GunshineST

You guys rock...when I first discovered the 1911 and 2011, my buddy Joel told me the first thing I needed to do was get going on Enos forums. I think one of the first things I need to do, actually the absolute first thing, would be to have my mags tuned up. I have 5 mags and some are running better than the others, so that will be where I start. Thanks again! I think I need to check out a match sometime soon, and it looks like there is no shortage of those down here.

The ranger is built on their full size government frame, which I believe is forged in house. I think, but not positive that only the Spartan frame is made by armscor. Either way, I have to say I would (biasedly) highly recommend the ranger 2 for a carry gun as that is exactly what I carry (in .45). It has a balance and feel to it that is very hard to describe, but to me, the word 'perfect' comes to mind. Maybe it's the short slide / bull barrel combo, but I know that if my life was on the line this is the pistol I'd want in hand. (unless the Tactical was within reach )

I think the real message here is, if you want a 2# trigger, there are a few great options for hammer / sear / disconnect packages, but you absolutely will need a quality gunsmith to do the work...even someone with years of platform experience would take this to a 'smith, due to the necessary adjustments and fitting required. It's likely on top of a new thumb safety that the grip safety will need worked on, too.

My minimum on a carry gun is 300 rounds without failure, but I'll usually try to put 500 through before trusting my life to a sidearm. My ranger 2 has 700 through it now with not a single stoppage, so I trust it. Some issues will ruin your match, but don't let the same issues ruin your life. If you simply cannot afford a reliable 1911, buy a glock or kahr and carry that... In the end, Taurus isn't a dirty word, but keep in mind you posted that question on a forum geared towards competitive shooters, not average Joe gun buyer. Reliability has to be there, constantly, or "gun maker / brand / model" won't get talked about here. I'm glad your gun works for you, with what you want it to be able to do, though...but I don't think you'll find a critical mass of shooters here buying pt1911's and racing them.

I guess if you are looking for a metal frame hicap 1911, the 16-40 TT could be a steal for Limited...just depends where they go with it. After checking out their site, if it's anything like the package they have for their Tactical .45 model, it will be a sweet deal...Ed Brown bushing, DP magwell, Cylinder and Slide trigger package, AND five magazines? That's a fantastic value. Anyone know if this will be a bushing barrel only or if they are planning a bull barrel option?

For that much money, I know I wouldn't realistically go with the para over sti. Granted, that para has upgraded trigger and hammer, but for the same money it would be be hard not to go with an edge, eagle, tactical... But then again, if you really wanted a sweet para, here's your gun.

I call first dibs on the Edge! I do love my Ranger, but that new Tactical 3.0 is very tempting...once you go 2011, it's very hard to go back

As said buddy of JDHunz, I have a Ranger 2 in .45 from Dawson...I'm not sure if it "needed" the tuning package, but I can say that it is unbelievably reliable...600 rounds of ball and 100 rounds of hollow point and not ONE failure to feed, eject, load, or fire. My .45 Tactical is completely "as is" out of the box (well, plus tritium sights, but no internal mods) with the ramped bull barrel and so far it has eaten everything I've fed it...HPs, Ball, critical defense from hornady, etc...doesn't matter, it just gobbles rounds. I'd say tuning package not necessary, but only makes a good thing better. to the .45 ACP! That's my choice too...'cause it's BIGGER. And when it's me or them, I like making bigger holes

Want2race beat me to it...holster options are limited for full dust cover guns, but I found that 1911 holsters made for light rail equipped models will do the trick. Also, points to CMV for the woodford in first pic. I'm gonna have to do some updated pics with my ranger and tactical next to whiskey to keep up lol.

Hey, don't get me wrong, I love the way your tactical looks with the front serrations and short dustcover / rail. And I think you get style points anytime a 1911 is photographed next to bourbon!

Ummm...you do know they make a Tactical with a 4.15inch barrel and full dust cover? No hacksaw required I mention because OP seems really interested in having the full length cover, so 4.15 tactical would work.

