By Blake Hiatt
I recently purchased a SIG 1911 TacPac sans rail. I’ve long owned a RIA GI model, which I dearly love to shoot, but thought it was time to move up in the 1911 world. The SIG TacPac, with 3 extra magazines, adjustable trigger, (Allen wrench included) holster and loader looked like a great purchase. I picked up the TacPac on a Friday evening, quickly getting down to disassembling, cleaning and checking out the differences between the SIG and the humbler RIA . . .
My RIA has a stainless barrel, new grips and a commander hammer that I installed (I got tired of hammer bite). I noticed the frame on the SIG is longer and its recoil spring is flat. There’s also a firing pin block, the mechanism for which makes for slow reassembly. The tolerances on the SIG are noticeably tighter than the RIA, no surprise there. Of course, the Rock Island has had a few thousand rounds through it.
I immediately liked the SIG’s 3-dot sights and the way the gun felt in my hand. The grips are very interesting, approximating the epoxy sand coating used on concrete. The grips are excellent without being overly aggressive. However, the front strap checkering is very aggressive, but more on that later.
The next morning, I headed to the local indoor range to shoot the ever-loving snot out of the SIG and compare it to my RIA. It took maybe 30 rounds before I put the RIA down and shot the SIG exclusively.
I ran 100+ rounds through the SIG during my initial session with the gun, and it functioned flawlessly. I ran a mixed bag of CCI Blazer, American Eagle, Remington UMC and PMC Bronze through the new gun. After 100 rounds, the gun was filthy, yet running like the proverbial Timex. The sites were off a tad to the left, which I corrected when I got home.
The SIG ran so well, in fact, that I decided to use it in my first USPSA match. Yeah, a brand new gun, only 100 rounds through it and I’m going to shoot my first match with it. What could possibly go wrong? I had planned to shoot the RIA because I’m very comfortable with it, but with the way the SIG ran and shot, I thought I should at least give it a whirl.
First, a brief outline of USPSA, at least as practiced by the club I belong to, 5 Dogs Action Shooters. USPSA allows for some extreme modifications of handguns, such as oversize mag-wells, slide cut outs, etc. The course is timed, from first shot to last. (In my case, a sundial instead of a digital timer would have been more appropriate.) Targets can be engaged in any order, but if you fail to engage, you can’t turn and shoot back at the target. Rather, you need to retrace your steps and engage the target while pointing the gun down range. There’s a 180 degree rule in these matches — shooting at a target more than a 180 degrees from the centerline of where you’re standing, facing downrange, is dangerous and an automatic DQ.
When I went into the match, I had three goals: not shooting someone, not shooting myself and shooting accurately. I completely ignored how much time I took moving through each stage. Fortunately, no one died of old age during any of my runs.
The first stage I shot was the toughest, designed by a person who, I think, may be a distant cousin to the Marguis de Sade. There was a spinning Texas star, a target that swung out from behind a barrier and a no-shoot target on a spring that flipped down, revealing the shoot target and then flipped back up. During the perhaps 1 second the shoot target was revealed, the shooter was expected to double tap it. I got off one shot, center mass, but no more. Among all this, there were clay pigeons to shoot (two of them, not moving fortunately) steel poppers, etc. I went through about 6 8-round magazines during this stage. The rest of the stages were somewhat anti-climactic.
During the match, I went through a little over 200 rounds of ammo. The only failure I had was operator error. I short stroked the trigger, thought I had a misfire and wound up with a stove pipe when I tried to clear the bad round.The Sig was unbelievable out of the box. It ran flawlessly. I shot the same mixed bag of ammunition during the match that I shot at the range the day before. That aggressive front strap checkering on the SIG meant my fingers were a bit raw after the match, but the checkering definitely made a difference in how well the pistol remained on target.
I can’t say enough good things about how the gun shoots and highly recommend the SIG TacPac. But even more, I recommend shooting USPSA or IDPA. Static paper targets are all well and good initially, but I strongly encourage getting used to the idea of moving and shooting at various targets. Don’t worry about how well the people in your squad shoot. Just get out there and enjoy yourself. A final note: I came in fourth in the match…fourth from the bottom.
