It's between RRA & Valtro?

H

Hit-em

Inactive
I was originally set to buy a RRA 5"Commando, but after reading some of the threads on the Valtro I'm torn between the two. I've always heard good things on the RRA's, but from what I've read & seen & after talking to the guys in Calf. the Valtro seems like one heck of pistol for what your paying for.

According to my conversation with the guys in Calf. the Valtro is the biggest bang for the buck going. They say when you compare everything in regards to price, quality & the total package there's no comparison.

I'm looking for some feedback from anyone who has some experience with the Valtro ( I know there's not a lot of these out there right now) & anyone who has a RRA.

Thanks,
 
There has been a number of posts on the Valtro at:

www.pistolsmith.com and
www.1911forum.com

One guy at one of the forums (can't remember which) did do a range report of the Valtro, compared it to a couple of guns he had including a couple of target 22's and an HK mk23. If you order one, you'll probably be referred to John Jardine. He is the pistolsmith who has been working with Valtro (Italy) in bringing this project to reality. He is a very good person to talk to. I'm waiting for my valtro to come in.
 
I'd wait and get the Valtro.

No offense to anyone, but I've shot the Valtro side by side with an excellent Wilson Combat gun.

In my opinion, the Valtro is a better gun. Seems to have a better slide fit, and less felt recoil. I have no particular axe to grind, but I do feel that the Valtro is better priced (runs approx $300 less than a Wilson CBQ).

Whatever you decide, good luck,

Bowser.
 
Hit-em: Buy the RRA pistol. I've got 2 Wilson CQB's and a RRA Limited match and the RRA is by far the best pistol available. All total, I own 32 1911's. The RRA is tight and accurate, offhand at 25yds I average 1.3"groups my Wilson's average just a tad bit higher. Granted, you'll pay more for the RRA and the waiting period is long, but it's well worth it with an established company. I myself am interested in the Valtro as it looks exceptional, but given the choice, I'd go for the RRA and save the Valtro for my second purchase.
 
Bowser,

In your comparison between the Valtro & Wilson what exactly was it that you felt made the Valtro the better of the two? I'm assuming it must have been something more then the price difference. Wilson is a great pistol in regards to overall value & performance. Was it a overall impression when you had each in hand. Did you notice a difference in regards to performance?

Look forward to hearing more on this.

Thanks,
 
Regarding the Valtro, I have been following various threads on this fourm and others as well. My question is ....the current Valtro that everyone is raving about the same one that has been available for a few years now? Or is someone "fine tuning" the original model and now it is a wondergun? Or could it possibly be one of those hidden jewels that someone finally stumbled upon that has been made since 1988. My reason for asking is just to obtain some background on the current Valtro.
 
Jspy:
From the limited info I have, the design is "standard" for a 1911 in all the parts interchangeable with other 1911's. If Valtro did make a 1911 previously (I'm not sure but Valtro did make copies of other guns like the Beretta 92), the difference would be John Jardine's participation in this latest incarnation. His input into the project requested a number of things such as 4340 grade cro-moly steel (original specification was for 4140 or something like that), plus a number of others (its on their website plus the above mentioned websites pistolsmith, etc.). Anywhoo, I read somewhere the project was supposed to be launched in 1998 (hence the rollmarks on the side of the pistol designating 1998A1 on the side), but only recently got off the ground. In the USA, Valtro USA is run by several guys up in San Rafeal, CA including John Jardine. Hope this info is helpful.
 
Tman:
Thanks for the imput. The info I was referring to was taken from the Blue Book of Gun Values. I just assumed they had been in production for awhile but possibly not available in current form in the US. If memory serves me correct, they were going to do to Kimber what Kimber did to Colt. :D
 
Valtro may not be wondergun

The one actual range test I read on 1911forum, by a Canadian guy who recently bought a Valtro was not encouraging. He had lots of jams, and the accuracy was about as good as a Kimber. There's been a lot of "ooing and aahing" over the Valtro based on some nice blueing, but I would wait until we see more field testing.
 
