1911 Guy's Help. Torn Between Two Guns.

[md7]

I’m not keen on the Emissary’s look, but would pick it between these two options. My experience with SA has been really good, and that goes a long way with me.

For production 1911’s in general I like Colt, Ruger, and Springfield. Those companies seem to get it right way more than not, and generally make good on any rare issues.

Semi Custom/Custom is nice too. Would suggest Alchemy, Nighthawk, or Wilson at level.

 

[md7]

@bannockburn What model is that colt? The one with beaver tail and front serrations in your pic

 

[entropy]

I have an Emissary and a Sig, but not the Sig you are looking at.

Both are great guns and it’s a tough choice indeed.

I have 1911’s from 13 different manufacturers, I’m not going to suggest looking at others because that would not be answering your question.

I like Sig 1911’s a lot; I think they offer a lot of gun for the money. If I come across an STX for a fair price I will buy it.

I will try to keep this short on the Emissary, it is a fantastic value for what you get. If it did not have markings stamped on it, I would think that it came from a semi-custom maker like Wilson, Baer, etc. The give away that it is not a semi custom is the trigger. Not that the trigger is bad, it is good, but if you have ever tripped the trigger on Wilson, Stacatto, etc, you know what I mean.

A lot of guys dislike the square trigger guard on guns, sooo, don’t use it then. Rob Leatham talks on his video about the benefit for him. Agreed, that he is paid to sell and shoot their guns, but I’ve never seen him put sales over his reputation.

The tri-cut slide not only looks great, it functions well for shooting.

The 360 grenade grip system works well, and locks you in.

Though some may argue the importance of this, the slide runs like ice on ice with a bit of water in between. I don’t know if I ever felt any this smooth on a production gun. But I have to admit, I’ve never handled a Dan Wesson, which I expect it would be similar. I’m constantly on the lookout for a DW to buy.

To add to the smooth slide travel; if they put this much attention here, there’s a good chance that extra attention is taken on the internals.

The barrel lockup is like a bank vault, no wiggle room at all; the moneymaker for accuracy.

I got what I paid for and a lot of extra for the Emissary.

Some day I’ll compare it to my Wilson’s and Baer’s at the range. I expect a tough competition.

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The slide cuts really work well and look great.

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You're not helping me here.....

I guess next time I'm at the gun shop, I'll have to look at an Emissary.....

 

[Skylerbone]

I’d pick Springfield and add that I don’t care much for the looks of the Emissary. They’ve been doing 1911 right for a very long time, with new models seemingly catching up with user demand for useable features. Nothing against Sig but Springfield IMO makes the most reliable, well built for money spent 1911s on the market.

 

[JTQ]

Sigs non-standard slide is a huge negative due to holster selection

This is the point I would make. The Springfield Emissary would probably also require a special holster due to the slide, trigger guard, and perhaps that is a non-standard rail.

The SIG-slide 1911's have been on the market for several years and there are many holster makers accommodating the SIG slide profile. The downside is if you have current 1911 holsters they may not fit the new gun. I'm sure there must be somebody that makes a holster for the Springfield Emissary, but I don't know who.

 

[tarosean]

Good point @JTQ I forgot the Emissary has a square trigger guard

 

[bannockburn]

md7

That's a Colt Lightweight Government with an aluminum alloy frame. I liked it as soon as I picked it up; the balance and handling just felt right for me.

 

[md7]

md7

That's a Colt Lightweight Government with an aluminum alloy frame. I liked it as soon as I picked it up; the balance and handling just felt right for me.

Nice pistol. I like it

 

[jkulysses]

When it comes to 1911s I'm pretty much a Colt fan. Nothing against any of the other 1911 manufacturers; just that I was "raised" on Colts and have been very happy with the ones I have. I have one non-Colt and that's a very early production Springfield Armory M1911A1 and I'm quite pleased with it as well.

