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STI
- Thread starter Ray-500
- Start date
I don't know of anyone shooting the steel master. are you going to be using the gun strictly for steel matches or are going to shoot USPSA? I believe that is will not make major safely. I have read that they are tuned to run WWB 9mm
My intention is strictly steel. I know (from the STI site) that its made for "minor". No problem. I would like to know if it will function reliably with over-the-counter 9x19. If anyone has one, or knows of a person that has one, they would know. Any info appreciated.
9mm has a tendency to be a little harder to tune for extraction and feeding. You will need to use spacers in your mags or run SV mags. I'm not sure what changes have been made to feed standard length 9mm, normally the Open guns like 9mm to be loaded long.
Grin, that's my point....and why I'm looking for anyone with specific knowledge of the STI "Steelmaster". The STI factory tells me that over-the-counter 9mm Luger (9x19) in any grain weight "should" be OK. The only way I can be sure is through someone who either owns one or knows of someone who does.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
The Steel Master is very new and made for a niche market so finding someone with one will be tough, especially on this forum. I would post for reviews on the BrianEnos forum or call up ShootersConnection and ask for some input, they are a high volume STI dealer.
For what it is worth, my 9mm STIs have always run new WWB/R-P fine, no reason the Steel Master shouldn't. It is good brass. On top of getting the gun, right off the bat, it would be worth while to get the SV mags with feedlips bent to .355 front and back and Grams engineering springs/followers.
For what it is worth, my 9mm STIs have always run new WWB/R-P fine, no reason the Steel Master shouldn't. It is good brass. On top of getting the gun, right off the bat, it would be worth while to get the SV mags with feedlips bent to .355 front and back and Grams engineering springs/followers.
Yup, and it could even be me. That will be my first plate match. Will be working at the match and entering one gun...just not sure what yet.
Probably see you there. I plan on bringing the 625 again, just for jollies.
And I'd take that recommendation about SVI mags. While Sandy's followers have worked fine for me, I've heard good things about Bevan's tweaked mags as well.
I shot one the other day that was sent to a friend to be reviewed. I have been thinking of getting an STI Edge in 9mm for a while so when I was asked if I wanted to shoot the Steel Master I jumped. I shoot a Glock 34 and brought it along for comparison.
I also heard the STI was tuned to shoot factory ammo, specifically WWB. Whether its true or not, I don't know, I did however bring a box of WWB 115 from WalMart.
First ten rounds downrange (35') I was shooting the STI low and left of the black but one nice ragged hole. Then I picked up my 34 and shot the same target at 35' as well. Not quite the nice group, but the 34 has Sevigney open sights and the STI had a C-More on it. They were however all in the black. My friend then shot the STI an was hitting just above the black. Okay its not the C-More out of whack, its me. Too much trigger apparently. Keeping in mind I'm used to a Glock trigger and was now shooting a single action I paid attention to my trigger finger. This time the STI shot a perfect ragged group just to the top edge of dead center.
The Steel Master does seem to cycle quicker than my Springfield Armory 1911 in 9mm. In the hundred rounds I put through it the STI never hiccuped once. I pulled the trigger as fast as I could... no issues at all. I've read over and over how STI's can be sensitive to magazine feeding issues and how your going to have to buy tuned mags and all to get your STI running reliably. This little test was encouraging. Again, no problems between my hundred rounds and the sixty or so my friend put through it. All WWB by the way. When he does his complete test and review, I will post a link. This was just a getting our feet wet test.
The gun is solid as a rock. It shoots very flat when compared to my 34. Though not as flat as some powder puff .38 Super open guns I've shot, but for factory ammo 9mm... it shoots flat. If I had to guess, I'd say perceived recoil is half that of the Glock 34. Where the 34 snaps back and flips up, the STI just stabs backward at half the rate as the 34. Just a slight muzzle rise is visible through the C-More. I never lost field of view of the target with the C-More. Just let it fall back on target and pull.
Granted, I'm comparing Apples and Oranges here, but I wanted a frame of reference for myself seeing I shoot the Glock almost all the time. Marketed as a short, lighter, open gun for faster transitions on steel, the gun still feels heavy to me, just not as nose heavy as a true open gun. Compared to a Glock, anything feels heavy. So take that with a grain of salt.
At this time I don't have much chance to get out to steel matches and would find it hard to justify the cost, this has however put me back on track to thinking about an STI Edge again. If I shot steel, I would buy this gun in a heartbeat. If I had unlimited funds, I would buy this gun in a heartbeat just for the toy factor. The attraction of this gun to me is... off the shelf steel/open gun that shoots off the shelf ammo reliably. No reloading required.
Hope this helps.
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