Ok so I am planning on getting My Wife an Elektra in 9mm and Myself a Shadow in 45ACP. I have a Dozen pistols now but my wife was blown up in Iraq and has Nerve Damage in her right arm. The Injury makes it almost impossible to charge any Semi Auto or even open a can of food. She Carry’s an S&W 637 but wants a Semi Auto. We went down to do a tour at STI last week and she Loves how the Elektra feels and she has not problem charging or operating it at all. The Funny thing is the pink has nothing to do with her liking it but I am sure it helps but she says she will take it in Black or Pink. She love shooting my 45's but she just can’t charge them. I want a Shadow just to have a 3" 1911 for CCW to go with what I already have. I always have a Backup on me or in the Truck. What do you all think of STI's 3" 1911? Do any or you own or Carry them? The cost don’t bother me I am will be able to get them at a %15 Discount and we both what 1911's. I already have Glocks and XD's and we both own J-Frames so if any of you carry those you don’t have to try and sell me on something else. I just like to have options and my wife just wants something that she can operate on her own cause right now I have to charge all her S/A since she can’t operate the Slides and I can get her a Galco Handbag and she will be good to go. Thanks Y'all
STI's Elektra & Shadow for CCW
- Thread starter Chachi39
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ugaarguy
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It sounds like both you and your wife are plenty experienced to pick out your own handguns. STI makes very good firearms, and if those are the models you like, by all means go for it. The most important thing in regards to this potential purchase is that she's tested the gun, ensured she can operate it, and chosen it for herself. I see no downside to your future STI purchase.
Of utmost importance, she's alive. Please send her a huge thank you from me, and the rest of the folks here on THR. We owe her a debt of gratitude we can never repay. May she continue to heal and rebuild strength. God bless both of you.
Of utmost importance, she's alive. Please send her a huge thank you from me, and the rest of the folks here on THR. We owe her a debt of gratitude we can never repay. May she continue to heal and rebuild strength. God bless both of you.
ugaarguy my Wife and I thankyou for the Support. She just got out last week after 6 years and 2 Deployments. She wants to spend more time with our 2 little boys. But she was a Medic so she has found many of good jobs in the area. I will be headed back to Iraq in the next month for my third trip. Hopefully my last we will see. I plan on going to Colorado School of Trades when I get out in two years with my best friend. Then looking for a LE Job and or maybe starting my our own Shop.
First off, thanks to both of you. My brother was a medic with the Cav and was hit by IEDs on two occasions about 4 years ago on his deployment to Iraq. He's doing fine now, but from a number of his stories, I have some appreciation for what y'all have gone though.
Second, I haven't handled an Elektra but I have had an STI Shadow for a while now and it is easily my favorite CCW by a good margin. It has good night sights set low in a trench for less chance of a snag, it comes with a good mag and extras are only $15 at my dealer (Wilson mags work well, too), I've never had a malfunction and I've run a variety of anmo through it including about 200-250 JHPs and 800 FMJ. It is very accurate, handles great, is lightweight but still tames recoil well for a 3" with the RecoilMaster guiderod, and has a nice grippy set of grips. The safety is set about perfectly, too, with nice positive engagement / disengagement.
The finish on mine is showing a bitof holster wear faster than I expected, and takedown needs one clip on tool for the guiderod (two are included), but those are the only quibbles I have with it. I bought the Shadow first and then picked up the Ranger IIs, so that should say something for how well I like the STIs. Now I just need to save for a government model and a doublestack 2011 model. Hope that answered some of your questions.
PS - it may sound dumb, but being a Texan, I have come to love having the shape of Texas on the slide and knowing they were made just up the road from me. (a lot of people complain about STIs rollmarks, but they don't look bad in person in most cases, IMHO)
(The pair of STI Ranger IIs are in .45 and in 9mm. They are also superb and I will carry the .45 on occasion in lieu of the Shadow )
Second, I haven't handled an Elektra but I have had an STI Shadow for a while now and it is easily my favorite CCW by a good margin. It has good night sights set low in a trench for less chance of a snag, it comes with a good mag and extras are only $15 at my dealer (Wilson mags work well, too), I've never had a malfunction and I've run a variety of anmo through it including about 200-250 JHPs and 800 FMJ. It is very accurate, handles great, is lightweight but still tames recoil well for a 3" with the RecoilMaster guiderod, and has a nice grippy set of grips. The safety is set about perfectly, too, with nice positive engagement / disengagement.
The finish on mine is showing a bitof holster wear faster than I expected, and takedown needs one clip on tool for the guiderod (two are included), but those are the only quibbles I have with it. I bought the Shadow first and then picked up the Ranger IIs, so that should say something for how well I like the STIs. Now I just need to save for a government model and a doublestack 2011 model. Hope that answered some of your questions.
