Are there other women shooters out there
- Thread starter kschneider
- Start date
kschneider
Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
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.[/QUO I started this thread to talk to other women about guns, not spelling and grammer, so this was the intended topic. I want other womens opinions on fit and feel of various guns. Mens opinions are helpful, it's just that you tend to be stronger and larger, so I would like a womans perspective.
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Ms. K,
You listed four makes of 1911's. In the case of Springfield in particular, they produce quite a number of full-sized 1911 pistols from economical right up to the high-end line. Para has a narrower range of mid-cost guns and SAM are also lower-cost pistols. From a feel, size,weight, ergonomics perspective they won't be a whole lot different.
Some people will tell you that the 1911 is not the ideal pistol for a beginner. You might be lucky and get one that works perfectly "out of the box" but often they do require more tweaking and maintenance than other pistols. Buying reliable magazines for that particular pistol can take a little time as well as trial and error.
If you plan to compete in IPSC with your gun, you should be aware that using a 1911 in 9mm will put you at a disadvantage in the Standard Division as you will be grouped against shooters with guns that are better suited for that division where larger-caliber guns have an advantage because they qualify for "major". I sometimes shoot a 9mm in Standard but know and accept that I may be giving up about 20 points to shooters who use higher-capacity pistols in .40 caliber. This may or may not mean anything to you. It depends on how competitive you want to be.
If you do decide going with a 1911 pistol in the approximate range of the Spartan, I suggest that you carefully consider the dealer you work with in terms of support. Freedom Ventures handles the STI line and have a good reputation as do others. If you want to focus on proven reliability and popularity for good and valid reasons, consider other makes like CZ as a great many shooters use them with good results. They are similarly priced and well supported.
Gord
You listed four makes of 1911's. In the case of Springfield in particular, they produce quite a number of full-sized 1911 pistols from economical right up to the high-end line. Para has a narrower range of mid-cost guns and SAM are also lower-cost pistols. From a feel, size,weight, ergonomics perspective they won't be a whole lot different.
Some people will tell you that the 1911 is not the ideal pistol for a beginner. You might be lucky and get one that works perfectly "out of the box" but often they do require more tweaking and maintenance than other pistols. Buying reliable magazines for that particular pistol can take a little time as well as trial and error.
If you plan to compete in IPSC with your gun, you should be aware that using a 1911 in 9mm will put you at a disadvantage in the Standard Division as you will be grouped against shooters with guns that are better suited for that division where larger-caliber guns have an advantage because they qualify for "major". I sometimes shoot a 9mm in Standard but know and accept that I may be giving up about 20 points to shooters who use higher-capacity pistols in .40 caliber. This may or may not mean anything to you. It depends on how competitive you want to be.
If you do decide going with a 1911 pistol in the approximate range of the Spartan, I suggest that you carefully consider the dealer you work with in terms of support. Freedom Ventures handles the STI line and have a good reputation as do others. If you want to focus on proven reliability and popularity for good and valid reasons, consider other makes like CZ as a great many shooters use them with good results. They are similarly priced and well supported.
Gord
kschneider
Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
Thank you for the reply. I don't plan on IPSC for now because I have arthritis and I don't think I could handle the pace and movement. I was considering a 1911 because I have a Girsan and a Ruger Mark 3 and just wanted a different style gun. I have a great friend who helps me out. He's been working on his own guns for years and is very good to me. He reloads for me and I trust him. I am a fast learner. My husband races stock car and I have taught myself many things over the years. I know my way around a Holley carb, have done a cam in a sb chevy, including setting the valves, so I find learning about what makes a gun tick almost more interesting than shooting it, and it is way easier on my arthritic back and legs. I talked to Gunner at Armco in B.C. and he said they tune them before they leave so I can have it tuned how I would like I guess. You made very valid points and I thank you, but the way I feel now, I don't think I'll be able to progress past just recreational shooting. But that's ok because I'm having fun.
