11 Cheap 1911 Handguns For $500 – 2024

Last updated February 5th, 2024

Affiliate disclaimer: We earn a small part of the sale price when you buy through links on our site. You won’t pay anything extra and your purchase helps support the site.

Winners at a Glance

The Rock Island Armory GI Standard is the best 1911 for $500 these days, but there are choices.

Image	Product	Detail	Price
	Rock Island Armory GI Standard	Overall Winner	Best Price
	SDS Imports 1911A1	Consistently Cheap Gun That Works	Best Price
	Ruger 1911	Worth the extra $100	Best Price
	S&W CSX	Best 1911/Striker Fire crossover.	Best Price
	Springfield Armory Mil Spec	Worth a Little More	Best Price

Intro

Cheap 1911 handguns can turn into your favorite pistol.

That’s because they’re a perversion of everything we know. And they shouldn’t work. But they do…

Instinct tells us that a $500 1911 handgun can’t work, because reasons. Otherwise how could we justify dropping $2,000 as a matter of course?

Cheap Guns That Punch Above Their Weight

Well it turns out there is a small group of cheap guns with a devoted following. These are complete handguns, for $500 or less OK some are creeping towards $600. But come on…

You can also use these for a DIY custom gun. Because there is no heritage to destroy at this price. Some of these handguns are sold as basic as possible to allow for constant upgrades. That’s the whole point.

So what is the best Cheap 1911 in 2024?

1. Rock Island Armory GI Standard

• Price: $349.99
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Weight: 2.56lb
• Capacity: 8+1

The Rock Island Armory GI Standard has been a star on this list for some time. It’s kind of the definitive cheap 1911 pistol.

RIA handguns are basic as hell, to look at, but nobody cares. It’s a .45 Caliber handgun that shoots straight and comes with a rubbed through patina on that parkerized finish. It is a truck gun, or a general purpose pistol, and spends exactly zero time posing at the range.

The base model was always a great handgun for the money with the best budget bare bones approach. But Rock Island has evolved beyond this too, and doesn’t just offer the best 1911 pistol options in this price range chambered in the 45 ACP cartridge.

Now it offers real innovation, together with build quality on its budget 1911s and semi-automatic pistols.

Tac Ultra 9mm: A Lot More For a Little More

If you don’t mind spending a little money and want the top 9mm 1911 that about $850 can buy, then check out the Rock Island Tac Ultra FSHC double stack 1911s and the BBR 3.1 double stack 45 ACP.

High capacity 9mm 1911s are basically the biggest leap forward in decades and we like the concept. We also like the execution in the Tac Ultra double stack 1911.

You can also get cheaper single stack 9mm pistols, and you can see the full line here and it’s hard to beat the prices on offer there on guns for sale.

2. SDS Imports 1911A1 Service Model

• Price: $359.99+
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Capacity: 8+1
• Weight: 2.3lb

SDS Imports has concentrated on the price point and found a faithful reproduction of the original design 1911 semi automatic pistol, courtesy of Tisas Zig in Turkey.

Cute touches include a cerakote finish and black checkered grips as an option, instead of the classic blued frame and fixed sights. And a chrome plated barre, while you can easily update the iron sights.

Beyond that it’s a straight reproduction of the gun you know and love with a Series 70 firing mechanism. There isn’t much more to say, apart from that, again, we like the price of these guns that are basically a rebranded Tisas 1911A1.

3. Charles Daly 1911 Field Grade

• Price: $445.99
• Barrel: 5″
• Weight: 2.5lb
• Capacity: 8+1 Round

Charles Daly has made an impression with cheap shotguns, and now it has brought a solid 1911 to the party.

It is made in Italy, by Brixia, and the reviews are good. You get the spur hammer, iron sights, basic beavertail grip safety, a quality parkerized finish and the tried and trusted old school design.

4. Tristar American Classic

• Price: $575.00
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Weight: 2.55lb
• Capacity: 8+1

The Tristar American Classic line are budget 1911s that try to deliver with the premium touches.

If you want a skeletonized hammer and trigger, Novak style rear sight and a solid if unspectacular steel frame, then the American Classic Government model semi automatic pistol is certainly an option.

5. Ruger SR1911

• Price: $609.99
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Weight: 2lb
• Capacity: 8+1

The Ruger SR1911 Government Model costs a little more than our self-imposed limit these days, which is why it didn’t win. But if you can find the extra then it is certainly worth every cent.

Like many others it has evolved into a line up, ranging from this humble entry model through to the Doug Koenig specials with target tuned adjustable rear sights. But they are 3 times the price.

The base model is lightweight thanks to an aluminum frame with a Tungsten cerakote finish and comes with a titanium feed ramp, G10 grips and more premium touches.

The SR1911 semi automatic handgun also has heritage and a hard won reputation for being reliable and accurate. Plenty of Law Enforccement Officers and some military still carry them.

