Eric,
Having proximity to (and a lot of dollars in) one of the largest gun stores in the country, which has a huge inventory of 1911s from American Tactical cheapies to Nighthawks, let me give you the advice I always give folks---don't buy the brand or model, buy the gun in front of you. They have had to send Colt, Kimber, Springfield, Dan Wesson, Ruger, Sigs and probably every other make and model back to the factories because of manufacturing defects. I own a Springfield Milspec which is accurate as hell and eats everything, and got refunded for a TRP that made two trips back to Springfield and never did run right. There is no magic brand or model. Don't decide to get "a" Ruger, decide whether or not to buy the Ruger they put on the counter.
1) slide fit is not nearly as important as you think---sure, in this day and age of CNC there's no excuse for too much slop, but ultra-tight slides are prone to debris sensitivity, and nowhere NEAR as important as...
2) the fitting of the barrel lugs! This is the most crucial indicator of accuracy and consistent function--pull the slide back and let it slam forward, put your thumb on the trigger guard and your middle finger on the barrel and try to pinch them together. If it doesn't move at all, that's great fitting. If it seems to be just barely shifting, it should be okay. If there's a noticeable "click" and it moves down out of position, you do not have a good lockup, and it likely will get worse rather than better, as the ill-fitting parts do not wear each other consistently.
3) check the dust cover for even thickness---this is the weakest part of the frame and I've seen one side ground down too thin on some really expensive guns. Check the safety, positive clicks up and down, goes all the way up and all the way down. Partial engagement/mushiness should either be fixed by a competent gunsmith or avoided in the first place.
4) all of that said, in your price range I think the Rugers are worth looking at, and also the Desert Eagle/Magnum Research versions---the latter in particular (although with ugly, huge lettering on the slide) seems to be manufacture very well--they don't leave casting marks on the internals like many makers do, and some bored/anal attention with a micrometer and three pistols that I did one Saturday showed VERY consistent dimensions.
Good hunting.
Warren
) and I'm looking at picking up another 1911.
