Need Info On Hi-Cap 1911's

[schmeky]

I like a beefy grip, so I think a hi-cap 1911 in .45 may be for me. Anyone own one, shot one, have comments? I'm not a big Para-O fan, but would consider one. Rock Island offers a Para clone, so to speak, and I've had a Rock Island before and thought it was a great pistol for the money.

My main concern is the slide assembly. Is it a standard 1911 mounted on a high cap frame?

 

[Full Metal Jacket]

springfield armory made one years ago. might be able to find one in decent shape on one of the online auctions.

 

[Zak Smith]

The STI and SV pistols are widely recognized as the best of the best of the double-stack 1911 pattern pistols. They are the dominant platform for USPSA "Limited" and "Open" division guns.

Here are two just as examples

 

[Hawk]

I carry an STI VIP. I'd talk about it but I wouldn't wish to be branded as a fanboi.

FWIW, STI offers several "carry" or "service" type staggered column magazine handguns which fit in easily obtained holsters, have unobtrusive mag wells and flush mags. Even if you decided on one with the big honkin' funnel it's easily removed.

Downsides include magazines that could not be considered cheap and a non-traditional recoil spring arrangement which benefits greatly from a widgit during takedown. In the case of the VIP there's the non-bushing barrel and several other things that a 1911 purist would find offensive. It's really not much of a 1911 - it uses some of the same parts (including the slide you mentioned in some but not all models) but should be taken on its own terms.

And, it's not a prima donna or fragile:

Shame on me.

I hear it's great as a gamer gun but it also comports itself well in the blue collar context I put it in.

 

[fishpinoy27]

the para clone of rock island/armscor is a copy of the first generation para which is a little bit squarely on the front strap and its made in the Philippines. and the slide and parts are copies from a standard 1911. I'm in the process of obtaining a para s1640 limited.

 

[wgp]

I've owned a Para Carry 12 for a couple of years. It has given me excellent service, very reliable. It is heavy to carry, with 12 rounds of .45, and for some reason I don't seem to shoot it as well as my Colt 1911s, but I like the pistol. I have fairly large hands and the wide-body design fits me fine. This pistol has the LDA trigger, which I think is an excellent design. Overall I prefer the single-action trigger, but the LDA solves the concern over condition-one carry and to me is a much better idea than the conventional double-single action trigger arrangement.