1911 or SIG P220?
- Thread starter KrankyKraut
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KrankyKraut
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Range Rental Report
I went ahead and rented both. The 1911 they had was not a RIA, but an old, beat up Springfield GI. The SIG 220 was a brand new standard size gun in DA/SA. He told me the 1911 would jam on me, because theirs was old and hadn't been maintained. Neither gun was exactly the model I was looking to buy, but close enough to give me an idea. I had 100 rounds of WWB with me to conduct this test.
To make a long story short, I liked the way both guns shot. They were both accurate at the distance I tried (about 25 feet); the SIG was slightly better. Both felt good in my hands. I alternated shooting them one mag at a time. Other than finding out the basic feel and way each gun worked, I wanted to see which one I gravitated to. I noticed as time went by, I picked up the 1911 more often. I liked the way it felt, how slim it was, etc. I even thought the tiny GI sights were easy enough to see, even for my aging baby boomer eyes. And while this particular gun did jam a lot, just as the guy predicted, his brand new SIG also jammed every time on the last round in each magazine.
Overall, while the SIG was more accurate, I "liked" the 1911 more.
After I came to that realization, I had some rounds left and for kicks rented a Ruger P97. It looked like it hadn't been rented much. Now here's the surprise of the evening! The gun shot like a dream. It was as accurate as the SIG, never jammed once, felt good in my hands (maybe not quite as good as the 1911, but on par with the SIG) and had ergonomics superior to both. The one thing I didn't like was the long trigger pull. But the trigger broke cleanly.
In summation, having eliminated the SIG, my choice will now be between a 1911 and a Ruger; either the P97 or the P345.
I went ahead and rented both. The 1911 they had was not a RIA, but an old, beat up Springfield GI. The SIG 220 was a brand new standard size gun in DA/SA. He told me the 1911 would jam on me, because theirs was old and hadn't been maintained. Neither gun was exactly the model I was looking to buy, but close enough to give me an idea. I had 100 rounds of WWB with me to conduct this test.
To make a long story short, I liked the way both guns shot. They were both accurate at the distance I tried (about 25 feet); the SIG was slightly better. Both felt good in my hands. I alternated shooting them one mag at a time. Other than finding out the basic feel and way each gun worked, I wanted to see which one I gravitated to. I noticed as time went by, I picked up the 1911 more often. I liked the way it felt, how slim it was, etc. I even thought the tiny GI sights were easy enough to see, even for my aging baby boomer eyes. And while this particular gun did jam a lot, just as the guy predicted, his brand new SIG also jammed every time on the last round in each magazine.
Overall, while the SIG was more accurate, I "liked" the 1911 more.
After I came to that realization, I had some rounds left and for kicks rented a Ruger P97. It looked like it hadn't been rented much. Now here's the surprise of the evening! The gun shot like a dream. It was as accurate as the SIG, never jammed once, felt good in my hands (maybe not quite as good as the 1911, but on par with the SIG) and had ergonomics superior to both. The one thing I didn't like was the long trigger pull. But the trigger broke cleanly.
In summation, having eliminated the SIG, my choice will now be between a 1911 and a Ruger; either the P97 or the P345.
wally
Member
Add me to the buy 'em both chorus.
I've got both, I shoot the RIA almost every range trip simply because I don't have to worry about its high price being reduced from wear and the 1911 just fits me best of all.
I've plenty of other 1911s costing 2-3X more than the RIA, and I'm not giving up anything when shooting the RIA.
If I couldn't have a 1911 it'd be a tough choice amoung my second favorite SAO guns: Sig P220sao, EAA/Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match, & Beretta Steel-1. Of these three the Witness Elite Match is almost as good a value as the RIA. The Steel-1 is not available in .45ACP.
Edit: Try to find the new RIA "Tactical" better (Novak's) sights and all the creature comforts of the Sprnigfield loaded ir Kimber Custom models for ~$75 than the standard "GI" RIA. IMHO, the only weak spot ont he RIA is the grips but since no matter what you use somebody won't like them so its a great place to scrimp to make a price point.
--wally.
I've got both, I shoot the RIA almost every range trip simply because I don't have to worry about its high price being reduced from wear and the 1911 just fits me best of all.
I've plenty of other 1911s costing 2-3X more than the RIA, and I'm not giving up anything when shooting the RIA.
If I couldn't have a 1911 it'd be a tough choice amoung my second favorite SAO guns: Sig P220sao, EAA/Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match, & Beretta Steel-1. Of these three the Witness Elite Match is almost as good a value as the RIA. The Steel-1 is not available in .45ACP.
