To STI GP6 or not??

riflefreak

riflefreak

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What would be the pros and cons about this particular pistol? I've red some reviews and watched videos but what about you CGN community?

History goes like this, just bought two pistols, 1st one is an FNP45 and 2nd a CZ 85 Combat. I was thinking about IPSC since last year but had a surprise a while ago, my daughter who follows me each and every time at the range, now wants to get to IPSC to so I'm looking for another 9mm...

Troughout my research I've been pleased with things I saw about this gun. So am I next to the track about this firearm?
 
Copied, edited, and pasted from another thread but my thoughts on the GP6/K100

Regarding the previous generation...

Very comfortable grip for me and I have fetus hands so other shooters with small hands should like. I know with this latest generation, they do come with the different grip sizes so there should be a grip that works for almost everyone. It is light weight. Softest shooting 9mm handgun I have ever shot, and this is including in comparison to everyone's beloved CZ Shadow which also barely barely recoils but as I recall, the K100 recoiled even less. I was told the rotary barrel lockup system is what reduced recoil and maybe it's true but I never noticed such reduced recoil in the PX4 Storm. Speaking of the locking system, it did change the feel of the shooting regarding the recoil impulse but nothing bad or good, just different. Very nice trigger, both DA and SA. The ergonomics and low recoil are the 2 biggest pros of this pistol for me. The trigger is nice and I imagine it's one of the main pros for some people but I'm really not picky on the trigger so it doesn't change my opinion on guns that much.

I personally was not a fan of the field stripping method. It wasn't hard but just so different than what we're all used to. The mag release was stiff as all heck. Not sure what is out there in terms of accessory/part support but this is something that would grow as the popularity grows. Not gonna lie, the earlier gen (the ones I have experience with) were not the best in reliability or durability with common small parts breakages and a frame cracking or two but apparently this has been resolved for this newest gen.

So assuming the previous issues were addressed (which I have heard they were), depending on the price, it's an affordable alternative option to all the usual choices.
 
Check Bluelines dealer section. They are the new Grand Power distributors and will be bringing in the entire line.
 
I'm sorry, did someone call for the resident Grand Power pimp?:cool:

The STI GP6 is the gun I currently shoot. I had the older first generation K100 before this one.

Since I admit to being biased, let me start with the downside.

The STI badged guns had some problems. The STI pattern hammers had a reputation for breaking. The Grand Power style hammers seem to be better. My guess is the STI style hammers were MIM'd instead of machined. I have pictures of one slide that had cracked, likely after two seperate ruptured cases due to poor reloaded ammo. I know of another broken slide but have not heard how/why or seen pictures. I know of at least one gun that was shipped with a bad extractor.

And before you start thinking the guns are crap, the lines above could have been written about Glock/Sig, etc. They have all shipped guns that later had failures. The big question is what they then did about the problem.

As far as I know, the current generation of Grand Power guns have addressed any weaknesses found in the older generations.

My current STI GP6 has about 8-10 k through it. I haven't had anything go wrong with it yet. I just replaced the hammer group. I got the new X-Calibur hammer group for it so it will feel more like the new gun when it arrives. The old hammer only shows a little blueing wear.

The biggest selling point for the STI GP6 or K100 for me has been the trigger. It's nothing short of awesome. It's got to be tried to be believed.
The next selling point has to be the recoil feel. The rotary lock-up seems to take a huge amount of the snap out of the recoil. The muzzle climb seems flat.

The older Mk6 frames fit most peoples hands. The newer Mk7 has the interchangeable backstraps so you can switch to better suit your grip.

If you have the chance to try one, see if you can shoot it back to back with the CZ 75/85/SP01. I think you will enjoy the comparison.

At last look, Freedom Ventures still have some of the GP6's in stock.
Next month (or so?) Blueline will be getting thier first Grand Power shipment.

Included in the Blueline order is the new X-Calibur model. It's like the GP6C or K100 Target with 20 mm more barrel and a slide to match. It also has a new trigger system that is even lighter than the already awesome K100.
 
As I understand what's just been written, STI are very good guns but GP are a little bit better?? By that mean, should I start looking at GP website too? My toughts were that no one was retailing GP anymore since the Marstar bug...
 
Hi, my go to pistol also.... Great feel in the hand for me, da/sa trigger is the best I have tried so far, personally I like the field strip, but haven't done a full strip yet...
Finish is holding up great... Ambi safety/ slide release/ and mag release work fine and have suited a couple of guest users... 9mm is a really good learning caliber, and to be honest I am sticking with it.... My .45 is fun but gets expensive quickly.
Holsters are hard to find, but extra mags are not...
Would recommend this pistol to anyone...love it!
Import
 
riflefreak said:
As I understand what's just been written, STI are very good guns but GP are a little bit better?? By that mean, should I start looking at GP website too? My toughts were that no one was retailing GP anymore since the Marstar bug...
Click to expand...

Blueline is the distributor for Grand Power. Marstar is the used-to-was importer.

STI's guns were made by Grand Power. STI asked for a few tweaks such as the distinct hammer, but the guns are essentially the same as the Mk6 Grand Powers.

STI stopped marketing the GP6's, so only the remaining stock is available, but Freedom Ventures at last word did have a few left.

Blueline are going to carry the entire lineup in time, compared to just the one version STI sold. (actually 2 but the P1 was never offered here due to the barrel length)
Some of the models coming shortly haven't been imported before. The K22S is the dedicated rimfire model, and the X-Caliber is more of a full sporting model.

By all means drool over the Grand Power website. I know I do.
 
Import said:
Hi, my go to pistol also.... Great feel in the hand for me, da/sa trigger is the best I have tried so far, personally I like the field strip, but haven't done a full strip yet...

Import
Click to expand...

It's actually pretty simple.

