[FlyVet]

Colt Systema...interesting. Do you own one, and is it reliable? I'm not planning on buying in the near future, already have a few suitable handguns for defense. I'd like to have something in the venerable .45 ACP some day though. I've heard the Kimber is about the tops these days as far as quality/accuracy/price ratio.

[tx4guns]

My buddy has one, and they are identical to the old Govt 1911's used in WWII. Colt actually sold the machines and tooling to Sistema, so it's made by actual Colt hardware. They are pretty accurate, and they have a little more play in the action, so they're more reliable than modern tight target pistols. For instance, you really have to keep the Kimbers and STI's really clean for them to be reliable, but the Sistema could be dropped in the mud and still work like a charm.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

I've heard the Kimber is about the tops these days as far as quality/accuracy/price ratio.

Kimber is, as I said, okay. But they get TOTALLY carried away with their useage of MIM (metal injection molded) parts. They even use a MIM extractor! I don't trust MIM crap so I'm currently trading my Custom CDP in on a new Series 80 Colt Government Model. Colt is really turning out some excellent guns here lately. They've got a new CEO, a retired Marine Officer. A real hardass. He told the Ordnance Department to "bugger off" (in so many words) when FN won the M16A2 contract. He said that it just baffled him how the former management was producing those guns at a loss and that HE would not be continuing those antics.

Anyhoo, he's getting things straightened back out. I just bought a M1911A1 Reproduction and it is an excellent gun. High quality like the old glory days at Harford.

And no, I don't own a Systema....YET. I'm planning on going the extra thirty bucks and getting a "hand selected" one VERY soon though. We have a thirty day wait between handguns in Virginia. A stupid law.

Seriously, I would recommend looking into a Systema soon. Once they sell out you have to wait on the next importation. That could be a while...I hear it was a long wait last time.

Regards,
Callahan

[SurferDoc]

I own a Colt Sistema. I bought it for around $250 and spent another $150 to have it made into a 'carry piece'. It was fine out of the box before I had the work done.