having awful downsides. The only minor issue is that the plastic grip panels could eventually shatter if you repeatedly drop the gun. Still, considering all the other positive points, this is far from a dealbreaker.

Kimber MFG. 1911 Micro 9 Stainless 9mm Pistol

This first 1911 pistol from Kimber MFG. is a stainless steel model – that’s something you usually only get for firearms over $1000 in price. But here, you can get quality construction on a budget, in part because the pistol is so small and chambered for 9 mm Luger rounds.

In a nutshell, this marks the pistol as an excellent self-defense or concealed carry weapon.

Indeed, the other aspects of the pistol commence this purpose: the barrel length is just over 3 inches, and it has a relatively low capacity of 6+1. This all means that it can easily fit into most inside the waistband concealed holsters.

It’s a great option for those with smaller hands or palm sizes (like women) won’t find the weapon difficult to grip or use accurately. However, it comes with both front and rear fixed sights so you won’t be able to adjust it for long-distance accuracy.

Still, it weighs less than a pound in total, and it’s an ideal self-defense sidearm with a minimal footprint. My recommendation is to heavily consider this if you’re looking for a 1911 handgun for self-defense, as you won’t be able to do much better when balancing price and quality.

Kimber MFG. 1911 Micro 9 Bel Air Pistol

Kimber MFG. makes this 1911 pistol, similarly small-sized and chambered for 9 mm Luger ammunition. In fact, it’s quite similar to the last gun, with an identical barrel length of 3.15 inches and a stainless steel finish for the barrel and receiver. This ensures the gun lasts for a long time, and certainly plays a role in how it is at the top tier of the budget for this post.

It also has some differentiating features, including a blued frame for added durability and a little bit of unique style. The mirror-polished slide also helps to distinguish it from its Kimber counterpart.

It’s extremely compact and weighs less than a pound as well, though it’s made with a comfortable Micarta stock material that may be preferable for those who like slightly flashier guns.

Like the last pistol, it also has both fixed sights. But it’s still just as good for concealed carry purposes and for self-defense needs. The low recoil of the 9 mm Luger ammunition and overall accuracy for close-range fighting makes this a perfect choice for taking down an attacker with one or two bullets.

This pistol is a flashier, pricier option with slightly better durability specs over the long term.

Consider this if you have a little extra cash to spare and don’t want to have to buy another 1911 pistol for the foreseeable future.

Taurus PT-1911 45 ACP Pistol

This 1911 pistol from Taurus is chambered for .45 ACP ammunition and features a good capacity of 8+1 overall. With a 5-inch barrel length, it’ll serve well both as a duty pistol or as a hunting sidearm, plus a good self-defense weapon.

A blued finish around the frame and barrel will help to keep the pistol functioning for a long time to come, all while keeping the overall asking price pretty low and affordable.

This budget-friendly option comes with two magazines of whatever ammunition you choose to chamber the pistol in. That’s right – you get to pick between .45 ammunition, 9 mm and .38 Super depending on your needs. These choices mean that you’ll be able to start customizing the pistol to your liking right off the bat.

It also comes with adjustable rear sights and low weight of 2.44 lbs. The grip plates are texture to prevent dropping, and the trigger features gaps to ensure a crisp, smooth pull every time.

The downside? It has a lower rail for mounting a laser or flashlight, but no top mounting rail. So you will be limited to the stock sights that come with the purchase.

Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 GI Pistol

Rock Island Armory is well known for producing some of the best 1911 pistols on the market. This mil-spec pistol is chambered for .38 Super rounds, and it has a relatively high capacity of 9 plus another in the chamber. You’ll be able to enjoy squeezing-off repeated rounds at the range with this weapon or otherwise use it as a light self-defense gun.

It comes with a parkerized finish and affordable finish that will protect the steel surface and components from corrosion. It’s not quite as hard-core a stainless steel, but it gets the job done without driving up the asking price.

The full-size steel frame means the gun weighs just over 2.5 lbs, but that’s still not too heavy for most folks’ needs.

It also comes with both front and rear fixed sights, plus relatively cheap plastic grip plates that do the job well enough but aren’t that durable in and of themselves.

The gun’s low price explains itself with these two aspects. Even so, we feel this is a great budget-friendly 1911 for those who want something fun to shoot at the range rather than a top-of-the-line pistol for finishing off hunting targets.

Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 Tactical 45 ACP Pistol

Rock Island Armory returns with a slightly pricier pistol chambered for .45 ACP ammunition. It comes with a standard capacity of 8+1 and a 5-inch barrel. This barrel is supported by a full-length guide rod – this will, in turn, boost user accuracy and allow this pistol to serve well as a great training weapon or a hunting sidearm depending on your needs. The guide rod essentially prevents recoil from being quite as dramatic as it otherwise would be.

It also comes with a skeletonized hammer and trigger – both of these increase consistency without increasing weight, which hovers just below 2.5 lbs.

Furthermore, this handgun comes with an adjustable over-travel stop and ambidextrous safety. Thus, it’s a great pistol for left-handed users or those wanting to train with both hands for self-defense or urban combat situations.

Unfortunately, both sights are fixed and the finish is parkerized rather than stainless steel or something a little more robust. But even with these minor quibbles, it’s a fantastic pistol and toes the line between budget and quality pretty well for most users’ needs.

Springfield Armory Mil-Spec Stainless Steel 45 ACP Pistol

This Springfield 1911.45 ACP pistol deserves attention. Right off the bat, you’ll notice the stainless steel finish that boosts the pistol’s overall value. But even with this aspect, you can get it for less than $1000.

It has a slightly lower than average overall capacity of 7+1, so keep this in mind if you want a pistol with more shots in the magazine before needing to reload.

This 1911 Stainless steel pistol comes with a match grade barrel – these are the best barrels you can get. It also comes with a slide constructed with slanted serrations on the rear, which makes it easier to grip.

A standard spur hammer and grip safety reinforces the classic 1911 aesthetic it stimulates and a non-extended thumb safety for added user control. The short, military-style combat trigger allows for rapid-fire shooting.

While the sights are both fixed, the ejection port for spent casings is lowered and flared to prevent casings from flying onto your wrist. We also really like the walnut grips that boost the gun’s elegant aesthetic even further.

Ultimately, it’s a top-tier piece of equipment on a budget.

Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 GI 45 ACP Pistol

This last 1911 offering from Rock Island Armory is a .45 ACP 1911 with a unique “duracoat” finish. This is a little better than a standard parkerized finish, but it’s still much cheaper than a stainless steel finish, so you can get this gun for significantly less than $1000.

It has room for 8+1 cartridges overall and features twin fixed sights, unfortunately forging adjustability for affordability. Even so, there’s a lot to like.

It’s one of the most similar 1911 pistols to the original gun’s aesthetic and silhouette, and it weighs just shy of 2.4 lbs. The barrel is 5 inches long, accurate, and performs well with repeated shots. The grip plates are smooth, however – this makes the gun look good but does nothing to improve your grip or traction on the weapon’s surface.

I think this gun serves well as a collector’s item more than anything thanks to its faithfulness to the original 1911 design and its increased durability. Consider grabbing it to display it on a shelf, or to take to the range from time to time, rather than as a full duty pistol or staple self-defense sidearm.