Advice on purchase

[Bad Habit]

My dilemma, first of all I’m cheap. I’m wanting a 1911A1 in 9mm. I know I know REAL 1911’s are .45ACP. I have a ton of 9mm and don’t want to (= can’t afford to) buy another caliber.

I can get a Tisas Tanker for about $460.00 OTD. Did I say that I was cheap?

Or, a “friend” has offered me an S&W M10-14, imported police trade in plus 1k PMC Bronze 132gr FMJ .38 special for $765.00 including transfer fee. I would never need to buy more ammo.
For me to shoot 1k rounds will take me forever.

Does anyone think that the used M10-14 is a better value than the Tisas?

Please don’t beat me up to badly.
Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Bald1]

I’ve never shot a Tisa but I’ve only heard good things about them. If you already have the 9mm ammo I’d go that route. It would be the cheaper option. And well, you’re cheap.

 

[bobsguns]

What's the purpose of the gun? Purely for target/range use? Or sometimes carry?

The Tisas' will be a LOT more versatile. You could shoot a match with it, USPSA or IDPA or 3 Gun or Steel Plate. Depending on the gun, maybe even bulls-eye too.

The Model 10 scratches a different itch, IMO. It allows a fulfillment of owning a historical model Smith. It allows an affordable practice of marksmanship. It allows the teaching of beginning shooters with a mild recoil handgun. It offers almost 100% reliability for a bedside gun.

The devil in me says get both.

The good news is, regardless of your choice, you can't really make a bad decision, IMO.

My .o2

 

[diyj98]

I agree that a lot depends upon what you want to do with it. The Tisas are nice guns if you go that route.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Both are great guns. The Turkish are turning out a lot of fine guns right now. I’ve seen a few but not shot any and have heard nothing but good.

Pros and cons, the Tisas is new and will have a warranty. If at some point you want to trick it out you can. Back in the80’s before all the different frame, slide and parts makers were around there were just a few companies making 1911’s. I shot IPSC and wanted a limited class gun built so I bought a parkerized mill spec Springfield 45. I had a custom builder turn it into a masterpiece. I had the slide milked for new sights, Bomar, all new innards, slide tightened and fitted to perfection and ejection port opened up. The front strap was checkered by hand and the and the trigger is the best I’ve ever seen in a 1911. Absolutely no creep and the most crisp trigger you’ve ever felt. I’d say it’s under 2 pounds. The magwell was blended into the frame and to finish it off it was brushed hard chrome finished.

So the story is you can customize your 1911 any way you want.

The M10 is a fine gun but other than an action job and some milling you could add a red dot. That’s about it. The 10 is older and you have no warranty. If you shoot a lot of 38’s and need to buy more bits expensive to buy vs 9mm. 9mm is more readily available too.

I took one of my 4” 1911 45’s to the range today and really enjoyed shooting it. I rarely shoot my 45’s now due to arthritis in my hands and wrists and 45’s are more punishing than my 38 loads evv VF en though I load my own.

I really love both 1911’s and revolvers. I’m in a revolver phase right now and have quite a few of both 1911’s and revolvers. 38’s are less punishing but if you have good hands and wrists 45’s aren’t punishing at all. Really it comes down to two completely different experiences and comes down to what flips the switch for you.

Good luck in your decision.

This was a mill spec Springfield at one time.

 

[Bad Habit]

What's the purpose of the gun? Purely for target/range use? Or sometimes carry?

The Tisas' will be a LOT more versatile. You could shoot a match with it, USPSA or IDPA or 3 Gun or Steel Plate. Depending on the gun, maybe even bulls-eye too.

The Model 10 scratches a different itch, IMO. It allows a fulfillment of owning a historical model Smith. It allows an affordable practice of marksmanship. It allows the teaching of beginning shooters with a mild recoil handgun. It offers almost 100% reliability for a bedside gun.

The devil in me says get both.

The good news is, regardless of your choice, you can't really make a bad decision, IMO.

My .o2

Purely target use.

 

[soonerbb]

For me it's the Model 10 all day long.....

