New 1911 on the way: STI Spartan!

[bafsu92]

After looking at a bunch of 1911's about 6 months ago I decided on a STI Duty I. It was by far the best new gun purchase I've made in years. I had a friend buy a 1911 from a well hyped company that also builds nice 1911's. He paid a nearly 3 times what I paid for my Duty I ($1099 for me $3025 for him) and my STI shoots circles around his pistol. I have another friend who bought a Double Star at the same time and the quality looks to be similar but the STI shoots better. I think they are right at the top when it comes to 1911's. If they would only leave the big engraving off the slide they'd be perfect.

[cookie62]

I just ordered the Spartan 9mm last night. Already have 3 .45 1911's.

You won't be disapointed. It was the only 1911 style pistol that I have seen that feed all ammo. Most I have seen wil only feed the ammo that they like. It feed everything. If I had the money and was in the market for one it's the only brand i'd buy.

[ske1eter]

I'm looking forward to it. Dawson is putting one of their .100 front sight on it.

Any ideas for some aftermarket magazines?

[addict]

Wilson 47DE for me 

Addict

[ske1eter]

Wilson 47DE for me 

Addict

A bit more than $600 for that piece.

Les Baer Concept V for me. Oh, that's right, it's already in the safe...

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Keep reading and talking to folks that are getting them, and it's all positive.  The Springfield EMP 9mm lists over $1200.00

 

Seems MB wrote about the STI pistols here pretty recently also with a favorable review. Congratulations.

[ske1eter]

Picked up the Spartan and will hopefully get to try it out this Friday, schedule permitting. Initial impressions are positive with the slide/frame fit having no slop. Pressing on the barrel hood gives no movement. Unfortunately, they only supplied one magazine.

Doing a bit of dry-firing to get things started........

[fullautovalmet76]

Got a call from Dawson today. Mine is held up while Dave Dawson does some final tweaks to the gun. They told me they only work on 3 pistols a day and Dave will not let one leave unless it is "perfect" by his standards. If he will do that for a $600 1911 like mine, I can bet he gives the same attention or more to his more expensive stuff too. I'm impressed....Stay tuned....

[SpottHogg]

Ive owned a Spartan in 45 for about 7 months and it is a great gun for the money. It is a deadly accurate pistol, mine will bench 5 shots at 20 yrd. into sub MOA (which is better than my Dads STI USPSA SIngle Stack Shot). It is a remarkably tight but slick slide to frame fit, feels like a custom really. I have around 8000 rounds thru it and its still tight. Great crisp trigger without creep. Ive used it in USPSA Single Stack all this year and love it. But as with all things there are a couple negatives, though they are minor.
The two bad things I encountered is: (1)- they will not reliably feed SWC. Before anyone says it I know a non-ramped barrel was designed for hardball. Over the years gunmakers have made the non-ramped barrel suitable for SWC. All Im saying is the non ramped barrel configuration in the spartan is not enhanced to feed SWC, at least mine wasn't. (2) The polymer mainspring housing. I dont like the feel of the checkering on it and the fact the spring retainer pin hole started to oblong under the tension. Luckily they are trivial and easily remedied, get the barrel ramp angle changed to feed SWC and buy a SS mainspring housing. (Both of which I did).     

[ske1eter]

I finally got the Spartan 9mm out and ran a few rounds through it. Didn't do any accuracy testing, but rather fired it to get it started breaking in and have some fun. It fed my lead 125 gr. roundnosed handloads like butta'. The funky shaped magazine can shave a bit of lead off of the bullets if one isn't careful when loading the mag though and the mag lips are a bit rough on the fingers. I forgot my UpLULA and it would have no doubt made loading easier.