Press out the slide stop pin.
Press out the rear frame roll pin.
Lift the frame insert just a little bit.
#### the hammer to half ####.
Raise the safety part way and wiggle. They will come off and out without much resistance.
Gently pull the safety cylinder out from either side. (Hint, the side with the groove goes back in to match the firing pin safety)
Lift the frame insert out of the plastic frame.
Control the hammer and press the sear to drop it to rest.
Drive the mainspring pin out to take the pressure off the hammer.
Drive the hammer pin out and remove the hammer.

You can remove the remaining pin to remove the ejector and firing pin safety lever, but for detail cleaning you shouldn't have to.

For the plastic frame, you can clean almost every nook and cranny without removing the trigger and trigger bar by removing the detents and lifting the trigger bar up.
The mag catch housing is pretty much set and forget.
 
Import said:
Holsters are hard to find, but extra mags are not...
Would recommend this pistol to anyone...love it!
Import
Click to expand...

Ooh, missed this. Bladetech make a great holster for the GP6/K100. I use the Amadani Ghost holster from Double Tap Sports.
 
riflefreak said:
dohhh forgot to say..I'm a d*mned lefty! Just imagining to find a holster that fits my need!
Click to expand...

Never fear. Just call Josko or Amy at DoubleTap, and see what they have. If it ain't in stock, offer a deposit and get one added to the next order.

In a pinch, an Uncle Mikes for the Glock 20/21 will work.

And for a southpaw, I don't know a better gun. I'm cross dominant (right handed, left eye dominant)
 
The GP6 is a great pistol for IPSC. I've used one for 2 and a bit years.

I'd go for the GP6-C over the standard GP6 - the adjustable sights and the big mag release button are worthy additions.

PROS
* Great trigger. Crisp, short reset and very readable stacking for easy prep on the press-out
* Good support from Freedom Ventures. Parts break on any gun. It's nice to have a reliable replacement parts source.
* Accurate.
* Reliable (with good ammunition). I don't think I've had a single failure that wasn't ammunition related.
* Full ambi controls
* Good sights - right out of the box!

CONS
* Magazines are expensive. And I've had 2 where the 10 round "dimple" was placed too high.
* Grips are slick. Grip tape is a must.
* Sharp edges on sights and cocking serrations. Be careful clearing malfunctions... I've lost a lot of skin to my GP6.
* Variable QC. I think the 2 GP6-Cs I have are quite good, but others have been variable.

Holsters really aren't that hard to come by, and you probably only need one (go for the Bladetech with the DOH)

I think the GP6 is a fine pistol and with tons of potential.
 
1riot1ranger said:
CONS
* Magazines are expensive. And I've had 2 where the 10 round "dimple" was placed too high.
* Grips are slick. Grip tape is a must.
* Sharp edges on sights and cocking serrations. Be careful clearing malfunctions... I've lost a lot of skin to my GP6.
* Variable QC. I think the 2 GP6-Cs I have are quite good, but others have been variable.

Holsters really aren't that hard to come by, and you probably only need one (go for the Bladetech with the DOH)

I think the GP6 is a fine pistol and with tons of potential.
Click to expand...

I've not had the issue with mags not locking with any of my 9 mags, but another member noted it seemed to be a problem with the base plate. Before I grabbed a needle file to alter the mag window, I'd check the fit of the baseplate against the bottom of the grip.
 
Here's two new questions:

before anythings, I'd like to say, viva spillproof keyboard...:xes scrolling down pages on GP website...

1st of all, trough my search I've concluded that all of their guns seem to be 100% ambi right out of the box including mag release, as I understood, I can press the mag rease button in either way letting the mag drop of... BUT, is it the same thing with the X-calibur model since it has an extended mag release? Can this thing be reversed to accomodate my southpaw problem lol?

2ndly, I must confess being a failry noob to the handgun world and when watching the few vidz on youtube about de STI/GP gun I ran across a 1250shots reliabily test, and when the guy was slamming a new mag, it seemed that the gun was putting a new round into battery by itself... is there something i did not see? Is it actually having that kind of feature or is this an aftermarket mod?

Thanks for answering!
 
riflefreak said:
Here's two new questions:

before anythings, I'd like to say, viva spillproof keyboard...:xes scrolling down pages on GP website...

1st of all, trough my search I've concluded that all of their guns seem to be 100% ambi right out of the box including mag release, as I understood, I can press the mag rease button in either way letting the mag drop of... BUT, is it the same thing with the X-calibur model since it has an extended mag release? Can this thing be reversed to accomodate my southpaw problem lol?

2ndly, I must confess being a failry noob to the handgun world and when watching the few vidz on youtube about de STI/GP gun I ran across a 1250shots reliabily test, and when the guy was slamming a new mag, it seemed that the gun was putting a new round into battery by itself... is there something i did not see? Is it actually having that kind of feature or is this an aftermarket mod?

Thanks for answering!
Click to expand...

The mag release does work from either side. The big buttom mag release can be switched to the dominant side, but will work from either.

The GP guns all generally will drop the slide if you slam the magazine in with modest force. It was part of the design, although you can special order them with the slide stop notch cut deeper if it's not to your taste.
 
Canuck223 said:
It was part of the design, although you can special order them with the slide stop notch cut deeper if it's not to your taste.
Click to expand...
If by chance I'm lucky enough to get one of these, there's no way I would order it with the deeper cut! That self/auto slam design is way too cool!

Thanks Canuck223
 
Canuck223 said:
I've not had the issue with mags not locking with any of my 9 mags, but another member noted it seemed to be a problem with the base plate. Before I grabbed a needle file to alter the mag window, I'd check the fit of the baseplate against the bottom of the grip.
Click to expand...

I'm going to check the baseplates for consistency.

I confess I missed that idea. Thanks!
 
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