I woke TTAG scribe Brad Kozak this morning with an urgent request: convince me not to spend $3,101.01 on an STI Grandmaster Open Pistol 9 x 19 target pistol. “You don’t want a luxury to become a necessity,” Brad warned. “What happens if you get used to firing a gun with all the bells and whistles and push comes to shove? Will you be able to shoot something less accurate without a scope?” Uh, yes. I fire as many guns as often as I can. And I own more than a few guns from different genres, and they all get hammer time. Besides, I need a weapon that provides me with a frame of reference: a handgun that’s the standard by which all others can be judged. As the Brits say, that’s my story and I’m sticking with it. Convinced? Specs after the jump.
Built on the patented modular steel frame with a blue polymer grip, the STI GM utilizes the Trubor compensated barrel which is machined from ONE PIECE of 416, Rifle Grade, Stainless Steel. The Trubor is designed to eliminate misalignment of the barrel and compensator bore or movement of the compensator along the barrel threads, giving the shooter a more consistent performance and reduced muzzle flip.
The GM slide has classic scalloped sides, STI saber-tooth rear cocking serrations, flat top and slide lightening along the rear of the slide. Additional enhancements include STIs RecoilMaster guide rod system, STI stainless steel magwell, stainless steel ambidextrous safeties, stainless steel high rise grip safety, drilled and tapped mag release, and hard chrome finish with color inlay in the engraving. The GM comes complete with either a mounted C-More Railway or a mounted OKO Reflex sight. An STI team shirt, STI cap, and factory grouping target are also included with the GM. The STI GM is 9×19 (9mm Major)
No doubt about it; it is cool kit but until you shoot in a few years worth of competitions this ain't the one for you just yet. Wilson Combat will be happy to make you an expensive 1911 that would be more for your use.
But the problem with the gun hobby in general is jonesing odd firearms that can all be gotten for a 20th of the price of the ole' Ferrari. Why not go big?
Why would I want to start competing without the best gun I can [barely] afford?
Because there are so many kick-ass competition guns and the cognoscenti will tell you they all have a particular feel. I think its best to start off with something more mundane and competitors will definitely let you test thier Sponsorship rigs after the matches. Most likely, if you really get into it, you'll build your own (through a custom gunsmith) with the parts that you fall in love with. Wilson trigger, Ed Brown grip safety, Bar-Sto barrel, etc… But you gotta compete and test fire others to discover what you like.
Not my cuppa joe, but to each his own, I suppose. That is one pimped-out pistol, for sure, but what's with all the red pieces? A little too flamboyant for me. Also, why 9mm? If you're going for a full on race gun with a compensator why not move up to the gold-standard .45?
My concern with a "race gun" is that it's like a thoroughbred racehorse or a full-on sportbike: It's designed to do one thing and do it well, but it also requires thoroughbred maintenance and high quality (read: $$$) ammo in order to stay in good working order. OTOH my used, workaday pistols will eat whatever rotgut ComBloc ammo I feel like feeding them, and if I don't clean them for a few days (yeah, yeah, I know) no big deal…
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