1911 for competition

[AJB]

I am new to the forum. I have a Para Tac-Four for a defense pistol. I am thinking of getting a full size 1911 for competition. I have been looking at the Taurus and an Armscor FS1911A1. Does anyone have any experience with these 1911s? Any other recomendations in the same price range?

Thanks in advance.

[Jeffrey]

Welcome to the forum, AJB. I personally don't have any experience with the 1911's that you mentioned. If you need it right now I would recommend that you take a look at the STI Spartan. If not, than I would save up to get a Colt or a Springfield Armory.

[headhog]

I am new to the forum. I have a Para Tac-Four for a defense pistol. I am thinking of getting a full size 1911 for competition. I have been looking at the Taurus and an Armscor FS1911A1. Does anyone have any experience with these 1911s? Any other recomendations in the same price range?

Thanks in advance.
Before you go spending money on a fullsize 1911, why don't you go and spend some time with the people that shoot in the competition you're interested in. I'll bet they will have some good advice from low end to high depending on your budget. Most competetion shooters are very willing to help, coach, guide a new shooter along and even try their equipment. Without new shooters a sport will die. ;)

[tonyniev]

There are a few of us who still shoot single stack 1911,'s but as advised by HH, go and talk to the competitors in your area and you will be surprised that there are more non 1911 pistols in use. You may even decide to get high capacity 1911's or polymers.

[Ping Ping]

AJB, welcome to the forum!

Since you don't mention what type of competition you wish to do, it's difficult to say whether or not the guns you mention would be competitive. If you're talking, for ex. IDPA, at mostly point shooting distances, either gun, assuming it's properly tuned and in spec, would be fine.

If IPSC/USPSA, where it's become more about the gun than IDPA, I think you'd quickly begin the modification process on your proposed choices.

If you're more interested in surgical shooting like pins, or bullseye, these really demand a much more finely tuned and purpose-specific gun.

One last thing to consider. If you're just starting out in a new game, you're not going to be posing any threats to the big dogs of that game for quite a while anyway. So, get the gun you want and can afford. Get the accessories you need. Go and have fun!

[AJB]

I was thinking of getting into the steel plate shoots. There are a couple of clubs nearby that have them. I don't want to get into anything that requires quick movements between shooting stations as I have recently had a hip replacement and I'm not moving to fast yet. I could probably just use my Para-Ordinance, but that doesn't put a new gun in the safe:)

[Rich-D]

I am new to the forum. I have a Para Tac-Four for a defense pistol. I am thinking of getting a full size 1911 for competition. I have been looking at the Taurus and an Armscor FS1911A1. Does anyone have any experience with these 1911s? Any other recomendations in the same price range?

Thanks in advance.

Bud's is having a sale on Para's. an all steel Limited Edition Para Ordnance PCX745EMB LTC 45acp is $529.00 delivered.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/index.php


Rich

[headhog]

Steel plate shooting like the Steel Challenge can be fired with almost any hand gun. If you are set on a 1911 for this competition then either of the two you mentioned in you first post will work. It's going to be a matter of personal feature preference. When shooting steel there are 3 things you need from your gun: reliability, reliability and reliability. Personally in a 1911 I need a gun with a beavertail safety so I can grip it high without getting the dreaded hammer bite.

All steel scoring is based on time and the clock runs from the buzzer until the stop plate is engaged. You don't get alibies when the gun jams - the clock just keeps running. Most 1911's are sufficiently accurate for the distances of steel plate shooting. Many shooters of this game like Glocks only because they very rarely have malfunctions and can go many hundreds of rounds without cleaning.

So whatever you get go out make sure it will run flawlessly for at least 250 rounds. At a typical steel match you will burn-up anywhere between 175-250 rounds. I've used two of my 1911's to shoot steel only because I wanted to. I still shoot my best times with my Glock 35. :D

[Zoidberg]

I shot my first IDPA match with my two month old Kimber 1911 (fullsize). These guns are great!!
I'm normally the guy losing points with "failure to neutralize" or missing the head on the a Mozambique, but with the 1911, out of 75-90 rounds, I had only four not hit in the 0-ring. The gun just feels better, points and aims better, and has less recoil than the Glock 19 and Glock 34 that I've used in IDPA in the past.