Specifications:
Caliber: 45 acp
Frame: Steel
Sights: 3-dot contrast
Barrel Length: 5.00″
Length: 8.7″
Weight: 41.6 oz (with magazine)
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $999
Ratings (0ut of five stars):
Style * * * *
I’m a purist and the external extractor detracts from style points.
Ergonomics (firing) * * * * *
The gun has a natural point of aim and feels great in the hand.
Reliability * * * * *
One issue, user related.
Customize This * * * * *
Even though built to SIG’s specs, there are always after market parts for 1911’s.
Overall * * * * *
Outstanding gun. I ran it through its paces and the gun has performed flawlessly.
I’d rather you stayed and argued your opinions than leave the community. See ya.
I can understand a bit of his disappointment, though if he/she’s bothered by the name-calling on TTAG, there’s probably no gun blogs that he/she can read.
Gun folks tend to lean very right, and the minute you let slip any of these things:
-you may not believe in God or *gasp* you’re an ATHEIST
-you support the right of women to choose to have an abortion (or not)
-you support the rights of consenting adults to marry (even if they’re gay)
-you believe in climate change
-you think marijuana ought to be legalized
-you think illegal immigrants should be given a chance to earn their citizenship
-you oppose wars of aggression
-you think racism is still alive in America
-you support free public education for all kids, regardless of the neighborhood they live in
…you get called: liber-tard / wh0regressive / socialist / communist / nasty word that rhymes with “bag.”
I think TTAG is better at being open than most firearms news / reviews sites, and the “I Am a Gun Owner” series shows this site has nice diversity of readership… who still got dissed by several commentators for their non-2A beliefs. If we as gun owners want to make 2nd Amendment rights universal, we need to elevate people’s understanding of the issue beyond just Republican vs Democrat.
Being independent myself, I guess I’ve learned to grow a thicker skin and be willing to engage in dialogue for the sake of having a broader, stronger, pro-gun owning community.
FOAD!
The crazy thing is, I don’t actually disagree with anything he said. But I fundamentally disagree with him on how to accomplish any of those goals – and that makes all the difference.
I love it that pump action shotguns are the “reasonable” person’s gun. With the tubular magazine, you can reload after every shot if you feel like it, making them basically bottomless. Also, a 12 gauge shell holds 9 projectiles, so a four shell tube has 6 more projectiles than a 30 round magazine. Sandy Hook could have easily been carried out with a pump action and a messenger bag full of shells. But hey, at least they don’t have sholder things that go up, right?
It’s like asking someone if they have expensive jewelry in their house.
The hell do you want to know for?
The more people that know, the more likely your valuables are going to be stolen. Guns, jewelry, etc. are extremely valuable, easy to sell, and hard to track.
You don’t have to say you’re going to leave. Just leave. Nobody cares.
Read it, and learn from it… seems to be a rare glimpse into an unsure anti. Know thy enemy.
well, perhaps not an anti, but certialy a segement of the citizenry that we must focus on.
With rights come responsibility? So, when I have to go hat in hand and ask massa from the G if I can exercise my rights, does that make it a right? And because some evil bastard all the way across country from me committed a horrible crime my rights are some how responsible?
Didn’t Hitler run this same scenario? Somebody, maybe from village A killed a german, so the whole village was wiped out. Is that what Hillery meant when she said it takes a whole village?
I view this as a surrender speech of sorts, a last chance on camera laying out his ‘plans’. He can say he tried, while sacrificing a few senators… and get back to golf!
edit:how this all plays out in state politics is another story
Is it so wrong to wish for the united states to be a bit weary of other countries? The united states possesses vast quantities of natural resources, just about all but tritium and diamonds. I’m referring to those diamonds meant for manufacturing use, of course. I pray cut diamonds die as a status symbol. and wait … Tritium hmm i do seem to recall a cave in eastern-central America with a large discovery. going all out off-topic, but doesn’t the tritium lamp on my acog kinda work like a xenon lamp bulb? but with the radiation from the tritium supplying the power to excite the gasses?
::You have gained a skill point in rambling (83)!::
Feinstein’s mom considers aborting for the sake of humanity.
No bling or extra expensive yet same performance wanted on my AR, thanks anyways. Looks like something a gangster would have to have.
