openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hi guys and gals, Its been a long while since ive been on here after a lot (of good stuff) going on in my life. My wife has granted me permission to spend some of my our money and im looking to buy a new gun. I really like the 1911 style of pistol but I am not looking for another in .45 for various reasons. I have been looking into a .38 but am leaning towards the 9mm because.. -I already own a few 9mm -I have many parts and pieces as well as a 550 to keep the 9mm assembly line open -I happen to like the caliber. This gun would be 95% range shooting with 5% matches if I can get back into a few local matches up here in NH. I used to live in SoCal which was shooting mecca so now that I am in NH a good steel/ipsc match is hard to come by. At this time I am not that interested in IDPA. I am looking for a relatively low, high end gun to upper mid range gun and accuracy and overall feel of the trigger and pistol are very important. The guns on my list so far (in order of which ones I am leaning towards) are: -STI USPSA -SW 1911 Pro Series -STI Sentry -STI Edge -Para Ordnance P18.9 One complaint I have heard with the STI guns is that their blueing is not up to standards with some other guns and shows wear much faster than say a colt. The USPSA looks like it takes care of some of those issues with the two tone finish. I put the USPSA on top because I like the overal stying of the gun as well as the slide serrations as well as the two tone finish..it is my understanding that other than that, it is very similar to the Sentry. As for the SW1911...I have been hard pressed to find a single complaint on that pistol anywhere. It is very sharp looking and can be had for likely ~$500 less than the USPSA The Edge is on the list in case I decided I would like more capacity and shoot it in the limited category some day although I am not convinced that beyond the capacity that it is a better gun than the USPSA or the SW1911 The Para....well I know damn near nothing about it and can not find much either. I simply like that its a double stack and "appears" to have some of the features I am looking for. I honestly have never seen one or held one or have any idea if it is on par with the 4 pistols listed above it. Any thoughts on some of the ideas I have thrown out today? Thanks for taking the time to help...I know that many of these pistols have been talked about on this forum but it can be difficult at times to search multiple threads and make comparisons when they were not directly being compared with each other in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm300 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I like the STI guns, and yes the blue guns shed the coating pretty quickly. But I have other guns that have much tougher coatings on them that don't hold up to Kydex and a lot of dry fire either. I would not base my choice on the coating as they all go away, some a little faster than others. If you have a gun with some finish wear people assume you use it and thats not all bad. I shot a USPSA 1911 in 9mm and it was nice, had a nice trigger for a stock gun, and ran very well. I have no data points to add on the other guns. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on the classifieds here and you will see a good value on a used 9mm 1911 come up once and a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Thank you KTM. I appreciate the insight as to the STI finish. While I have seen many in competition I have never actually handled one, mostly because at the time I didn't need to. I was browsing the classifieds earlier. I enjoy a deal on a gently used gun any day of the week. My only constraint is time as I'd like to act sooner than later although a few weeks of browsing it not out of the equation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWFAN Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Id put a Dan Wesson PM9 on that list, above the Pro. Fit, finish, out of the box trigger and quality of parts are way better on the DW than the Pro on the ones Ive compared side by side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Thanks DW. I just looked into it and it does seem like a nice gun. I can certainly add it to my list above/on par with the SW. I am still leaning towards the STI USPSA, just got a pretty decent price on one and it may be a decent gun for the money. I dont want to overpay but I dont mind paying for what I get.....if that makes any sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike21STI Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I have the sentry in 9mm, great gun! Has fed everything I've put through it. You can also look at getting a Trojan from someone like brazos or one of the other ago custom builders and they can put whatever add ons that you would like as well as give it a good trigger and a once over to make sure it is good before it gets to you for a price very close to what you'd pay for the sentry. If I had known that when I bought the sentry I would have bought the Trojan from brazos instead... You know what they say about Hindsight.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too_Slow Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Another choice would be a gun from Predator Tactical (Matt Burkett). I have several friends that have them already and a few more that are or have already ordered one. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyprant Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Out of curiosity, why isnt the Springfield loaded on your list? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) No reason. Short of the para, I picked what I knew or had been reccomended to me. I briefly searched into the kimber as well as the SA but was able to find a few bad reviews on either make. Not in the least saying that they are bad guns but it is very difficult to find much bad written or said about any of the pistols on my list. Any thoughts on the comparisons on the ones on my list? If you had to choose one of them, which one would you go with? I called brazzos for some information and talked to a nice lady around lunch time. Her oppinion was that the USPSA and the Sentry were better than the Trojan due to their forged frames as well as checkering as opposed to STIppling. Small items, but still items which have pushed some buyers towards the two over the Trojan. She did say however that the USPSA is essentially the same gun as the Sentry with a different finish and the more radical serrations. Id hate to pay more for the same gun if the features are not worth it. This may be a small exception only because I prefer the hard chrome over the blued but I prefer the dual tone of the USPSA over the hard chrome. I also think the serrations on the USPSA may be of more