Metro Arms Classic 1911 - Any Good?

[Mosin Bubba]

A guy I know wants a 1911 and has about $500 to spend. Apparently the Metro Arms Classic with a 5 inch barrel caught his eye, and he came to me asking if I knew anything about it. Honestly, I don't know very much about 1911s in general, so I'm passing the buck on to you guys.

How quality is this pistol? And are there any other 45s in the ~$500 range you would recommend instead of it?

 

[RON in PA]

He should also look at Rock Island Armory (RIA) guns made by Armscor. Excellent guns for the money if you want a basic 1911. Like the Metro Arms made in the Phillipines.

 

[DanTheFarmer]

I have a Metro Arms 1911. I am very happy with it. I'm not a 1911 expert, just a satisfied customer.

Mine has a nice deep blue finish, has been completely reliable, and got me into the world of 1911's without breaking the bank. I just recently picked up a Ruger SR1911 that has a rail so now I have a "Classic" form 1911 and a "Modern" form one. I'll be happily shooting and comparing them throughout the winter.

One note: My Metro Arm is the "Firestorm" brand, not the "American Classic" brand. It was a Plymouth/Dodge type of thing. The Firestorm brand was dropped pretty quickly so I'll bet you're looking at an "American Classic" version. I mention this because some older 1911's branded "Firestorm" were actually Spanish Llama brand pistols. Those did not have a good reputation. The Metro Arms (Phillipines) should work well for your friend if he goes that route.

Good luck.

Dan

 

[bannockburn]

The 1911s made in the Phillipines are pretty decent quality with slight differences in sights, triggers, safeties, and finishes. Least expensive one at Bud's Gun Shop is the ATI M1911 at $368. Next would be the RIA (Rock Island Armory), standard 1911 at $403, or a slightly more upscale version (better sights, trigger, safeties), for $462. The Citadel 1911 comes in at $425 while the made in Turkey Tisas Classic M1911A1 is priced at $389. Bersa currently carries the MetroArms line of pistols and the Classic II 1911 is $482.

 

[CNobbe]

A friend of mine has one, a Commander and he likes it. I've only fired a few rounds through it but thought it was a nice gun for the money. The only thing I didn't like about it was the giant billboard "American Classic" on the slide. It was a stainless/blued two tone and the finish was very nice.

 

[roval]

that was my first 1911. i had a metro arms classic deluxe. prior to that i had a 9 mm xdm that i wasn't consistent with. first time out with the gun i tore up the red section of a b27 target at 10 yrds. i think it was because it was a 1911 rather than being a metro arms 1911. when i then used my xdm next session i shot it better as well. the rear sight later became loose months after. i brought it back to the gun shop they just loctited the rear sight set screw and recentered it and it was fine.

once i knew i really liked 1911s i traded it in and got fancier 1911s. for 2 years use and 2 to 3000 rounds. i was out $160 e,cept for the cost of ammo.

 

[Tallball]

As far as entry-level "GI" 1911's go... I have a Tisas. My stepbrother has an RIA. My FiL has a Metro Arms. All of them go bang every time and have better accuracy than we do. That being said, the Metro Arms is the best-looking of the three, and has the best sights and trigger. My FiL handled one at the LGS and decided he just had to have one. He stalked Gunbroker for some weeks and by a fluke he won it on a $330 bid. I think normally they are more like $400. It's a very nice pistol.

 

[CajunBass]

I used to have one, in 9mm. Excellent handgun. Nicely finished. I never used anything but my 115 grain reloads but it worked just fine and shoot well. Came with many features, such as beavertail safety, extended slide release, and oversized safety that are usually found only on higher priced guns, or cost extra to add.

I sold it to fund something else, most likely a Smith & Wesson revolver, but it was a nice gun.

 

[CNobbe]

I used to have one, in 9mm. Excellent handgun.

Which model in 9mm did you have? I was looking at a new 5" w/ blued finish that kinda reminded me of a Kimber Raptor but was only $450 or so. Apparently there is a stainless one available as well.

 

[CajunBass]

It was an American Classic I I. That's about all I know about it. I got it used.

 

[CNobbe]

It was an American Classic I I. That's about all I know about it. I got it used.

