Sig P220, CZ97b, or 1911 Springfield Milspec?

[andrewshogun]

Looking to purchase my first .45 caliber pistol and I'm giving these three guns serious consideration. I'm looking for out of the box accuracy, nice trigger pull, fit, and finish. For ones that have owned or shot all of 3 of these guns, I'm looking for your input. I've heard nothing but good things on the Sig. The Milspec would be an entry level 1911 obviously. And the CZ I am leaning towards most heavily right now. Although this is my first .45, I want it to be a good one that will be a keeper right off the bat.

 

[shooter429]

P220 without a doubt

1911s in that price range will need work for sure. And a CZ?

The 220 is in a whole different (higher) league. They are highly accurate, reliable and easy to shoot well. The triggers are about average weight and pull for a service gun, but not bad at all. If you want DAO, they make a DAK version. And they are made of ...gasp...steel! Gotta love that.

You will spend a little more on the Sig, but you get every penny's worth of value, IMHO.

Now, if you want to spend a couple grand on the 1911, that is a whole new story. I take it you don't though.

Shooter429

 

[Deer Hunter]

Depends on what fits you best. I prefer the CZ 97. It's got great ergos and wont break your bank. My 97 is built like a tank, and i highly doubt I'll ever be rich enough to ever wear it down. Plus, if you ever feel like it, you could install a heavier recoil spring and maybe a stainless steel guide rod and shoot .45 super out of it.

 

[ninja45]

I own all three .45 ACP platform. The Sig and the CZ are DA/SA pistols, the 1911 SA. Trigger pull/reach are all different. The CZ is the biggest and heaviest of all the pistols compared. The 1911 SA Milspec is the easiest trigger to get used to. The Sig the most accurate (also the most expensive).

Now, what are going to use the pistol for? Your answer will narrow the choices.

If 10 people reply to this question, you'll get 10 different answers that will just confuse the heck out of you!

I suggest you go to a shooting range that rents out these pistol and try them all, compare, then decide.

My choice, a 1911 pistol with slight mods (as in SA Loaded version).

Ninja45

 

[Vito_Corleone]

Sig.

 

[GTSteve03]

Although this is my first .45, I want it to be a good one that will be a keeper right off the bat.

In that case, buy the Sig.

The Springer, as you said, is an entry level 1911 and you'll end up doing at least some customizing to it, or trading up for a higher-level 1911 eventually. The CZ is nice, but it's huge and weighs half a ton, making it a range gun only.

 

[CZF]

THe SIG would probably be good for you.

A 97B will be something you can work towards in the future.

They are not for everyone, but those who have them find them to be reliable and highly accurate on the range. Because of size..I don't know many that
CCW one.

CZ calls the 97B the 'Flagship' of their pistol line, and it shows!

 

[Scorpiusdeus]

Other then the 1911 line of Sig Sauer, I don't think Ive ever met a Sig Sauer owner with buyers remorse.

The P220 is considered to be one of the finest .45s ever made.

 

[bluto]

If you're looking for a slam dunk, out-of-the-box keeper then pay the extra dough and go with the SIG P220. I own several. Ultra reliable, super accurate, easy to shoot. Needs nothing to make it complete.

The Springfield Mil Spec is a heck'uv'a 1911 also. I've got 3 and all have been great pistols. Reliable and very accurate, too. But I felt the need to put match barrels in two of them to achieve Sig accuracy.

The 97B has a great reputation for accuracy, but I've never shot one. I've read that some used to/still have some problems feeding hollow points. Maybe CZ has solved them.

 

[The Annoyed Man]

Why not a Sig 1911? Then you can have your Sig AND a 1911. It's like having your cake and getting to eat it too.



I've got one and like it. It wasn't perfect as purchased, but it's better now. Mine was a CPO gun and cost $699.00 instead of the $1,050.00 of a brand new one. The Sig CPO guns have been gone through by the factory and any worn, defective, or broken parts have been swapped out and the guns are like new. Mine came with a match grade barrel, bushing, trigger, and sear set. You can't hardly beat that for $699.00. I had a gunsmith polish the feed ramp and add an ambi safey, as I am left handed.

