1911 9mm thoughts

brianfede · 02-26-2012, 08:56

Well, I am a big Dan Wesson fan and was all set on buying the Guardian 9mm but at $1400 I am reconsidering. I have read some good reviews on the SA Loaded, STI Ranger II and the Sig 1911 9mm. I am open to any recommendations on other brands/models. I just want to make sure I am getting my moneys worth here, is the DW really worth $400-$500 more than the others? This gun will be used at the range, I plan to teach my wife/kids the 1911 platform so they will be shooting this gun too. Additionally, I have never used a laser grip (crimson trace) are they a decent training tool or a waste of money?

CMG · 02-26-2012, 09:24

I've only owned three of the CZ DWs (two PM9s and one RZ10), and they were all good pistols, but in my hands their performance did not justify their higher price.

I sold them all (at a profit as there are some desperate fans out there). I think STI Trojan offers a good value and I find the basic Kimber stainless a good value as well. I couldn't get my Springfield loaded to shoot as well as the Kimber and Trojan.

I recently bought a pair of the STI Spartans (re-badged Armscor pistols with STI internals) and have been favorably impressed with them as well. I paid $628 shipped for each one and they have performed very well for me. These are now offered in three different barrel lengths (Spartan V, IV and III).

Good luck.

brianfede · 02-26-2012, 09:55

Thanks, pretty tempted to pull the trigger on the STI Ranger. Haven't heard too many negative reviews on the STI's, seems 99% of STI owners would buy another one and are very happy with the quality of the firearm versus cost. Mixed results on the Kimbers and SA. Sig 1911 9mm hasn't been out for very long so not too much info on that on yet.

I like black · 02-26-2012, 10:46

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx...+commander+9mm

Some nice Colt options here if you want to go original.

The Light Weights are pretty nice IMO.

ILB

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianfede

Well, I am a big Dan Wesson fan and was all set on buying the Guardian 9mm but at $1400 I am reconsidering. I have read some good reviews on the SA Loaded, STI Ranger II and the Sig 1911 9mm. I am open to any recommendations on other brands/models. I just want to make sure I am getting my moneys worth here, is the DW really worth $400-$500 more than the others? This gun will be used at the range, I plan to teach my wife/kids the 1911 platform so they will be shooting this gun too. Additionally, I have never used a laser grip (crimson trace) are they a decent training tool or a waste of money?

Tim151515 · 02-26-2012, 10:56

i have heard a lot of really good things about the sti tojan, which comes in 9mm. though i am, by far, no 1911 expert.

bac1023 · 02-26-2012, 11:00

Not a fan of lasers at all

jrs93accord · 02-26-2012, 11:16

There is always the RIA 9mm 1911. Price is around $450 and it is a nice shooting pistol.

brianfede · 02-26-2012, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by I like black

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx...+commander+9mm

Some nice Colt options here if you want to go original.

The Light Weights are pretty nice IMO.

ILB

Thanks, the Colt with the Cherry Grips is very nice.

glock2740 · 02-26-2012, 12:02

I have the 9mm Guardian. You won't go wrong with the Guardian. I LOVE mine. GREAT shooting gun. Great CC 1911 too.

brianfede · 02-26-2012, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by glock2740

I have the 9mm Guardian. You won't go wrong with the Guardian. I LOVE mine. GREAT shooting gun. Great CC 1911 too.

What grip you have on there? VZ? Looks great with that black grip.

I like black · 02-26-2012, 12:32

.....

limbkiller · 02-26-2012, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrs93accord

There is always the RIA 9mm 1911. Price is around $450 and it is a nice shooting pistol.

I agree with that totally. Great gun for the money and no FCS.

glock_19guy1983 · 02-26-2012, 13:00

I love my Kimber Aegis custom. It is accurate and feeds anything even out of my .38 super mags.

glock2740 · 02-26-2012, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianfede

What grip you have on there? VZ? Looks great with that black grip.

Thanks. They're black VZ slim-line Operator's. Got the same grips on my DW CCO too. Great carry grips.

plouffedaddy · 02-26-2012, 16:47

If it's just for plinking/training the wife and kids; I'd get the RIA and do a little gunsmithing to make it more refined (that's what I did). It's a great gun and it's only $450. Here's my full review:

http://gunreviewguy.blogspot.com/201...tical-9mm.html

brianfede · 02-26-2012, 16:57

[QUOTE=plouffedaddy;18635009]If it's just for plinking/training the wife and kids; I'd get the RIA and do a little gunsmithing to make it more refined (that's what I did). It's a great gun and it's only $450. Here's my full review:

Nice review, thanks vm. Do you know the LB of the trigger pull?

jrs93accord · 02-26-2012, 17:17

[quote=brianfede;18635065]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plouffedaddy

..........

Nice review, thanks vm. Do you know the LB of the trigger pull?

I would say the trigger pull is somewhere between 5-5.5 lbs. The trigger is nice and smooth and breaks cleanly.

EKUJustice · 02-26-2012, 20:45

STI spartan is a great gun especially for the $

tinman517 · 02-26-2012, 21:01

A couple of years ago, I got a Kimber SS Target II in 9mm. It is the most smooth and accurate shooting 9mm I have . . . And best of all, it's a 1911.

brisk21 · 02-27-2012, 08:06

Ive considered calling Springfield and seeing if they would build me a stainless TRP in 9mm to match my .45 TRP. Im curious to see what it would cost. Id probably do it if the price was the same as my other TRP.

plouffedaddy · 02-27-2012, 13:25

[quote=brianfede;18635065]

Quote:

Originally Posted by plouffedaddy

If it's just for plinking/training the wife and kids; I'd get the RIA and do a little gunsmithing to make it more refined (that's what I did). It's a great gun and it's only $450. Here's my full review:

Nice review, thanks vm. Do you know the LB of the trigger pull?

My trigger pull was right at 5lbs from the factory but I could feel a little grit to it (just a little, I've had much much worse...) so I polished it up and now it's consistantly breaking at 4.5lbs on my Timney trigger pull gauge.

Veedubklown · 02-27-2012, 17:26

Last year a buddy of mine bought the Taurus PT1911 in 9mm, it was nice. Once it was past the break-in, it ran great. Shot nice, felt good.

I was interested in the STI spartan myself, but I decided to go for something double-stack.

plouffedaddy · 02-28-2012, 13:00

I've owned Taurus 1911s and a few RIA 1911s. My Taurus guns worked just fine and I never had any issues but the RIAs are much more 'refined' guns IMO. I also had to deal with RIAs customer service once and it was great....

crash09 · 02-28-2012, 22:20

I own several 1911s in 9mm by Colt, STI, Springfield, Taurus and Para. The STI Ranger II is my current favorite, but they just announced a Lawman chambered in 9mm, so I may have to buy one later this year.

As for laser grips, I have one Crimson Trace set on a S&W revolver. Fun for range plinking, but totally worthless in a self defense situation, IMO. I'll never buy another set. I think a lot of peple consider them a substitute for practice.