STI or Springer???

Springfield Loaded or STI Spartan?

  • Springfield Armory Loaded Target Stainless

    Votes: 23 56.1%

  • STI Spartan

    Votes: 18 43.9%
  • Total voters
    41
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J

Jordan85

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STI or Springer??? (or S&W)

Well I guess I better clarify first. STI Spartan / Springer Loaded Target. I thought I had my mind made up....

I had been looking at the Loaded series a long time, but it just didn't seem like I was going to be able to get one due to my budget.

So I started checking out the STI Spartan, which I believe is a good gun as well (and at the time more appealing to my wallet) except for the plastic trigger which kind of weirds me out. I was going to pull the trigger on the Spartan (forgive the pun), even asking members of this community to help me locate one.

But then I came across the Springer 1911 group buy going on right now in the group buy thread....

So now I'm figuring that my otd cost will be about the same for either one of the two +/- a few dollars....

I feel a little bit more comfortable w/ the Springer b/c I know more about them. I am not too familiar w/ STI and wasn't impressed by their customer service when I called today to ask them about their warranties.

But what are your feelings on how these two guns stack up against one another??

Which is a better overall gun / which would you buy for yourself if it was you?

I already think the Springfield would be heavily favored, but I am more interested in what the STI advocates have to say. Well, let's hear it!

Note: I am adding S&W to this list late b/c I noticed a rebate they have that would get them around my price range I think
 
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I like my SA Champion, but if I had the choice I would go with STI.

And the STI trigger is not just plastic, it is a high-density polymer. It's also very nice.
 
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SA: Made in Brazil. Cast frame and forged slide. The gun is then "Loaded" by Springfield in the U.S. Has MIM parts.

STI Spartan: Frame and slide made in the P.I. Cast Frame and the slide is extruded bar stock. The gun is then put together in the U.S. by STI using their own parts. No MIM parts to my knowledge.
 
Unless I am very wrong the frame on a SA is forged as well as the slide.
This being one of the reason the SA is so very popular with smiths' as base units for custom work. SA does have some MIM parts. Not a fan of them, but they seem to be the parts that lots of people change out anyway. I will say I have never had one fail, but your experience may be different.

The frames and slides for STI by Armscor in PI. STI ships internal parts to Phillipines where the guns are assembled, shipped back to US where they are QC'ed. Handled STI for first time yesterday, nice piece. IF it had a forged frame as well it would be a tough choice.
I would still pick SA for the fact of the forged frame and SA Customer Service. Or at least MY experience with their CS. But I will say for what I saw in the STI I handled it sure looked appealing, I would pick that over a Kimber.
http://ezine.m1911.org/STISpartan.htm

One last point, the one I saw yesterday was going for $660. Unless i am wrong that was full MSRP.
 
50/50....ahhhh you guys are not help....:banghead:

J/K. Thanks for your thoughts. Really didn't think that many people would take the STI over the Springer....

And now S&W threw a 100$ rebate on 1911s on their website....

Can anybody tell me about S&W 1911s??
 
I will go with my normal response in this case.

Do not let other people spend your money for you.....:D

Given more time I am sure more people will weigh in. Have you had a chance to handle both? I have to admit if I could get past the cast frame thing I would really be tempted to go STI. Really like the STI internal parts.

The one I looked at seemed like a nice pistol.
 
Yes, Weisse, I agree. But I am not asking for an ultimate decision to be made. I just want to hear why or why I shouldn't go w/ one or the other, and since there are a myriad of members who have infinite more knowledge than me on these guns, I figure maybe they can tell me what to be aware of.

I have handled both. Only one I have actually shot is the Loaded. It jammed up on me twice while I was shooting it, but I attributed that to it being a rental gun and being terribly dirty.

I liked the STI (guy in the shop couldn't stop raving about it), though I think the finish does leave a little to be desired, and like I said, the 'polymer' trigger is weird to me. Are there a lot of aftermarket polymer 1911 triggers? Also, I thought the fiberoptic on the front was a little obnoxious, but these are all cosmetic things, and I am interested in performance.

