I was quoted a price for a Taurus 1911 by a dealer, and he mentioned STI for a little more money. From what I've read they seem to be high quality pistols that are MADE IN TEXAS! I'll have to add an ambi safety to the STI since the one he quoted the price on doesn't come with it which is more money of course. And the STI doesn't have the rail on the frame for light mounting. So basically I'm looking at the STI for more money and less features, but did I mention its MADE IN TEXAS!

What to do?

I have heard a lot of good things about the taurus 1911s

What model STI are you looking at? I highly recommend the STI Trojan. Way better than the Taurus 1911. The STI Spartan has STI internals but a Philippines sourced slide and frame. I own an STI Trojan and it is excellent. No experience with an STI Spartan. But, from what I've read, they appear to be quite good too.

i have two sti pistols. one is the tactical 5.0 which has the rail for mounting lights. it is the best shooting handgun i have ever put my hands on. i am a bigger fan of the 2011 frame as it is a bigger grip with more capacity in the mag

there may be other great guns, but the attention to detail and quality at STI are second to none.

you cant go wrong there.

The Spartan was the model I was quoted a price of. I just did some research and the dealer quoted MSRP to me. I don't think I'll go with that guy. It was a chance encounter anyway. I'd rather get a pistol from Vernon, but he won't reply to me.

Veeeerrrrrnoooon where are you?

STI is based in Gtown, TX, city where I used to work.
They make their guns there on site. Cool to see their shop and see all phases of the manuf. precess.
Owner is very pro-police.
He dontated shotguns to the dept. and would always chip in money for blue santa and such. Alot of the guys bought guns from him and loved them.
Local guy too. Been around many years.
Cant go wrong with one.

Most STI pistol are extremely tight tolerance and rank high among the top competitive shooters in the nation. There are no stamped parts or NIM parts. The Taurus is an excellent shooter but is full of mass produced NIM parts that will over time wear out fast and are not built to competitive standards. Both are good pistols but the STI is simply a higher quality piece.

I don't pistol shoot a whole bunch, I shoot mostly rifle. I've got pistols in various places in the house, in the shop, and in the truck. That's where this 1911 will go, in one of those places, so it won't get the pee shot out of it. That leads me to think the Taurus would do the job fine.

On the other hand, most of my discretionary income goes to tools and firearms. And I try very hard to always buy American. Rarely do I see a tool or firearm of great quality built in Texas. So that's my delima. Buy the less expensive one that will most likely not get shot enough to wear it out. Or support a Texas company and have a pistol that would be so proud of that it would become my "Barbeque Gun."

I would not get too hung up on brand loyalty. If you want to keep it Texas based, where is your pocketbook. Get the Taurus which sounds like it will do what you want and take the family to dinner in Texas with what you saved.

There is a 1911 custom parts supplier just outside Waco. Use the money to upgrade the Taurus. They carry 1911 and STI 2011 parts.

http://www.dawsonprecision.com/

I'm not hung up on brand loyalty, I've never owned or fired an STI pistol I just like the fact that its made in our state. The thing about the Taurus is though, it doesn't need anything done to it right out of the box. I appreciate the link that might come in handy some day.

i would say it is a budget question.
if you can afford it, get the sti.

if it is just for an extra one and you are wanting to spend less, get the taurus.

good luck

STI does use MIM parts as cited on the website FAQ's. with that being said,
STI over the Taurus, also look at some of the entry level Springfields. You get what you pay for with 1911 guns. if you plan to shoot a lot or depend on the 1911 for defense, save up a little more and buy a better gun than the Taurus. The Taurus will be okay for occasional range days but will most likely not satisfy you if you shoot thousand of rounds in a short period of time. The Taurus has a lot of bells and whistles on it for a low price. Something has to be sacrificed to offer a lot for little in the 1911 world. Also, check out some of the 1911 forums.

I have a question

How much where you quoted on the STI and what Model was it ?

The only reason I ask is my experiance wiht STI is there great quality guns but like anything that is quality you pay the price.

Not saying the Taurus is bad because I have one and love it but it only comes out to go to the range someday I will have an STI but not anytime soon lol.

STI features will not be seen such as the Taurus, they are a Match grade pistol. The only thing about the Taurus is the cool factor, and once you see it from about 5 ft away you realize its just another Brazillian Knock off. I have owned and still own taurus pistol's to me they are shooter's beater's and loaner's "truck gun's"

STI is a very fine gun in the race gun market has been around for a while too! I think they are better than Wilson Combat. The gun you are refering to, The Trojan I own one it came with adjustable sight's (taurus don't have) the slide is hand fit to the frame it is a forged frame gun not Investment cast (taurus) thriiger is hand honed and tuned to a crisp 4 lbs. fit and finish is supurb.

If you are going for a carry/ Defense gun you want a"loose gun"
one that is throated and polished and will eat any 45 acp made.

If you want a match/race gun get a STI, Wilson, Baer, Nighthawk or something along those lines.

1911's I currently have:
Colt mark IV gold cup
Kimber CDP II
Springfield Loaded Match
STI Trojan
1991 A1 Colt
1911 Remington rand mfd.1918

The one I carry: Colt 1991A1 rattels like an old Chevy driving down a drit road functions with any mag and eats any ammo has NEVER failed to go off.

my 2 cent's and opinion though no one really asked!!!!

STI all the way over Tauras!! I am in the process of building a Caspian right now, I also looked at the STI. I too want to keep the tax dollars in Texas but I got a Large discount from Caspian. Gene Williams is doing all the work for me he is in Princeton. He knows his 1911's!!

STI TROJAN!! Money well spent that you can back if you decide to at any point!!

I know a lot of folks have seen this Taurus video...they shot a lot of rounds through the 1911.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx7HYgTWAsg

sti
looking at getting one myself

STI.........

Friends dont let friends buy Tauras.

I'm a die hard 1911 fan. I have a custom shop officers model STI
1911 that I'll never part with. I still can't make the switch to
the 2011 even though it's a great handgun. That being said I own a few Taurus handguns and I feel very comfortable with any of them performing when I need them to. There are two firearms manufacturers in Texas that I know personally you can't go wrong
with and that's LaRue Tactical and STI. You will not be disappointed. If money is an object, the Taurus should be fine.
Just my opinion. Let us know what you decide. Road Dawg