For a 1911, I really like carrying my Ranger 2, but even at 33oz unloaded it can seem heavy sometimes, especially when IWB. If you really like the long dustcover look but want something that won't be too heavy, check out the new Tactical 4.0 (4.25in barrel, 33oz unloaded) or Tactical 3.0 (3.96in barrel, 30oz unloaded). Not only do these look great with the full length dust cover, they have a rail milled in to the slide...throw a light / laser on it and you have a home defense weapon that doubles for carry. While I prefer the .45, my Ranger 2 holds only holds 9 rounds of it...if you did go with a smaller tactical you could pack 12 rounds of .45, 15 rounds of .40 or 18 rounds of 9mm...that is some serious payload. While I still like carrying my Ranger and only own 1911's, I think hkguy is on point with concealing it...the barrel is fine, it's the grip that is always printing. Now a Kahr is a great suggestion, but we don't speak of those in this forum

Looks like a beautiful pistol, and now retails for near $3k...how does it shoot? How many rounds through it? I'd guess at 80% (mostly cosmetic?) something in the range of $1200 - $1400, as I'm sure it is every bit as good as new 1911s for that money. Just my $.02, and I have no idea how much better the WCs are today as compared to 13 years ago, but I bet that was a damn nice gun for it's time, and probably still is.

Thanks to the both of you, I'll send him an email. It's my first 2011 and I feel it's damn near perfect, but could use some minor enhancements.

Not sure if this is the best place to post this, but I have a Tactical that may want a trigger job and some other love someday. Not that it isn't awesome, but it could be a tad crisper. Does anyone know of any good 'smiths around central Florida? My buddy took his glock to shoot straight here in Lakeland, and they managed to screw up his sights twice in two days (front was crooked, and then after that was fixed, the rear drifted waaaaaaay out of place). Any advice is appreciated, and for JDHunz, here is a pic of the Tactical - it IS real

STI Ranger 2 in .45 with Hornady Critical Defense ammo. Holster is a DeSantis Intruder. No extra mags or anything else, but will get a pouch and knife to go with it soon.

Appendix D5, item 22. BB Yep, D5, Item 22 "Coned barrels, bull barrels, or barrels with flanges, except in 1911 compact pistols with a barrel length of 4.20 inches or less." Ranger 2 is 4.15in barrel Missed that bit. It's an easy one to miss! I don't think there is too much of a disadvantage to going with a 4.15in barrel vs 5in, and I just happen to like bull barrels. That's one reason I picked up the ranger 2 in the first place; I like all my guns to be double duty. Ranger for carry and could work nicely for SS, and a Tactical 5.0 for limited, home, and actually I carry that sometimes too! Both .45, both sweet. After seeing the holes from a .45, I think it'll be hard to downsize if I ever had to.

Appendix D5, item 22. BB Yep, D5, Item 22 "Coned barrels, bull barrels, or barrels with flanges, except in 1911 compact pistols with a barrel length of 4.20 inches or less." Ranger 2 is 4.15in barrel

Just finished putting 500 rounds through my ranger 2 in .45, and it is a sweet shooter. I sold my glock 9mm to help fund the purchase, and couldn't be happier. The .45 recoil is more of a push than a snap, if that makes sense. I feel like I can muscle down on the .45 for faster controlled pairs than the 9mm, but maybe that's just perception. I think I always over compensated for the 9mm snap and had to bring sights back on target; with the ranger, I just grip hard and the front comes right back. The bull barrel might help, too. Just my .02 and ymmv, but .45s rock...oh, and 100% reliability during the 500 round break in was icing on the cake!

I know what you mean, but they gave what seemed to be honest feedback. For example, the author would've preferred a bevel treatment instead of the front slide serrations. The grip needed loctite because the screw bushings weren't staked - I believe this was corrected on models. Also, it seemed to me like the article equally about the gunsite course as it was the pistol. Either way, let us know if you get the chance to handle one.

Never handled one, but the Personal Defense special issue from Shooting Times did a good review / write up of a guy that took one right out of the box to do the gunsite 250 course. To answer the questions from the article, sights are in a Novak dovetail cut. The slide and frame fit sound like it was nice and tight, with the action being a little sluggish until about 80 rounds through it. No mention of machine marks, and the author was impressed with it's accuracy. It's a great review, and he put 615 rounds through it with zero stoppages of any kind, nor any cleaning or lubrication. That's not bad for a week in the desert. Sounds like a solid budget pistol.

Or 9mm, just not .40 I guess there are some great defense ammo for 9mm as a carry gun, but I like carrying a .45 - I can only imagine what goes through someone's mind with that huge barrel pointed squarely at them

What caliber? You are going to love it! I think I'm going to look in to running mine in L10 since it's a .45, but still not clear on how many mags I would need. I've read the rule book, but they just don't spell it out for us ADD kids... Congrats!

The Guardian is close; 3.9" barrel on an officer's frame.