Which one should I get, Sig Sauer or S&W 1911?

[DMK]

I'll be getting a new 1911 in the new year as a stablemate to my Colt CCO. I think I've got it down to either an S&W or a Sig. I get the vibe that S&W might have the edge over the SIG for reliablity. The Sigs are certainly sexier IMO, plus they get bigtime bonus points for having a CCO model (Commander slide on an Officers frame) but that's not the heaviest weighted deciding factor. This will be a CCW, so reliability trumps all other factors. Price is not an issue here.

So, here's my questions for SIG and S&W owners, if you'd be so kind:

Which one would most likely be 100% reliable (say after a well lubed 1K break in)?

Who has better customer service?

Which one has better 1911 standards compatibility, for parts replacement after the warranty is up or for modifications (ie. sights, grips, etc).

How do you like the trigger and the subjective "feel" of the weapon?

And just for fun, let's do an informal poll of your opinion: Which gun should I buy.

For your reference:

The Sigs:

Revolution C3 (SS/Alloy CCO)

Revolution RCS Nitron (Steel CCO)

Revolution Compact Stainless (SS CCO)

Revolution Carry Stainless (SS Commander)

The S&Ws:

1911PD Commander (Steel/Alloy Commander)

1911 Commander (SS/Alloy Commander)

Thanks!

 

[Black Majik]

The SIG Revolution will have better parts, but honestly... I'd prefer the S&W.

You can read up on the S&W 1911s over on 1911forum.

You can read up on the SIG 1911s on SIGForum.

I own neither, but that's cuz there are other 1911s I prefer.

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

The S&W's have been great. I have three (one for carry, two for competition). Good functioning, though I had an issue with the thumb safety on one of the competition rigs, but S&W PC fixed it quickly (and for free).

The Sig's have been problematic, function-wise. I tried two, but ended up flipping both. I'm not quite sure why, really. Obviously Sig knows how to make bomb-proof pistols... but the GSRs weren't.

 

[DMK]

Obviously Sig knows how to make bomb-proof pistols... but the GSRs weren't.

This is the part that confuses me. Sig's non-1911 handguns generally are regarded as highly reliable.

The more I research it, I really want a Sig, but as much as I love the 1911 platform, I guess I just need to look at Sig's non-1911 models.

 

[American_Pit_Bull]

I trust my life to a P series SIG everyday, and I wouldn't have it any other way...
I love my SIGs, but I would go a different route in a 1911 platform.

 

[Walkalong]

Smith & Wesson

 

[possum]

i love the sig c3 and like you said they are sexy. i love the commanders slide on the officers frame too, plus the 2 one is just awesome. i don't know about thier peformance but they sure do look good. i look foward to hearing personal experinces with the sig c3 as it may be in my future.

 

[DMK]

i love the sig c3 and like you said they are sexy. i love the commanders slide on the officers frame too

Yea, these days if you want a new CCO, your only options are Sig or Kimber.

I may just gamble and buy a C3. If it doesn't work reliably I could just keep sending it back until they get it straight. Sig's customer service is pretty good right?

 

[possum]

plus sig has a dicsount going now for miltary leo and such if you are one.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I may just gamble and buy a C3. If it doesn't work reliably I could just keep sending it back until they get it straight. Sig's customer service is pretty good right?

Revolution Carry owner here. They repaired my first one twice, gave me a new gun after the third breakage, and repaired the second gun once. (It is actually running quite well now, enough to "put to work," as it were.) They paid shipping both ways for all but the first return and the turnaround was fast. So at least the customer service is good. That will not convince me to buy another one, however.

 

[DMK]

Revolution Carry owner here. They repaired my first one twice, gave me a new gun after the third breakage, and repaired the second gun once.

What were the failures?

