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So a couple years ago I started down the path of becoming an AP shooter, having been an accuracy fanatic for some time, and somewhat less than enamored with the lack of basic marksmanship fundamentals I witnessed at local IDPA/USPSA matches. Like many, I started off in Production and milked what accuracy I could from a marginal platform (G34). It took a lot of handloading, but that ragged-out Glock would do 3" or better for 6 shots consistently at 50yards, however, I wanted to move on to a more conducive platform. As luck would have it, I bought an incredible custom Bianchi Open gun at a steal and have been enamored with its accuracy for the last year or so (.68" at 50 for 6, 1" the norm, 1.75" at 100yards!) Despite that gun's pedigree and world-class accuracy potential, I've always been an iron sight shooter at the core and yearned for a more visceral experience. Less Open-specific technique, more raw pistol marksmanship. Enter: the search for a Metallic gun. At this time I had only shot Open and Production in matches, and wasn't real keen on building a ground-up Metallic gun given time constrictions and the large cost already incurred with 2 Production guns, an Open gun, my other shooting disciplines, and all the extra Bianchi bits (Aimpoint, Stickshift, mags, holsters, etc). The search was on, and many options explored from Sig to CZ to various 1911's. As it turned out, the STI TargetMaster was exactly what I wanted, although I had my reservations based on their penchant for speed over accuracy, and the mixed accuracy reviews I'd read or heard. With a STRONG reservation about the purchase, I snagged an STI Targetmaster for a good deal and was happy to use much of my Open gear interchangeably. My reservations were unfounded. With the bull barrel, excellent sights, and 6" radius, my go-to (for Production gun) 9mm load was cutting 2" 50 yard groups consistently. After some OAL tweaking, it was doing 1.5", and now recently 1.19" at 50 yards for 6 shots. That's incredible to me, especially when 9mm is considerably more finicky in my experience than 45acp, 38Super, and 38special. 1.19" for a FACTORY gun, with iron sights, and ammo that wasn't necessarily tailored from the ground-up. What's more? I got my hands on another 6" STI single-stack, this time a 6" Trojan 9mm (bushing barrel) that I procured for my father-in-law from another AP shooter. Using my load recipe, his first three 5-shot groups at 25 yards averaged better than an inch (.9" roughly), a feat he was unable to achieve with a half-dozen other high-end factory 9mm 1911's. That's a testament to STI's ability to build more than speed-blasters with cool bling. In closing this long ramble, don't judge a book by its cover. Whodathunk the big name in factory doublestack speed rigs could produce a pistol fit for Bullseye or Bianchi. If you're looking for a turn-key Metallic gun that wouldn't hold back even the best shooters, they are worth a look and are a great bargain. Keep them in the black, Kyle Disclaimer: I only wrote this because there isn't much info on the net about a suitable path forward from Production. I know, I looked at one point.