 

[10-Ring]

When I got my first 45, I couldn't decide either. THe advice I got was to get the one at the best price, shoot it for a while & then get the others. Well, I got a lemon of a P220, my Glock blew up but my USP and Colt are still with me....
Good luck on your quest

 

[Rinspeed]

220 by a long shot.

 

[brashboy]

You didn't say what it was for, but you want a keeper and the CZ is that. The recoil is very sweet due to the weight, but it probably won't be the CCW gun. Accuracy is extremely good, even on first (DA) shot. I can hit with it as well as my Kimber Classic I. Good mag capacity.

Small to medium hands are a problem due to size of grip and trigger reach, so be sure to shoot one before you buy.

There is no better .45 for the price, but guns are very subjective. The sig is nice, but leaves me cold somehow, but many find them orgasmic. It's what you like.

 

[jpwilly]

Sig smig...1911 but not the milspec the the Loaded! I went with the Taurus PT1911 and love it. $489...2000 + rounds no stopages with FMJ or HP!

 

[robctwo]

I have the stainless P220, Blued early edition CZ97 and the SA black stainless loaded. I have smallish hands and like the 1911 best. All three are reliable and accurate. The CZ has the biggest feeling grip. The 1911 is probably better for CCW, although I rely on the CZP-01 for that function. The CZ has the highest capacity and the smallest sights.

 

[eldon519]

If you're willing to pay the money for the SIG, I'd recommend you look at an equivalently priced 1911. You can get a very nice 1911 for the same price that will be a better gun in my opinion.

Given the choices, I'd still take the SA Mil-spec. I liked the CZ97B, but it has a very long trigger reach which was too far for my finger.

 

[mons meg]

Don't let the "long trigger reach" of the 97 scare you. I have large hands but short fingers, and it never gave me a problem. Besides, it's a cocked-and-licked kinda gun anyway. As others have noted, soft shooting and dead on accurate as well.

 

[Wayne G.]

1911s in that price range will need work for sure.

What kind of work will they surely need?

My Mil-Spec runs like a sewing machine. I like it better than my Springer "Loaded" model. It doesn't have all the add-ons of a Loaded (which I'm happy about) but cheaply made or put together--it is not.

 

[rbernie]

I've owned a dozen or so decent-quality 1911s and I still own a couple of CZ97Bs. I also own a handful of P220s, and would choose them over the other two without a doubt.

 

[TokyoShapiro]

all shoot great. 1911 and sig 220 will resale better when you go for the next gun you'll want.

 

[Langenator]

I own a CZ-97B, and Sig 220, and a Kimber 1911. I've got big hands, so believe it or not, the -97B fits me best followed by the Sig.

I shot the CZ head to head at the range against the Sig. The CZ won on accuracy going away, with every type of ammo. The CZ was touchy about ammo though. It didn't feed reliably with the few hollowpoints I had (type unknown-found them in the bottom of my ammo box) or my Rainier 230 grn TMJ handloads. But it had no issues with any factory hardball.

The Sig also has an annoying habit of not locking open when empty, due to the placement of the slide release. My left thumb rests on it unless I concentrate on keeping it away.

 

[Mr Kablammo]

All are keepers. I concur that the purpose will decide the order in which you accumulate all three weapons.

For pure range work, Steel Challenge, USPSA, and pride of ownership, homedefense, CZ 97B, blue gloss. Amazingly accurate and sweet shooting. If you ever drew this on someone I think that there eyes would get as big as fried eggs. It is a big-@ss pistol.
For carry, fun at the range, IDPA, home-defense, Sig P220.
For possible carry, IDPA, USPSA, HD, fun at the range, SA 1911.

 

[WmCC]

Sig P220!

 

[Lonestar49]

Get Both..

...

A Sig P220 and a German Shepherd, you'd be good to go..

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I would like to mention in passing that the SIG P220 is also available in a single-action, cocked-and-locked version, in three different barrel/slide lengths.