Chris Rhines
Member
I've decided to go ahead with my plan to purchase an STI Trojan singlestack 1911. This won't be quite my first 1911, but it'll be the first one I plan to put a lot of rounds through.
Whatever gun I get, I plan to shoot it in USPSA Single Stack division, IDPA ESP or CDP division, Steel Challenge, as well as practice. I'll probably put close to 30,000 rounds through it in the first year. I'm buying the STI because I wasn't getting the accuracy I want out of my previous competition pistol, so I'm looking for 2" @ 25 yard mechanical accuracy as a minimum...
Where I'm hung up, is in selecting a caliber. I'm torn between getting a Trojan in 9x19, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP.
Option 1 - 9x19 shooting USPSA SS Minor, IDPA ESP
Pros: Cheap ammo, cheap reloading components. 9mm 1911s are wonderfully easy to shoot. I'm already set up to load 9mm, dies installed in the press, brass and bullets in the feed hoppers, load data well sorted out.
Cons: Can be tricky to get to run. In USPSA Single Stack, I'd have to shoot Minor PF (but I get two extra rounds in the magazine...)
Option 2 - .40 S&W shooting USPSA SS Major, IDPA ESP
Pros: Still very easy to shoot. My Limited gun is an STI .40, so it's likely that the two guns could share loads. I'm mostly set up to load .40, although I'd have to get a conversion kit for my bullet feeder. Major PF in everything.
Cons: Can still be tricky to get to run. More expensive ammo, to the tune of ~$950 for 30,000 rounds (over and above 9x19.) I've heard some conflicting reports about inadequate accuracy in the .40 1911s.
Option 3 - .45 ACP shooting USPSA SS Major, IDPA CDP
Pros: The most reliable cartridge in the 1911. Probably the most accurate cartridge, too. Major PF in everything.
Cons: Much more expensive ammo, to the tune of ~$2000 over 30,000 rounds (over and above 9mm.) I find the .45 ACP to be somewhat less shootable that the 9x19 or the .40, although 30,000 practice rounds will probably help with that.
Option 4 - Get a Glock 34. Seriously.
Pros: All the pros of the 9x19 STI, plus it's cheap and reliable as a stone axe.
Cons: No USPSA Single Stack (but I can shoot Production instead, which is fine.) Let's face it, the Glock isn't quite as nice to shoot as the 1911. Accuracy is a big ol' question mark.
So, I open this one up to the floor. I'm especially interested in accuracy and competition reports from people who already own 9x19 and .40 1911s.
Thanks all,
Chris
Whatever gun I get, I plan to shoot it in USPSA Single Stack division, IDPA ESP or CDP division, Steel Challenge, as well as practice. I'll probably put close to 30,000 rounds through it in the first year. I'm buying the STI because I wasn't getting the accuracy I want out of my previous competition pistol, so I'm looking for 2" @ 25 yard mechanical accuracy as a minimum...
Where I'm hung up, is in selecting a caliber. I'm torn between getting a Trojan in 9x19, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP.
Option 1 - 9x19 shooting USPSA SS Minor, IDPA ESP
Pros: Cheap ammo, cheap reloading components. 9mm 1911s are wonderfully easy to shoot. I'm already set up to load 9mm, dies installed in the press, brass and bullets in the feed hoppers, load data well sorted out.
Cons: Can be tricky to get to run. In USPSA Single Stack, I'd have to shoot Minor PF (but I get two extra rounds in the magazine...)
Option 2 - .40 S&W shooting USPSA SS Major, IDPA ESP
Pros: Still very easy to shoot. My Limited gun is an STI .40, so it's likely that the two guns could share loads. I'm mostly set up to load .40, although I'd have to get a conversion kit for my bullet feeder. Major PF in everything.
Cons: Can still be tricky to get to run. More expensive ammo, to the tune of ~$950 for 30,000 rounds (over and above 9x19.) I've heard some conflicting reports about inadequate accuracy in the .40 1911s.
Option 3 - .45 ACP shooting USPSA SS Major, IDPA CDP
Pros: The most reliable cartridge in the 1911. Probably the most accurate cartridge, too. Major PF in everything.
Cons: Much more expensive ammo, to the tune of ~$2000 over 30,000 rounds (over and above 9mm.) I find the .45 ACP to be somewhat less shootable that the 9x19 or the .40, although 30,000 practice rounds will probably help with that.
Option 4 - Get a Glock 34. Seriously.
Pros: All the pros of the 9x19 STI, plus it's cheap and reliable as a stone axe.
Cons: No USPSA Single Stack (but I can shoot Production instead, which is fine.) Let's face it, the Glock isn't quite as nice to shoot as the 1911. Accuracy is a big ol' question mark.
So, I open this one up to the floor. I'm especially interested in accuracy and competition reports from people who already own 9x19 and .40 1911s.
Thanks all,
Chris