what's my other hangun gonna be? a 1911 for IDPA. but which one?

BP7

BP7

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ok, so handgun #1 is a Glock 22 (.40S&W) that's being ordered on tuesday. it'll be used in IDPA and range days. but yeah, i want a 1911 as well. got a similar budget for it, between $500 and $800.

from what i know, here's what i'd like:

5" barrel
reliable for IDPA (beginner level)
no rail (though i suppose i can tolerate one that is discrete)
extended beavertail
skeletonized parts (trigger, hammer)
memory pad on grip safety
good combat sights (fixed)
no ridiculous names stamped all over the damned thing ("tactical combat ultra pro II")
easy to get replacement parts for (minimal proprietary junk, and no "inspired by 1911 but totally uniqe")

i'm ok buying something that's 90% there and just swapping one or two small parts (like the beavertail - grip safety or grip panels) as long as the rest of the handgun is good-to-great.

i do NOT want to replace barrels, trigger internals, spring combinations, etc, or have to send it out to get tweaked and made right.

i don't want a tricked out Camaro SS, or a Skyline GT-R, i want a simple and well-put-together no-fluff Honda.

i'm not too concerned about whether it's stainless or blued or park'd. actually a park'd (or powdercoated black) with wood grips would be kinda nice. i'm ok replacing grips - the stock ones can be crap. i'm ok with an ambi safetly, but it's not needed.

should i be looking at Taurus? STI? Para? Springfield? Norinco*?

* one thing that i don't like about Norinco is that most people say it's great once you replace a bunch of parts and have some work done to it. i don't want to #### around with that - i want it to be really good directly out of the box.
 
For your price range a Taurus PT1911 is a good bet.
I've never had any problems with mine to date with around 2500 rounds through it so far.
 
STI Spartan from Armco, it's $800 and will come checked out and mildly worked on for reliability and trigger work done. Get the extra mags too, either from same place or Freedom.
 
+1

STI Spartan from Armco.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
Sti Spartan. Other than maybe it being checked out by Armco it doesn't say on their site that its tweaked like the Norc or the Para GI so I don't think it really matters where you buy it from. My spartan is the most accurate pistol I've owned so far.
 
hmm, spartan looks nice, though i'm not crazy about the sights. are those easy to change into something simpler? is it a standard 1911 dovetail or an STI-specific size?
 
Just a bit more than your budget but the STI Trojan in .45acp is a step up from the Spartan and the build quality shows. There is one on the EE right now that seems to be priced right. The Trojan comes with excellent adjustable sights though which can be replaced but just adds to the expense.

For a lot less money but completely functional there is the Norinco Police Model. If you aren't planning to shoot in the US there is nothing wrong with the gun. It certainly will serve you well in CDP.

Take Care

Bob
 
BP7 said:
hmm, spartan looks nice, though i'm not crazy about the sights. are those easy to change into something simpler? is it a standard 1911 dovetail or an STI-specific size?
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What's wrong with the sights that come with it. They are perfect for competition. Same kinda sights as on the CZ Shadow except adjustble.
 
USA - ah yes, good point. i should probably keep that as an option, either for competing in the near future or downright moving there (i don't plan on staying in Canada forever-n-ever). so yeah, good point about Norinco being a Canada-only thing.

sights - well, i'd prefer simple combat sights as i'm getting into IDPA not JUST for the "hey it's a fun sport" thing but also as "well, this is how to eventually one day defend myself when i relocate to a country that permits carry and/or self defense". this part is a bit touchy, but i gotta be realistic about my long-term life plans. no sense hiding behind the PC thing. granted, while a resident here and while shooting here, i have NO INTENTIONS of carrying or using for self defense, so don't get the wrong idea that i'm looking to turn into a commando or some such thing. but big picture being what it is, i'd rather have plain fixed sights rather than "competition type" sights.


ya, i took a look at the Trojan (on the STI page, not on EE). seems quite nice, price is around 40% more than the Spartan. is the quality 40% higher as well?

oh, will either of them reliably feed JHP ammo? for range days and IDPA stuff i'd likely use FMJ / TMJ, but i might want to load up a few JHP as well (for the reasons just mentioned above)
 
Well I wouldn't worry about either the sights or any future move to the US. The paperwork to permantly export/import guns into the US would give a rock a headache though it certainly can be done.

