my brief experience w a ruger SR1911 lightweight model was not good. thumb safety was not at all positive, way too easy to engage/disengage, gun was very picky with magazine likely due to incorrect extractor tension, point-of-impact was ridiculously low ~6" at 10 yards. frame rails showed absurd degree of wear in just a few hundred rounds. overall build quality just felt cheap. that gun did not stay with me.
there are countless reports of the ruger 1911 frames rusting. i've seen their guns brand new with rust while still in the shop for sale. awful. just awful. this is a sign of Ruger's general approach to firearms production, which is to crank out as much as possible at the expense of quality. reality is that most gun purchasers do not shoot their firearms, so the defective elements don't really show up. Ruger isn't the only company taking this shameful approach.
I've owned countless of their firearms over the years and I think all but a few have gone back to them for fixing within the first hundred rounds. in defense of Ruger, they have either fixed the issues or completely replaced the gun. each replacement gun I've received works perfectly which is proof they have a "special" stash of firearms they probably keep for themselves and reviewers. I am still loyal to Ruger because their CS is strong, otherwise I would avoid their products all together.
that being said, most of Ruger's guns are overpriced including their 1911's. for that price range I would take a rock island or remington R1 anyday (yes Remington/FG makes trash too but their 1911's are solid). i've owned all three and still have the rock island. for more $$ the Sig 1911 would be an even better choice as it has excellent front strap checkering, better fit-finish, adjustable sights, etc.
Gartman Arms in Wrentham has a nice selection of 1911's. if i were in the market i would start there.
