STI 2011 For CCDW

[Mr. Smith]

We do a lot with the 2011 handguns from STI.

This gun is one I just got done for a customer it is in 40 and will hold 16 and 1 after I tune the mags.
This gun is only about 25oz.
It is a lot of fire power and when done right it is very reliable.


I would like to know you thoughts on it as a CCDW gun.

[Shawn.L]

I had a Tactical 4.15 2011 in 40SW.

Honestly it was a train wreck. I had thought at the time I was going to get the best of both worlds, the 1911 love I was used to and modern hi-cap's and rail.
It came from the factory all kinds of ****ed up. To STI's credit they fixed it all SAME WEEK with overnight shipping. Recoil was snappy, gun was too bulky and shaped to conceal well, and it wouldnt run relaibly despite promised of expensive as **** "tuned" mags. IMO a carry gun shouldnt need a speacial balance of good and evil in a mag to run, it needs to be dead nuts reliable in harsh conditions without question.
That guns not doing anything a GLOCK wont do.

It was an expensive experiance.

[Mr. Smith]

Thanks

[oldtexan]

At one time last decade I thought a double stack 1911 would be the ideal carry/home defense handgun. Bought four alloy-frame versions of the STI Tactical, all 9mm, two 5" guns, and two 4.15 " guns. One had a too tight chamber, one had an improperly tuned extractor. A third had some other reliability issue that slips my mind. Dave Dawson fixed the three and they ran okay after that. The fourth ran fine from the beginning. They were easy to shoot fast and accurately and carried pretty easily in a Blade Tech IWB holster. After a year and only about 2K through each gun, I had to replace the mag springs in my 12 tuned mags. Ditto after another year. Too much trouble IMO.

We still have one because my wife likes it. I carry Glocks now.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

My STI 5.0 Tactical in 45ACP is my Fear-No-Evil gun for CCW. In a homebrewed Kydex holster it is easier and slimmer than my SW M&P. 14 rounds of ACP in flush mags and 16 in extended mags.

STI mags suck, SVI mags suck less. Tuning, polishing, FailZERO'ing them and ammo selection all help. A +P Recoilmaster helped to feed rounds with authority.

My 40 Edge was easier shooting than my SIG P226 9MM.

I've seen and held a Superior Firearms STI in 9mm that had been run over 1000 rounds with out cleaning or a hiccup. I look forward to one day buying one of their STI 2011s.

Mr. Smith- STI told me late last year they could do a run of full length (5in barrel) frames with a rail, for a minimum run of 10. They never got back to me about doing it in aluminium though....

What can you tell us about the mags? Nice slits up the sides and what kind of finish is that?

Nice looking gun!

[Mr. Smith]

My STI 5.0 Tactical in 45ACP is my Fear-No-Evil gun for CCW. In a homebrewed Kydex holster it is easier and slimmer than my SW M&P. 14 rounds of ACP in flush mags and 16 in extended mags.

STI mags suck, SVI mags suck less. Tuning, polishing, FailZERO'ing them and ammo selection all help. A +P Recoilmaster helped to feed rounds with authority.

My 40 Edge was easier shooting than my SIG P226 9MM.

I've seen and held a Superior Firearms STI in 9mm that had been run over 1000 rounds with out cleaning or a hiccup. I look forward to one day buying one of their STI 2011s.

Mr. Smith- STI told me late last year they could do a run of full length (5in barrel) frames with a rail, for a minimum run of 10. They never got back to me about doing it in aluminium though....

What can you tell us about the mags? Nice slits up the sides and what kind of finish is that?

Nice looking gun!

Thanks

The mags are the standard around this place we do a lot of mag work.

It makes the 120mm flush mount mags for the VIP hold 16rd of 40.

The whiteness cuts are something I came up with a bunch of years ago.

It makes the rd count nice to say the least.

The VIP is smaller than the Glock 23 and just a little heaver.

[superr.stu]

Very nice Mr. Smith. I think I can safely assume after you worked it over that it'll run like a raped ape. While I think your personal 2011 appeals to me a little more, this one looks like it would make a hell of a carry gun. If you don't mind what all did you do to it?

-Stu

[Surf]

I have a .40 S&W Tactical 5.0 and have had mine for about 4 years and several thousands of rounds through it. I have had zero issues other than the standard crappy non tuned mags. Mine has been dead on reliable from day 1. I absolutely love this pistol, but I really couldn't imagine carrying it concealed. I would however carry it in an instant as a duty weapon.

In action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00q2xImF3LE

STI Tac 5.0 at the 2 minute mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBBsDmKPQ40
.
.
.

[VooDoo6Actual]

I had a Tactical 4.15 2011 in 40SW.

Honestly it was a train wreck. I had thought at the time I was going to get the best of both worlds, the 1911 love I was used to and modern hi-cap's and rail.
It came from the factory all kinds of ****ed up. To STI's credit they fixed it all SAME WEEK with overnight shipping. Recoil was snappy, gun was too bulky and shaped to conceal well, and it wouldnt run relaibly despite promised of expensive as **** "tuned" mags. IMO a carry gun shouldnt need a speacial balance of good and evil in a mag to run, it needs to be dead nuts reliable in harsh conditions without question.
That guns not doing anything a GLOCK wont do.

It was an expensive experiance.

To the op ed,

pretty much my experiences w/ them as well.
When they run they run like a "raped ape" & are "hose monsters" etc.
Know a lot of guys who shoot professionally that love em.
Too wide of profile for my tastes for CCW on protection details.

Neat guns when they run, but costly & inconsistant from my experiences.
Owned 5 or 6 a few years back.

[TXBob]

I've really wanted to run a double stack 1911 as a CCW, but I have not found a reliable one yet.

I'm thinking of getting a springfield govt hi cap and working from there. The STI has quite a following within the competetive community, but those magazine are rough. At that price, I hate been choosy about mags (at that price the mags better WORK!). I'd much rather be choosy about the standard price for Wilson Combat or Chip McCormick mags.

Have not found a good solution for out of box 1911 double stack CCW (with standard 1911 maintenance along the way). If someone puts out a reliable one, reasonable priced--they'd make a killing.

If yours work for you--ride it hard while it lasts.