Has anyone had any experience with the STI Spartan V. If so, would you choose it over a SAM, Springfield, or Para, all in 9mm.
For future, start a new thread if you have an unrelated question. Makes it easier for other people with the same question or interest.
That said, I like the STI Spartan. Would I buy it over the others? Only if price and availability made it the clear winner. Otherwise, you can't really go wrong with a 1911 from any of those manufacturers. The SAM 1911 Commander I shot looked like the finish could have been better but it didn't affect the way the pistol performed at all. I've read some internet rumour that there have been issues with swapping in non-SAM parts, but I'd do my research on that first. Seems like a great budget 1911.
As far as other women shooter's, they exist. Glad you're part of the group. I got my wife's best friend into shooting. She goes to blow off steam and put holes in paper. I shot a steel match with 2 ladies in my squad. One of them shoot's IPSC, the other was just starting out with action shooting. It's all about fun and branching out the sport. I hope I can get my daughter into shooting, but since she's only 4 months old, I think there's still time. I'll just have to show her a lot of Katelyn Francis videos for the next 10 years.
Based on my observations, there are two things that keep women away from shooting sports. Meatheads, and not introducing them to firearms in a suitable manner. You can bring any guy to the range. He'll happily blow holes in paper, and leave grinning. You do the same thing to a woman who's unfamiliar with firearms, and they'll either love it or hate it. Those who end up hating it seem to have the same responses. Fear, either of the noise or recoil. Often both. This happened when I took a group of coworkers to the range. A couple of the girls thought it was fun, the others haven't been back since. After getting their feedback, I've started out any women I bring to the range with a .22. Teach them about grip, stance, sight picture and trigger press. By the end of it, their fear of firearms are dispelled. From there, we can work with my 9mm for a few magazines and they come away loving it. They also end up shooting better than their husbands/boyfriends. For them, it's not about things going bang. It's more of an academic challenge. Since taking this approach, those ladies have made at least one other trip back to the range.
If you're looking to shoot with more women in your area, check into the action shooting sports. IPSC, Steel Challenge, IDPA. I'd be surprised if there weren't a few ladies.
I agree 100% with the other folks on the thread, ignore the meatheads. They annoy many of us guys as much as they annoy the ladies. Personally, I make it a policy to not piss off someone who's as well armed as I am.