Also, are there any reasonably priced S&Ws I should look at? After seeing the rebate they have going, I think I prob have some options there too (if they are worth checking out, that is!)
 
SA: Made in Brazil. Cast frame and forged slide. The gun is then "Loaded" by Springfield in the U.S. Has MIM parts.

STI Spartan: Frame and slide made in the P.I. Cast Frame and the slide is extruded bar stock. The gun is then put together in the U.S. by STI using their own parts. No MIM parts to my knowledge.
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I thought Springfield started using forged frames? Maybe just the TRP?

The STI Spartan has MIM parts but you are correct about the slide and frame.
 
I can't talk about the Spartan per se, which means I probably can't tell you anything that you haven't read up on already, but I can tell you that STI's cutomers svc is top notch. They're a small company that picks up the phone when you call and you get a real person who wants to help you out. I have an older model Ranger and I totally dig it. Got it used. got a great deal on it and it looks and works brand new. Had an occasion to call them recently for a takedown tool and they were totally helpfull..

That's as helpfull as I can be. STI's a good company. The local range owner is an STI dealer and he compares them to what Kimber used to be before they got big and lost some of their shine.

Won't comment on Springfields.
 
I own both so I feel fairly qualified to respond.

First, I need to state that I find both guns to be of fine construction, function, and fit. I foresee owning a second of each in the future. I'll also warn you that you'll not get any clear answers in this post.

The Spartan is the most accurate 1911 I've ever owned. The first time I shot it, I chased a Coke can up a hill at ~25 yards, offhand. When it was empty I literally sat down on the bumper of my truck and stared at it for a good solid minute. You see, I've never been a very good shot, but this gun is like a freakin' laser beam.

I'm not a huge fan of Park'd guns but the finish on the Spartan is very good. I've been considering having it Hard Chromed, but I'm equally afraid of messing with a Good Thing, y'know? I did swap out the crappy grip panels for VZ's, but that is just personal preference.

Now the Springer is also accurate and the first time I shot it was at the range while doing some moving double-tap drills. At these close ranges it hit where I aimed. But I immediately didn't like the trigger pull and I swapped out the ILS mainspring right at the range. I had been planning on swapping it out anyway and I had bought a Kimber MSH earlier that day. Thanks to THR I had read that the swap would help the trigger pull, and it did. Now it feels and shoots more like the Spartan.

Other than the ILS, the differences are mostly cosmetic. IMHO both fine, fine guns.
 
This from the March 2008 Guns and Ammo:

STI International, manufacturer of competition and law enforcement handguns, has stopped sales in California over a new state law requiring that handguns sold here come with technology to "microstamp" identification numbers onto spent shell casings. "We as a company have decided enough is enough," STI explained in a press release. "[We] feel it is necessary to take a stand against irresponsible legislation designed solely to inhibit the American citizen's right to keep arms."

This would make me consider purchasing STI over the other brands mentioned.
 
i am a springer loaylist and have had great experiences with sa handguns, rifles, and there customer service, the sti's are neat and they are at a good price, but i would personally spend a little more and get the sa.
 
Ive had both...and currently had both in my shop again. Did a comparison between the two exact guns. Id take the STI over the Springer...its just one of the best guns you can get, especially for the money. My Trojan shot as well as the Spartan I had....
If you want a gun to work on ...get the springer. But other than that get the STI.
Shoot well.
 
HMMMM....I hate to bring a forth option into the equation, but what do u guys think of Para USA? I just saw that video of Todd Jarett putting 1000 rounds through an SSP in less than 11 minutes, and it was very convincing to me (and they are reasonably priced).....
 
It's your thread.:)

I've got a Para Nite-Tac LDA that is the same phylae but not the same species.;) Good gun but I prefer my STI.
 
Wow, there are so many things in this thread that I agree with.

The Spartan is the most accurate 1911 I've ever owned.
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+1. I am not a great shot, but the Spartan is the most accurate gun I have ever shot. Or, I am the most accurate with the Spartan. It is my first .45 and my first 1911 and on the first range trip, I was *very* impressed with my shooting.