Of course the Ruger comes with that big brand build quality, quality control and a lifetime guarantee you can count on.

6. EAA Girsan MC1911 Government

• Price: $580.00
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Weight: 2.55lb
• Capacity: 8+1

This full size Girsan MC1911 Government comes in around $600 and you can sometimes get a compensator in with that pretty dramatic deal. It’s a cheap 1911 then.

The Girsan MC1911 Government stays fairly faithful to the original GI Government Model 1911, from the trigger to the arched mainspring housing. This is a classic 1911, without the classic 1911 price tag.

You do get premium touches, like the three-hole skeletonized trigger and skeletonized hammer with this Girsan MC1911. The low-slung Picatinny rail offers a mounting point for a light or laser if the Novak sights don’t do it for you and you get black checkered grips.

The ambidextrous thumb safety, extended beavertail safety, flat mainspring housing and other parts look good. And this is a basic 1911 with decent polymer grips that you don’t have to upgrade. Just shoot this Government Model 1911. Then in a few years, maybe buy another one.

You can also buy the Girsan MC1911sc Officer model if you want subcompact 1911 concealed carry pistol options. It’s an interesting comparison for some of the other guns on this list and the much more expensive Colt Defender.

Find the Girsan MC11sc, the Long Slide and other variants here.

• Full Girsan 1911 range.

7. Smith & Wesson CSX

• Price: $549.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 3.1 inch
• Weight:1.2lb
• Capacity: 10+1

The brand new Smith & Wesson CSX isn’t a true 1911 and is basically a hybrid of an old school 1911 and striker fired pistol with a black polymer frame.

But is this just a forward thinking 1911? Maybe, and it is cheap.

This micro compact 9mm pistol is pretty much the only one with a hammer fired action. It comes with a trigger safety and thumb safety on the frame, and a double stack magazine.

Purists won’t love it, but this is a real convenient carry pistol with most of the 1911 features that you really want. So it’s not quite a cheap 1911.

We like it, although we prefer the black polymer S&W M&P 9mm striker fired pistol options for a daily carry if we’re honest.

The S&W M&P with red dot sights, or at least a fiber optic front sight, is more practical and resolved. But this brand new concoction has more character.

8. Taurus PT-1911

• Price: $566.99
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Weight: 2.38lb
• Capacity: 8+1

The full size Taurus PT1911 is slightly more than $500, but these budget 1911s come with some premium features that some folks think justify the extra $50.

Essentially the Taurus PT1911 is a clone of the US Military 1911 with a 5 inch barrel and was announced in 2005. It has evolved little since then, but the Brazilian budget 1911 has a solid market share in this price range.

Novak style sights join a high quality hammer forged barrel and stainless slide. It’s all ordnance-grade stainless steel, the matte blued finish is well done and you get touches like a lowered and flared ejection port and magwell, and skeletonized trigger. We like the black checkered grips and simple but upgradeable front sight too.

They do look like premium gun touches.

Get some G10 grips, a new ambi safety, maybe an extended slide stop and fiber optic front sight, upgrade your 1911 pistol as you go and this could turn this into a nice project.

Not everybody loves Taurus 1911 reliability, including the South American law enforcement officers that often opt for revolvers instead. But put 1000 rounds downrange and you’ll probably be able to trust your Taurus budget 1911s for home defense.

9. Sig Sauer P938

• Price: $699.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 3 inch
• Weight: 1lb
• Capacity: 6+1

This diminutive Sig Sauer P938 just about slips into the micro-compact class.. There it offers a different hammer fired approach and metal construction in a sea of polymer pistols.

Now this is pure entry level gun at a great price. You can spend around $800 on your Sig P938 semi auto pistol pretty easily and more if you really try with the most ornate stainless steel slide and frame finish.Or a gray cerakote slide, or blued & walnut grip finishes.

You only get 6+1 rounds, but this is a slimline 1911 that is very easy to conceal and has more than enough ammunition for most defensive encounters. Use the right hollow points and it’s enough in any case.

10. Springfield Armory Mil-Spec Defender Series

• Price: $629.99
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Total Length: 8.6 inch
• Weight: 2.4lb

The Illinois company has hit on a winning recipe with the Defender series of pistols that can now be found in black polymer compact pistol and now 1911 form.

Now it’s down the list at the moment due to the savage price rise. Do you remember when these budget 1911s launched as a $499 handgun? Pepperidge Farm remembers….

The forged carbon steel frame and slide are the classic GI configuration.  And it’s good. Really good. The basics are beyond the world of budget 1911s and this is accurate and reliable. Those are good starting points for affordable 1911s and we like the beavertail safety here.

Match-Grade Barrel And Basic Parts & Accessories

Even the cold hammer forged 5 inch barrel is match-grade, so it’s accurate amd reliable. The ejection port is flared and you get a lot of trickle down tech from Springfield’s more expensive guns. Right down to the full length guide rod, slide serrations and ambi safety.

