STI......word of caution

Take it for what it's worth - just an opinion on the internet. I think that with 1911 platform you should stick to 5" full size pistol chambered in .45, single stack and as close as possible to the original configuration.
The more "upgrades" and modifications the better chance that something will go wrong.
 
Sounds like an ammo issue....that many mags and none feed?
Most STI's feed best with long loaded ammo (9 & .40).
Kinda surprised nobody at your black badge course didn't have anything to help you out so you could finish??

Oh...I've broke 2 glocks and yet to have a failure on an STI.....hmmm maybe they're not dishwasher safe!
 
The ammo, although shorter did not cause the problem. At least that is what the smith said. Another edge bought at the same time has the same problematic mags. All of mine had ftf problems, one would not even fit in the handle. 3 would be so hard to seat that you need arms like monkeyman to slam them home. Don't want to be doing that all day long. Hope to get it back for a little range time. My new reloads are a little longer at 1.175.

Again, this is not acceptable with a 3k gun. Would I buy another sti? Not right now.
 
Two of my buddies have Open STI's and neither really runs very well. A Steelmaster and a Trubor.
They both also have Czechmates , which run flawlessly.

Who knows the ways of finicky open guns, I surely don't.
 
Bought one a few years ago from Armco. It wouldn't shoot a mag of store bought ammo without jamming.
Sent it back to Gunnar, he adjusted it and it never jammed again.
Apparently the Edge is tuned for the longer than normal .40 S&W hand loaded by most competitors.
Once he did some adjustments for commercial .40 S&W it worked great.
One of the best handguns I ever owned.
You need an STI specialist to make it work right.
Gunnar doesn't do tune ups any more but he trained Clarence at:

Bumblbee Custom Machine (BCM)
PO Box 12062 Parkwood RPO
Prince George, BC
V2L 0A8

Phone: 250-649-6993
Email: bumblbee1@shaw.ca
Google his web sight.
 
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bambam said:
That was everybody's recommendation at the club as well. I must be thick, I thought I knew better. Maybe I did not spend enough? The SVI sight trackers are looking awful good right now!!
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If you want to spend more you could get the CZ Shadow Canadian Edition :)

To be honest though I'd like a STI Edge too. I've always heard though that 1911/2011 are more for tinkerers.
 
Time for an SV......
2011 mags ALWAYS need to be initially fitted. If you want absolutely flawless feeding you need to spend the time(lots of it) to tune the mags. Most factory mags "might" work just fine, but 1911/2011s may have small differences in mag catch height, mag release drop point(amt. you need to stroke the release and for that matter how long).
Height and angle of feed lips, follower adjustments, etc.... Your learning curb will be high if you have never tried to do this before.
There are far to many factors in a high end performance pistol that far to many people do no understand.

I would equal this to:
Honda civic = reliable, get the basic job done
Twin turbo 1200 HP Vette = Your going to have to know how to keep it running.
 
heckler said:
Time for an SV......
2011 mags ALWAYS need to be initially fitted. If you want absolutely flawless feeding you need to spend the time(lots of it) to tune the mags. Most factory mags "might" work just fine, but 1911/2011s may have small differences in mag catch height, mag release drop point(amt. you need to stroke the release and for that matter how long). Height and angle of feed lips, follower adjustments, etc....
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I feel with bambam on this one; depending on where the mag's came from. We paid $87 each for STI .45 2011 mag's, and I've not had a single issue with the Legend or any of the mag's; if I was getting 40%FTF's I would be royally fit to be tied. Pay that much and it doesn't run flawlessly? :mad:
 
gwesson said:
I feel with bambam on this one; depending on where the mag's came from. We paid $87 each for STI .45 2011 mag's, and I've not had a single issue with the Legend or any of the mag's; if I was getting 40%FTF's I would be royally fit to be tied. Pay that much and it doesn't run flawlessly? :mad:
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I did not mean to sound or insinuate it was his doing, I would be completely flustered and P*ssed too at that rate of failure. My apologies if that is the way it sounded
I guess what I was trying to get across was that sometimes you get good mags and get lucky,...sometimes not. I can't tell you the # of hours I have spent fixing brand new mags and sometimes brand new pistols for people. A lot of variables at play.
 
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heckler said:
I did not mean to sound or insinuate it was his doing, I would be completely flustered and P*ssed too at that rate of failure. My apologies if that is the way it sounded
I guess what I was trying to get across was that sometimes you get good mags and get lucky,...sometimes not. I can't tell you the # of hours I have spent fixing brand new mags and sometimes brand new pistols for people. A lot of variables at play.
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+1 Had new Mecgar mags for my STI Trojan in 9mm single stack and they would not hold the slide back on last round, replaced by the cheaper STI Metal form they worked well.
 
Had a chance to test out the newly tuned mags and they work great. No FTF, but had a couple mags fall out after a couple shots. I need to slam a little harder to seat them I guess. Going out again today to see how everything works. loaded some cartridges to 1.18 and they worked like a hot darn. The ones I got from custom reloading were only 1.12 and they caused a couple feed issues.

Thanks for everyones input. The common notion is that mags need to be tuned. I don't have a problem with that but why is that not done at the factory??? Paying 3k for a gun then having to pay to tune the mags is retarded and I won't do that again.
 
Building 9mm Luger to 1.18? The max suggested OAL is 1.169" as you know I'm sure. My Trojan did not like my 1.1" reloads but it eats my 1.15" reloads flawlessly, perhaps you might try to get the results you want and remain within spec with 1.15'? I know that my CZ would be gagging on 1.18"
 
I own STI 45 and 9 mm for years and they have never failed to function or fire and consider them among the best firearms may just be a small problem your not seeing
 
I just got a new STI GI. The front site is bent to the right staked wrong and the grip safety to main spring housing has a huge gap of 3/16" and when pressed in is like a 1/4".
 
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