I'm not a huge fan of Park'd guns but the finish on the Spartan is very good. I've been considering having it Hard Chromed, but I'm equally afraid of messing with a Good Thing, y'know?
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+1. Given the choice, I'll take stainless over parkerized in many guns. However, the park on the Spartan is very even and is medium-gray. Some park looks green or black, but the Spartan is definitely gray. Gets the job done since it's not a BBQ gun.

I did swap out the crappy grip panels for VZ's, but that is just personal preference.
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Swapped mine out for some plain black rubber double diamond panels purely for looks, but the additional grip is nice. The panels are double diamond rosewood (or something resembling rosewood).

STI International, manufacturer of competition and law enforcement handguns, has stopped sales in California over a new state law requiring that handguns sold here come with technology to "microstamp" identification numbers onto spent shell casings....

This would make me consider purchasing STI over the other brands mentioned.
Click to expand...

+1. This was a big thing for me, even if it was mostly symbolic. Made me switch choices from a Mil-Spec to the Spartan.

And the STI trigger is not just plastic, it is a high-density polymer. It's also very nice.
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Very crip break and comfortable on the finger. The fact it is plastic (or whatever) doesn't bother me since I'm a Glock shooter and think plastic is fine. Do not let the trigger be the deciding factor, there are so many aftermarket ones available if you feel the need.

Also, I thought the fiberoptic on the front was a little obnoxious, but these are all cosmetic things, and I am interested in performance.
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The fiber optic front IS functional. It is very bright and your eye is drawn to it. I like it.

For pricing, get in touch with THR member Correia from www.fbmginc.com. I bought mine from him and it was a smooth transaction and I got a reasonable price.

If you're near central Nebraska, you're welcome to come shoot mine.
 
Yeah, there seems to be a lot of fans of that Spartan. If it was b/w the Mil-spec and the Spartan, the Spartan would already be in the mail. But I'm looking at 715$ otd other than my ffl fee for a Springfield loaded and it seems like a steal and I always have a hard time passing up a good deal....

So it seems like the vote is that both guns are very good guns, w/ the STI having the slight upper hand in function and the Springfield (in my opinion) having nicer cosmetics....hard to pass up a good deal, but.....

My only concern was that when the STI was getting judged it was getting judged on a different platform than the Springfield Loaded. You know, "this is nice....FOR A 550$ GUN", not just the "this is a nice gun" comments you would expect from the springfield. But it seems like people really love their Spartans more than their Springers....

You know when I opened w/ "I already think the Springers are going to be heavily favored"??? Well I guess I was wrong! :confused:
 
Hate to add to the confusion some more but...

I was just on Smith and Wesson website and they have a 100$ rebate on their 1911s right now that I think may put some of them in my price range. Is there anything over there that I should check out or are the two guns I"m looking at already superior?
 
the STI having the slight upper hand in function and the Springfield (in my opinion) having nicer cosmetics
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Form should follow function. If you want cosmetics, just buy a stainless Taurus PT1911. Don't buy something just because it's a deal. Buy something because it's the right tool for the job.

I'd get a S&W before I'd get a Springfield, but that's just me.
 
I'm a gun dealer, I sell lots of both. I sell quite a few Springfields mostly because they advertise a lot. Personally, I'll take the STI every time.

Everybody on here knows I'm an STI fanatic. Of all the companies we deal with, they are my favorite, by far. Their service is tops, their guns rock, that's pretty much it.

For an entry level gun, the Spartan is impossible to beat. I got your PM, but haven't had a chance to respond. I just barely got home from SHOT, and am trying to get our new gun store ready for the grand opening in a couple of days.
 
Well I'm pretty much sold....

EVERYBODY has a Springer anyways....why not be different? Especially when so many people love their Spartans....

Now I just need to find a good deal on one....

Well, Correia, if you are a dealer, even if you don't have any plans for a group deal anytime soon, maybe we could just set up a traditional exchange, as I am not finding a whole lot of great deals out there right now anyways......
 
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