 

[Hoppy590]

i agree, other model SIG's are awesome guns, and maybe someday there 1911 will be too. but they have problems now. and id either go for the smith 1911, a P series Sig, or wait till Sig irons out their 1911 models

 

[threefeathers]

I carry a Sig 229 but in 1911's I'd go with the Scandium Smith

 

[ugaarguy]

I had out of the box problems with a GSR, and despite fixing them myself, it didn't inspire confidence. Because of that I'd say S&W by default.

Of course you did say

This will be a CCW, so reliability trumps all other factors. Price is not an issue here.

If price isn't an issue have the pistol built to your specs. BullfrogKen has strongly recommended Jim Garthwaite to me when I've contemplated such a custom 1911 build. A local gunsmith, who's a heck of 1911 smith in his own right, has recommended Jim Stroh / Alpha Precision. I've also spent a little time on the range with a Belgian FN Hi-Power that was tweaked by Cylinder & Slide and came away quite impressed with it. Spend a little time on the 1911 forums researching gunsmiths, find one you're comfortable with, and have him do the work for you. If cost is truly no issue and ultimate reliability is your goal a built to spec pistol is your best option.

 

[robctwo]

I've been very happy with my S&W1911PD with CT grips. Very accurate and reliable. Fantastic trigger out of the box. That's compared to Les Baer and Ed Brown triggers. My only complaint was a lot of brass in the forehead. Fixed wih a little filing of ejector.

All my reading about sig 1911s leaves me skeptical. I love my 226 and 220 in stainless.

 

[pablo45]

I only voted for 1911pd because you did not have the p220r carry elite up there. But I see you are a 1911 guy. The p220 is my replacement for the 1911.

 

[mjrodney]

My S&W has been 100% since day one and it's digested several thousands rounds to date.

 

[ashgee]

Revolution Carry owner here. They repaired my first one twice, gave me a new gun after the third breakage, and repaired the second gun once. (It is actually running quite well now, enough to "put to work," as it were.) They paid shipping both ways for all but the first return and the turnaround was fast. So at least the customer service is good. That will not convince me to buy another one, however.

Thanks for the info. I was looking at one of those, but not anymore...

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Paging DMK ...

I've written a few times about its failures. The first was not actually a parts breakage, but failures to feed or return to battery. Besides the supplied magazines causing nose-down failures to feed (it only "runs" with Wilson 47Ds, at my expense), they polished the feed ramp and throat. The other two repairs were breakages - the extractor hook, and firing pin safety parts flying out of the slide. The second gun also has needed ramp and throat work (for FTRTBs with JHP bullets), a new front night sight (insert stopped glowing) and a new safety (engagement compromised). This gun however is running very well since that repair, with no failures as yet. It doesn't use the "manhole cover"-in-the-slide design of firing pin safety as the first one did.

 

[Ala Dan]

I have the less expensive, 5" S&W (all stainless) 1911 model with product
code #108282; and it has been flawless, right out of the box often times
runn'in neck n' neck with my 5" Les Baer Thunder Ranch Special 1911~!

 

[JP from Phoenix]

I'd get the smith, i'd personally love a fullsized stainless versian myself

 

[DMK]

The first was not actually a parts breakage, but failures to feed or return to battery. Besides the supplied magazines causing nose-down failures to feed (it only "runs" with Wilson 47Ds, at my expense), they polished the feed ramp and throat. The other two repairs were breakages - the extractor hook, and firing pin safety parts flying out of the slide. The second gun also has needed ramp and throat work (for FTRTBs with JHP bullets), a new front night sight (insert stopped glowing) and a new safety (engagement compromised). This gun however is running very well since that repair, with no failures as yet. It doesn't use the "manhole cover"-in-the-slide design of firing pin safety as the first one did.

That answers my question. Thanks. The mags part doesn't bother me too much. It seems many 1911s come with garbage mags and getting some good quality mags is just part of the entry fee. The rest of that stuff is indeed disappointing though, coming from Sig.

So it looks like I'm down to a Sig P239 and an S&W 1911PD. I'll probably get both. The only question is in what order.