Criminals choose the time and place to commit violence upon law-abiding citizens, not the other way around, Mr. Moore.
Believe it or not, all law-abiding citizens that carry are not vigilantes looking for trouble. We go about our lives in peace. But trouble finds us and threatens our life or the lives of our loved ones, well then, we send it straight to hell.
I hope this shocking revelation adequately deflates your ridiculous white-guy-in-the-suburbs argument as a reason not to carry.
I love the 716. I have been reading reviews on the rifle malfunctioning. As soon as I got it, I didn’t clean it, I just took it out and shot it without a single malfunction. I put 20 rapid rounds through, then I put 20 rounds with 5 sec pauses between rounds and the rifle didn’t miss a beat
How did your sig do with hollow points? I have a 1911 scorpion carry that doesn’t seem to like them. Meaning they bind it up tight every shot. I don’t know if its a feeding or ejecting issue.
I loved this review, i own a tacpac and have never had a problem. I am a big SIG fan.
So significantly is a single with the most wonderful posts I ve readed about this subject so make sure you keep on writing and you have one particular more fan!
Le nom de domaine est composé dau moins un mot, le label. Sil y a plusieurs labels, on doit séparer deux labels par un point.
In the adult world, the word “COMPROMISE” means that each side in an issue, gives something up they value in order to meet in the middle and resolve the issue.
So the question to the anti gun nuts and Elmer Fudds like Metcalf is rather simple 2 parts:
1) what have you given up in compromise that you valued for all the previous 22,417 gun control laws implemented?
2) what right do you value that you intend to give up for these new proposed laws?
Some fantasy made up right doesn’t count in the real world, a right affirmed in the BOR and the reason must be measurable in real math and GOVT. evidence and not in some wacked out Kenyesian fantasy math!
Since you anti gun nuts and Elmer Fudds don’t value the 2A, you can’t lie and say that is what you give up.
After all, if we who are pro-gun give up in compromise the same as anti gun nuts have, which is nothing, how then can we in any sense of the word be called unreasonable?
Love how the anti gun nuts and Elmer Fudds like Metcalf refuse to compromise and give up anything they value to get gun control.
In fact history has show everyone how words, the freedom of speech, can be abused. We see how religious beliefs have been the greatest intiator of wars in all of history, one person god having a bigger tallywhacker than the other guys god, over 800 million killed.
Then we see how the next most dangerous idea, based on a collection of words to form a belief called socilaism, has led to over 200 million deaths in the last century or so, because many civilians resisted such attempts.
So based on irrefutable history words and beliefs, allowed by the use of freedom of speech, is the greatest danger to safety of our children.
In the spirit of comrpomise, we suggest the Anti gun nuts and Elmer Fudds give up some of their 1st amendment right.
They would be required to be licensed every 4 years.
They would be open to random inspections by the govt.
They will be required to pay a tax for everytime they use their freedom of speech in a public forum.
A paper work error in their submitting for more use of said right will be construed as a felony.
Letting a family member borrow their portion of that right, will require a background check before they receive permission to exercise their right.
They will not be allowed to lie in their exercise of their right.
Three time offenders will be deemed incurable and jailed for life.
Every different media forum they wish to exercise their right will require government permission, and further taxation.
Any and all electronic devices will be registered and audited at any time the government so chooses.
If one person in a household abuses that right and breaks the law, everyone in that family and household loses their rights and are guilty!
See, you really wouldnt be giving up your right, you would just be infrgined upon a little, this year, a little more the next year, and the year after, and the year after.
But its for the safety of the children.
Just bought this pistol, and it is awesome. I didn’t bother to oil / lube / clean it. Just took it down to the range the day I picked it up from the gun store. Yep, it runs and runs and runs, and then runs some more. Two hundred rounds later, not a single failure. The only thing I didn’t like was the front strap checkering. Seriously, it feels like a jagged, granite rock in my hand when it kicks. No problem, I just placed some electrical tape around the grip, and now it’s very comfortable.
I have run thousands of rounds through my Sig since I wrote this review and the gun has functioned flawlessly.
In fact, my Sig is so good, I purposely use a couple of bad magazines just to have malfunctions to deal with.
My penis is erect and I like small furry animals.