STI Spartan vs COLT 1911 70 series

Brian James

Brian James

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I'm not knew to shooting, far from it, but new to centre fire pistol. Many of my other posts involve questions of accuracy from a target shooter perspective. I'm still looking for an NRA - 50 yard gun. The 1911 platform is obviously ideal, so I have narrowed down my selection two pistols

My budget is around 600-800$

A used Colt 1911~ 70 Series - they often sell for 600-800$
Or
An STI Spartan – given its accuracy claims may it appealing! - now on sale for $715

I can't decide which is the better route to go. The obvious answer for traditionalist is the Colt, but the STI seems promising. I’d love your input.

Take care and thank you for your patience
 
Brian James said:
I'm not knew to shooting, far from it, but new to centre fire pistol. Many of my other posts involve questions of accuracy from a target shooter perspective. I'm still looking for an NRA - 50 yard gun. The 1911 platform is obviously ideal, so I have narrowed down my selection two pistols

My budget is around 600-800$

A used Colt 1911~ 70 Series - they often sell for 600-800$
Or
An STI Spartan – given its accuracy claims may it appealing! - now on sale for $715

I can't decide which is the better route to go. The obvious answer for traditionalist is the Colt, but the STI seems promising. I’d love your input.

Take care and thank you for your patience
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STI Spartan = cast frame and slide, made in the Philippines by Armscor. It's basically a $300 gun known in the states as Rock Island Armory (RIA) with an STI logo and improved trigger. That doesn't necessarily make it a bad gun but it's not a real STI. If you are serious about building a 50 yard bulls eye gun, you will probably end up replacing most of the stock internals. The only parts that you'll end up keeping are the slide and the frame, and with that in mind I'd take Colt's forgings over el cheapo philippino castings any day of the week (especially for roughly the same money).
 
Hmmm. The problem is that you can't really get a decent 50-yard wad gun for that kind of money. I've got a Series 70 Gold Cup National Match that I just love, but honestly it wouldn't be considered really competitive for NRA 50 yard. For that, they use hand-fitted guns put together by the big-name specialists for $2-$3K USD and wait for a year or two to get them. That's out of my price range, too!

Having said that, if you can find a good used (and original, not bubba'd) Series 70 Colt GCNM, I'd say go for it. They are sweet.
 
An unmodified standard Gov series 70 is a dinosaur compared to the Spartan as far as shooting ease and comfort. Alot of upgrades on the Spartan that make it a much nicer shooting handgun. As far as the cast parts, who cares? The slide and frame are not going to break, and STI has a lifetime warranty, where a used Colt won't have anything.
 
Hitzy said:
An unmodified standard Gov series 70 is a dinosaur compared to the Spartan as far as shooting ease and comfort. Alot of upgrades on the Spartan that make it a much nicer shooting handgun. As far as the cast parts, who cares? The slide and frame are not going to break, and STI has a lifetime warranty, where a used Colt won't have anything.
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A competitive 50 yard gun would have to be extensively modified anyway, which is going to cost you upward of $2000 like Ed said. Adding a beavertail and an extended thumb safety to the Colt to take it out of the dinosaur age and put it on par with the Spartan would be a minor expense in the grand scheme of things. And with regards to cast parts never breaking, talk to the all the Para Ordnance guys with cracked slides.
 
While I'm not a huge fan of castings, I think the source and later QC is more important than cast/forged. You never hear Kimber worshippers complain about cracks, although they probably can't see them behind those rose coloured glasses. Also there are no end of complaints about "cheap Norinco crap" and those are forged from 5100 tool steel. I don't think STI would risk their reputation by putting out crap - and the assembly and fitting are done in the US, by the same people who fit/assemble/inspect the rest of the line, with many of the same internals.
 
The fact is I'm aware that I need to spend in th 2k+ range for a good 45 for NRA, but I'm looking at using this gun to have fun with at competitions. I ae events I compete in already, the 45 is to have fun with - but I still need a gun that can shoot. min 10 ring.


Does anyone know if either of these guns are capable of shooting wad cutter ammo? Or do I need to change the barrel?
 
Hmmm

I have had a couple thousand handguns, mostly 1911's, through here in almost twenty years, and have experienced ONE Para slide cracking. A double charge blew the barrel. I have seen dozens of Springfield, Colt, and Caspian slides cracked (mind you with usually well over 50,000 rounds of .38S over-the-top Major loads).

Good investment castings are just fine :)

Now as to the Colt Series 70 VS Spartan debate - there shouldn't even be a debate in my opinion. All the Spartans I have had through here (and I test fired the first one I got and I strip them all to tune the triggers and get rid of the heavy lube before shipping) are tight and accurate, feature very good adjustable sights, the trigger components are first rate and on and on.

The Series 70 Colts ( and I have worked on many hundreds) are, even the Gold Cups, VERY highly over rated :) Loose fit everywhere, they feature the roughest machining ever seen inside a Colt, horrible trigger components, WW2 quality barrel lock-ups.... I have made some lovely, accurate guns out of these as well as the Series 80 ones, but it is VERY expensive. Why in the world pay $1400 on top of a used Colt to get to where the Spartan is now for under $800 ??

Would a Trojan or Targetmaster (now those REALLY shoot!) make a better bullseye gun? Yes! If your aim is to be competitive in that game, a stock STI Targetmaster (yes, I have shot them :) is unbeatable!

My thoughts on the matter... Oh, yes, I test the Spartans with lead SWC ammo :)

Gunnar
www.armco-guns.com



capp325 said:
A competitive 50 yard gun would have to be extensively modified anyway, which is going to cost you upward of $2000 like Ed said. Adding a beavertail and an extended thumb safety to the Colt to take it out of the dinosaur age and put it on par with the Spartan would be a minor expense in the grand scheme of things. And with regards to cast parts never breaking, talk to the all the Para Ordnance guys with cracked slides.
Click to expand...
 
Brian James said:
The fact is I'm aware that I need to spend in th 2k+ range for a good 45 for NRA, but I'm looking at using this gun to have fun with at competitions. I ae events I compete in already, the 45 is to have fun with - but I still need a gun that can shoot. min 10 ring.


Does anyone know if either of these guns are capable of shooting wad cutter ammo? Or do I need to change the barrel?
Click to expand...

Buy the Spartan from Gunnar and you can be sure it will roll with wadcutters.....providing you load them correctly :)
 
In one year i went through three Colt Gold Cups, None of them would shoot better then 3 inches at 25 yards. My junk .45 colt with a clark barrel would shoot 1 inch all day long.Given the choice between a new gold cup and a used Norinco,I would take the Norinco.Getting a Colt to shoot is going to cost you money.
 
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