Edit: Try to find the new RIA "Tactical" better (Novak's) sights and all the creature comforts of the Sprnigfield loaded ir Kimber Custom models for ~$75 than the standard "GI" RIA. IMHO, the only weak spot ont he RIA is the grips but since no matter what you use somebody won't like them so its a great place to scrimp to make a price point.
--wally.
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MICHAEL T
Member
A 1911 is the only way to go.
Zen21Tao
Member
I have 5 Sig handguns (including the P220)and 5 1911 type handguns (7 if you count Para LDAs). I can say that both the 220 and 1911 are great guns. I see that you have eliminated the Sig. I think that between the 1911 and the Ruger, the 1911 is by far the way to go. You said part of what gravitated you towards the 1911 was it's slimmer feel than than Sig. IIRC, the Ruger P97 is double stack that is thicker than both the 1911 and Sig, while the P345 is a single stack design that falls somewhere between the P220 and the 1911 in thickness. With that said, I think you'll also the 1911 to have a much greater accuracy potential and a much greater availability of after market up grades, if you decide to go that route.
Also, keep in mind that you don't have to eliminate the Sig to go with the 1911. You can always get a Sig GSR. I have one and absolutely love it. It every bit as accurate as any of my other 1911s. The only difference between it and a normal 1911 is that the top of the slide is flat like Sigs other guns than rounded like normal 1911 design. However, this difference is barely even noticeable.
Sig GSR
And if it the DA/SA design of the Sig P220 and Rugers that you find appeasing while you prefer the 1911 design, you can always go with Para Ordnance LDA (light double action) model. The Para Ordnance LDA models are 1911 design with a DAO type trigger that is very light with a crisp break. I have tow of these, a 13+1 round double stack Tac-4 and a 6+1 round single stack carry model. I love both and use the carry as a daily Concealed carry weapon. Para also has full size and commander size single stack 1911 LDAs, if that is the design you prefer. Go yourself a favor, and at least give one of those a try also.
Para Tac-4 and Para Carry
Also, keep in mind that you don't have to eliminate the Sig to go with the 1911. You can always get a Sig GSR. I have one and absolutely love it. It every bit as accurate as any of my other 1911s. The only difference between it and a normal 1911 is that the top of the slide is flat like Sigs other guns than rounded like normal 1911 design. However, this difference is barely even noticeable.
Sig GSR
And if it the DA/SA design of the Sig P220 and Rugers that you find appeasing while you prefer the 1911 design, you can always go with Para Ordnance LDA (light double action) model. The Para Ordnance LDA models are 1911 design with a DAO type trigger that is very light with a crisp break. I have tow of these, a 13+1 round double stack Tac-4 and a 6+1 round single stack carry model. I love both and use the carry as a daily Concealed carry weapon. Para also has full size and commander size single stack 1911 LDAs, if that is the design you prefer. Go yourself a favor, and at least give one of those a try also.
Para Tac-4 and Para Carry
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MaterDei
Member
Both fine guns, can't go wrong if you go with the one that fits you better.
Chestnut vs. Strawberry Blond is harder. I think it really depends on the skin tone and eye color. Most likely the chestnut will look better but on some the blond is a real great compliment to their eyes (especially hazel ones) and their skin tone. Tough call here.
Chestnut vs. Strawberry Blond is harder. I think it really depends on the skin tone and eye color. Most likely the chestnut will look better but on some the blond is a real great compliment to their eyes (especially hazel ones) and their skin tone. Tough call here.
wally
Member
As happens with most gun A or gun B questions here, the answer of course is Platnium Blonde!
--wally.
I see the original author of the first post has eliminated the SIG, but for the sake of discussion, I will say that high-end 1911s such as those by Les Baer are truly sweet weapons, whereas the over-hyped but junky 1911s by makers such as Kimber should be avoided. I loved my early SIG P220, superbly accurate and reliable, but the Euro-style heel-of-gripframe mag release would snag car seats and allow the mag to drop slightly, so I stopped using it as a duty pistol, and later sold it. (Stupid move!) Now that the SAO SIGs are on the market, I would say to get one of those rather than a 1911 in the same price range or less. I would love to carry an SAO SIG as a duty pistol, but my agency changed the rules in 1997, which closed out the option of carrying single action autos as primary weapons, and specified .40 as primary duty pistol ammo. SIG has yet to make an SAO P229, which could "back up" my duty SIG P229 DAK, and share magazines. That would be sweet. My old P220 was very accurate; my most accurate pistol until I got my first Les Baer 1911 in 1997.
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