Ms. K,
That's excellent! Having fun is my number one priority too. At close to 70 and with shaky legs, I sort of wobble around. Nevertheless, the shooting sports are generally very inclusive. I have shooting friends that are 40 years younger than me but I'm always made to feel welcome.
Have a great time!
Gord
That's excellent! Having fun is my number one priority too. At close to 70 and with shaky legs, I sort of wobble around. Nevertheless, the shooting sports are generally very inclusive. I have shooting friends that are 40 years younger than me but I'm always made to feel welcome.
Have a great time!
Gord
I'm thinking of doing this for my wife for Christmas, she already comes shooting in the bush with me, but she keeps asking me when I am going to get a handgun so we can go to the range and shoot. I'm thinking I will pay for her RPAL and then take her pistol shopping.
kschneider
Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
A pistol case painted like a Louis Vuitton or Gucci bag would be a cool gift, maybe one of a kind.
Don't take the negative comments to heart, as mentioned it's hard to read tone in posts and gun owners can be a opinionated bunch, water off a ducks back. There's also a bunch of good folk who are helpful, you just have to spend some time sorting the chaff from the wheat.
Your choice of the Spartan is sound, if your budget allows SPEND MORE (women understand this innately
). The 1911 is a great platform, I shoot a couple in .45 but was honestly impressed with the one I shot in 9mm. They have great triggers and will reward your efforts with pleasant recoil, and they're pure class. Weather hobbling around or dealing with arthritis as long as we're all having fun who gives a damn, "Life is grand even at the worst of times", can't remember who said that.Here's a thread on the Spartan, there's also a link in there to an article on them:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/979162-Debatiing-on-an-STI-Spartan
kschneider
Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
Don't take the negative comments to heart, as mentioned it's hard to read tone in posts and gun owners can be a opinionated bunch, water off a ducks back. There's also a bunch of good folk who are helpful, you just have to spend some time sorting the chaff from the wheat.
Your choice of the Spartan is sound, if your budget allows SPEND MORE (women understand this innately
Here's a thread on the Spartan, there's also a link in there to an article on them:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/979162-Debatiing-on-an-STI-Spartan
I don't think I can go over $1000.00, so i guess that leaves out the really good STI's, Sig, Kimber, S&W, ect. So out of the low and mid priced ( between $500.00 and $1000.00) what could anyone recommend. I kind of like the look of the Taurus 1911 stainless.
I shot a Taurus in 9mm in Edmonton. I liked the pistol. But if I was going to buy another 9mm in that price range it'd be a CZ shadow. It just felt better in my hands. I'd buy the Taurus, based on those 2 mags I shot, if I found a great deal on one, if I felt I needed a third 9mm pistol
Support and parts availability used to be an issue with Taurus. Freedom Ventures is the importer. You might ask around. I have the habit of buying a kit of replacement parts for all my guns. $100.00 will cover the basics and you can do that in advance. I would get a firing pin, an extractor, pin set and a couple of recoil springs at a minimum. Then if necessary, you can have your friend install them rather than lose your pistol for an extended period.
I'd go STI, SIG, Kimber, though I'm somewhat STI biased , Taurus would be my last pick. For mags Tripp Cobra mags are the best followed by Wilson, I wouldn't even waste my time with anything else.
X2 on the parts kit.
If you're open to a .45 there was an STI Lawman on the EE for $1600, yes over your budget BUT it had 5 Wilson mags, holsters, most importantly a gun that needs zero upgrades as all the parts are steel (no mim or plastic), basically shoot the snot out of it for the rest of your life.
, Taurus would be my last pick. For mags Tripp Cobra mags are the best followed by Wilson, I wouldn't even waste my time with anything else. X2 on the parts kit.
If you're open to a .45 there was an STI Lawman on the EE for $1600, yes over your budget BUT it had 5 Wilson mags, holsters, most importantly a gun that needs zero upgrades as all the parts are steel (no mim or plastic), basically shoot the snot out of it for the rest of your life.
