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Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:46 pm
by RiverRat
I have been bitten by the 1911 bug for the last couple of years. I like the way they handle, feel, shoot......I have several in Colt and SA. I carry a little Defender some of the time and an XD45 compact most of the time. I am a sixth generation Texan. I want an STI just because it has the State of Texas outline on the side.....just because . :txflag: I know it sounds weird...... They don't seem as easy to find or readily available. What are good sources near Austin? What comments on reliabilty and service would anyone have? What would you recommend in a 4" or 3" for carry in .45 from STI, if any? SS would be my choice for the Texas climate and IWB. Thanks.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:47 am
by d strokes
Austin Gun Liquidators - http://www.austingunliquidators.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are an STI authorized dealer, and the guy that runs the shop is pretty cool. Usually have good prices too.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:48 am
by CompVest
Why not contact STI directly: 512-819-0656 or sales@stiguns.com
or
I know a great STI Master dealer located in Cypress, TX. Far west side of Houston (Austin side :mrgreen: ) that maintains a good selection of STI guns. I know it is a bit far... ROAD TRIP! He will be at the Conroe Gun Show 10/31-11/01 and at the George R Brown Show 11/7-11/8.

I would recommend The Guardian. It has checkered cocobola grips, 3.9" stainless slide on a blued frame and 3 dot tactical adjustable sights.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:07 am
by MoJo
Dawson Precision Is an STI distributor who will sell direct. I bought my Spartan from them. They have great prices. If I lived in Central Texas it would be worth the short trip to go up there.

The short 1911 style guns have reliability issues the shortest I'd consider is Commander length 4.25".

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:17 am
by wacc
I have a 3" 1911 (Kimber Ultra Carry II) . It has worked flawlessly (750 rounds). The accuracy is great. I got it thinking the 3" would be much easier to conceal. Now, I feel the 4" would be no more difficult to conceal than my 3".

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:14 pm
by RiverRat
d strokes wrote:Austin Gun Liquidators - http://www.austingunliquidators.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are an STI authorized dealer, and the guy that runs the shop is pretty cool. Usually have good prices too.
Looked up the web site, says close to nothing. If he didn't have a picture of a gun on the pages, I wouldn't have a clue what his services were. From what you said above, I assume he has a store front with product? I'll run up there this week and see what he has.....but I'll call first :)

Thanks CompV, I was sort of looking at the Guardian for carry. Don't know if I can talk the Mrs. into going to Houston, but you never know. My big fear is like what happened last Christmas when I came home with a New Agent.......I never even got to shoot it before it went into her purse.....ended up not finding another one and having to settle with a Defender for me.... :totap: She is a Daughter of the Republic, and might like the Texas outline on the slide for herself, and I can't afford two of them this week :mrgreen: .

I will go ahead and contact STI and ask the some questions. I have always bought guns in person.....not sure how comfortable I'd be ordering blind on the internet........
OOOpps! My nose ought to be growing...I am obamaing!! I did buy two AR15 kits last year on the internet. It came out alright.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:25 pm
by Carrots
The best prices that I have seen on STI are here :- http://www.brazoscustom.com/Home.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They have more than just pictures and they are (apparently) good folks to deal with.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:51 pm
by RiverRat
Carrots wrote:The best prices that I have seen on STI are here :- http://www.brazoscustom.com/Home.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They have more than just pictures and they are (apparently) good folks to deal with.
Thanks, I bookmarked them for future reference....good prices....I hate when I see ANOTHER gun I want....they make their RangerII in .40, too. I don't have a 1911 in .40. I hate it when that happens.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 12:09 am
by Carrots
You're welcome. There will always be another day and another temptation, and as someone who has recently gone 1911 bananas myself I can understand the cravings. However thus far I have kept myself in order and my pistols in 45. Good hunting to you :tiphat:

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 1:03 am
by d strokes
RiverRat wrote:
d strokes wrote:Austin Gun Liquidators - http://www.austingunliquidators.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are an STI authorized dealer, and the guy that runs the shop is pretty cool. Usually have good prices too.
Looked up the web site, says close to nothing. If he didn't have a picture of a gun on the pages, I wouldn't have a clue what his services were. From what you said above, I assume he has a store front with product? I'll run up there this week and see what he has.....but I'll call first :)

Thanks CompV, I was sort of looking at the Guardian for carry. Don't know if I can talk the Mrs. into going to Houston, but you never know. My big fear is like what happened last Christmas when I came home with a New Agent.......I never even got to shoot it before it went into her purse.....ended up not finding another one and having to settle with a Defender for me.... :totap: She is a Daughter of the Republic, and might like the Texas outline on the slide for herself, and I can't afford two of them this week :mrgreen: .

I will go ahead and contact STI and ask the some questions. I have always bought guns in person.....not sure how comfortable I'd be ordering blind on the internet........
OOOpps! My nose ought to be growing...I am obamaing!! I did buy two AR15 kits last year on the internet. It came out alright.
Yeah, the website sucks, but you can get the phone number and address. It's in pflugerville off 35, just north of tinseltown.

He is an HK dealer too, for those interested. I'm a big fan of STI and HK :fire

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:29 am
by stash
I emailed them a couple of weeks ago with a request for a catalog. Three days later got it in the mail. Lots of pictures of their product. I understand their handguns have a good reputation.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:45 pm
by STI Shooter
I know if you go to STIs web site at http://WWW.STIGUNS.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, and navigate the site you can look at some of the people that sell there product and see what they have in stock. I know that Brazos also does a lot of custom work on STIs and the price is still competitive with the MSRP. I have a Trojan and want an Eagle real bad. Good luck. :txflag:

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:29 pm
by RiverRat
STI Shooter wrote:I know if you go to STIs web site at http://WWW.STIGUNS.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, and navigate the site you can look at some of the people that sell there product and see what they have in stock. I know that Brazos also does a lot of custom work on STIs and the price is still competitive with the MSRP. I have a Trojan and want an Eagle real bad. Good luck. :txflag:
Thanks all. I about wore out the STI's web site last night, have a catalog coming. I'll take a road trip in Pville tomorrow and check out "liquidators" with a Brazos price list in my pocket :mrgreen: . I try to keep my spending local, at least to Texas when at all possible.....cultivate relationships, keep our local businesses in business.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:05 am
by JDL
I have a couple STI handguns and my favorite carry is the LS9.

Look up Dawson Precision.

They are a dealer and it is not TOO far from Austin.

Re: Opinions and Knowledge of STI 3" and 4"

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:29 pm
by mgood
RiverRat wrote:I want an STI just because it has the State of Texas outline on the side.....just because . :txflag: I know it sounds weird......
Then I'm weird too. :txflag:
STI and SVI are the most common guns in Limited and Open divisions in USPSA competition. And they seem so interchangeable that people on the net rever to them as S_I or SxI, meaning either one. A while back I decided, without really knowing pros and cons of either, that if I get one, it'll be the one with Texas on the side.

Seems like I heard that STI was in Round Rock, or somewhere in that area, so they're practically your neighbors.