New Firestorm - New Member

[HeavyDutyDude]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to 1911's but this forum gave me a quick learn and it wasn't long to discover what I liked. The Metro arms guns looked like a lot of value so I put my favorite gun dealer in search of one but he came up empty. That didn't stop me from ordering a FusionUSA MSH w/Magwell, and some Operator II's before finding this Firestorm at the Metcalf GunShow in Tulsa this morning. I think it was the only Metro Arms gun there or I was over looking them. I really wanted an American Classic II but I took what I could get. The MSH fit perfect and other than a little blend on the grips to clear the extended slide release and safety they fit like a glove as well.
Many thanks to everyone for their insight,
John
http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae285/HeavyDutyDude1911/Firestorm005a.jpg?t=1263072554

[Body Mass]

Hey HD, I really like the new FS. The grips look really good. What kind are they?
I have been looking for an AC2 for some time now and I can't seem to find any in Phoenix. We have a gun show the end of February and I'm hoping to get lucky... Again, nice gun!!!

[HeavyDutyDude]

Hey HD, I really like the new FS. The grips look really good. What kind are they?
I have been looking for an AC2 for some time now and I can't seem to find any in Phoenix. We have a gun show the end of February and I'm hoping to get lucky... Again, nice gun!!!

Body Mass those are VZ Grips Operator II's. As far as looks go, I agree they are tough looking. But for casual shooting and plinking I think I might be better served with a less agressive profile. Those babies really bite into your hand.
>John

[t-bird]

Welcome HD, thanks for the pic. Be sure to post a range report of your new beauty.

[HeavyDutyDude]

Welcome HD, thanks for the pic. Be sure to post a range report of your new beauty.

Thank you for the welcome t-bird. You know I had to try it out in the backyard a little since it looked so good! Very informal but it maintains "Minute of Paper Plate" just fine from about 25'. Paper plates don't stand a chance around me now. I used some home brewed ammo (Magnus 200 gr SWC over 4 gr of Bullseye).
>John
http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae285/HeavyDutyDude1911/Firestorm007a.jpg?t=1263087124

[t-bird]

Thanks for the info HD, look's like nothing would have a chance to me. Best of luck and keep shooting..............

[Body Mass]

HD - I've been using shooting gloves lately and they leave the hide on my hands but the grips have to be agressive for gloves. I might like those VZ grips just fine. Sure like the looks....

[timf]

i like those grips looking good! congratz!!

[HeavyDutyDude]

Thank you! I agree it turned out nice, I couldn't put it down all weekend. I'm amazed such a quality pistol can be had for so little cash.

I do have a question, I assumed the gun was new when I bought it, it had a few scratches that I again assumed were handling marks and maybe from cutting the tie wraps that gun show sellers must have on their guns when at the show. When I ordered the MSH/Magwell I had a 19 lb Wolff main spring sent with the order. But when I removed the OEM spring it was about 3/8" shorter than the new wolff spring. So I reinstalled the short spring and I must say I like the trigger with it, but the more I think about it I'm wondering if maybe someone clipped it?

The gun came in a black plastic case, a cable gun-lock and one magazine but no paper work or warrantee card.....Hummmm?
>John
http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae285/HeavyDutyDude1911/Firestorm005a.jpg

[michael t]

I have never known a metro to come in a Plastic case They come in a cardboard box that has MetroArms printed on it 1 8 round Mag trigger lock I belive You got a used pistol bet money

[clem835]

I have been looking at these pistols also. They seem to be getting a good write up for the money. Love the grips also.

[sixguncowboy]

I have never known a metro to come in a Plastic case They come in a cardboard box that has MetroArms printed on it 1 8 round Mag trigger lock I belive You got a used pistol bet money

Yep, I bought mine last summer and it came in a cardboard/styrofoam box with manual, warranty card, one 8 rd ACT magazine, lock, & dbl diamond checkered walnut grips. I wouldn't take that bet as he's probably right. If the grips in photo came on your gun you definately bought a used gun.

Nothing wrong with buying a used gun. I've bought more than a few myself in my lifetime. But if the dealer told you, or led you to believe that it was new and you paid more than $400 for it, you got took. I paid $449.00 + tax for mine.