Both guns go bang when you pull the trigger and both should handle everything you can find toi feed them. The Spartan is made in the Phillipines, by I believe Armscor. STI may assemble them in Texas, but at their price point, they likely don't do much more than that. Sean Hanson can come on and explain it better than I can guess what they do. Do I think it is worth paying the extra, well long term yes. Over a ten year period it amounts to what $40. per year. You have to determine what fits your budget and go for it.

From what you have said you are looking for an entry level 1911 that will serve you well in IDPA. You say you are just getting into the sport so you should know it is the archer not the arrow. I will say though decent sights can makes a great deal of difference to your scoring. Short term to learn the sport the Norinco would get my nod. If you end up staying in Canada, you can upgrade the gun as much as you want. Long term I believe the Trojan represents very good value. Somewhere in the middle lies the Spartan.

One option you haven't discussed is a 1911 in 9MM to compete in ESP Division. Both the Spartan and Trojan are available in that caliber. 9MM Ammo is so much cheaper than .45acp unless you reload. Either equiped with a decent magwell, work extremely well in ESP.

Flip a coin, consult a weegee board, gaze at the stars, check your budget and jump in. Whatever pistol you choose you will have fun shooting IDPA. Good luck and let us know which way you go.

Take Care

Bob
 
sounds like Spartan is the best overall way to go - entry level enough but of good quality nonetheless. i have found lots of info online that the main parts are made in the Phils, but the little parts and guts are STI. still unclear as to where it's fully assembled, but that's alright. they seem to have plenty of happy owners.

ya, i have kinda skipped over the 9mm. on tuesday (tomorrow) i'm putting in an order for a Glock 22 (.40SW) and that ammo is priced pretty close to 9mm, and that'll be one of my two IDPA guns. the 1911 in .45ACP would offer a nice bit of variety and "change of pace".

"it's not the arrow, it's the Indian" - well aware of it, hence i'm not trying to go too overboard with $1500+ stuff. better than a pea-shooter but a few notches back from a laser. i'll save my silly budget for the "just for the pure hell of it" toys like a DE or Raging Bull later this year or next year. and i still gotta squeeze in a .22LR into the mix - currently the club has a few i can borrow and supplying my own ammo will be easy and cheap.


so.... STI Spartan? any reason NOT to make that the choice? i guess the only thing is "CAN i swap out the sights if i want to use simpler ones, or is the dovetail an STI-specific size?"
 
BP7 said:
ya, i have kinda skipped over the 9mm. on tuesday (tomorrow) i'm putting in an order for a Glock 22 (.40SW) and that ammo is priced pretty close to 9mm, and that'll be one of my two IDPA guns. the 1911 in .45ACP would offer a nice bit of variety and "change of pace".
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Unless you're talking reloads .40 is quite a bit more expensive than 9mm.
 
correct on reloads (commercial stuff bought in batches of at least 1000 per caliber, not my own - i have zero desire to reload myself). pretty well any firearm i use will see mainly commercial reloads (except .22LR obviously) - which is why i have that other thread on here about places to buy said reloads from! :D

i might go factory-fresh for JHP or a unique caliber if i can't find it in reloaded form, but that's pretty well it. about half of the stuff i've shot at the range (outside of .22LR) has been Wolf reloads, and never had any problems, so... i'm thinking it's good stuff to continue using.
 
Gundoggy said:
STI is best quality among the choices at that price.
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I beg to differ, having owned one.
If it was a choice between the PT1911 and the Spartan, it would be the Taurus for me hands down....Hell, I'd take it over a few Kimbers and Colts I've come across....;)
 
go with the STI. once you handle one you will see. it is refined beyond any non custom 1911
 
beltfed said:
I beg to differ, having owned one.
If it was a choice between the PT1911 and the Spartan, it would be the Taurus for me hands down....Hell, I'd take it over a few Kimbers and Colts I've come across....;)
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details?

i'm listening..... which version did you have? stainless, steel, or aluminum? what did you dislike about the Spartan? where did the Taurus eclipse it? how long did you have them for?
 
I do go with a Rock Island within the budget or Trojan for a little more. When you move to the State, sell the damn gun and use the money to buy a new one over there since the price in the State is much lower than here, you won't lose your money for sure.

Trigun
 
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