The much anticipated Ruger SR1911 has arrived. The pistol features an attractive bead-blasted stainless finish and checkered hardwood grips. The best feature: the price! With a MSRP of $799, it is cheaper than similarly specced imported 1911s.

The slide is CNC machined and the frame made using investment casting. The plunger tube for the slide stop and for the thumb safety is integral to the frame, so it can’t come loose. Interestingly, the barrel and bushing are matched sets and are produced from the piece barstock. Ruger says this results in a “precise fit and improved accuracy”.

The pistol is modeled after the Colt Series 70 1911, the 1911 design Colt produced in the 1970s. In the 1980s Colt introduced the Series 80 pistols features a firing pin block. The Ruger SR1911 lacks the firing pin block and instead uses a titanium firing pin and heavy firing pin spring which the company says “negates the need for a firing pin block, offering an updated safety feature to the original “Series 70″ design without compromising trigger pull weight”.

The sights are Novak made low mount 3-dot.

The pistol also features.

• Checkered backstrap.
• Oversized beavertail grip safety
• Improved internal extractor.
• Extended thumb safety.
• Skeletonized hammer.
• Lightweight skeletonized aluminum trigger with adjustable overstop.
• Witness hole (Visual chamber inspection port).
• 7 round flush-fitting magazine or 8 round with bumper bad.

Specifications
Caliber	.45 ACP
Capacity	8+1 (with 8 round magazine)
Finish	Low-Glare Stainless Steel
Grip	Hardwood
Barrel	5.00″
Twist	1:16″ RH
Overall Length	8.67″
Weight	39.00 oz.
Sights	Fixed Novak® 3-Dot
MA/CA Approved	No
MSRP (Price)	$799.00

When I posted the leaked images, I said I had expected it to sell for around $1,000. Being priced at under $800 is very competitive. The Brazilian manufactured Taurus 1911 stainless model, for example, has a MSRP of $859.