STI Single Stack 1911 Spartan 9mm Pistol - REVIEW

[benkenobi1990]

i have been thinking about getting a 45.1911 full size but im not looking to spend $1000 on a kimber or a springfield. i was thinking about a taurus pt1911 but i have read mixed reviews about the quality of the gun. my dad used to have a wilson combat but the gun wouldnt chamber a round due to something wrong with the feed ramp. so i have been looking around and i came accross an sti spartan 45. for $600 out the door. so really my question is, is it worth it?

[nictaylor00]

@benkenobi1990 I think so. The quality is there and the features are pretty much everything I personally want in a 1911 with out having to go to the gun smith to add them later.

[armed2theteethH420]

hello, i just stumbled across this pistol a few weeks ago and have fallen in love with it. it will be my next pistol purchase for sure. but where can i find the 9mm magazines?? and are they expensive?

[nictaylor00]

@armed2theteethH420 I've seen some at CDNN Investments in the past. But I know Dawson Precision sells them. At Dawson you may end up paying $30 maybe.

[BALJIT147]

You got a 9mm 1911, heresy I say.

[nictaylor00]

@BALJIT147 LOL! I wanted a 9mm for steel challenge matches. Not sure if I will use it after all. I still like using my 38 super.

[rdsii64]

I think I just found my next pistol

[azppmd]

Nic,

Blaming you for my purchase of this EXACT gun from Dawson Precision. I had them install the 0.10" fiber front sight and I *love it*. I installed an Ed Brown Checkered Extended Magazine Catch and Ed Brown Drop In Magwell. I also did a trigger job (stock trigger pull was a bit heavy for me), installed a shock buffer on the guide rod, and adjusted the overtravel. It is truly a very smooth gun.

Absolutely flawless operation with 150 rounds of Federal (Walmart) round nose ammo today.

[nictaylor00]

@azppmd I love those fiber front sights with the fiber rod recessed inside the sight post. It makes for a nice clear sight picture. I have them on pretty much all my 1911's

[azppmd]

@nictaylor00 With the standard adjustable rear sights, the 0.10" fiber front sight is visually very easy to acquire. I can see why you would have them on all 1911s. Of course the narrow blade means any "operator error" can easily be exaggerated (no hiding behind the "thick" front sight anymore ;-) ).

[koedstorm]

Im new to your channel. thans for a good quality throughough review of a gun that i am planning on purchasing

[nictaylor00]

@koedstorm Thanks! Be sure and subscribe. I got some new video coming out soon on the Desert Eagle 50. WAY cool gun!

[theseventhday]

I have the Spartan in .45 with Hogue grips - paid like 700 for it years ago, when it first came out. I am very pleased with it...

[CompetitionDVD]

Great video, definitely one of your best so far. I really like the STI and Dawson tour footage and the insets of other reviews you've done. Great job!

[greygoosevodka1]

cool review

[rippspeed1]

Can a non supported frame be converted to a supported frame ???

[nictaylor00]

@rippspeed1 I think it can but don't hold me to that. A non supported frame does not have the cut-out for the supported barrel. So I think you just need to mill out that part of the frame. Of course you will need a different barrel after you do this.

[rippspeed1]

@nictaylor00

ok ... I been wanting to do a Officer Slide project using a RIA frame... I didnt know STI used the ARMSCOR Frame ...

[nictaylor00]

@rippspeed1 STI also makes there own single stack frames. They buy the cast frames from a shop somewhere south of Austin, and then machine the frames in house. They look pretty nice. But I guess they can import these from Armscorps much cheaper and keep the cost down for the Spartan.

[Gmaker202]

I think the cut in the guide rod is to increase stability of the guide rod allowing more lockup between the guide rod and barrel lug

[azppmd]

@Gmaker202 I don't think that's the purpose of the guide rod cut out, as it mates very loosely with the barrel lug when fully engaged.

[gunsandguitars]

I heard that Taurus was casting those frames for them in Brazil. maybe it's just a rumor but that's what I heard.

[scooter17568]

I'm jealous of both tours. Of course I'll call ahead to STI to make sure first but it looks like my next trip to Austin is going to start early on a Thursday.

[fidel5medina]

You can tell that it was quality made. Good luck and god bless.

[veilofpaya]

how are the sti mags working and do they only work in sti 1911 type pistols??

[nictaylor00]

@veilofpaya I bet any single stack 1911 9mm magazines should work in it. I have not bought any others yet, but I was looking at the Dawson mags with basepad. the stock magazine that came with it fits flush and I kinda like a little more something on the base to help seat it.

[veilofpaya]

@nictaylor00 yea i was looking at the mag in the video and was trying to see what the heck was sticking out of the bottom. From my point of veiw it looked more on the thin side, almost like a razor blade lol. but yea that spartan looks like a real beauty. only thing i would have done is some new grips and a mag well. Be sure to post another video if you do any upgrades to it.

[nictaylor00]

@veilofpaya Will do!

[veilofpaya]

well its about time we got another video!!!!!

[haloora]

@nictaylor00 where can we see the video of your tour ???

[nictaylor00]

@haloora I'm still working on the video. I took lots of video so its hard to sift through and find the good stuff. I hope the audio came through ok. It was loud in some instances.  I also video'd a tour of Dawson Precision when I went to buy the Spartan. Its also in the works. Hopefully I can get it up soon.

[haloora]

@nictaylor00 ok good job ! hope to see the video !!

and how did you visit the factory ? can anyone visit it ?

[nictaylor00]

@haloora I think the general public can visit STI for tours on Thursdays at 9am. I'm not sure with Dawson Precision. I know the Marketing director at Dawson so he gave me a guided tour.

[haloora]

@nictaylor00

lucky you !!!

[frederickfrenchjr08]

the slot on the full lenght guide rod for the barrel lug are on 1911 pistols made by armscor, not just the one they made for sti. i believed they had it before they made frames and parts too for sti.armscor is a colt manufacturing plant in the philippines, with tooling and design by colt was later sold to armscor when colt went under.good review.thumbs up.

[MakingMasterClass]

That is an insane deal. Nice pick up brother.

[timpm78]

I recently had a chance to shoot a Spartan a friend picked up from Dawson and the one thing that bugged me about the Spartan is the sharp edge on either side of grip safety on the frame. I have a Kimber and an STI Trojan that have a smoother edge on either side of the grip safety. I will say other than that it's the best value 1911 I have ever had my hands on.

[Zenmagine]

outstanding gun review like always! I really enjoy your reviews!