Between the two you have listed I would probably go with the SIG. I own a couple of SIGs (though none of them are 1911s), and again have been more than satisfied with the design, build quality, and overall fit and finish with all of them.
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Well all these Colt comments got me looking at their site & I found this gem.https://www.colt.com/detail-page/colt-competition-plus-80. Looks to have the look & front grip knurling I'm interested in. I'll be doing research on this model & seeing if it's something I can actually even find for sale or not. Between the two I was initially torn between I still can't decide other than I can only find the Emissary in the commander size & I kind of want full size. I literally haven't found a single review or YouTube where anyone has had reliability issues with the sig so that's appealing. Now I'll be looking at Colts all day I have a feeling lol.

 

[bannockburn]

jkulysses

Now I'll be looking at Colts all day I have a feeling lol.

Oh I don't know, I can think of quite a few more dreary things to spend your time doing rather than looking at Colt's all day!

Like vacuuming, cleaning leaves out of the gutters, doing laundry, washing pots and pans, rearranging your sock drawer... The list is endless!

Here, I will even help you get started:

 

[Reinz]

I have to admit when I saw the advertisements for it, I was “Meh”. But after handling one in person I was sold.

As a serious shooter, I sure like the looks of that Colt Competition model.

 

[funnelcake]

If you need/want a 1913 rail, the SA. Sig had kinks w/ their 1911’s early on but nothing bad lately. Either would be GTG.

 

[rbernie]

I have a number of Sig 1911s, and they have all been highly satisfying to shoot. I do favor 1911s with a firing pin safety, and that means that I have more Kimbers and Sigs then I have, say, Springfield 1911’s. As far as I know, Springfield still does not offer any models with a FPS, and that means I will not have one for carry use.

The point made upthread about how nonstandard slides make holster selection more difficult is worth repeating.

 

[md7]

I have a number of Sig 1911s, and they have all been highly satisfying to shoot. I do favor 1911s with a firing pin safety, and that means that I have more Kimbers and Sigs then I have, say, Springfield 1911’s. As far as I know, Springfield still does not offer any models with a FPS, and that means I will not have one for carry use.

The point made upthread about how nonstandard slides make holster selection more difficult is worth repeating.

You’re right about SA being a series 70 design, but I thought the titanium firing pin made them drop safe. Am I mistaken on this?

Not poking at ya. Serious question.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, not really, but that is what the internet calls it.
The Springfield, also Wilson, Baer, Brown, Wesson, etc. titanium firing pins are drop safe enough to pass the California protocol which includes a drop test.

 

[JTQ]

You’re right about SA being a series 70 design, but I thought the titanium firing pin made them drop safe. Am I mistaken on this?

Not poking at ya. Serious question.

They are sort of drop safe.

A 1911 with a titanium firing pin will be more drop safe than one with a steel firing pin, an extra power firing pin spring will be more drop safe than a normal weight firing pin spring or an old worn firing pin spring, a titanium firing pin and an extra power firing pin spring will be more drop safe than a steel firing pin and an extra power firing pin spring, but none of these things will be as drop safe a gun with a firing pin safety such as a Series 80, Swartz, or Mochak design. Certainly there are reasons why folks may not like a particular firing pin safety design, but if you want a drop safe 1911, you really need one with a firing pin safety.

If you're interested in the drop safety subject, here are the Drake Oldham drop test results

http://dave2.freeshell.org/1911/drop1/drop1.htm

 

[JTQ]

... knurling on the front of the grip...

...front grip knurling I'm interested in.

If you're product searching, checkering is the term most companies will use for their front strap treatments.

 

[Victor252]

You’re right about SA being a series 70 design, but I thought the titanium firing pin made them drop safe. Am I mistaken on this?

Not poking at ya. Serious question.

You are right. SA uses a titanium firing pin which is lighter and has less inertia. They also have a slightly stronger FP spring and hammer spring if I recall. Ironically, the FBI was the party that started the whole "drop safe" thing and then the FBI Hostage Rescue Team adopted the SA 1911 (TRP Professional) as their sidearm with no FP safety/FP block.

