Citadel 1911: A Budget 1911 With Attitude

A Budget 1911 With Attitude: The Citadel 1911

Salty’s Note: The following is written as a guest post by Connor of LemmeReview.com. Beans, Bullets, Bandages and You doesn’t do affiliate links or advertising, but we do from time to time include guest posts from authors in the prepping and outdoors world that do. 

A tried and true design, the 1911 is truly an iconic weapon.

Initially used as a service pistol, the 1911 was designed to be a rugged, semi-automatic, with enough stopping power to take down anything it’s users faced.

To this day the design is still in use. Manufactured by a great number of large brand names like Colt and Smith & Wesson it can be rather daunting to find the 1911 that fits you best.

Today we are going to be reviewing a lesser known version of this tried and true design, the Citadel 1911. Produced in the Philippines by Armscor and distributed in the states by Legacy, the Citadel fits nicely into the budget price range without sacrificing many of the luxuries you expect in a modern day firearm. So without further adieu, lets get on with the review.

What’s Included:

With my Citadel i received two, eight round magazines, a carrying case, and the firearm itself. No fancy extras to be found here, but the addition of an extra magazine was a nice bonus.

The included magazines are very good. They have a nice looking blued finish and function flawlessly. The included carrying case is also very useful. It’s nothing special, but its compact and has sufficient internal padding to keep your gun nice and cozy.

Build Quality/Construction:

The quality on this gun is very good considering its origins. Firearms produced in the Philippines often times get a bad wrap for being mass produced pieces of junk, but the Citadel seems to be the exception. The fit and finish on this gun is far better than I had initially expect from a firearm that cost less than $600. You get a lot of things you would expect from a much higher priced 1911 like a skeletonized trigger and hammer. Also included is an ambidextrous safety for all those left handed folks out there.

Overall I’m very happy with the build quality and materials used. The finish on this gun is a mat black that is very durable. I haven’t had any issues with scratches or wear even after owning it for more than two years. The only place there seems to be any noticeable wear to the finish is on the slide release, which is mostly do to my negligence in dropping the slide a few times when I first purchased the firearm.

One downside I found with my gun in particular is the feed from the magazine well to the barrel. There is a small lip that will occasionally stop a bullet from properly feeding. It could easily be fixed with a little sand paper and some time to smooth it out, but i haven’t attempted that as of yet. Your mileage may vary.

I’ve also found that this gun really prefers to be cleaned after each use. If you need are in need to a gun cleaning mat to keep your 1911 pristine i recommend you check out Lemme Reviews Top 7 Gun Cleaning Mats.   

Customizability:

Most of the parts in the Citadel are exactly the same as the original 1911 design. As a result the customizability of this firearm is very good. Both the front and rear sight are removable and one of the first modifications i would recommend is to either replace them, or paint the front sight. From the factory both the front and rear sights are the same mat black as the rest of the body. This makes the sights difficult to see unless they are under perfect lighting conditions. Although this is to be expect from a budget firearm, it’s still important to be aware of.

Fun Factor:

Arguably one of the most important things to consider when purchasing a firearm as a hobbyist is how fun it is to shoot. The Citadel is a very enjoyable firearm. Just like all other 1911s it has a good amount of weight and works well with the .45 ACP cartridge. It’s 9 round (With one in the chamber) of joy at the range. Every time I shoot this gun it brings a smile to my face. Not to mention the added benefit of being able to say, “I own a 1911” to all your buddies. Every time me and my friend go out shooting they ask me if i’m bringing my Citadel, and I always do.

Although many of these things can be found in other 1911s it’s hard to beat it at this price.

Final Thoughts:

I would recommend this gun to anyone who wants a sturdy handgun to use for home defense, or just someone who wants a fun range gun. I don’t think the Citadel would be very good for competition shooting, but i’m sure with enough effort and modification it could be possible.

Overall, this is an above average firearm at a below average price. If you’ve been looking to get a 1911 for quite some time but haven’t had the cash to spend on a $900 dollar gun, than the Citadel might be just what you’ve been looking for.