For this price range, that’s awesome. It’s a great gun and an even better starter gun for a DIY 1911 build.

The Springfield Loaded 1911 is a great 1911 at a much higher price.

For less than $500, this Springfield 1911 Defender is the one you wanted for home defense. At $640+, it’s still pretty close.

11. Kimber Micro 9

• Price: $633.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel: 3.15 inch
• Capacity: 7+1
• Weight: 1.7lb

The Kimber Micro 9 is another non purist’s 1911, because there is no grip safety and that’s just the start if we’re honest.

But we’ve pretty much decided it doesn’t matter here and this is a carry friendly 1911 style pistol for around $600 that slips into your pocket.

And that’s a good thing with this single action pistol.

Now the budget friendly Micro 9 does not enjoy the same cast iron reputation for reliability that you get with the Kimber Ultra Carry 1911 from the Custom Shop. But then this small pistol is much, much cheaper and comes with a quality fit and finish…

You can spend a lot more. This is the base version with a stainless finish, but you should check out the more expensive alternatives here with slide cuts and custom touches.

• Full range of Micro 9 handguns.

12. Auto Ordnance Thompson M1911A1

• Price: $596.99
• Caliber: 45 ACP Auto
• Barrel: 5 inch
• Total: 8.5 inch
• Weight: 2.44lb
• Capacity: 7+1

There was a time, way back, when Auto Ordnance was a pretty big deal around here. Like Ron Burgundy, that time has passed.

Now it pumps out nostalgia pieces, like semi-automatic Tommy Gun replicas and these old-school full-size 1911s for less than $600, normally.

The Auto Ordnance M1911A1 is a Series 80 semi-automatic pistol with a single action only operating system and basic fixed rear sight.

You can spend more on a hard chrome finish and the fancy touches that separate this full size pistol from more expensive fare. But you can also just buy one of these affordable 1911s and shoot it for years, probably without any major trauma.

The only problem is it is more money now, and there are safer bets than these budget 1911s in this new price range.

Where to Buy Ammo For Your 1911

When you shop for guns, ammo, parts… you often end up back at the same places. But we do have the odd great choice for guns/ammo prices. As you have seen…

So if you have a 9mm pistol or the classic 45 ACP then either way you need to stock up on a wide variety of hollow point ammunition in 45 ACP, 40 S&W, rimfire ammo, fulll power 10mm loads, 45 Long Colt ammo and more.

These are our favorite suppliers at the moment:

• Sportsman’s Guide – Bulk ammo deals.
• Palmetto State Armory – Ammo/rimfire ammo at discount prices.
• Firearms Depot – 45ACP ammunition.

1911 Parts & Accessories

The old saying goes buy cheap, buy twice, and you’ll definitely need to upgrade and replace more parts on a cheaper gun. That’s just the way it goes when you’re doing a good job.

You might want an ambdextrousi safety, adjustable sights, night sights, a better barrel or to switch out a tang style hammer or a new recoil spring and G10 grip panels. That’s before we start on the best concealed carry holsters and concealed carry insurance,

So check out Primary Arms and Brownells for the best selection of gun parts & accessories, gun cleaning kits, G10 grips and more.

Want to Spend More on Your 1911?

Don’t Forget Colt and Kimber Custom

Colt and Kimber are legends for a reason and both have massive model lines that should suit almost everybody.

Kimber has the Gold Combat, National Match with adjustable sights for long range shooting and the flamboyant Super Jagare. Don’t forget the Kimber Aegis Elite custom, too.

The Kimber Custom shop, in particular, produces some stunning guns. Look at the top Kimber pistols here, especially the 9mm double stack 1911s.

Colt, meanwhile, has the Colt Government Gold Cup Trophy, the Colt Gold Cup Lite, the hard to find matte black finish CCU Combat pistol and a whole host of other options for a Colt Government model. They include the best 10mm Auto, the Colt Delta Elite, which is one of the best 1911 pistols of all time and a great Colt Government Model.

Read more about the leading Colt 1911 handguns, get a buyer’s guide and order a gun here.. And remember to check out the Magnum Research G Series, Iver Johnson Arms, Rock River Arms and other rivals that have done a good job.

What About Something Even More Expensive?

Dan Wesson and more are waiting at the real top end with the latest great carry guns and the best 1911 pistols for sale for a lot of money.

Together with the custom shop offerings from the big guns that really deserve red dots up top. Or a laser down below on the Picatinny rail for super accurate shooting.

So if you have seen the $600 1911s, and want something just different in your gun safes, then check out these features.

We have more expensive 1911 handguns, custom 1911 pistols. They include Nighthawk Custom and Wilson Combat pistols for shooting like a Lord with thumb safeties, trigger and hammer forged by the dwarves themselves. Possibly….

Now we do love Wilson Combat and Nighthawk Custom guns, but they are a lot of money.