STI Recoil Master questions

[Jed Carter]

I am considering buying an STI Trojan 5.0 9mm, should I get the Recoil Master, or just the standard guide rod and spring? Does it function well or cause cycling problems? Does it really work to supress recoil, and is it really necessary on a 9mm 1911? IDPA legal? Anyone with experience please give your input. I really don't have problems with recoil on any of my pistols, but if it can make for faster follow up shots on target, then I'm interested.

 

[Quack]

if using it for IDPA, get a standard rod.

the recoil with the recoil master is different. the slide seems like it's moving in slow motion.

 

[Jed Carter]

Simpler usually is better...

 

[Cloudpeak]

I have over 5,800 rounds of cast bullet reloads through my STI Trojan 9mm and it's been 100% with the factory single spring/guide rod configuration. Although, by all accounts, the Recoil Master recoil system is good for many thousand rounds, they are expensive to replace. If you decided to shoot some reduced load handloads for practice, the single spring setup makes it easy to fine tune functioning by a simple change of the recoil spring.

I'd buy it and shoot it with the factory setup. I think you'll be very pleased. The STI is a shooter!

 

[jmorris]

I have recoil masters in my uspsa STI's and carry pistol but I have seen folks have problems (DQ'ed at nationals once) for using them in IDPA, so I don't.

 

[hrt4me]

Good to know, thanks!

 

[David E]

At least one gunsmith I know calls them "Recoil Disasters"

 

[G27RR]

I wouldn't say it's necessary on 9mm or .45, but I do like having it on my officer models as followup shots seem faster and it does tame the recoil a bit. All four of my STIs have them, but I don't think I'd miss them on the Ranger IIs and I would've still bought the other two if they hadn't had the RM. I have >1K through the Shadow and varying amounts on the others with zero failures so far. My understanding is that they are good for a higher round count than a standard spring, but I can't recall the number at the moment. I can't speak to the legality for competitions.