Were you happy with it? Good accuracy? I'm picking your brain as I can't find much info on them, especially 9mm models. Thanks for replying!

 

[CajunBass]

I was quite happy with it. I just don't form emotional attachments with guns. That way I don't feel bad about selling them to buy something else.

Accuracy? I didn't shoot it any worse than any other gun I own.

I would buy another one.

 

[Fiv3r]

Well the 1911 bug nibbled at me today. I wouldn't say BIT as I wasn't planning on dropping a grand on a new gun. However, I had a couple of wheel guns that were collecting dust and decided that a budget 1911 would scratch an itch I had.

My game plan was to find a full size GI configuration with a park finish for around $500 (about what my trade was worth). I was thinking an RIA GI would be right around the price point. As luck with have it, they had a Citadel in the cabinet for right around that price with the finish I wanted. Except it also came with a full length guide rod (that doesn't require a special tool like my old Loaded model did), extended beaver tail, adjustable trigger (but didn't include the tool for it...no biggie, I don't mess with that much anyway), Novak-style sights, front and rear cocking serrations, beveled mag well, and a skeletal hammer. It also sports an ambi safety which I swore off, but being a quasi-southpaw who shoots mostly rightie, I like the option to switch it up (plus being able to use the gun in either hand in an emergency). It seems to have a very positive click, so I don't think it will accidentally get bumped off. And I have a nice set of custom grips a buddy of mine sent me that are set up for an ambi safety anyway. On top of that, it came with more modern Hogue wrap around finger-groove grips if that's your thing.

Not bad for the money.

I don't know how she'll shoot yet, but she cleaned up nice. Even the walnut grips (while a bit thick as is kinda normal from Armscor) cleaned nicely and sport a comfortable checkering.

Truth be told, barring that my Springfield had a forged stainless frame and slide and a textured front on the grip (which I didn't like), and adjustable target sights (which I loathed), it APPEARS the Citadel has lot going for it.

I'm not a 1911 snob as I am not a huge-huge fan (this is my 4th one and the others were sold/traded), but I don't think you can go wrong with this gun for a knock around woods/truck pistol with a few bells and whistles that improve on the class warhorse.

 

[Deanimator]

I've got a Citadel 3.5 CS. It has the best out of the box trigger pull of any M1911 I've ever owned.

I'm thinking about a Commander size gun. It will almost certainly be one of the Philippine guns.

 

[CNobbe]

I was quite happy with it. I just don't form emotional attachments with guns. That way I don't feel bad about selling them to buy something else.

Accuracy? I didn't shoot it any worse than any other gun I own.

I would buy another one.

I'm the same, but I like finding nice shooters for cheap prices.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Mine a early model and will shoot as accurate as any of my Colts . Not had 1st problem .

 

[Olympus]

As a dealer, I started carrying the Metro Arms brand for my "budget" 1911 to replace the Rock Island brand that I had been selling. I found that about half the RIA guns that I would get in needed to be sent back for warranty work. A lot of guns I would send back myself as a dealer before even putting them out in my shop for sale. I would clean all the grease off of them and inspect them closely and find issues right out of the box. I've sent back several guns for customers as well. The last straw with RIA for me as a dealer was when a very good customer of mine had me send their gun back for warranty work right around the time of the last SHOT show. It had been gone an expended amount of time so I tried to call RIA to get a status update. No answer whatsoever by phone. I tried ever single extension, customer service, market, finance, etc, in hopes of just getting through to an actual person. No luck. In the course of doing all of this, I found out that almost every extension had a voicemail that was full and would not accept new voicemails. That was the last straw for me. I sold out my remaining RIA inventory and started replacing them with Metro Arms guns.

From my short experience of carrying Metro Arms, I will say for a certainty that all of the ones I have been getting are WAY more refined and better finished than the RIA guns. I have not had a single one not pass my initial inspection like I had with RIA guns. So far I have only sold a couple since the brand is not as well known as RIA, but both customers have not been back to see me, so I can only assume they are happy with their guns. I would have no problem recommending a Metro Arms at this point.

 

[Lizard1911]

I bought mine, a commander 5 years ago to replace a junk used S&W.
I'd buy another in a minute.