Santa said I need a 1911

[Guest Arko]

Well...Santa made me dip a toe into the 1911 pool!

I've always owned everything BUT 1911's, but my wife/Santa decided I needed to change that, so she took me up to Benton's yesterday to pick out an entry level gun.

I walked up with a Firestorm/American Classic II.

Real nice work on a basic piece. I hadn't heard of them before but it's one of the Metroarms group made in the Philippines and imported by RSA.

Fit and machine work seem to be excellent. Finish is really good as well. It even has good dovetailed Novak type sights.

In looking it up online it's gotten good reviews, including from Jeff Quin on Gun Blast.

I'm heading to the range later and will put up a range report for anyone looking at this entry level gun.

No pics yet, but here's a link to the GunBlast review.

Firestorm and American Classic II Government Deluxe Model 1911 .45 ACP Auto Pistol

[Guest Arko]

Yeah, just dry firing it before I head to the range has me hooked on the trigger. This entry model even has an over travel stop screw.

I still love my CZ's, but I'm also starting to sip the 1911 Kool Aid!

[lowbud]

Those are suppose to be way better then the RI or Taurus 1911's. I have not held one of these so i can't say for sure but that's what I have heard.

[Guest Arko]

I went in to compare the RI, Taurus and Para GI. There was no contest with the RI. My FS/AC is much better made, in my opinion. They didn't have a GI, but I had checked it out before at a show. From memory, the FS/AC compared favorably, at a cost of hundreds less. The GI is said to have a match grade barrel, but I can always upgrade to match that later.

The Taurus seemed to have a slight edge in finish, and maybe trigger, but again, hundreds more than mine, and the Taurus seemd to have some machine marks/chatter marks on the slide.

[Guest Moody]

That's a great pistol - you're really going to enjoy owning one (sounds like you already are, honestly!) I've never shot one, but only handled - it was solid, fit the hand well, and really held/handled alot like my Para SSP. Nice trigger, too.

Enjoy it - and later on down the road, you can upgrade the little things to make it what you want (if you even want to do that). I'd like to shoot one of those one day, just to see how it compares to the likes of the Para GI, Taurus, etc. (as you mentioned).

[Guest Arko]

I just got back from Spring Creek range, and oh boy, do I like this iron!

It was windy and crowded, so we didn't bother with pictures, and I only shot from two distances, but I really like the way it feels, and it was completely failure free, even with the cheap Blazer steel case. I need some more relaxed indoor range time to figure out POA/POI, as at 15' I was a bit low/left, but that could just me getting used to a trigger that's alot different than I'm used to.

Even with that, all my groups were <2"!

PS: Moody, if you were closer you could try mine!

[Guest Moody]

Thanks for the offer! Also, good to hear that she did well for you at the range today.

[Garufa]

Congrats! There's nothing like your first 1911.

Those Firestorms are fine guns. Great quality at a nice price.

Now, where are the pictures?

[Almond27]

Arko,congrats on your new pistol. If you don't mind me asking whats the ballpark price at Benton's on one of these firearms? Thanks Josh

[Guest Arko]

Almond, it was well under 450. I'd have to look close at my reciept to tell you exactly. They were having a % off sale after Christmas and I was out the door w/gun, a box of .45 ammo and some .22 ammo, etc, for under $470!

After shooting today, I'm REALLY impressed.

Edited December 28, 2009 by Arko

[lowbud]

pm me and let me know where you found these.. tnks!

[Guest Arko]

Lowbud,

I got it at Benton Shooter's Supply, in Benton.

[Guest spoolie]

I come down to cleveland often (i grew up there) and would like to meet and shoot, I have the other 2 cheap 1911's that are frowned upon here....taurus pt1911 and para GI.

[Guest Arko]

Spoolie, that would be fun. Always looking to shoot!

I actually went in looking to buy the Para GI, and only went for the AC over the Para just on price. In my un-1911-educated opinion it's also a great entry level bargain.

The Taurus was also in consideration, but the particular example I looked at was just edged out slightly by the surprising quality of machine work and fit on my AC.

[JPS]

Congratulations Arko - looks like a nice gat, especially for the price! (And you WILL love 1911s - no doubt!)

[Guest jackdm3]

Congrats! There's nothing like your first 1911.

Those Firestorms are fine guns. Great quality at a nice price.

Now, where are the pictures?

That's what keeps me from buying anything else. I want to know every practical facet of a 1911 before I spend $700-1400 on one. I don't want to buy two. The breakdown of my .40G Beretta is so incredibly easy. I can get used to the extra steps of a .1911, though, because I shot my cousin's shooting some cans about 15 or 20 feet away. I shot them from right to left, fast and I hit every one! I've never done that before. His Kimber works OK, but before he even shot it the first time, the barrel was oxidizing at the breach, and that let me know that you have to observe the quality of your metals. No offense to you gearsluts, but I don't want to own a lot of guns before I find what's right for me.