Century Arms Centurion 11 Review (2026): 600 Rounds Through a Budget GI 1911

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Table of Contents

Review: Century Arms Centurion 11, a GI 1911 for Under $400

Our Rating: 7.4/10

• MSRP: $399.99 (HG9402-N black, HG9402C-N chrome)
• Street Price: Our live card starts at $397.99 for the black model at Palmetto State Armory on October 4, 2026 (Use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Action: Single action 1911, spur hammer
• Barrel Length: 5.01 in.
• Overall Length: 8.6 in.
• Height: 5.31 in.
• Width: 1.37 in.
• Weight (unloaded): 35.5 oz
• Capacity: 8+1, one magazine in the box
• Sights: Fixed iron sights
• Safety: Thumb safety and GI style grip safety
• Finish: Black or chrome
• Origin: Imported from Turkey by Century Arms
• Trigger Pull: 5 lb 6 oz on our gun

Quick Take

The Century Arms Centurion 11 is a full-size 1911 in .45 ACP built on the GI pattern: 5 in. barrel, fixed iron sights, a spur hammer and a GI style grip safety. Century imports it from Turkey and lists it at $399.99 in black or chrome. It holds 8+1, weighs 35.5 oz and comes in a hard case with a magazine, a bore brush, a cleaning rod and a bore mop.

I shot a black Centurion 11 (HG9402-N) for 600 rounds over five sessions. It had two stoppages, both with hollow points in the first 100 rounds, and none after that. Five-shot groups from a rest at 15 yards averaged 2.8 in. with Federal HST 230 gr. The trigger broke at 5 lb 6 oz with a little creep. The sights and the spur hammer are where the GI pattern shows its age.

The honest context: there are other GI-pattern 1911s at this price. On October 4, 2026, Sportsman’s Warehouse had the Rock Island Armory M1911 GI Standard at $329.99, about $68 less than the Centurion 11 at Palmetto State Armory. The Centurion’s case is in its favor; the price gap isn’t.

Best For: Shooters who want a classic, full-size .45 1911 for the range or the nightstand at the lowest price they can find, and anyone who likes the GI look. Not for a buyer who wants modern sights, a beavertail grip safety or a carry-size gun.

Where It Sits Among Budget GI 1911s

The GI-pattern 1911 is a crowded corner of the market, and most of the guns in it look almost identical in photos. Here’s how the Centurion 11 compares with the others we price, on October 4, 2026:

Pistol	Capacity	Price on our cards	Notes from the listings
Rock Island Armory M1911 GI Standard	8+1	$329.99 (Sportsman’s Warehouse)	Parkerized, 5 in.
Tisas 1911A1 US Army	7+1	$379.99 (GritrSports)	Manganese phosphate, walnut grips, two magazines
Century Arms Centurion 11	8+1	$397.99 (Palmetto State Armory)	Black or chrome, hard case, cleaning kit
Auto-Ordnance 1911BKO	7+1	$519.99 (Palmetto State Armory)	US-made, 5 in.
Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec Defender	7+1	$579.99 (Palmetto State Armory)	Package model, 5 in.

So the Centurion 11 isn’t the cheapest GI 1911, but it’s in the cheapest group, and it has two things most rivals in that group don’t: an eight-round magazine where the GI standard is seven, and a hard case with a cleaning kit. Capacity and accessory details for the other guns come from dealer listings.

Chrome is worth a look if you shop around. Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore had a matte chrome Centurion 11 at $349.99, below every black one we found, although it’s not one of the stores our card treats as a trusted retailer. Bass Pro Shops listed the Centurion 11 at $379.99.

Design Intent: Why Century Built It This Way

Century’s Centurion 11 page is clear about the goal: a gun that “embodies the timeless design of the iconic GI model 1911” while keeping the price down. It lists the parts that make it GI: “fixed iron sights, a spur hammer, and a GI style grip safety.” The case and the cleaning gear are part of the pitch too, as is the $399.99 MSRP.

That approach is the opposite of most modern 1911s, which add a beavertail, high-visibility sights, an extended safety and front strap checkering. The Centurion 11 skips all of it on purpose. You get the 1911 the way it looked in a soldier’s holster, with the one modern concession of an eight-round magazine. It’s the full-size sibling to Century’s Hi-Power copy, which our Century Arms Centurion 14 review covers.

Century Arms Centurion 11 Variants

Both finishes share every listed dimension. The difference in Century’s photos is the grips: black checkered panels on the black gun, checkered wood with a diamond pattern on the chrome. The black gun is the one I’d carry in a holster, since it won’t flash in the sun. The chrome looks more like a display piece and hides fingerprints less well, but it was the cheaper of the two at one dealer.

Competitor Comparison

All four of these are full-size, 5 in. .45 ACP 1911s on the GI or Mil-Spec pattern. The question is how much refinement each step up in price buys.

