STI Spartan

New to the forum and looking to get soon be a 1st time 1911 owner. Right now at the top oft short list is a STI Spartan V. Had a chance to handle one at my local gun shop and I was impressed. Also looked at a Colt, Springfield, and a Kimber. For the $ and the features I walked away strongly considering the Spartan. Any thoughts?

 

I have the STI Ranger II and I love it. Great gun for the money.

 

I carry a Spartan IV in 9mm everyday. I think it's the best budget 1911 out there currently, for what you get.

I had some extractor tension issues at first (common with 9mm 1911's, they need a lot of tension), but since then I've been extremely happy with it. Accuracy is great, it feeds everything I've thrown at it, and the finish has been holding up pretty well, considering it's everyday holster use.

I'm thinking of buying another in officers size for summer carry, or buying an officers frame from them for a CCO project with my current top end.

 

One of our top club shooters uses an STI double stack. His is considerably more expensive though.

 

Just one? Seems like STI owns USPSA's Open and Limited Divisions, and is steadily eating Single Stack as well.

 

I have the SPARTAN III. Very solid, reliable, and accurate. Carries very well in a OWB holster that I made.
The only modification that I have made is to paint the sights. Although they are sized right for me. They were hard for me to pick up in low light.

I have had a couple other sub -compact 1911, Springfield micro, and an original Detonics Combat Master. The micro didn't like JHP ammo. The Detonics didn't like truncated bullets.
The Spartan has fed and fired every type of ammo I have put through it.

I 'ts a lot of gun for the price.

 

I just picked up a Spartan IV in 9mm. Word was / is that the cast frame encases the better STI internals. I stripped mine down and sure enough the sear, hammer and trigger bow are TOP notch. I've inspected a few sears and the STI is as good as I've seen. The parker build up where the sear resides caused a little sticking, but nothing a little emmory cloth couldnt fix quick. I bob tailed the Spartan and for sure the frame is cast. Chucked chips out instead of nice long chips. Not that many will be grinding or drilling the frames. I say buy it you'll like it.

 

I also painted my front sight bright red to help pick it up in low light. The V comes with a fiber optic front sight, but the smaller versions do not.

 

Have one, love it. Surprisingly accurate at 50 yards with match ammo for a budget 1911. Pretty good 4-4.5lb triggers.

 

The Spartan V was my first 1911. I have bought and sold other 1911s but the Spartan remains. It's great to shoot, a great value, and an all around great package.

 

I think I'm gonna "pull the trigger" on the Spartan. Thanks for the feedback.

 

theyre great guns, excellent value for the money. I had the V when i got it the mag catch was messed up and not sticking out far enough to properly hold the mag in. I gave them a call and they sent me a new mag release right away other than that it is a great gun

 

Love my Spartan. It is my first and only 1911 right now, but I like it a lot better than my brother in laws RIA that he customized himself. My blackhawk serpa has been real rough on the finish though. It runs like a champ and is very accurate.

 

Picked it up today from a local gun store...

I'm gonna put black STI G10 grips on it like this

 

Nice!

I do wish they came with the square hammer like thee it site says they do, though. It's my only complaint about the way mine looks.

 

I like black on black better

 

Since STI's start out as RIA's...I see zero reason not to recommend the RIA too and save $150. meh.

 

... Because they don't "start out" as RIA's. Armscor makes the frame/slide (I've been told its different steel, too), then adds STI fire controls, barrels, etc. then ships them here for final QC.

All thus happens by a the STI division of Armscor, trained by STI.

 

^^^ So as I said, the RIA should also be a good option.

 

Owning both I can say yes they are both good options, but the spartan is better. Better finish. Better trigger. Better sights.

 

Right from the STI website:

Q: Are STI pistols made in America?

A: The Spartans are built for STI (to STI specifications and utilizing STI internals) in the Philippinesby the STI division of Armscorp. All of the rest of our pistols are built right here in Georgetown, TX.

Emphasis added by me.

I was told (by an employee of STI) that they had a whole separate shop in the same building that builds the Spartans. He also told me that there was something different about the steel, either it was completely different, or had a different heat treatment or something. I can't recall exactly what he said, and can't seem to find any other info on it right now.

Just going by what they told me.