Edit: Didn't vote for either option. Neither float my boat but each to their own.

 

[md7]

They are sort of drop safe.

A 1911 with a titanium firing pin will be more drop safe than one with a steel firing pin, an extra power firing pin spring will be more drop safe than a normal weight firing pin spring or an old worn firing pin spring, a titanium firing pin and an extra power firing pin spring will be more drop safe than a steel firing pin and an extra power firing pin spring, but none of these things will be as drop safe a gun with a firing pin safety such as a Series 80, Swartz, or Mochak design. Certainly there are reasons why folks may not like a particular firing pin safety design, but if you want a drop safe 1911, you really need one with a firing pin safety.

If you're interested in the drop safety subject, here are the Drake Oldham drop test results

http://dave2.freeshell.org/1911/drop1/drop1.htm

The more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually know. Both humbling and enlightening at the same time.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Interesting, when you buy on style, you get into personal preference.
The things you like are exactly what I don't like about the Emissary.

No doubt. I have everything from a Taurus 1911 to Colts to Kimber to Nighthawk. That emissary is without a doubt the ugliest 1911 I've ever seen and I've fired hundreds. I don't have and will never own a rock island/metro/ etc etc 1911 but I would take one over that Emissary in a second. I carry a Glock....I even have a FiveseveN AND A 329Pd I'm ok with ugly... but I never thought I'd see a 1911 pushed that hard. I haven't even bought one with a rail.... I like the TRP or Ronin from Springfield though.

Luckily every one has different tastes. I'm sure the Emissary is a decent gun.

Id vote Sig even though I don't care for them as a company I have many p series and they are excellent. The 220 is super nice too since you have 1911s.....Or Kimber. Or a different Springfield. Or a Taurus. Or a Llama......

 

[Howland937]

Sigs non-standard slide is a huge negative due to holster selection

I'd never went out of my way to find a holster that specifically fit Sig 1911's. First time I heard someone mention it I thought it was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard...but apparently I got lucky the first 4 times, then went 0 for the next 3.

I've got a few Sig 1911's and I love them. Carry one every day and I'd probably own an STX if one came available reasonably priced, but I didn't cast a vote.
I rarely take my own advice, but I'd recommend trying to get some range time with both before shelling out near MSRP for one or the other.

 

[JTQ]

I'd never went out of my way to find a holster that specifically fit Sig 1911's. First time I heard someone mention it I thought it was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard...but apparently I got lucky the first 4 times, then went 0 for the next 3.

Cheap leather or nylon will probably fit a SIG slide. In kydex, you'll probably have trouble with friction retention holsters, and most good leather holsters will probably need a SIG specific holster.

Realize, SIG does offer two slide profiles in the line-up now. The SIG style profile and a traditional 1911 slide profile, so simply saying a SIG 1911 won't fit in standard holsters is not always true.

 

[Howland937]

My first 4 were 2 DeSantis, a Stoner and a Galco, but also all came from the guy that did some work on my guns. So it's possible he knew exactly what to wave in front of me.

 

[JTQ]

My first 4 were 2 DeSantis, a Stoner and a Galco, but also all came from the guy that did some work on my guns. So it's possible he knew exactly what to wave in front of me.

I'm going to guess, DeSantis, Stoner, and Galco don't make SIG-Slide specific 1911 holsters, and there was enough slack in them to accommodate the SIG slide.

I'm pretty sure Galco lists the same part number for their holsters for 1911's and Browning Hi-Powers. The better holster makers will produce a different holster for a 1911 and a Hi-Power, just a data point.

 

[wvfarrier]

I got to shoot an emissary today. The one I fired was absolute garbage. Trigger was terrible, slide to frame fit was awful, the mags wouldnt drop free and had to be pushed extremely hard to seat and lastly out of 300 rds and 4 shooters its malfunctioned a whopping 18 times. They were all failure to go into battery or stovepipes about evenly split.