Einhander13
CGN Regular
- Location
- Steinbach, MB
Just got this baby a few days ago. Still waiting for the paper work so I have no trigger time.
Sorry for the pictures. I just have a cheap smartphone and no skillz.
White stuff on the gun is sugar (don't ask).
I don't have any pictures of the Ruger but you know what it looks like.
Now for some comparisons of the fit and finish and function and fuc-whoops:
I am not a gunsmith and I have no firearms training whatsoever except for the Canada firearms safety course.
thumb safety
the STI is far more crisp and a little stiffer, the Ruger has some play before snapping to the other position
firing pin stop
STI snaps into place and has no movement, Ruger flops around like a fish out of water
grip safety
both have quite a bit of play side to side but function perfectly
hammer strut
the Ruger's looks like it was made by a kindergartner with a file, super rough all around
I could not believe how rough this part is, but it functions no problem
STI is titanium and is pretty smooth and very even
trigger
STI far less play vertically and slightly less side to side, also has less pretravel and a lighter pull weight. It's also noticeably more crisp.
The trigger comparision is interesting because the STI has a solid steel trigger with a coating or finish of some sort on the whole trigger, including the bow, which definitely is a source of friction.
The Ruger has an aluminum shoe with multiple holes and an overtravel stop. The bow is probably stainless and is reasonably slick.
It's obvious that STI knows how to make a good trigger, even when constrained by the old school design of the trigger. It's a better trigger than the Ruger hands down, although not by miles.
slide to frame fit
the Ruger is probably comparable to a Norinco, although I've never handled one of those
the back of the slide is fairly even with the frame and ejector etc.
STI has just slight play side to side and even less up and down. Back of the slide fit is excellent, better than my BHP mark 3. It's hard to tell when my finger is running over the extractor. I'm very impressed.
field strip
STI is noticeably harder to disassemble because of the tighter fit of the barrel bushing and slide stop pin.
magazine release
pretty similar fitting in that they have a noticeable gap around the lock side of the release, both are also a little rough when pressing the button
pulling the slide
STI is slick and smooth and a pleasure to rack. Obvious quality
Ruger, not so much. When the slide rides over the hammer and disconnector there is noticeably more resistance than the STI.
Conclusion
I am going to sell my Ruger, probably after I shoot the STI for the first time.
I know it's a little silly to compare a $800 gun against a $1000.65 gun (taxes and shipping included, big thanks you to Freedom Ventures), but I felt it was interesting to compare, especially when the cheaper gun has quite a few features upgraded including extended thumb safety, mag release, beavertail, Novak sights, aluminum trigger w/overtravel stop, checkered mainspring housing etc. All that said, I have roughtly 400 rounds through it with no problems.
You get what you pay for.
Links:
STI GI review with some decent pictures
http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/sti-gi-1911-classic-john-m-browning/#sti-gi-1911-hbg-2015-lead
a thread on the GI internals
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=395327
Sorry for the pictures. I just have a cheap smartphone and no skillz.
White stuff on the gun is sugar (don't ask).
I don't have any pictures of the Ruger but you know what it looks like.
Now for some comparisons of the fit and finish and function and fuc-whoops:
I am not a gunsmith and I have no firearms training whatsoever except for the Canada firearms safety course.
thumb safety
the STI is far more crisp and a little stiffer, the Ruger has some play before snapping to the other position
firing pin stop
STI snaps into place and has no movement, Ruger flops around like a fish out of water
grip safety
both have quite a bit of play side to side but function perfectly
hammer strut
the Ruger's looks like it was made by a kindergartner with a file, super rough all around
I could not believe how rough this part is, but it functions no problem
STI is titanium and is pretty smooth and very even
trigger
STI far less play vertically and slightly less side to side, also has less pretravel and a lighter pull weight. It's also noticeably more crisp.
The trigger comparision is interesting because the STI has a solid steel trigger with a coating or finish of some sort on the whole trigger, including the bow, which definitely is a source of friction.
The Ruger has an aluminum shoe with multiple holes and an overtravel stop. The bow is probably stainless and is reasonably slick.
It's obvious that STI knows how to make a good trigger, even when constrained by the old school design of the trigger. It's a better trigger than the Ruger hands down, although not by miles.
slide to frame fit
the Ruger is probably comparable to a Norinco, although I've never handled one of those
the back of the slide is fairly even with the frame and ejector etc.
STI has just slight play side to side and even less up and down. Back of the slide fit is excellent, better than my BHP mark 3. It's hard to tell when my finger is running over the extractor. I'm very impressed.
field strip
STI is noticeably harder to disassemble because of the tighter fit of the barrel bushing and slide stop pin.
magazine release
pretty similar fitting in that they have a noticeable gap around the lock side of the release, both are also a little rough when pressing the button
pulling the slide
STI is slick and smooth and a pleasure to rack. Obvious quality
Ruger, not so much. When the slide rides over the hammer and disconnector there is noticeably more resistance than the STI.
Conclusion
I am going to sell my Ruger, probably after I shoot the STI for the first time.
I know it's a little silly to compare a $800 gun against a $1000.65 gun (taxes and shipping included, big thanks you to Freedom Ventures), but I felt it was interesting to compare, especially when the cheaper gun has quite a few features upgraded including extended thumb safety, mag release, beavertail, Novak sights, aluminum trigger w/overtravel stop, checkered mainspring housing etc. All that said, I have roughtly 400 rounds through it with no problems.
You get what you pay for.
Links:
STI GI review with some decent pictures
http://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/sti-gi-1911-classic-john-m-browning/#sti-gi-1911-hbg-2015-lead
a thread on the GI internals
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=395327