Rock Island Armory M1911 GI Standard ($329.99 to $449.99)

The Centurion 11’s most direct rival. Sportsman’s Warehouse had the parkerized GI Standard at $329.99 with an 8+1 capacity, the same as the Centurion. It’s the cheaper gun and it has a long track record. The Centurion answers with the hard case and cleaning kit. If those don’t matter to you, the Rock Island is the better deal.

Tisas 1911A1 US Army ($379.99 to $501.75)

Another Turkish GI 1911, this one dressed as the WWII Army pistol, with manganese phosphate, walnut grips and two 7-round magazines per the GritrSports listing at $379.99. It’s the closer copy of the original, down to the capacity. If you want the historical look, it’s the one. If you want the extra round, the Centurion has it.

Auto-Ordnance 1911BKO ($519.99 to $703.99)

The American-made GI 1911, 7+1 with a 5 in. barrel. Palmetto State Armory had it at $519.99, about $122 more than the Centurion. You’re paying for US manufacture rather than a better spec sheet. Our Auto-Ordnance 1911 review covers it in detail.

Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec ($579.99 to $818.40)

Springfield’s Mil-Spec is the established name in this class, 7+1 with a 5 in. barrel per dealer listings. Palmetto State Armory had a Defender Mil-Spec package at $579.99. It costs about $182 more than the Centurion and carries Springfield’s reputation and support. For a gun you plan to shoot hard for years, that’s a reasonable upgrade.

Verdict: The Centurion 11 is one of the cheapest ways into a full-size .45 1911, with a case and kit thrown in. The Rock Island GI Standard is cheaper still, the Tisas is the more faithful copy, and the Auto-Ordnance and Springfield cost more for the name and the US manufacture or support. Our cheap 1911 pistols under $500 guide covers the wider field.

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Testing Protocol

We shot one black Centurion 11 (HG9402-N) for 600 rounds over five sessions in late September and early October at an outdoor range, from 54°F to 84°F. Groups were five shots from a rest at 15 and 25 yards; the rest was drills at 7 to 10 yards. I used the supplied magazine plus two 8-round aftermarket 1911 magazines, cleaned it before the first shot and again after round 300.

Ammunition Log

Load	Rounds	Result
Federal American Eagle 230 gr FMJ	250	3.3 in. at 15 yards; no stoppages
Winchester White Box 230 gr FMJ	200	3.4 in. at 15 yards; no stoppages
Federal HST 230 gr JHP	75	2.8 in. at 15 yards, 4.6 in. at 25; one failure to feed at round 37
Hornady Critical Defense 185 gr FTX	50	3.1 in. at 15 yards; one failure to feed at round 88
Speer Gold Dot 230 gr JHP	25	2.9 in. at 15 yards; no stoppages

Phase 1: Break-In

The Centurion 11 came in its hard case with a thin coat of oil and the cleaning rod, brush and mop Century lists. I cleaned the bore, oiled the rails, barrel hood and link, and loaded the supplied magazine. It was stiff to load to eight at first and easier after a couple of sessions. The slide racked smoothly from the start.

Phase 2: Reliability

Two stoppages, both with hollow points and both early. At round 37 an HST round nosed into the feed ramp and stopped, and at round 88 a Critical Defense round did the same. A tap on the back of the slide cleared each one. All 450 rounds of 230 gr ball fed without a problem, and after the cleaning at round 300, the remaining hollow points and Gold Dot fed cleanly too.

That’s a familiar pattern for a GI 1911, which was designed around round-nose ball ammunition. If you plan to keep it loaded with hollow points, run a box or two of your chosen load through it before you trust it. Ejection was consistent, to the right and slightly back, and the slide locked open on every empty magazine.

Phase 3: Accuracy

From a rest at 15 yards, Federal HST 230 gr averaged 2.8 in. for five shots, Speer Gold Dot 2.9 in. and American Eagle ball 3.3 in. At 25 yards HST opened to 4.6 in. That’s typical for a budget GI 1911, and most of the spread is the sights. The front post is small and the rear notch is shallow, so getting the same sight picture every shot takes concentration.

Our trigger gauge read 5 lb 6 oz. There’s a little take-up and a touch of creep before a reasonably clean break. Century calls it a “crisp single action trigger experience”; I’d call it a decent budget 1911 trigger that’s easy to shoot well once you learn it.

Tracking & Observations

After 600 rounds, the black finish showed light wear at the muzzle and the front edges of the slide, which is expected. There’s a little play between the slide and frame when you wiggle them by hand, normal for a budget 1911 and no problem for accuracy at these distances. The markings are clean and the slide reads CENTURION 11. The supplied magazine held up, though it was stiffer to load than the two aftermarket magazines I used alongside it.

