1911 handguns

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Dad is looking for a reliable and accurate 1911 type handgun for IPSC and IDPA.

So far ive looked at: Para, and STI. What do you guys have to say for a 1911 type handgun, it must be 9mm though.

Any other companies out there making 1911's?
 
IMHO,tons of high-end custom 1911 there. LesBaer,WilsonCombat,Ed Brown,Rock river,nighthawk,STI/SVI....BTW,for production 1911,sig 1911 might be my pick due to no MIM parts applied(even WC and STI uses MIM parts somewhere).
 
Man , I hope you're not comparing Para to STI ! I hear there are pleanty of Para owners around,... with broken pistols.
 
High end double stack: STI.

Mid range double stack: Bul M5 IPSC model

Your wasting your money: Para Ordnance.

High end single stack: STI Trojan

Mid range single stack: Springfield loaded.

No experience with the Norinco 9mm, if it's like the .45 then this would be the pick of the low cost single stacks.
 
Take a very hard look at the Para P-18 if your Dad wants a 9MM in the 1911 format. Gun is very solid. The single stack 9mm is hampered somewhat in that the mags presently only hold nine rounds which might hamper you somewhat in IPSC. The single stack can be slightly more difficult to reload with speed compared to a double stack.

As to Para vs STI Trojan. I have both guns and both are excellent. Fit and finish are equal and both are very accurate and both of mine are trouble free. The Trojan required a lighter recoil spring to function properly in 9MM but that was a minor thing easily fixed.

Given a choice I would stick with Para, a Canadian company. Their warranty and service is excellent. Besides Todd Jarrett uses them and seems to be able to hold his own in both IPSC and IDPA. As an aside Colt in Canada now sells Para pistols and they could have chosen STI.

Take Care

Bob
 
OK its down to the P-18 and STI Trojam 5.0. Any pro's and cons of these town.

PLZ Im not compairing them. He wants a pistol that can function reliable and accurate right out of the box.
 
My advice. Go with the Para. If nothing else the warranty is "Lifetime". If it breaks Para will fix it right here in Canada. The Power extractor is in my SSP and works well. While my Trojan has not had to many issues with mags, others have. Getting the slide to lock back after the last round being one of them. If you go with the P-18 go for the limited. I sold my P-14 Ltd. to my son and the gun is an outstanding firearm.

For playing the games the double stack mags are much easier to insert quickly. You won't be disappointed.

Take Care

Bob
 
Para Ordnance is a great gun...for people who clearing malfunctions. STI or a used Colt in good shape would be my choice for a 9 mm 1911.
 
capp325: Get serious.

VincentVega: Guys that have them like them, those that are struck by anything made in the US don't. Every manufacture out there produces quality guns and yes some have problems. Go to the 1911 Forum and you can read the horor stories on every manufacture. What is important to me and most is what the manufacture does to correct problems if they occur.

If Colt Canada has decided to sell the Para Double stack that should speak volumes for the quality of the Paras. They could have chosen STI or Springfield but didn't.

What nobody has talked about and should is the problems with the 9MM single stack mags and the slide stop not engaging after the last round is fired. Most mags I have tried require some tweaking. The only mag that worked properly in my STI was the one that came with the gun. After I replaced the factory installed 14# recoil spring with a 10# spring the slide stayed back on about half my mags. The remaining mags required the foot of the follower to be bent in order for them to properly engage the slide stop most of the time.

That aside, the gun is accurate and a joy to shoot. PResently waiting for Tripp Research to produce 10 round mags for the single stack 9MM 1911's and life will be good. They tell me early in the new year. Can't wait.

Take Care

Bob
 
the P-18 or Trojan will fit your needs you just have to decide if you want a double stack or a single stack.I started shooting IPSC with a P16-40 and the only glitch was one of the screws on the reaer sight broke. Which has also happend on both of my STI's.
 
Canuck44 said:
capp325: Get serious.
I am serious. I tried three different Para Ordnance pistols (9mm, .40 and .45) when doing probationary shoots at my club and all three of them suffered from FTF and/or FTE issues. I haven't had any problems with the other semi-autos I was shooting at the time (CZ and Colt), so it wasn't due to newbie "limp wristing". Needless to say, I won't be buying any Para Ordnance products.
 
lcpaintballer said:
Dad is looking for a reliable and accurate 1911 type handgun for IPSC and IDPA.

So far ive looked at: Para, and STI. What do you guys have to say for a 1911 type handgun, it must be 9mm though.

Any other companies out there making 1911's?

Any particular reason for the choice of 9 mm? For IPSC with the current divisions, it would be a bit at a disadvantage in standard division (considered a minor power factor) and it does not fit into production division (unless you are looking for a Para LDA).

If you plan to keep it entirely stock (except to replace the plastic mag catch that may eventually shear off with a lot of reloads) it's a fair bit cheaper than an STI and by the time the gun is worn out you will have got your money's worth out of it and know what you want next.

If you like to fiddle and upgrade parts, it may cost you as much as the STI would in the first place although the costs may be spread out over time (this is what I did). It will still shoot fine but likely won't be any cheaper than the STI over the long haul. I must admit, except for the mag catch, everything else was a voluntary upgrade and it functions fine after 10-12,000 rounds.

- Andrew
 
capp325 said:
I am serious. I tried three different Para Ordnance pistols (9mm, .40 and .45) when doing probationary shoots at my club and all three of them suffered from FTF and/or FTE issues.QUOTE]
were they new, used but unaltered or had they been fiddled with? Peolpel who don't have a clue about what they are doing love to tinker with 1911's and then blame the gun for not working instead of their stupidity.
Untill Freedom Ventures came around the majority of guns being used in IPSC Ontario were Para's. The only reason I switched is because I love the look of the unique slide and extended dustcover, but the major factor in me buying STI was the opening price. I still have my Para, which I think I did pretty well with, and have no issues taking it out to race at any match.
 
Cuzz I have no reason why they couldn't. Is there one? The fact they risked their reputation on Para pistols would indicate they were satisfied with the quality of the product.

Take Care

Bob
 
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