i have a STI ranger II that originally started out as a single stack and had just about close to 9k rounds through it. then i bought a wide body frame from STI and had my local gunsmith convert it, 16k rounds later still running.
mags are a big issue with 9mm 1911s, everyone is saying that wilson fixed the problem with their ETM mags, but trip research mags have been out for a very long time, the ETM mags look similar to them…
I shoot a STI Trojan 9mm that works great I am using the Springfield mags with it
Greg,
I have 3 friends shooting IDPA with STI Trojan 9mm that have been running great. I also have a buddy who bought a Les Bear P2 9mm that I shot last week and man its awesome!!! You can have a STI Trojan for around $1200 and the Bear is right at around $2k. Both are good choices…I did email LV about a new 1911 in 45 and when given the choice of Wilson, Bear, Ed Brown and Nighthawk he told me hands down Wilson is the current top dog. I guess it comes down to how much you want to spend and what you want to do with it.
David
drool.
I have the Spec Ops and love it
I am also “this close” to ordering a custom WC Elite in grey
very similar to this
flush cut barrel and reverse crowned
ooh…
He’s used it in several classes that I’ve attended and it has run like a top.
However…
It’s being run by Larry Vickers…
are you implying that we won’t be able to shoot like him just by buying the same gun as he has?
Hah! Far be it from me to imply that…
I am a lifelong guitar player, a long time ago there was an article where Ted Nugent was quoted as saying he did a gig with Van Halen and he played through Eddie’s rig… said “I still sounded like me!”
he couldn’t coax that elusive early VH “brown tone”
That thing was a work of art!
that’s one of the reasons I want one 
Same thing with my Wilson 6.8, it’s gun art
the fit of everything, zero play between upper and lower receiver, the clean machining on the parts. The fit and finish is top notch.
And the TTU trigger is PERFECT
The implication is that if there is any individual on the planet who can take a 9mm 1911 and make it work, it would be Larry Vickers. You know…seeing as how he’s one of the foremost experts on the platform. For mere mortals a 9mm 1911 can be an invitation to disaster.
…which is why Mr. Vickers himself has said on many occasions that he regards 9mm 1911’s as range toys only.
I know who Larry is, and my post was intended as a joke in regards to buying one enabling me to shoot as well as him.
I want a 9mm 1911 for a range/IDPA/Steel/fun
But I trust Wilson to make one that runs right…
I have a Colt Combat Commander in 9mm, and two customer 1911 single stacks in 9mm and a STI double stack in 9 Major
All the people who crap on 1911 in 9mm have bad experience on feeding issues ( especially with a non ramped barrel )
I have tried every brand 1911 single stacks and by a wide wide margin the best are the "Springfield style mags " that has a little ramp on the front to catch the round and force it up back in line with the follower. These are better than even the expensive Colt mags. Even the Wilson mags don’t have this little ramp
Here is a link ( http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=44075/sku/Standard_Mag_w_bumper )
As far as double stacks go, the STIs / SVIs are a great choice. The Mags in 9mm are flawless feeding
My STI in 9 Major ( 124Gr at a sizzling 1400 fps ) has about 200 to 400 rds per range session and only gets cleaned every 1500 . As the slide starts to run sluggish I dump in some CLP and it keeps chugging away. Runs like Swiss watch
Anyone who says 1911s are unreliable has not shot a STI 2011 / 1911
Another Springfield Loaded owner here. Mine has the ramped barrel and runs fine with ball (I’ve never tried HPs in it). The trigger on mine is pretty good - light with just a little bit of creep. I use Metalform mags, both the ones with the spacer in the rear and the ones with the crimp in the front, with no issues.
Some years ago I had a Springfield loaded in 9mm. It ran great, no complaints but I sold it just because I didn’t like shiny stainless and I had a friend with small hands who really wanted it. I now have a older blued Springfield in the mil-spec configuration that now runs great due mainly to a extractor change. It is of the non-ramped variety.
I was looking for the same thing back in 03. I stayed away from the Trojan STI as they had one or in the end several in the rental booth at the range. They kept going back to STI. In STI’s defense they kept working at getting it’s issues corrected (I forget what they were) but the things just had issue after issue. I bought a Springfield “Loaded” after having a gunsmith smooth it up it ran like a top. It was a “range” gun but it ran extremely well. Out of the box the best way my memory can recall is simply gritty. In the end I wish I had kept it. It was a great gun in the end.
Oh on the subject of ball ammo. Mine ran like a top with Speer Gold Dots. No issues.
I USE to own a kimber 9mm,that’s all I’m saying,I was taught if I didn’t have something good to say ,don’t say anything.I’m in line for a Berryhill 9mm
STI Ranger II , Commander size 9mm 1911, never a problem. I like it so much I purchased an STI Ranger II in 45acp