 

[weatherby]

I'd do the math on the 38 special ammo.
Seems you'd be getting the gun very "cheap"

Have it for awhile shoot a bunch then get your 9mm and part with leftovers.

 

[ColumbusJBR]

I'd do the math on the 38 special ammo.
Seems you'd be getting the gun very "cheap"

Have it for awhile shoot a bunch then get your 9mm and part with leftovers.

That was my 1st thought. Depending on how you wanna slice it, that’s a nice model 10 for ~$400. Appealing

 

[Timothy2700]

My dilemma, first of all I’m cheap. I’m wanting a 1911A1 in 9mm. I know I know REAL 1911’s are .45ACP. I have a ton of 9mm and don’t want to (= can’t afford to) buy another caliber.

My thoughts? You want a 1911 platform. You have a ton of 9mm. You don’t necessarily want a new caliber. Seems like a no-brainer to get the TISA .

But you’re tempted by the 1000 rounds of .38 special. Why? Unless you also have a revolver itch thats never been scratched (then you should scratch it!) realize the 1000 rounds isn’t a lifetime. (Hypothetically 1000 rounds is shooting 6 cylinders once a month for a bit more 2 years).

I have two 1911’s and 4 smith revolvers. Of the six, for range purposes, my pre-model 10 (a WW2 victory) is my least favorite to shoot (but it fills a historical niche for me). The other smiths (K22, K38, 586) and the 1911’s are much more fun at the range.
My perspective - and have fun at the range.

 

[Bad Habit]

That was my 1st thought. Depending on how you wanna slice it, that’s a nice model 10 for ~$400. Appealing

The price is appealing for an M10-14.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Of course it depends on what you really want. For my money the best 9mm 1911 is the Rock Island/ATI. If I were looking at a revolver, I would get a 357 that also shoots 38 special as well - being cheap. Nothing wrong with a Tisas or particularly a Model 10. One thing to keep in mind is that a semi-automatic handgun implies more practice and skill than a revolver due to the cycling and safety. May not sound like much. but you might be surprised how often semi-automatics do not go bang due to inexperience.

 

[brian686]

The good news is you can't go wrong either way. Another vote for both if you can swing it. I have the Tisas and a Model 10. No problems with either and all are fun to shoot. The only thing I can add is check the trigger on the M 10. I bought mine used and the trigger is buttery smooth thanks to a previous owner. Come back and let us know what you decided.

 

[Lou_NC]

Save your money a little longer and get yourself a Springfield range officer in 9mm. You won't regret it! It will hold its value but you will never want to sell it anyway!

 

[Baxter6551]

I would second the Range Officer 1911 but they don’t make that model anymore. They make other models in 9mm and I would recommend them. I hear the Tisas 9mm are excellent too.
However like the others say I would go with the model 10. With the ammo that’s a heck of a deal. They don’t make those desirable model 10s anymore but you can always get a Tisas or another 9mm 1911 down the road.

 

[kb1903]

1911 vrs model 10

I have several 10's, and 3 Tisas'. 2 9mm and one 45. The 3 Tisas run like clockwork right out of the box, as reliable as any model 10. Can't beat the 9mm Tisas for value, $349 locally. Personally O would go for the 9mm Tisas.

 

[raljr1]

A friend has a Tisas and loves it. That would be my choice.

 

[pistolpete10]

A 9mm 1911 is a lot of fun. I have a cheapo Citadel, fun to shoot and work on. and a DW Valkrie, it works fine but wasn't cheap. My son has a 45 Tisas, seems like a quality piece. A .38 Special is fun also but ammo isn't cheap, I roll my own so it's actually as cheap or cheaper than the 9mm to load for.

 

[Narragansett]

The last thing I would ever want is an Ethiopian imported model 10 police trade in. Can’t imagine such a thingGeeeeeezzz.

You want a revolver or a semi auto?

There is nothing here that says you are poor, just cheap. My suggestion is get some money out and buy an Sig Sauer or a Colt and don’t look back.

You are only going around once in this world and this is not the dress rehersal.

As gentle as I can say it

 

[bobsguns]

Purely target use.

Then just flip a coin, IMO.