A dozen and one years ago, i sighed up for a defensive shooting course to be put on at our club by some instructors from Texas. I had a S&W compact 9MM, but there was no way to persuade me to use it for two days of shooting. Fifty rounds with it was enough for me. They recommended a service pistol.
Our local indoor range had a .45 STI Guardian in stock. I rented a .45 Kimber of the same size and liked it, but the steel-framed STI would soak up more recoil over a two day class, so I bought it. I bought a leather Milt Sparks IWB holster for it.
At the class, he instructors told me that I wiuld be handicapped by the Officer's frame grip. Students with full size 9M and 40 S&W pistols could score a lot more hits in the same amoutn of time. The IWB leather holster made reholstering a chore, paricluarly befor my paunch overhang becale less of an issue.
But I carried it for a while anyway. . Later, I switched to a Ruger SR9c 9MM, and then to a Springfield XDS, and then to a Ruger American Compact. That one was great, but the EZ 9 came out just when I was recovering from surgery, and I now carry one,
The STI Guardian sat, retired.
My favorite holster is the Crossbreed Superslide OWB. I decided to see whether they would still make one for the Guardian. Ans: yes.
I just ordered one.
Sixty or so years ago, I shot my frIend's dad's Army 1911 at targets. It was old worn, and loose with narrow sights and a trigger pull that really should have been smithed. I couldn't hit a thing with it. That gun ended up in the hands of the Ayatollah's men . Long story.
Another friend bought a Colt Gold Cup. That was a whole other story.
When I bought the STI, it was for concealed carry, but the excellent sights and trigger pull made it a really shooter . I don't really want to sell the pistol now--it's too good. Too bad they are out of production.
Our local indoor range had a .45 STI Guardian in stock. I rented a .45 Kimber of the same size and liked it, but the steel-framed STI would soak up more recoil over a two day class, so I bought it. I bought a leather Milt Sparks IWB holster for it.
At the class, he instructors told me that I wiuld be handicapped by the Officer's frame grip. Students with full size 9M and 40 S&W pistols could score a lot more hits in the same amoutn of time. The IWB leather holster made reholstering a chore, paricluarly befor my paunch overhang becale less of an issue.
But I carried it for a while anyway. . Later, I switched to a Ruger SR9c 9MM, and then to a Springfield XDS, and then to a Ruger American Compact. That one was great, but the EZ 9 came out just when I was recovering from surgery, and I now carry one,
The STI Guardian sat, retired.
My favorite holster is the Crossbreed Superslide OWB. I decided to see whether they would still make one for the Guardian. Ans: yes.
I just ordered one.
Sixty or so years ago, I shot my frIend's dad's Army 1911 at targets. It was old worn, and loose with narrow sights and a trigger pull that really should have been smithed. I couldn't hit a thing with it. That gun ended up in the hands of the Ayatollah's men . Long story.
Another friend bought a Colt Gold Cup. That was a whole other story.
When I bought the STI, it was for concealed carry, but the excellent sights and trigger pull made it a really shooter . I don't really want to sell the pistol now--it's too good. Too bad they are out of production.