Stock .45 for bullseye.

What is the best out of the box 1911 .45 for bullseye shooting

Springfield Armory "Range Officer" model.  It has everything you need to get started.  The ones I've tested are accurate enough to get most shooters through expert if not master.  Right out of the box the are fully NRA legal and ready to shoot.

Range officer is best on the lower price end, if you want to move up to a Dot ready bullseye match gun then Les Baer sells a frame mount or a slide mount bullseye gun , champions choice usually has them in stock. Then a step up or really several steps would be the new Cabots Guns, bullseye gun, like was used to win the national championship this year. Or look for a used match gun, many come up for sale as older shooters retire or shooters sell off extra guns. There are many ways and price levels to enter the game.

Every 1911 I have ever seen needs at least trigger work out of the box. Depending on your budget there are lotsa choices. I have 2 Platinum Elite models in 45 and 9mm and an STI Trojan in 9mm. The Trojan is the better of the group right out of the box.

DavidR makes a good point ... If you want to commit to bullseye then buy a bullseye ready pistol right from the start.

What makes a Springfield Armory Range Officer preferable to a Colt Gold Cup National Match or a Kimber Gold Match II? Tighter slide, bushing, barrel? Better trigger? Better basic parts? Price?

Sa-tevp wrote:What makes a Springfield Armory Range Officer preferable to a Colt Gold Cup National Match or a Kimber Gold Match II? Tighter slide, bushing, barrel? Better trigger? Better basic parts? Price?

1) Price
2) out of the box accuracy
3) Series 70 system

and good support from the company.

+2 on Scrum Derringer's reasons.  Those springfields are bullseye legit right out of the box.

I have a Range Officer.  I put a frame mount on myself and Joe Fobes did the trigger. I have shot low Master scores with it. Have less than 950.00 invested in it. 

At Camp Perry I bought a slide mount wadgun from FCW Gun Shop for 1900.00 that groups 1.7" at 50 yards. I love it.

Sa-tevp wrote:What makes a Springfield Armory Range Officer preferable to a Colt Gold Cup National Match or a Kimber Gold Match II? Tighter slide, bushing, barrel? Better trigger? Better basic parts? Price?

 The range officers are built with a much tighter frame to slide fit and most other kimbers or colts, plus its cheaper and proven to be as or more accurate than the others.

Based on recommendations (both here and elsewhere) I bought a new Range Officer on Tuesday. Having only put a hundred 'break-in' rounds through it on steel plates, it is too early to offer any opinion as to accuracy (as though I shoot well enough to form an opinion). As far as how tightly it is fitted, I can only compare it with my (fairly old) Kimber Custom and say that it is not nearly as tight or smooth as the Kimber (not sure how many thousand rounds have been through it, a few but not nearly so many as most competition guns see). The Range Officer comes apart with just my fingers and almost goes together the same way. I can not insert the Slide Stop without using either a small screwdriver or blade to depress the Slide Stop Plunger first. Either the plunger extends too far or the bevel on the stop is too small but there being a simple way around it I will concentrate on getting some more practice done before losing any sleep over that. I am sure the trigger could be improved but compared to the stock guns that I am used to, it seems pretty good for now.
I am happy with the choice and appreciate the advice.


Bruce

A little trick I just learned when inserting the slide stop. Turn the safety on.  It takes some of the tension off the spring. Once the slide stop is past the plunger, then turn the safety off and move the slide back to push the slide stop the rest of the way in. 

Maybe you already do this.  I just learned this a few weeks ago and it really helped.

I did try this but I still could not insert the slide stop. I took the slide stop out of my Kimber and found that it was contoured quite differently, much more angle to it but it would not insert (into the RO) without pushing the plunger in first either. It is kind of a hard spot for me to measure but it appears that the plunger extends about 0.010" further from the tube on the RO than on the Kimber. Perhaps I need to remove the plunger and shorten it ..... someday.


Bruce

I have 3 Springfields and a Dan Wesson Point Man 7.  They will shoot 2" or better @ 50 yards with the right load. The Dan Wesson even had a trigger in the 3.5 lb area right out of the box. I know folks who payed a lot for 1911s that shot no better. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

I've seen lots of target 1911s shoot pretty well out-of the-box.  Lots of variables with guns, ammo and testing methods.  A Ransome Rest removes that nut behind the trigger. Can't beat a connection with a skilled bullseye pistol builder for a trigger tuned to your specifications.  FWIW the true test of a well built gun isn't out-of-the-box.  Nice groups 5000 rounds down the road, that is the test.

The BE 'smith's I have  talked to or dealt with specified using the cheapest gun of whatever company preferred as it will save money in the long run. For instance they almost all replace the barrel these days so don't spend money on a version w/ a match barrel.

 I realize that not all will prefer this BUT it is a consideration in purchasing a BE gun. One of the recommendations here was to start with a custom built by a BE "smith with a good reputation. Good Advice.