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Tongarirohiker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Edmonton, AB
kschneider, sorry, didn't realize your were specifically looking for a woman's perspective, but that makes sense in rereading your original post.
I checked with my friend to see what she's shooting these days. She had a CZ SP-01 Shadow (9mm). Great gun out of the box, and her only change was to replace the stock grip panels with thinner ones so it was easier for her fingers to reach the controls. It points well for her, and the trigger pull is light enough in SA that she can shoot all day without fatigue. Minimal felt recoil in her opinion. It seems to be a hit for the men and ladies alike.
She's also got an S&W M&P in 9mm, for many of the same reasons, and a Browning Buckmark URX to round out the family. The grip is really comfortable on that thing.
The thing I like about the CZ is that it feels like a 1911 in many ways, without having to go through the process of picking a 1911 as there are a lot of options available.
I checked with my friend to see what she's shooting these days. She had a CZ SP-01 Shadow (9mm). Great gun out of the box, and her only change was to replace the stock grip panels with thinner ones so it was easier for her fingers to reach the controls. It points well for her, and the trigger pull is light enough in SA that she can shoot all day without fatigue. Minimal felt recoil in her opinion. It seems to be a hit for the men and ladies alike.
She's also got an S&W M&P in 9mm, for many of the same reasons, and a Browning Buckmark URX to round out the family. The grip is really comfortable on that thing.
The thing I like about the CZ is that it feels like a 1911 in many ways, without having to go through the process of picking a 1911 as there are a lot of options available.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Beware the Taurus 9mm folks. Taurus copied the Beretta M92 when there was an issue with the bolt block, that would fail after X amount of rounds downrange in 9mm Parabellum. Beretta got around to fixing this design flaw, but Taurus never bothered following this route. IMO, be it a pistol or a revolver, I can think of better investments other than the Taurus products.
Edit: Grant Cunningham, a well known gunsmith south of this border, refuses to work on them.
Edit: Grant Cunningham, a well known gunsmith south of this border, refuses to work on them.
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redshooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Central Ontario
This was discussed in the Girsan thread. Since they are both pre 92FS designs it would be safe to assume you have to watch for the same things. As far as I can tell (with the available info) it's a metallurgy issue more than a design flaw. I'd argue the slide in the teeth thing wouldn't happen if the steel was the right mix.
As for an American gunsmith not working on a Taurus...that probably has more to do with his patriotic fervor than Taurus Revolvers being crap. I think it's safe to say that on the whole Taurus products work well, to outright refuse to work on them smacks of typical USA or nothing prejudice. I happen to be a wee bit of a protectionist myself so I'm not offended by the idea, but I'd put money on it that it has more to do with where it's made than how.
Sorry your thread is getting off track k. Just like any conversation it goes where it may.
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kschneider
Regular
- Location
- southern ontario
This was discussed in the Girsan thread. Since they are both pre 92FS designs it would be safe to assume you have to watch for the same things. As far as I can tell (with the available info) it's a metallurgy issue more than a design flaw. I'd argue the slide in the teeth thing wouldn't happen if the steel was the right mix.
As for an American gunsmith not working on a Taurus...that probably has more to do with his patriotic fervor than Taurus Revolvers being crap. I think it's safe to say that on the whole Taurus products work well, to outright refuse to work on them smacks of typical USA or nothing prejudice. I happen to be a wee bit of a protectionist myself so I'm not offended by the idea, but I'd put money on it that it has more to do with where it's made than how.
Sorry your thread is getting off track k. Just like any conversation it goes where it may.
It's all good. As far as eating Italian steel, or in this case Brazilian steel, I have a Girsan, so I already risk eating Turkish steel, but I will let you know which one tastes best. But seriously, I think that only applies to the Taurus PT92. That is the Beretta clone. I don't think that was a problem with the PT1911. As far as the slide on the Girsan, I closely inspect after each cleaning. I also check ears on block. I don't know if your familiar with cars, but I broke 2 timing belts on an interference motor, and it's still going strong.
