STI VIP vs Wilson TCP (KZ-45)

J

johnblackstone

New member
I am considering buying either the STI VIP or the TCP by Wilson. Just read a glowing report by Front Sight on the VIP, and have read numerous writeups on the TCP. Trouble is, the publications always give glowing reports on just about everything.

Has anyone shot both or either of these .45's?

I have no problem with polymer at all, and the width of the grips is actually narrower on both of these guns, despite the increased capacity.

Both companies have good reputations, service, etc. Besides "Do what you feel is the right thing," anybody have concrete experience with either gun? BTW: primary purpose is concealed carry, second, possilbe IPSC competition.

Thanks
 
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I don't own one myself, but good friend of mine does and he is active in competition. He has a documented 20,000 rounds (thats 4 zeros) Through his STI and this thing still keeps kicking! It's his favorite 1911, from what he tells me it's better than his thank all his other 1911 styles pistols which include Wilsons, Kimbers and a Gold Cup Colt ( which is his least favorite)
I dont think you could go wrong with an STI
 
Just picked up my Wilson KZ-45 and it's a great gun. I was more than impressed by it. It is my 4th 1911-style and the only pistol that came with a page long checklist of assembly, inspection and testfiring by the tech who assembled it. It also comes with a cloverleafed 15yard test tatget. It is a handbuilt thing of beauty.

I personally rate STIs as similiar to Paraordnances (which I have), I also have a Kimber, which I feel is inferior to the Wilson.

The only thing is that these pistol grips do not feel smaller than 1911 Govt. grips -I've compared them and their grips look and feel like fat Paraordnances or Glocks.

You probably won't go wrong with either.
 
20,000? Your friend must not shoot very much. The "regular cadre" around the local IPSC club run at least 50k per year. Getting ready for the American Handgunner/Winchester World Shoot this year, while getting used to a borrowed STI 6" 9mm, I (a "C" for "Crappy" shooter) ran though 10,000 rounds in six weeks. Hmmm...took first C/Limited, and won $600...the numbers (dollars expended vs. dollars won) don't add up very well, but I had fun :)

One of the top shooters in the area went through 35k in a month.

Generally speaking, starting with a tight gun, we expect 150,000 to 200,000 rounds through our STIs before they need to be rebuilt. High side for the Limited guns, and low side for the Open guns (darn high-pressure loads).

Back on topic...the Wilson is a product from a semi-custom shop, as is STI. Dave Skinner's folks do nice work...but so do Bill's. Personally, I like Dave better than Bill so I tend to buy more STI products ;)

Handle both, and buy whichever one fits your hands better.



Alex

PS the only way we keep track of our round counts is by shipping invoices from bullet manufacturers...Montana Gold makes a heck of a jacketed bullet, and Precision Bullets makes a mean lead BB
A
 
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