Posted: 11/15/2015 6:51:18 AM EDT
| Any pics ? How do they run? What is the mag capacity on a 2011 models ? |
|
I've got an STI Marauder .40cal. Overall, it's a great gun with a couple of caveats that i'll touch on later. Mine has a little over 8k (it may be 10k....i'll have to look at my bullet orders) rounds down the pipe so far, and I can say it's very accurate and easy to shoot fast. If you're a fan of the 1911 but want something higher cap, definately give them a look. Mag caps are listed on STIs website, but for .40cal the 126mm mags hold 14, and the 140mm hold 17 in stock form. Basepads from Dawson, Taran, or others, plus replacement guts will up the capacity. I run Dawson pads and grams guts on my mags and can start with 20, reload with 19.
As far as reliability goes, it's been perfect in matches and practice provided that the mags are good (more on this below). The first caveat is that the grip, while advertised as being only a bit thicker than the standard 1911, is not for small hands. I wear a size medium mechanics glove, and my hands are barely big enough for this thing. #2, STIs stock bluing sucks a big one. This generally goes for bluing in general as it seems to wipe off in the first couple range trips like it was a dry erase marker. After a couple months it looked like it was several years old. As a hard use gun, (in my case, USPSA and IDPA competitions) don't expect it to stay pretty for long. Recently, I shot the USPSA kentucky match and left the gun in my bag for a couple of weeks. When i pulled it out, there was some corrosion on the slide. If you purchase a blued model, do yourself a favor and get it cerakoted quickly, or buy a model that is cerakoted from the factory. Mine is in the shop now having this done. #3, The mags. They either work or they don't and they cost a fortune. So far i've purchased 7 mags, not including the stock one. 3 had to go back for replacement (no questions, no hassles from STI on this, their customer service is great). At $70 a pop before upgrades, they should be flawless. Brand new out of the box...I hadn't wiped the factory grease off it here. 
All cleaned up, still unfired 
|
Here's my STI Ranger II 4". This is all steel, accurate, reliable, and my home defense pistol. It's been picky about what HPs work well with it. But I found a Wilson Combat YouTube video on how to tune the extractor. So I did some tuning per the video and it is feeding HPs 100% by hand cycling the slide with 3 different HPs all 230gr.. I'll hit the range Tue. or Wed. and see how it does live fire. For carry I have a Colt LW Commander and a S&W Shield 9mm.
|
|
I've got two; an Edge as my primary for USPSA Limited class, and a backup, that's basically an "eagle", but built on different parts: STI short dustcover frame, Les Baer slide, Kart bushing/barrel, etc.
I love my edge. Between matches and practice, I'll put 2k rounds through it in a month. As Gearhead said, mag capacity is typically a few rounds off what you can achieve with aftermarket springs, followers, and basepads. I use Taran basebads, and Grams guts, and I can get 20 reloadable of .40 S&W in a 140mm length magazine. Also, as Gearhead said, the grip... That's why both my mine have reduced grips. This made a huge difference for me personally. This reduced grip ain't much bigger around than a 1911. These 2011 style guns pretty much dominate Limited class. I know several people who will regularly put tens of thousands each year through these guns. Eventually, you shoot out the barrel, get a new one fitted, and keep rockin' and rollin'. 
|
Mine is completely reliable It's a .40 built for USPSA-IPSC Limited-division. It's got SVI internals, Koening hammer, and industrial hard-chromed by Tripp Research. At around 10,000 rounds the extractor chipped, STI sent me a new one, free. The gun is accurate, ergonomic, reliable, long lasting goodness 
|