Springfield Vickers Tactical: 2020 Reader’s Choice for ‘Best 1911’

As we continue to unveil the winners of our Ballistic’s Best 2020 Reader’s Choice voting, today we land on “Best 1911.”

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2020 Reader’s Choice for “Best 1911”

The nominees for our 2020 Reader’s Choice “Best 1911” were:

• Colt Competition Plus
• Kimber Rapide Black Ice
• Nighthawk Custom TRS Comp
• Remington Ultralite Executive
• Ruger SR1911 Custom Shop
• SIG Sauer Emperor Scorpion
• Smith & Wesson SW1911 E-Series
• Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class
• Tisas Duty B45
• Wilson Combat EDC X9S

Just as a reminder, here are all of the categories in our 2020 Reader’s Choice voting:

• Full-Size Semi-Auto Handgun — Winner Here
• Compact Semi-Auto Handgun — Winner Here
• 1911
• Revolver (DA/SA .357 Magnum) — Winner Here
• Tactical Pump Shotgun — Winner Here
• AR-15 Pistol — Winner Here
• Semi-Auto AR-15 Rifle — Winner Here
• Semi-Auto AR-10 Rifle — Winner Here
• Bolt-Action Rifle (6.5 Creedmoor) — Winner Here

In total, there were 12,690 votes for the “Best 1911” category. And, with 29.09 percent of the vote, the winner is the Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911.

Springfield Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911 Details

Here’s what our experts had to say about the Vickers Tactical Master Call 1911 in their testing for the 2020 issue of Ballistic’s Best:

“Springfield Armory sent me a sample of their relatively new 1911 Vickers Tactical Master Class pistol. In a collaboration with retired U.S. Army 1st SFOD-Delta operator and combat veteran Larry Vickers, the gun combines Springfield Armory’s extensive 1911 manufacturing experience with his knowledge of features that a fighting handgun should possess. There are no extraneous appendages or features that might entice a “1911 newbie” or the occasional match shooter to buy this gun. It possesses everything needed to win a deadly encounter and nothing that is not. This is an expert’s gun built for the man who takes this business seriously, and it is a rock-solid workhorse.

“Springfield only uses forged frames and slides because they provide the strength needed to stand up to thousands of rounds of practice. The match-grade barrel is manufactured from a stainless steel forging, and a stainless steel bushing is used with it. Springfield designed the gun to use a single, standard recoil spring and guide. The gun is fitted with a solid, medium-length aluminum trigger and a Wilson Combat stainless steel Commander hammer, and the trigger breaks crisply with 4.5 pounds of pressure. 

“… Of all the guns tested, this particular gun would be my choice for a ‘go-to-war’ gun. It is a well-executed 1911 that gives the shooter everything needed to be successful.”

Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911 Specs

• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel: 5 inches
• Overall Length: 8.6 inches
• Overall Weight: 41.5 ounces (empty)
• Grip: G10
• Sights: Tritium front, Vickers Elite rear
• Action: SA
• Finish: Black T
• Capacity: 8+1
• MSRP: $1,495

Also, if you want to see all of the official winners, grab a copy of Ballistic’s Best 2020. Both print and digital subs are available now at OutdoorGroupStore.com.