use than the Sentry. I could be totally wrong on all counts..thats why I am here. Edited November 20, 2012 by openglock34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Another choice would be a gun from Predator Tactical (Matt Burkett). I have several friends that have them already and a few more that are or have already ordered one. Brian The predators start at around 3 grand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amish_rabbi Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 the edge isnt a 1911... No experience with the STI bluing but the park on my spartan is super weak, I had a ton of wear at 6k when i took pictures and even more at 8k. I dont care though because 1)I like wear on my working guns, looks cool IMO and 2)Its a working gun not a show piece you can always have the sentry hard chromed as well, just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 For the price of a hard chromed sentry would you just go with the USPSA or stick with the sentry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Another thought.. I can appreciate a well made quality gun. I know with a maker like SW you are getting a gun with a lot of history and experience backing it. I would assume and expect the pro series at its price point to be a well made quality pistol. Having never owned an STI..I know they are favored on the match circuit but do you get that same overall quality/lifelong gun (providing you take care of it) as say a colt or S&W? There are smiths and colts out there in safes that have been running and looking well for many decades..would you say the same for the future of an sti? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MI Noob Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 The Predator Tactical Shrike in 9 mm is a bit expensive but you get a very high quality single stack "race gun" right out of the package. I bought one early this year and love it! It shoots like a dream and is tons of fun. A lot of the guys that shoot our match love their STIs. With a few minor alterations, they are very nice guns that do very well in 9 mm. The finish on theirs looks just as nice as the week they bought them. Like most 1911, you can change what you don't like with a huge assortment of after market parts and they will last a long time with proper care. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddriver Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 (edited) There are smiths and colts out there in safes that have been running and looking well for many decades..would you say the same for the future of an sti? That is because the STI is out on the range being used and abused while the others are sitting in the safe! Edited to add that there is a reason you see so many S_I's at any given match. They just consitantly out run everything else. Edited November 20, 2012 by forddriver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 20, 2012 Author Share Posted November 20, 2012 Thanks guys. I think that I am being pulled towards the USPSA. I was aimed towards the Sentry because of the slight price advantage but I found a great price on the USPSA. I really like the SW1911 and am sure it's a great gun but you are right..there is a reason you will likely see STI over SW in a match 20 to 1. As for the predator..wife has denied spending a 3rd of the paycheck on a gun right before Christmas. It looks like a very nice shooter though...maybe next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polizei1 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Without a doubt, get something from STI. Their guns are absolutely awesome and their customer service is VERY good. Plus, the company is based around competitive shooting and very much support the sport. I have a 9mm Spartan and it's an awesome gun. Can't go wrong with STI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 Thanks again. SEMPER FI! I'll use the search function for mags, holster, sights, tuning, loads....etc. I used a CR speed for my last setup..nice stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjb45 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Both Max and Travis have models out in their respective companies. Both are excellent. IMHO superior to the others with the added features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFromHouston Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I know you guy's here poo-poo'em here..... BUT.... take a look @ the Taurus PT-1911............. I just picked up a 9mm that has the ebay 70.00 hammer & sear parts in it and it's SWEET................ I have 2 .45's. and 38 Super and a 9mm now... . With all the 'trick' stuff on them and UNDER 700.00 bucks...how can tou go wrong... PLUS......... Taurus has a shooting team now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuzinvinny Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Let me suggest that you check out the Les Baer 1911's. Mine is far more accurate than I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40S&W Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 If your worried about finish then have it hard-chromed or buy a stainless steel model. I've been shooting a Springfield Armory Stainless Loaded Target 9mm for 4 years and have zero complaints. Use Tripp 10 round mags. VZ gips, Trigger Job 3 lbs. FO front sight. Gun was bead blasted to matte finish (no glare). 10 shot groups of 2" at 25 yds. POA. Works for me. Gun as described with mag inserted weighs 42.5 ounces. IDPA legal & fits box. Yes it costs a little more but then you don't have to worry about the finish. All my other 1911s' & double stacks are hard chromed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 No finish worries. I just ordered the USPSA and I really liked the two tone. I like that it's not shiny where I don't want it to be regarding the finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
openglock34 Posted November 24, 2012 Author Share Posted November 24, 2012 Not sure if anyone is seeing this but had a request: From my research it looks like I will be buying a few Dawson mags since they seem to have great reviews. I am thinking about getting the DP magwell but had some questions. 1: No gap or standard on the magwell? 2: No gap basepad or standard basepad on the mag? I am not entirely sure of the difference. 3: Anyone have a photo of their 1911 STI or otherwise with this magwell on it so I can see how it looks? I did a search here as well as a google image search and didnt turn up too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
392heminut Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 Scroll down to the Gallery forum and look through the Single Stack Photos thread. Lots of pics there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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