So, we went to Walmart and purchased a Taurus .357 magnum. After shooting it a few times, we became comfortable with it, and as a result, a bit safer in our little apartment.
Since then, I have become quite addicted to firearms. I have bought, sold and traded more than I can probably remember. I have owned polymer and steel, and while polymer is lightweight and inexpensive, steel is simply a work of art.
About three years ago, I convinced myself to buy another Taurus. This time, I bought a PT1911 DT. It was a well made 1911 chambered in .45 ACP, and it had a LOT of features for the price. It shot well, too. While I carried it often, I never really used it to compete with. That changed in January of 2013. I shot it in one of my IDPA matches. I did not shoot it well. It was very difficult for me to call my shots. I had a very hard time calling my shots. This made for a very rough day.
So, I sold the Taurus. But I kept a lot of 1911 gear, including brass, bullets and some primer.
Around mid February I noticed something very nice on the various firearms sites around the internet. The Sig Sauer 1911 "Texas Edition". I showed the pictures of this pistol to momma, and she agreed that it was eye catching. At the time, I never expected to purchase one.
Well, I did. And I have to say, I don't regret it one bit.
The Taurus I had was alright. It did receive more abusive comments than I thought it deserved. However, after holding the Sig, I can understand how the Taurus fell short. The Sig is truly a well designed and assembled pistol. It feels the entire palm of my hands, whereas the Taurus did not. The Sig is far better balanced, too. The Sig just plain ol' beats the Taurus in every area.
So, here is a short range review of the Sig Sauer Texas Edition 1911.
After picking up the Sig from Full Armor Firearms in Katy, TX, I came home and disassembled the pistol. Disassembly is the same as any 1911. Push the plug in and twist the busing to allow removal of the plug and recoil spring. Draw the slide back far enough to remove the slide stop, and then remove the slide by sliding it forward and off of the frame. Don't forget to catch the guide rod, which in this case is quite short. Slide the barrel out of the front of the slide after removing the bushing, and the pistol is field stripped.
After wiping everything down, I covered it in Frog Lube and reassembled it.
The next day, I took it to the range. I fired eight rounds from seven, ten and fifteen yards. These targets were shot in very high winds while standing. No rest was used. The wind would blow so hard at times that it would cause me to almost lose my balance. Still, the results are shown below:
Moving on from the paper targets and accuracy check to the plate rack was MUCH more fun. The first few rounds had trouble finding their mark. But once I adjusted to the trigger, the steel was falling with every stroke of the trigger. Steel at my range is shot at a distance of about twelve yards. There were very few misses. I was hoping for video, but it was very windy and cold, and my photographer protested greatly about being out in the weather.
While on the plate rack, I fed several different types of ammunition to the Sig. Some 230 grain FMJ hand loads, 230 grain Blazer brass and other mixed "off" brands, 230 grain Wolf, and 230 grain hollow point hand loads as well as some 185 and 200 grain hand loads. All ammunition fed without incident and ejected without incident.
The plates fell fast enough that I had a couple of spectators from a nearby bay stop and watch for a bit.
Fit and finish is nice as well. There are no rattles on this pistol, save for grip safety, and that is just a slight rattle. The slide is very easy to draw, and I am sure it will only get better as it is broken in.
Of course, the main reason I purchased this pistol was because it is the "Texas Edition" from Sig. They have released other Texas Edition pistols in the past, such as the P226R and the P220, but this one really caught my eye. And how can you blame me? The thing is gorgeous and shoots very, very well.
Coming soon...
I will do my best to really put this pistol to the test. I have ordered a Mernickle P6 holster, which should arrive in about six weeks. I will also be using it in an IDPA match in March (hopefully more than one). So, check back often for more updates complete with video.