What This Means for You

• Reliability: Ball ammo runs from day one; test your hollow point before you trust it.
• Ammo Preference: 230 gr hollow points grouped best; HST was the standout.
• Accuracy Expectation: About 3 in. at 15 yards from a rest.
• Maintenance: Oil the rails and barrel hood, clean every 300 rounds.
• Upgrade Impact: Spare magazines first, then better sights if you’ll shoot it a lot.

Performance Testing Results

Reliability (8/10)

Two hollow point stoppages in the first 100 rounds, then 500 clean rounds. Ball ammo never stopped. Good for the price, with the usual GI caveat about hollow points.

Accuracy (7/10)

Under 3 in. at 15 yards with good hollow points, held back by the small sights rather than the barrel.

Ergonomics & Recoil (7/10)

The 1911 grip angle points naturally, and at 35.5 oz of steel, .45 ACP recoil is a firm push rather than a snap. The spur hammer and GI grip safety are the downside: on a high grip the hammer pinched the web of my hand twice in the first session. Holding a quarter inch lower stopped it, but that costs a little control.

Fit, Finish, and Quality Control (7/10)

The finish is even, the markings are crisp, and every control works as it should. There’s slight slide-to-frame play. For under $400, it’s a solid, honest gun.

Value (8/10)

A full-size .45 1911 with a hard case and a cleaning kit for about $400 is good value. The Rock Island GI Standard’s lower price keeps it from a higher score.

Features (6/10)

Deliberately basic: fixed GI sights, spur hammer, GI grip safety, one magazine. The eight-round capacity and the case are the extras.

Technical Deep Dive

The GI Pattern

Century describes the Centurion 11 as following the GI model 1911, and the parts it names are the GI ones: fixed iron sights, a spur hammer and a GI style grip safety. In practice, that means a short grip safety tang rather than a modern beavertail, a narrow hammer spur, and small sights that sit low on the slide. The slide has rear serrations only, and the barrel is 5.01 in. long.

Component	Specification	Benefit
Action	Single action, spur hammer	Short, consistent pull
Barrel	5.01 in.	Full-size velocity and sight radius
Magazine	8 rounds	One more than the GI standard
Sights	Fixed iron	Simple and durable, but small
Grip safety	GI style	Classic look; less hammer protection
Dimensions	8.6 in. long, 5.31 in. tall, 1.37 in. wide	Full size
Weight	35.5 oz unloaded	Soaks up .45 ACP recoil
In the box	Hard case, one magazine, bore brush, cleaning rod, bore mop	Ready to clean from day one

Why Hollow Points Can Hang Up

The original 1911 was built to feed round-nose ball ammunition, and GI-pattern guns keep that geometry. A hollow point’s wide, flat nose can catch on the feed ramp or the chamber edge, especially on a new gun before the surfaces have smoothed. Ours stopped twice with hollow points in the first 100 rounds and never again. Shoot your carry load before you trust it, and stick with whatever runs.

How It Handles at Speed

Sessions four and five were drills at 7 and 10 yards. Starting with the hammer cocked and the safety on, my draw to a first hit on an 8 in. steel plate at 7 yards averaged 1.7 seconds from an outside-the-waistband holster. Splits on a five-round string averaged 0.26 seconds; the weight keeps the muzzle down, and the gun settles back on target quickly.

The small sights are what slow you down. In bright light the front post was easy to find, but in the shade of the covered firing line I lost it a few times on fast strings. Slide-lock reloads averaged 2.8 seconds by the last session; the magazine dropped free every time and seated with a firm push. The small GI thumb safety was easy to sweep off on the draw but less positive than an extended safety when riding it with my thumb.

Buying Tips: Black or Chrome

Century lists both finishes at $399.99. On October 4, 2026, Palmetto State Armory had the black HG9402-N at $397.99, Guns.com had a Centurion 11 at $429.99, and Bass Pro Shops listed it at $379.99. The chrome model showed up at Sportsman’s Outdoor Superstore for $349.99. Prices move, so check the live card.

When the gun arrives, check that the thumb safety clicks firmly into both positions, that the grip safety releases the trigger only when pressed, and that the slide locks back on an empty magazine. Then order a spare magazine or two, because one isn’t enough for a range day. For loads, see our best .45 ACP ammo.

Carrying and Home Defense

At 8.6 in. long and 35.5 oz, the Centurion 11 is a full-size gun. It can be carried in a good outside-the-waistband holster on a sturdy belt, but most owners will treat it as a range and home gun. For the nightstand, the eight-round magazine helps, and the heavy steel frame makes .45 ACP easy to control. If you keep it loaded, carry it the way 1911s have always been carried: cocked, with the thumb safety on, in a holster that covers the trigger, or in a lock box. Practice sweeping the safety off with an unloaded gun until it’s automatic.

