Metal Frame 3 Gun Pistols
The ruler of the competition pistol is the STI/ SVI 2011. The majority of major competitors at national matches will be using a 2011, and those that are not have pistol envy. But, is it the right choice for you?
The major advantage of the 2011 is it is a competition pistol through and through. It is designed around the best trigger, it is weighted to give the lowest felt recoil, and it is fitted to tight tolerances to ensure the best accuracy possible. That being said, most STI owners will tell you that you’ve got to get one custom built or have a significant amount of work done to a factory STI 2011 before it reaches the full potential of being the greatest competition pistol available.
The single stage trigger in a 2011 is as good as it gets for competition pistols. If you’ve ever felt an aftermarket trigger at ~2.5 pounds, you know why. A clean breaking light trigger can cover up flaws in shooting form that a long two stage trigger expose. A factory STI trigger is not as clean as an upgraded aftermarket trigger group, so keep that in mind when shopping for a pistol or upgrading yours.
The weight of the STI is in the dust cover and the barrel. Most STI 2011s have Bull Barrels and full length dust covers that position the weight further from your hand. If any of ya’ll remember your physics from your school days, the further the weight is from the axis, the greater the resistance to rotational force. So, the weight of the STI is specifically located where it will help with muzzle rise the most. Further, the grip is polymer, to keep the weight of the gun down. A number of competition STI’s will have the slide weight reduced by tri-topping the slide or cutting holes in the slide. 6” barrel slides almost always have weight reduction work. 5” barrel slides may or may not. The key to reducing recoil through added weight, is the added weight has to be added to non-cycling parts. Added weight in the slide (cycling part) will actually make recoil worse.
Another significant advantage of the STI 2011 is the tight fitment of the gun. Custom 2011’s have the potential to be fitted to tighter tolerances than a factory STI 2011, but as with anything custom, the gunsmith matters! If you are going to buy a custom pistol, make sure and check out the reputation of the gunsmith before purchasing. The tighter fitment allows for more accuracy, as lock up is more repeatable. But, the fitment is also a hinderance. A tight fitting gun will be more finicky if not cleaned regularly, and you can forget about swapping parts between 2011’s! Everything must be hand fitted, so forget about doing the gunsmithing yourself, unless of course you really are a gunsmith.
Take a Look at several specific 3 Gun Pistols>
The major advantage of the 2011 is it is a competition pistol through and through. It is designed around the best trigger, it is weighted to give the lowest felt recoil, and it is fitted to tight tolerances to ensure the best accuracy possible. That being said, most STI owners will tell you that you’ve got to get one custom built or have a significant amount of work done to a factory STI 2011 before it reaches the full potential of being the greatest competition pistol available.
The single stage trigger in a 2011 is as good as it gets for competition pistols. If you’ve ever felt an aftermarket trigger at ~2.5 pounds, you know why. A clean breaking light trigger can cover up flaws in shooting form that a long two stage trigger expose. A factory STI trigger is not as clean as an upgraded aftermarket trigger group, so keep that in mind when shopping for a pistol or upgrading yours.
The weight of the STI is in the dust cover and the barrel. Most STI 2011s have Bull Barrels and full length dust covers that position the weight further from your hand. If any of ya’ll remember your physics from your school days, the further the weight is from the axis, the greater the resistance to rotational force. So, the weight of the STI is specifically located where it will help with muzzle rise the most. Further, the grip is polymer, to keep the weight of the gun down. A number of competition STI’s will have the slide weight reduced by tri-topping the slide or cutting holes in the slide. 6” barrel slides almost always have weight reduction work. 5” barrel slides may or may not. The key to reducing recoil through added weight, is the added weight has to be added to non-cycling parts. Added weight in the slide (cycling part) will actually make recoil worse.
Another significant advantage of the STI 2011 is the tight fitment of the gun. Custom 2011’s have the potential to be fitted to tighter tolerances than a factory STI 2011, but as with anything custom, the gunsmith matters! If you are going to buy a custom pistol, make sure and check out the reputation of the gunsmith before purchasing. The tighter fitment allows for more accuracy, as lock up is more repeatable. But, the fitment is also a hinderance. A tight fitting gun will be more finicky if not cleaned regularly, and you can forget about swapping parts between 2011’s! Everything must be hand fitted, so forget about doing the gunsmithing yourself, unless of course you really are a gunsmith.
Take a Look at several specific 3 Gun Pistols>