Thinking about a ATI 1911

I have a RIA GI model and really like it. Both the RIA and the AT I are based in the Philippines. The one you posted the link to has a better front sight, extended beavertail, and a commander hammer. Mine is 100% copy of what I was issued in the 1970' s except it has a flat mainspring housing.

I don't think the Gander Mountain price is too bad. They are usually proud of their stuff. It's about $80 more than I paid for mine, but if I were to change out the safety, hammer and front sight I would be right there.

 

My shooting partner has one. For an entry level 1911 it's pretty nice.
Had to do a bit of polishing on the rails to get it to function properly. May take a few hundred rounds for it to "Break In". Run it WET for awhile.
I have a Citadel in 9mm. About the same quality gun. Had some initial issues with it, had to send it back to the man. But it works flawlessly now.

 

Have you considered a Glock?

 

Lol...... And you wonder why people jump to conclusions!...... Dude, you're the man!....

 

He asked for it.

 

I have this one.
https://www.classicfirearms.com/americantacticalimports-45-gi-model8rdw-woodgrips
The fit and finish on it is not nearly as good as on my Kimber or my Colt. The slide and frame don't quite line up and there were some sharp edges that I had to knock down, but I have absolutely zero complaints about the functionality of the weapon. I have run hundreds of rounds through it without a single failure of any kind. I have used cheap brass cased, cheaper aluminum cased and expensive hollow points and it eats all of it like a fat kid eats cake.

 

But that's the problem. You spend $500 for an entry level 1911, then you buy different sights, then a bunch of Wilson internals, grips, etc., etc. You end up paying more than if you just bought something like a Springfield loaded.

 

Plus doing it this way, any upgrades you do are more personal.

 

Staked sights are not hard to do. Pair of vice grips will remove the front sight. Use a dremel to help. You can get a staking tool reasonable from Brownells. Pad the grips on your bench vice with harness leather. And take your time.

 

That argument is well..nothing personal...but.......a little...condescending.
We all want something nice and shiney and expensive, guess what, most of us can't afford it.
And saving? Always something coming along the next day that requires us to empty our gun fund.
People here buy $300 carbines and then trick it out for another $300 over the next six months.
Does that mean they should have bought a $600 carbine to begin with?
Of course it doesn't.

So you buy a $500 1911 clone and spend another $500 on it.
So you could also have bought a $1000 gun.
Yeah but its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

 

That's right. Much better to buy a $1000 gun. Then spend another $500 upgrading it.

 

You might want to check out the Rock Island TAC series. They have adjustable sights for about $500-600.

 

If it's not a Colt, it's a fake.