For a defensive load, I’d pick one of the 230 gr hollow points that fed and grouped well after break-in, HST or Gold Dot, and shoot at least 100 rounds of it first. If you want a 1911 that’s built for carry from the start, a Commander or Officer size gun with a beavertail and better sights is a better choice.

Cleaning and Care

Century includes the basics: a bore brush, cleaning rod and bore mop. Field strip it like any GI 1911: lock the slide, remove the slide stop, take off the slide and pull the recoil spring, plug and barrel. Clean the bore and breech face, wipe the rails and put a drop of oil on each rail, the barrel hood and the link. On the black gun, keep a light film of oil on the outside, since bare steel rusts if you leave sweat on it. On the chrome gun, a dry cloth is enough.

Parts, Accessories and Upgrades

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Magazines	Two or three quality 8 round 1911 .45 magazines	Only one comes in the box	$25 to $45 each
Holster	A full-size Government 1911 holster	Covers the trigger, fits the 5 in. slide	$40 to $90
Sights	Have a gunsmith fit larger sights	The GI sights are small	$100 to $200 installed
Ammunition	Federal HST 230 gr JHP	Best group in our gun	$30 to $40 per 20
Practice	.45 ACP snap caps	Practice the safety and trigger	$10 to $15

Common Problems & Solutions

• Hollow point feeding: Ours stopped twice early. Shoot 100 rounds of your carry load before trusting it.
• Hammer bite: The spur hammer pinched my hand on a high grip. Hold a little lower.
• Small sights: Hard to see in shade. A white dot of paint on the front post helps, or have larger sights fitted.
• Stiff new magazine: Hard to load to eight at first; it eases with use.
• One magazine only: Buy spares before your first range trip.

GI Pattern or Modern 1911: What You Give Up

Most 1911s sold today aren’t GI pattern. They add a beavertail grip safety, a lighter skeleton hammer, larger three-dot or fiber optic sights, an extended thumb safety and often a flared ejection port. Each of those changes fixes a specific complaint about the original, and after 600 rounds through the Centurion 11 I felt every one of them.

The spur hammer and short grip safety tang are why it bit my hand on a high grip; a beavertail would have kept the hammer off my skin and let me hold higher for better recoil control. The small sights are why my 25-yard groups opened to 4.6 in. and why I lost the front post in shade. The small thumb safety works, but it’s less positive to ride than an extended one. None of that makes the gun bad. It makes it a GI 1911, which is exactly what Century set out to build.

So the question is what you want the gun for. If you like the look and feel of the original and you’ll shoot it at the range, the GI pattern is part of the appeal, and the Centurion 11 delivers it for less than most. If you want a 1911 for serious defensive use, spend the extra on a modern pattern gun, or budget for sights and a beavertail from a gunsmith, which can cost as much as the gun did.

Your First Range Day With It

Here’s the routine I’d follow with a new Centurion 11, based on how ours behaved. Clean out the shipping oil and lubricate the rails, barrel hood and link before the first shot. Bring at least 150 rounds of 230 gr round-nose ball and two or three magazines, since one loaded magazine at a time makes for a slow session. Start at 7 yards to learn where the small sights put your rounds, then move back to 15.

Once the ball ammo is running cleanly, try a box of the hollow point you plan to keep in it. Ours had both of its stoppages in the first 100 rounds, so don’t judge the gun, or the load, on the first magazine. If a particular hollow point keeps hanging up after break-in, switch loads rather than fighting it. And watch your grip: if the hammer starts nipping the web of your hand, slide your hand down a fraction until it stops.

Who Should NOT Buy This Gun

The Centurion 11 is a good budget GI 1911, and that’s exactly what limits it for some buyers.

• Buyers chasing the lowest price: The Rock Island Armory GI Standard was about $68 less.
• History buffs who want a faithful WWII copy: The Tisas 1911A1 US Army is closer to the original.
• Shooters who want modern sights and a beavertail: Look at a Girsan MC1911; see our Girsan MC1911 review.
• Buyers who want a US-made GI 1911: The Auto-Ordnance 1911BKO is made in the USA.

Final Verdict

The Century Arms Centurion 11 is a straightforward GI-pattern 1911 in .45 ACP with an eight-round magazine, imported from Turkey and sold for about $400 with a hard case and a cleaning kit. Ours stopped twice with hollow points early, then ran 500 rounds clean and grouped under 3 in. at 15 yards. The sights are small and the spur hammer can bite, which is the price of the GI look.

Buy it if you want a full-size .45 1911 to shoot and enjoy for the least money, and you like the classic look. Look at the Rock Island if price is everything, and at a modern 1911 if you want better sights and a beavertail.

Final Score: 7.4/10. An honest, affordable GI 1911 with an extra round and a case in the box, held back by classic sights and a spur hammer.

FAQ: Century Arms Centurion 11