[jbailey]

I was thinking of getting into the steel plate shoots. There are a couple of clubs nearby that have them. I don't want to get into anything that requires quick movements between shooting stations as I have recently had a hip replacement and I'm not moving to fast yet. I could probably just use my Para-Ordinance, but that doesn't put a new gun in the safe:)


Welcome!! Don't worry about having to move fast, you can still hone defensive skills and walk between stages. There are several in the group I shoot with that have physical limitations - even one in a wheelchair. so if you think you would like IDPA,USPSC etc., go for it!! :)

Jim

[Zoidberg]

I don't want to bad mouth a pistol based on second hand reports, but...
MaineColt had some very negative things to say about the Taurus' accuracy. (http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=42445)

I also had others tell me it was not a good gun when I was looking for my first 1911. I suggest looking at Para, STI, or Kimber for a sub $1000 gun that's pretty well tricked out. Or if you want to keep the price really low, look at the RIA. It's supposed to be a pretty good gun, at a very low price. And you can add the bells and whistles later.

[becks]

look into smith's line of 1911's. I have one of the early ones of lore and the thing is the tightest factory gun I have seen. Or I am a fan of the series 1 kimbers. both can be had around 6-700 with some looking.

[izatt82]

i have the RIA 1911 match and just yesterday i shot a 144 2x out of 200 at 25 yards. mine is out of the box i was shooting 230 gr blazzer brass. im not the best shot but along with the 2x's i had four in the 9 ring that were conected looked like a slot not a bullet hole so if that tells you anything. i will say it feels like a kimber gold combat and shoots just as good.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a140/izatt82/bba02de4.jpg

[robertbank]

You will get all kinds of opinions about what to buy. Really settles down to what you find comfortable to shoot and within your price range.


If you are talking versatility to move from one sport to another than I would be looking beyond the 1911 if funds are an issue. Both Glock and the new kid on the block S&W with their M&P are good options. My preference is the M&P only because the grip fits my hand better.

A single action gun like the 1911 will do IPSC/USPSA but you will need to tune your gun to be competitive. It won't work in USPSA/IPSC Production.

In IDPA the 1911 does well in CDP. The advantage of a D/A gun is it fits your bill for steel, can be used in USPSA/IPSC Production and depending on the caliber two pistol divisions in IDPA.

Lastly a very good competitive D/A gun can be had for less than a very good competitive 1911 IMHO.

Take Care

Bob

[Zoidberg]

A single action gun like the 1911 will do IPSC/USPSA but you will need to tune your gun to be competitive. It won't work in USPSA/IPSC Production.
But it works great in Single Stack. I always thought Single Stack was created specifically for the 1911 (like CDP in IDPA was).

[nralife71]

I think it is one of the VP's from Colt is not the CEO of Taurus. So, I think that;s why they are going crazy with their upgraded stock 1911's. The STI was an awesome recommendation. Myself, I have a milspec, Springfield I LOVE this pistol. Remember this even if you get a Springfield used, They will cover it forever. So, you could get one in good shape for about $500 or so. Send it in and they will check it for $75.00.

Post here to let us know what you bought.
Good luck

[nralife71]

I ment to type the VP of colt is NOW the ceo....sorry

[robertbank]

"But it works great in Single Stack. I always thought Single Stack was created specifically for the 1911 (like CDP in IDPA was)."

Yes, I forgot about USPSA Single Stack. IPSC does not have that division yet. CDP in IDPA does allow D/A guns as long as they are .45acp and we are seeing more and more guns other than the 1911 competing in CDP and winning. Mind you the top guys in both sports could and would win using golf clubs and darts but then that is another topic for another time.:D

Take Care

Bob

[headhog]

I may be wrong, but I believe that the USPSA Single Stack is only for the 1911 pattern pistols. Other Single Stacks like the Sig P220 are not allowed. At least IDPA left the door open as long as you meet the other criteria. Interesting difference, why would you call it the Single Stack division and not the 1911? :sleep:

[Zoidberg]

You're right, Headhog. At the bottom of Appendix D5 (the rules for Single Stack) it says:

Special conditions:
— Only 1911 production type pistols. Must be available to the general public
and have their basis in the original 1911 service pistol as designed by John
M. Browning. Pistols made from components that duplicate the factory
originals are acceptable. Frames must be metal.
It would make more sense to call it 1911, instead of Single Stack, especially since there's no restriction on magazine width. You could use a staggered stack 1911 descendant, like the Para 2011 guns, but not a single stack Glock 36 .45ACP.

[What Just Happened?]

Yes, USPSA Single Stack is only for 1911 pattern pistols. You can shoot with either major or minor power factor, but are limited to 8 rounds with Major and 10 rounds with Minor. That's why it's called 'Single Stack'. If you're using double column magazines, you're throwing away your ammo capacity (unless you're in California, like me)

1911's may not be used in the USPSA Production category because Production does not allow single-action handguns.