Looking for some good opinions. I'm going to get a 1911 commander. I have pretty much narrowed my choices down to Smith & Wesson 1911sc or STI Ranger II. It probably will not be used for carrying but maybe home defense and a little plinking. I have a Colt and a Dan Wesson 1911 but want something different in the commander just to mix things up a bit. Does anyone have any good info on the S&W or the STI? Which do you prefer?
1911 commander - STI or S&W
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frankiestoys
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Well you will get a lot of opinion's on choices I have owned over a dozen 1911's but never a Smith 1911 ( I love there revolvers though) but I do own a STI Trojan in hard chrome and my experience with it has been outstanding ! The gun shoots better then I can and I practice weekly so I can say I'm not going to miss
The STI line of 1911's are well made and the slide to frame are done by hand seemingly like they are made on ball bearings very smooth and scary accurate. The Smith seem to be also of very high quality and really are nice guns. But I wouldn't trade my STI for one Jmo .
The STI line of 1911's are well made and the slide to frame are done by hand seemingly like they are made on ball bearings very smooth and scary accurate. The Smith seem to be also of very high quality and really are nice guns. But I wouldn't trade my STI for one Jmo .
Can't help with STI. But I have owned Colt, Springfield, Dan Wesson, Kimber, and a few of the cheaper 1911's. My S&W 1911's beat them all. Best 1911's I've ever owned. But then again, I've never owned one of the high end guns to compare it to either.
frankiestoys
Member
I think you need to try an STI I've also owned all the one's you mentioned and I have to say the STI is a keeper ,the best running ,most accurate and made in America my Kimber Eclipse was a close second ...SA unreliable and poorly fit sorry Colt fans but it was over rated not nearly as nice as there revolver wich I also own .
orionengnr
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I have not owned an STI, but I will if I run across one and the price is right.
I do own a Commander sized, Scandium framed 1911PD, and it has quickly become one of my favorite 1911s of all those I've owned.
It is still with me while several Colts, several Springers, several Paras, etc., are long gone.
I don't think you can go wrong either way.
I do own a Commander sized, Scandium framed 1911PD, and it has quickly become one of my favorite 1911s of all those I've owned.
It is still with me while several Colts, several Springers, several Paras, etc., are long gone.
I don't think you can go wrong either way.
I have owned Springfields, Colts, Safari Arms, Dan Wesson, Sig Sauer, Ed Brown, and a Les Baer. The only two I have kept is a colt that Jim Garthwaite did some work to and a Stainless Valor. The Les Baer was the most accurate I have ever fired, it was a nail driver. However I was going to go broke breaking it in. It never fired more than 20 rounds without jamming. After a couple of trips back to the factory, and more directions of fire 500 more rounds through it before I call back again I finally traded it for an Ed Brown. The Brown was a very good gun but I really couldn't see a big difference between it and the Valor so I eventually sold it. After flirting with the semi-custom guns I've settled into the $1200 realm of 1911s give or take a hundred bucks. Since I have the Valor and a Colt, the S&W and the STI were the two choices I narrowed down to for a commander. Last year I would have just bought the S&W and called it a day, but before Christmas I bought a 9mm M&P and had all sorts of problems with it. It took so long for them to generate a label my Local Gunshop just game me my money back and said they would send the M&P back. The owner told me he has been frustrated with them lately. I'm sure it is because they were pushing so many guns out the door with the record demand, but after buying lemons from a couple of different companies in the last year I thought I would seek advice from others before making a purchase this time. I still like S&W though, I bought a Shield and it has been a remarkable little pistol. I called STI and asked how there customer service worked and the guy told me they were employee owned and that they do everything with in reason to make customers happy. All of your comments are greatly appreciated.
I had an S&W Pro Series 3" 1911. Only put about 500 rounds through it but never had a malfunction and it was a better shooter for me than my Kimber Eclipse Ultra despite the Kimber having more weight to absorb recoil.
Sold em both as I fell out of love with the 3" 1911s, but would not hesitate to pick up a standard S&W 1911 if I decided I needed another one.
I've only tried one STI 1911, a Guardian in 9mm. Shot great, and had some really nice adjustable night sights on it.
Don't think you could go wrong with either, but STI is a smaller company and will probably have slightly better customer service IF you would need it.
Sold em both as I fell out of love with the 3" 1911s, but would not hesitate to pick up a standard S&W 1911 if I decided I needed another one.
I've only tried one STI 1911, a Guardian in 9mm. Shot great, and had some really nice adjustable night sights on it.
Don't think you could go wrong with either, but STI is a smaller company and will probably have slightly better customer service IF you would need it.
I had an SW 1911Sc. It's plunger unstaked itself twice. Both times in matches - one a major match. I sent it back to SW and it's been ok since but I wouldn't trust it as a carry gun. It is pretty gun and it's just a fun gun for me now.
Luckily at the second match - a friend lent me a Taurus 1911 which ran fine. Go figure!
Now that is a sample of one but that's what happened.
Luckily at the second match - a friend lent me a Taurus 1911 which ran fine. Go figure!
Now that is a sample of one but that's what happened.
RussB
Member
I would not buy an alloy framed commander for plinking. Recoil is substantially sharper than an all-steel gun. Great for carry, though. Here's my carry pistol, a S&W Gunsite scandium commander,
Chocolate Bayou
Member
i'm trying to make similar decision, except it's STI or Colt.
RussB
Member
Also have a look at the Dan Wesson offerings, C-Bob, Guardian and V-Bob
meanmrmustard
Member
I'm in the camp of "anything but Ruger". That's another thread though.
For carry, I'd go S&W scandium frame.
For range/hd/competition or hunting buddy, STI no questions asked. But, I think the S&W could fill both rolls, too.
I'm not much help, so if you had a figurative gun to my head, I'd go STI.
For carry, I'd go S&W scandium frame.
For range/hd/competition or hunting buddy, STI no questions asked. But, I think the S&W could fill both rolls, too.
I'm not much help, so if you had a figurative gun to my head, I'd go STI.
I just posted my review on my new Ranger II. And as for billboards there aren't any on the new ranger. Just Ranger II in small letters nicely placed on one side, and a small Texas STI logo on the other. They have apparently took note and listened to the complaints on slide billboards.
george burns
Member
As mentioned, heavy for Home defense and range use. Light for carry. This is simple yet many try to cover both uses with 1 gun, and it seldom works. Those scandium guns are wonderful for carry but not for range work. It will end up turning you off to both uses, as it will fit neither.
You want a 38 oz gun for target and HD, but a 25 oz gun for carry, it's like carrying a spare shield around all day.
You want a 38 oz gun for target and HD, but a 25 oz gun for carry, it's like carrying a spare shield around all day.
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