[HeavyDutyDude]

I was under the impression it was new, I got it from a large dealer that didn't seem to have any used guns (Bob's from Bartelsville, OK). He had tables of Kimber's, Springfield's, Rock Islands, Rugers etc. I'd never seen a Metro Arms gun before mine, I'd only read about them on the Internet. It looked good laying next to a Kimber and felt good so I bought it. $414 + tax + $12 entry into the gun show -$2 for a Metcalf Gun Show Text Message. New or used it's USED NOW! And I literally love the gun, I was told long ago nothing fixes a Gun-Jones like a 1911 and now I know what they were talking about.

I've got an order in with my favorite gun dealer for 2 more as soon as his supplier gets them back in stock. Michael T says there will be a price increase and I believe him, I need to stock up quick!

SIXGUNCOWBOY> I wish I could buy a used Metro Arms gun + $65 grips + $8 screws + $55 Magwell/MSH + shipping for $400 and I wouldn't be getting took. But maybe guns depreciate quicker in Texas than they do in Oklahoma.

>John

[sixguncowboy]

SIXGUNCOWBOY> I wish I could buy a used Metro Arms gun + $65 grips + $8 screws + $55 Magwell/MSH + shipping for $400 and I wouldn't be getting took. But maybe guns depreciate quicker in Texas than they do in Oklahoma.

>John

John, if you got all that with your FireStorm for $414 + tax you got one heck of a deal,,,new or used. :cool: I paid $400 for a used RIA Mid Size 1911A-1 & didn't get any box, paperwork (other than a bill of sale) or lock with it. So they don't depreciate any faster here in Texas. I'm going to make a Commander out of it.

[HeavyDutyDude]

No SixGun all I got was the gun, a cable lock, a plastic gun case and an ACT mag for $414 all the other stuff I bought. In fact I had it before I found the gun because looking at other 1911's here I discovered I liked that stuff and wanted it on my own 1911 when I found it. I've since bought a Fusion fiber optic front sight but its longer than the cut-out on my slide and I'm afraid it won't look as good as the OEM sight does right now, so it's still in the bag.

That day at the gun show it was a frenzy around Bob's tables, he had 4-5 people selling guns. I think they just tossed the gun in a handy case and went on selling. It did have a scratch on the frame near the hammer pin, right were you would cut a tie wrap if you were returning it to your gun case at the shop if it didn't sell at a gun show. Man it looked new. The short hammer spring it had might of been a shop trick or something when they first got the gun I don't know it's since been replaced by a wolff 16 LB mainspring, it's all good I dig the gun, I'm happy and I like that I can reload 45acp for about the same money that I can reload 9mm or 38 special for.

And I want a couple more American Classic II's in the safe! My favorite dealer quoted me $390 out the door on them last week but his supplier was out of stock. I hope he can get me two before the price increase comes down.

John

[sixguncowboy]

John, my bad. I misunderstood. But no matter, new or used you still walked away from that show with a great deal. Perhaps the cardboard box was damaged for some reason so the salesman just gave you a plastic case & in a rush forgot the manual, lock & warranty card.

[shooter57]

I think you still got a good deal, their hard to find.

[Body Mass]

HD - How do you like the mag well? Was it a drop in - screw on type? Did you have to fit it? Looks real nice.

I just bought an American Classic Deluxe and I'm loving it.

[HeavyDutyDude]

BodyMass it was a complete drop-in, no fitting required. I bought it from eBay I think it was $50. If and when I find/get another Metro Arms 1911 I'll get another Fusion magwell. I've never owned a 1911 before this being my first one and this was my first Magwell install so I don't have many to review from, but it was a very simple install, it looks good and fits nice. I emailed whitetail1911 after I won the bid and had him include a Wolff 19 LB spring at the same time (I've since changed that out for a 16 LB) and he sent me a PayPal invoice with the new total. I think the spring was $3.99 or something.

The Fusion main spring housing is dovetailed on the bottom and the magwell slides into it then it's locked into place with an allen head screw, so the new checkered housing with magwell installed will still slide on and off the gun with the take down pin just like the OEM one did.

>John

[Ric4509]

Yep, Firestorm does not come with a plastic box. As michael t said it comes in a cardboard box. You must have bought a used FS.

[Body Mass]

HD (John) Thanks for the info... I too am a first time 1911 owner. Very excited about taking her our for the first time. If I can just stop making love to it that is..... (;>)