STI Spartan VS. Taurus 1911

[Zach S]

Park guns need rubbed down with oil while stainless won't.

Wrong... If a magnet will stick to it, it will rust.

I had a stainless Colt 1991A1 I had to treat like a blued carry gun to keep the rust away. My Para Companion was almost as bad. My Kimbers hold up pretty well when neglected, but as a general rule, I treat my stainless guns like they're parkerized.

I have no experience with the Taurus 1911s, but have heard good things. I've had no issues with my 9mm STI Spartan out of 1000 rounds, and the sights were dead on, out of the box.

The only downsides to the STI spartan is the Fiber Optic front sight, in the almost Novak front dovetail and the adjustable rear sight, which is all personal preference, and most of that has been changed on mine. Dawson Precision offers Spartan-specific front sights. I wish I knew that before I flat-topped my slide and voided the warranty...

 

[Olympus]

I'll let you know when my stainless Taurus starts to rust. The Armscor guns needed to be wiped down with an oily rag or they would start getting a thin film of rust on them.

 

[Tomcat47]

Uh Mavracer....

How can you disagree that STI's customer service and quality control is not better than Taurus' if you haven't used both?

From My Post #12:

As far as STI Spartan... I cannot honestly say anything regarding their CS, I have also not owned one either. I have however compared apples to apples concerning 1911's in this price range and still believe the Taurus to be the above average 1911 in that price arena, and they have a little more for that money.

No comparison. Taurus is not even close to the STI.

I will agree There is No Comparison for the same amount of Money! Taurus is a very high leap above STI it Fit and Finish... Not to mention the extra features and especially the sights...And there is plenty of data backing up the Taurus 1911 Regarding functionality and accuracy on THR.

Still I am not attempting to Dis STI! Just from what is Visible ....The Taurus seems logically and in appearance alone, the better choice for the money in my opinion.

I will give STI one advantage, and that is they offer a Compact 1911 in this price arena! Taurus does not! (Taurus is missing the boat on that choice in my opinion)

 

[Tomcat47]

The Sights.....

STI to me are Hideous! But could be changed out to something nicer maybe?
But then that is additional cost...

And WHY? does the magazine stick 1/4" out of the STI? Is It 9+1?

 

[smalls]

I disagree, I've held both my Spartan and a Taurus back to back, and the Spartan's fit was way tighter, with the exception of the grip safety. Mines a little looser than I'd like, but everywhere else the gun is tight.

Most people prefer black rear sights. I can't stand 3 dots.

The 9mm Spartan is 9+1.

ETA: only the 5 inch Spartan comes with target rear sights and a fiber optic front. The III and IV come with Novak style rears and a plain post type front sight.

 

[Zach S]

And WHY? does the magazine stick 1/4" out of the STI? Is It 9+1?

Looks like one of the Wilson ETM or Tripp's magazines...

Wilson ETM and Tripp's mags have longer tubes to address the shortcomings of 8 round magazines. Since the tube is longer, they won't fit flush, so they have what seems like a tall basepad.

I prefer flush-fitting magazines, so I have no experience with either. 7 rounds of .45 or 9 rounds of 9mm is fine for me.