Verrrry Interesting

Yo:
I've been following the same thread in 1911forum. From what info I've been able to gather, several of the previous reports about the Valtro "wondergun" have been delivered to those in the U.S. John Jardine is both the gunsmith and one of the guys who run Valtro USA. He inspects each gun and test fires each before delivering them. He told me he won't deliver a gun that has problems. Apparently, the problem guns reported in the 1911 forum were those delivered into Canada, which involves a different import company and owners. Sooooo, I'm still waiting to take order on my Valtro, just gonna make sure John has breathed on it. For those following this, would you think this might be a plausible interpretation of events?
 
I've been following the thread on the 1911 Forum about the Valtro in Canada also. The thing that makes me wonder about the Valtro is my conversation with Mike in Calf. He said that the Valtros that came into the States originally where inspected & fine tuned by John Jardine, but the ones that are arriving now are to the point where they need less attention from John. I was told that John will look at ones randomly to make sure they meet his specs.

I'm wondering if Valtro has got their act together then how could the ones in Canada be any different then the ones coming into the States. The only thing I can think of it's perhaps these where some of the original ones that John would of had to re-work if they had been imported into the States.

At this point I've decided to wait on the Valtro & have ordered a RRA Limited Match which I know will be exactly what I'm looking for in a 1911.
 
Lastest Valtro stuff

Got my Valtro today.

Best blued finish I've ever seen on a gun - rich and deep, almost black. All the sharp edges are gone but not "melted." Even the "1998A1" roll mark and Valtro logo look good "in person." (I still prefer simple or absent roll marks.)

Slide moves smoothly and tightly on the rails with a definitely tight lockup in battery.

Trigger is creep-free and crisp at about 3-1/2 lbs. Just the right amount of take-up and overtravel.

The grip safety is similar to a Brown, giving a high grip on the gun. The checkering(30 lpi)is perfect on front strap which is cut high under the trigger guard. The MSH is finely serrated, not checkered. The gun really feels good in my hand.

The top of the slide is flat-topped and finely serrated and there is a French border along the top of the flats on the sides of the slide. The "BoMar-style" sights are beautifully fit.

There is a quality one-piece guide rod with what feels to be a standard 16lb. recoil spring. Field stripping is easy.

The mag well is nicely beveled and magazine changes are smooth and fast.

I disassembled the gun completely to see the finish inside. It's perfect. All the parts
are highest quality so far as I can see for the moment.

I haven't shot it yet (later) but have run a couple of magazines of WW230gr JHP and ProLoad 230gr Gold Dots through by hand with each round feeding and ejecting easily. In my experience, this is a good sign.

Complaints - two:

1. Gun has ambidexterous safeties and I wanted a single side only. Oh well, I can fix that easily. Didn't want to wait for them to change it out before shipping.

2. One grip screw bushing unscrewed with the grip screw. Not staked tight enough. Easy to fix.

Overall opinion so far - Excellent :) We'll see how she shoots this afternoon. I expect good results.

I talked to John Jardine a couple of days ago. He is NOT ASSOCIATED with the Canadian importers. John is still having to go through each gun sold from California. Discussions with the Italians on several issues are taking place this weekend. The goal of a production custom gun of high quality everytime out of the box is a goal yet to be reached.

You CAN, however, feel confident that any Valtro that you order from John Jardine or Mark at Bullseye Shooting Range will be excellent. The question is will they continue to lavish extra hours on these guns?
 
Congrats!

Tonerguy:
How long did you wait for your Valtro? I put my order in sometime about end of July or beginning of August, haven't heard from John since ordering it. I thinking about adding some thin grips, maybe a Clark Big Bushing. Let us all know how she shoots! :)
 
Your Valtro

I ordered mine in July also. I did call several times-maybe it's time for you to do so also.

There is no need for a different bushing. I just came from the range and it's as accurate as any .45 I've shot and I've owned several custom and accurized pistols. :)

I fired about 200 rounds of American Eagle and ProLoad 230gr. FMJ's, WW45JHP230's and ProLoad 230 JHP +P's from the factory 8- rd. magazines provided and from some CMC 8-rd. Power Mags.

No failures or stoppages of any kind. :) A great shooter! I'm in love! :rolleyes: It was worth the wait and the $1200. :D
 
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