PS - it may sound dumb, but being a Texan, I have come to love having the shape of Texas on the slide and knowing they were made just up the road from me. (a lot of people complain about STIs rollmarks, but they don't look bad in person in most cases, IMHO)
(The pair of STI Ranger IIs are in .45 and in 9mm. They are also superb and I will carry the .45 on occasion in lieu of the Shadow )
I am looking at the .45 but have read a few Reviews and the only bad thing I have read is that it Impacts Low. How does your Print on Paper? have you noticed the same thing? I dont plan on Shooting it past 25 yards. My wife and I are both in 1st CAV but she got out last week. We were in 4ID before that. I have heard about the Finish wear but I am not too concerned about it. I know STI will fix it for free. Do you IWB Carry or OWB? I plan on getting a IWB from http://www.kolbesonleatherworks.com/ my buddy just got one for his MP 9mm Compact and I love it. Have you been to their tour yet? 0930 every Thursday. We had a great time. I do like that Ranger II alot but will have to wait for one I have a Full size Govt Springfield I built so I dont need the Ranget yet but I do want one. The Ranger III is Amazing you have to check one out if you go to STI.
Yes I too Love the State of Texas on the Slide. Father was Born and Raised here and both of my Son are Born here. My wife and I was born in California but are never going back. Bought a house he 4 years ago. She is from So Cal and I am from Nor Cal or what she calls Southern Oregon. She had never been to the Real County till I took her back home. She Had to Drive over an hour to get to Starbucks. LOL
Yes I too Love the State of Texas on the Slide. Father was Born and Raised here and both of my Son are Born here. My wife and I was born in California but are never going back. Bought a house he 4 years ago. She is from So Cal and I am from Nor Cal or what she calls Southern Oregon. She had never been to the Real County till I took her back home. She Had to Drive over an hour to get to Starbucks. LOL
Mine doesn't seem low out to 15 yards or so, maybe an inch if anything with FMJ, but it could be an ammo thing for some people. I've noticed that different brands print low in my XD45 tactical.
I use 230 grain exclusively, and usually S&B, American Eagle or WWB for practice and the Winchester PDX JHP for carry. I've never noticed the PDX low at all, just the WWB.
If you use a 6 o'clock hold that may also make it appear to shoot low.
I use several holsters. Mostly I use an IWB from Tucker Gunleather. It uses a single belt clip. Another tucker uses a pair of clips. They are both all leather other than the clips.
I also like the Crossbreed Supertucks.
I'll check out the one you linked to.
I didn't know they did a tour. I will definitely have to stop by there soon, thanks for the tip.
What do they do differently with the Ranger III from the II?
My brother was in 3rd ID and I think he was part of the 6-8 Cav when he deployed. He carried an M16/M203 and later an M4/M203. It sure is different for the medics now than it used to be.
I use 230 grain exclusively, and usually S&B, American Eagle or WWB for practice and the Winchester PDX JHP for carry. I've never noticed the PDX low at all, just the WWB.
If you use a 6 o'clock hold that may also make it appear to shoot low.
I use several holsters. Mostly I use an IWB from Tucker Gunleather. It uses a single belt clip. Another tucker uses a pair of clips. They are both all leather other than the clips.
I also like the Crossbreed Supertucks.
I'll check out the one you linked to.
I didn't know they did a tour. I will definitely have to stop by there soon, thanks for the tip.
What do they do differently with the Ranger III from the II?
My brother was in 3rd ID and I think he was part of the 6-8 Cav when he deployed. He carried an M16/M203 and later an M4/M203. It sure is different for the medics now than it used to be.
.G27RR the Ranger III is not on their website but it has all the same options and features as the Ranger II but you can Rack the Slide then Manually release the Hammer and on you take the safety off your hammer Drops back into place. This was done because Local LE cannot carry Single Action on duty or off. I was very impressed with the Feature because I really like 1911's and if I were In Austin PD that is what I would like to carry but I believe only their SWAT is able to Carry Cocked and Lock 1911's. So STI pulls through yet again. You can call and ask to talk to Rabbit if you can’t make it on a Thursday and as long as you bring 5 friends our more you can take the tour. Once the tour is complete they open up there safes and you can see and play with all of the Firearms
The tour sounds great. I'll have to get over there soon. I may call ahead and try to have either a fiber optic front sight or night sights put on my IIs while I'm at it.
That's a pretty unique feature on the III, at least I've never seen it on a 1911.
I didn't know APD didn't allow cocked and locked carry, but nothing they do policy wise in the city really surprises me these days.
That's a pretty unique feature on the III, at least I've never seen it on a 1911.
I didn't know APD didn't allow cocked and locked carry, but nothing they do policy wise in the city really surprises me these days.
G27RR if you are going to look into Fiber Optic sights check out Dawson Precision they are 30 min North of STI check out there website http://www.dawsonprecision.com/ just give Dave or Daniel a Call and they see if they will be able to hook you up the same day the make the Sights for STI and have great customer service.
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