PMCI - February 2017

pmcimagazine.com
FIREARMS: STI
compensators, triggers, hammers, thumb and grip safeties,
slide stops, firing pins, guide rods, magazine wells, magazines,
and scope mounts. STI’s modular frames are marketed under
the brand name 2011, a take on the 1911 name.
The STI commitment to making some of the very finest
custom quality handguns that your hard earned money can
buy goes far deeper than some plaque on a factory wall. It
is a personal responsibility of every STI employee to put their
best into each gun that leaves the building. For them it is more
than a job, it is innovating and engineering to keep raising the
STI standard; it is machining and hand crafting each part for
a fit and finish that fills your hand with confidence; and it is
the integrity to stay the course even if it means doing things
differently. STI is for the discerning shooter who appreciates
having the best.
Each STI gun is handcrafted by a certified gunsmith and goes
through over 30 quality checks before it leaves the building. STI
uses only the highest quality parts available throughout the
builds. Each sear and hammer is EDM wire cut, which is an
innovation that helped STI make a name for itself years ago.
Every part that STI manufactures is built to oversized tolerances
so they can be hand fitted to each individual gun. Each gun
is fully function tested and meticulously inspected for any
blemishes. The completed STI gun represents some of the finest
in handgun custom quality, performance and accuracy.
ROUNDS DOWNRANGE
Arriving at the STI stand on Range Day I was stunned by the
sheer range and diversity of what they had on show; taking
models from both their 2011 and 1911 ranges, with magazines
in all the different calibres, the offering was extensive and
utterly complete. As I got speaking to the guys on the stand it
became very clear that they had both passion for, and complete
faith in, all the models on show, and in short time they were
saying to me “Well, you didn’t come here just to talk,
let’s go shoot some pistols”; talk about putting your money
where your mouth is!
In the summer of 2016 STI launched the Costa 5.0. Teaming
up with well-known shooter Chris Costa STI aimed to bring
shooters a high performance blend of tactical features, along
with 2011 accuracy and reliability. Featuring a modular 2011
frame with a tactical accessory rail, the Costa 5.0 has been
mated with a custom slide featuring high dexterity rear cocking
serrations and relief cuts throughout. Paired with an undercut
and specially stippled grip, diamond like carbon finish and a
tactical magazine well, this is one 2011 you won’t want to be
without, and shooting it proved to be exactly what I’d expected;
smooth, accurate, and dependable.
The H.O.S.T. SS (single stack) is based on the 1911 platform. It
readily provides you the ability to “host” an optic, light or a
suppressor, even all three. Designed to provide the shooter an
out of the box accessory ready platform, the H.O.S.T. SS is built
to the STI higher performance standards. Tall tritium sights are
designed to co-witness with your optic as well as allow you to
see both your target and sights, over your suppressor. Available
in either 5.0 or 4.15 inch barrel lengths to suit your preference,
both lengths feature a small classic cut to accept suppressors
without the need for extended adaptors. This design provides
for a long dust cover and the advantage of a shortened overall
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