I am going to buy myself a new 1911 for my 50th birthday in October this year and have started searching for what I want. This is not going to be a everyday carry gun or a competition gun but a “just because” gun that will be carried openly on the family ranch and shot every now and then. My budget is not to exceed 1500 bucks.
Since they came out…I have always lusted after a new Series 70 Colt re-make, probably a stainless one. I have also borrowed a buddy’s DW Valor enough times to know that too is in the running. Still…the new/old Colt is a classic and really rings my bell since i already own 3 older Colt 1911s (that are Series 70 guns).
Being here in Texas, I always thought it would be cool to own a 1911 that was made here. I have looked over STI’s website many times but I almost never see their guns in local stores and know nobody that owns one. They sure look nice and the written reviews on them are usually glowing (for what that is worth) and I would love to have a Texas made 1911 with the state of TX on the slide. It just seems odd that I don’t see these in our local stores and don’t see others shooting them at our ranges. The one I was interested in was their Trojan or Lawman 5" models - all are well within my price range.
Ok, so I tried to search STI 1911s here but very…very little came up at all. Apparently, very few here own or shoot them. This tends to throw up a huge red flag in my putting them in the running against the Colt 70 or DW Valor.
So does anyone here own an STI 1911? Are they like the Kimbers or the XD - a pistol that has little to no love here for valid reasons?
Is there some glaring reason (that I am not seeing) to stay away from STI 1911s? My gut says get the Colt Series 70 Govt. and call it good.
I just thought I’d ask, since these guns look good but it seems few here own them.
Thanks in advance for the opinions (…or possible warnings).
STI’s are good to go. Like any other manufacturer, the more you stray from the 5" gun the more issues you will have.
They are very popular with USPSA and IDPA shooters, people who are actually high volume shooters. Check out a 1911 or competition oriented forum like Brian Enos and you will find plenty of STI shooters.
The main reason you don’t see STI’s in many local gun shops is STI is a relatively low volume manufacturer, a bit like Les Baer. Most of the people shooting STI’s order them from STI or one of the big STI dealers like Brazos or Dawson Precision. Dave Dawson worked for STI for many years and is, I believe, the highest volume STI dealer.
STI has different grades of guns. The recently discontinued Spartans were assembled in the Philippines with all STI components except the PI manufactured cast frame. The Trojan and Ranger are also cast frames but 100% made is USA/TX. The Lawman and the comparable Sentry with adjustable sights are forged frames 100% made in TX.
If you want a gun which is good to go, out of the box, as a shooter, in the $1500 price range I would recommend the STI Lawman or Sentry, depending on your sight preference. If you want adjustable sights, would spend the extra few hundred for the Sentry vs the Trojan for the forged frame and 30 lpi checkering vs the scalloping
Other good choices your price range would be the SA TRP, the DW Valor or a used Les Baer. Colt is making some of the best quality guns they have ever made but the 70 series is going to take some modification to equal the shoot-ability of a Valor or Lawman. For a comparable colt, I would look at one of the 5" Wiley Clapp guns Colt did for TALO.
I plan to get an STI Duty One in the near future. My wife, daughters and dog were all born in Texas - enough said, I need a 1911 made in Texas and STI’s reputation is good enough for me. I think you can get a stinker from any gun maker, but I’d have no qualms about giving them $1,400 or 1,500.00 for one of their guns.
I had a suspicion that maybe they were just low capacity manufacturers and that was why I really never see them.
Even though my other 1911s are Colts, the idea of buying a 1911 that has the state of TX on the slide and was made here is appealing.
After looking into pricing on STI pistols at one of their recommended dealers, I might opt for the 5" Lawman blued version.
This is good to know but I had to ask because maybe there was some reason I did not know, why these were rarely seen. Looking at them on the website - they sure seem like quality made guns. Maybe the poor man’s Les Baer or Wilson! LOL
…and yes Brazos is the distributor I am thinking of buying from
If you can stomach the looks and don’t mind a ramped barrel they’re ok.
Build quality is right between a Springfield Loaded and TRP. Definitely nothing special in the single stack world, but they own the double stack race gun market.
I had Trojan in 9mm and 45ACP, both were pretty disappointing honestly.
I own an STI Trojan 5.0 1911 9mm. It shoots better than any of other 12 handguns I own, including a German Sig Sauer P228 and a Springfield Armory TRP. Nearly 1000 rounds through it with no malfunctions, no small feat with a 9mm 1911. STI does it right. Mine runs best with Springfield/Metalform 9mm magazines and is a laser. Honestly, it’s phenomenally easy to shoot, with practically no recoil. It runs on ball bearings. I ordered from Brazos Custom and was totally satisfied with my experience.
I own an STI Trojan 5.0 1911 9mm. It shoots better than any of other 12 handguns I own, including a German Sig Sauer P228 and a Springfield Armory TRP. Nearly 1000 rounds through it with no malfunctions, no small feat with a 9mm 1911. STI does it right. Mine runs best with Springfield/Metalform 9mm magazines and is a laser. Honestly, it’s phenomenally easy to shoot, with practically no recoil. It runs on ball bearings. I ordered from Brazos Custom and was totally satisfied with my experience.
No, sir. All STIs are made in-house in TX with the exception of Spartan frames/slides, which are manufactured in the Philipines but are fitted with STI parts when they arrive in TX. Aside from the Spartan, all STI models are made here in the good ol’ USA. Superb company with a superb reputation and customer service.
As others have said STI is gtg. If their styling pleases you then by all means pick one up. A Dan Wesson is several steps ahead of the Colt or STI, IMO, however.
I had an STI Ranger 2 in .45 that ran and ran. Very easy to shoot fast and well. It did have a ramped bull barrel and STI’s recoil master spring set up. I’m not a big pistol tuner by any stretch but it was just a little to proprietary for me, that and I just stopped shooting .45 due to cost so I sold it. The plunger tube came loose and since I lived just down the road from STI I brought it in for repair. STI was pleasant to deal with even with a 2nd hand pistol, no questions asked.
Yeah…I made the mistake of handling one of the new Colt 70 Series re-make Govt Models in a gun store recently. The one I played with was stainless too.
That thing is dead sexy…old school cool but in stainless unlike the original 70 Series guns.
Both of my other 1911s are early 70 Series Colts (a 1976 Govt and 1973 Combat Commander) so I am a bit biased towards 70 Series Ponies!
The 5" 70 Series stainless Govt. Model is totally in the running…