lksyotas

Standard STI I milled .050" off each side and .060" off the bottom. All to make it fit the IDPA box.

Purchased my first 2011 a few months back and was worried about rust forming on the blued surfaces during the summer months of competition shooting. After reading rave reviews of Cerakote I decided I'd give it a try.. I just wanted to share a few pictures of my pistols transformation with everyone and get feedback on the custom graphite bronze color I applied last week. I have always liked the Burnt Bronze Cerakote finish seen often on different weapon platforms. I also have seen a few different companies that are marketing a darker blend of the Burnt Bronze. This really appealed to me as the standard burnt bronze color appeared to be a bit to "blingy" for my tastes so I wanted to "darken it up a bit". Stock gun brand new just cleaned: I first refinished the gun in standard Graphite Black. I really liked this color as it made the gun very "stealthy" or "tacticool". (I may go back to this color down the road...) Finally the "graphite bronze" color. Simply put, I mixed Graphite Black with Burnt Bronze to achieve a slightly more subdued tone. The cool thing about this new darker shade of the Burnt Bronze is how drastically it changes color in different lights. This is how it appears in a low lit room with standard incandescent lighting: Here it is in a room lit with florescent lighting: Again, same room but with more natural light added from a near by window: Finally, how it appears in direct sunlight: I think it turned out pretty cool - not sure if I'm going to keep it this color but non the less, it came out very interesting. What do you all think? Thanks for your feedback!

Another option is to replace the GS with an Ed Brown bevertail version. http://www.edbrown.com/beavertail.htm I also had the stock thumb safety digging into my thumb at the 2nd joint and found that the EB version eliminated this issue as the top of the beaver tail is thicker than stock but still maintains a high grip hold. Another plus to EB version is the raised section on the backside extends slightly higher than the stock one and I've found that I don't have the issue of not disengaging the GS as often as before with the stock. Of course, hand size and shape can change all of this but for me, it was a good upgrade.

That statement right there was one of the things I was a bit disappointed with in the 2011 - I had a Spartan 5.0 9mm I used previously in ESP for IDPA and loved the reduced recoil felt from that gun over my Glocks due to it being fully steel construction. I ended up going with an Eagle recently as I never liked the way a single stack 1911 felt in my hand after being used to the 2x4 feel of the Glock. But with a polymer grip on the Eagle, it feels very similar to my Glocks as far as recoil impulse with the exception of the slide "feeling" slower when recoiling. Plus I live in NY so the benefits of having the double stack mag in the 2011 doesn't do me any good...The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards selling the 2011 and going back to the plain Jane ugly Tupperware gun...

That is crazy! How heavy is the gun fully loaded? I'd need to beef up my upper body routine at the gym to manage keeping it from dipping on me during a coarse of fire... Looks awesome though! You should show up to a sporting clays match with that...

I just recently made a switch from shooting a Glock 34 for IDPA and multi gun to a STI Eagle 5.0 9mm. While I love the 2011 style guns, especially with a good tuned trigger, I just haven't been able to get my shooting with it to the point where I'm ready to give up on my old faithful Glock 34. I really...really...want to fall in love with the 2011 but I am still shooting my Glock slightly faster with the same level of accuracy. After practice yesterday at the range, I was honestly thinking about selling my 2011 and resorting back to the Glock. Am I crazy or what!...Granted, I've put over 15,000 rounds down range with the Glock and just over 1000 with the STI - I think I was just expecting leaps and bounds more accuracy and speed from the STI than what I've been able to achieve to this point. Also, from a cost standpoint, I wonder if I should stick with a gun that costs around 4 times what the Glock costs for the same level of performance.

I also had C-Rums weld my lifter to my VersaMax Tac and I had intermittent fail to chamber issues when using the bulk pack Federal loads. The leading edge of the shell would get hung up on the extractor groove at the sharp edge until I lightly filed a chamfer on the leading edge. After I debured the edge, the shells haven't hung up again after approx. 1000 rounds. So it must be hit or miss depending on the tolerances of each gun. I also thought about adding a bevel to the inside of the lifter but haven't needed to since the gun has been running 100%

Standard STI grip with DP grip tape over the top and double undercut trigger guard.

I was looking hard at the tactical version of STI's magwells when I bought my Eagle for IPDA. I ended up buying the aluminum regular version and milling .050" of material off each side and bottom to get it to fit the box. You could carefully remove the material yourself with a belt sander if you don't have access to someone with a mill. I ended up buying the aluminum one for just over $45 vs the $+75 for the new tactical one. Plus it won't have the sharp edges that the Tactical version appears to have from the limited pictures I've seen. I'd hate to jam a mag home during a slide lock reload and have the sharp edge hitting against my hand. At least thats what my mind thought was when thinking through its design. Here is how mine turned out for reference after I had it milled down:

From the pictures, it has a bushing. So that should rule out the full dust cover... From IDPA rule book: 3. Enhanced Service Pistol Division (ESP) Handguns permitted for use in this division must: A. Be semi-automatic. B. Be 9mm (9x19) or larger caliber. C. Have a maximum unloaded weight of 43 oz., including an empty magazine. D. Fit in the IDPA gun test box measuring 8 ¾” x 6” x 1 5/8.” with an empty magazine inserted. E. Be loaded to the division capacity of ten (10) rounds in the magazine plus one (1) round in the chamber. Should division capacity not be achievable because of lower magazine capacity, load should be to maximum mechanical capacity of magazine plus one (1) round in the chamber. Competitors must use the same capacity magazines through out the competition (Example: if you start with a 9 round magazine, you must use that capacity magazine throughout the match). Pistols approved for SSP may also be used in ESP and CDP depending upon caliber, even if the pistol in question has a fulllength dust cover. However, should the pistol in question have a modification that removes it from SSP, it must meet all other division criteria for ESP or CDP, again depending upon caliber. PERMITTED Modifications (Inclusive list): 1. Sights to another notch and post type (see “sights” in glossary for further information). 2. Grips (no weighted grips; see “weighted grips” in glossary for further details). 23 3. Internal accuracy work (includes: replacement of the barrel with one of factory configuration, the use of Accu-Rails, the use of Briley Bushings). 4. Internal reliability work. 5. Checker frontstrap and backstrap. 6. Checker or square and checker trigger guard. 7. Cosmetic checkering/serrating. 8. Extended thumb (may be ambidextrous) and Beavertail grip safeties. 9. Extended magazine release (button may not be oversize in diameter or protrude more than .2” out from the frame). 10. Factory installed cone style barrels on pistols with a barrel length of 4.2” or less. 11. Full length guide rod manufactured of material that is no heavier than common steel. 12. Hammer and other trigger action parts to enhance trigger pull (includes the use of over travel stop). 13. Beveled magazine well and add-on well extensions. 14. Custom finishes. 15. Extended slide release. 16. Customization of the slide by adding front cocking serrations, engraving, tri-top, carry melts and high power cuts. 17. Ambidextrous or right side magazine releases. EXCLUDED Modifications (NON-Inclusive list): 1. Full length dust covers of carbon or stainless steel. 2. Oversize diameter magazine release buttons. 3. Trigger shoes. 4. Slide lightening (see “slide, lightening” in glossary for further information). 5. Refer to Appendix ONE-A. Firearms-Non-IDPA-Legal Modifications.

I am not familiar with their 2011 models but just did a quick look at Armscor's website and I only see 2011 models with a full length rail section. This would in itself prevent the gun from being legal for ESP in IDPA - perhaps they make a model that doesn't have a full length rail that I didn't see. Also, as you stated, the 48oz weight would put it over the accepted 43oz limit regardless.

Try Oak Hill Enterprises - I bought my STI Eagle from them and ordered additional magazines when I placed my order. I had them within a few weeks.

Thanks, I ended up beveling the slide and the Ed Brown grip safety worked out great too. No more cut thumb issues.

Yep, Dawson grip tape. Very well cut and finished. I was going to stipple but I really like this grip tape. I'm already used to using it on my Glocks so it feels right at home.

One more update: gun has just over 600 rounds down range now with two matches under my belt shooting this new platform. So far no issues or malfunctions of any kind. All loads shot so far with the exception of the previous mentioned lead have been MG or Berry's 147's. I'm going to cook up some 124's I just received soon to see how they feel. I ended up refinishing it over the weekend with Graphite Black Cerakote. I was going to have it Melonited but ended up wanting to try out Cerakote first. So far, no wear with 200 rounds fired and aprox. 500 holster draws. Seems to be holding up way better than the factory finish on the gun prior to refinishing and also better than my other weapons that I've Gunkoted. Thanks again for all the advice getting this rig setup. I'm a happy shooter and feel this platform will be a winner for my shooting style from here on out. Anyone need a well used Glock 34?

I also received my two orders Monday just a week after I placed them. First order was faxed and the second was done on their new website while it was up. So both methods did work - not sure about now...

I faxed my MG order last Monday, never got a response but I see that my CC was charged yesterday based on the fax - so up till early last week, it appears as they were still taking faxes. Perhaps now that the new site is somewhat online, they are no longer honoring the faxes.

Thanks for the link to their new page - I just placed an order for 1000 124g FMJ's. I haven't loaded these before as I typically buy their 147 CMJ's but they are still out of stock. I hope they come in soon as I need to replenish also. I've been wanting to try out 124's in my new Eagle so I'm happy to at least be able to buy some. Hopefully they ship quickly. I'm running low on bullets and IPDA is in full swing now in my area...

Update to my story: I shot my first IDPA match yesterday with the Eagle and it functioned flawlessly. I used Berry's 147 reloads and didn't have an issue with the slide locking back prematurely and it stayed open on each empty mag. The magwell helps slam the mags home quickly on tac reloads also. I have to get used to the trigger, I had a few instances of a "dead trigger" when trying to do fast splits, I am used to shooting worked over Glocks and its just a totally different reset and press. Accuracy was decent, ended up with 30 pts down with a total of 96 seconds after five stages. I re shot the match in the evening with my old trusty G34 and had 35 pts down with a 110 second overall time. So not to bad for the first time out with the gun. I think once I get used to the trigger, I can really let the gun run. I haven't shot it with the EB grip safety yet, I just fit it this evening, it was tight in the grip and I had to stone it down on both sides to make it fit smoothly. Even without it, the stoning I did on the slide edges worked out great. No more issues with my wimpy thumb getting cut... Thanks again everyone for all your input. I appreciate all the advice!

Thanks for the heads up! I just placed my order, hopefully they are actually in stock and not gone already - I've had a few orders placed lately that have come up dry...

Well, I took two approaches to fixing this. I lightly dehorned the sharp edges of the slide serrations and refinished them and I also ordered the recommended EB grip safety I shot 20 lead 147 test rounds yesterday with just the dehorned slide and while it still hits my thumb, it no longer cuts into it. I will report back after I've installed the EB safety, hopefully this issue will be done for good... On a side note, while testing the lead rounds, both mags ended up locking back with one round left in the magazine. I've read about this before but its the first time my gun has exhibited this failure mode in 480 rounds. I ended up filing down the bottom edge of the slide stop lever by .050", hopefully this will eliminate the problem.

True - I am just concerned about the resale value - I have to weight that modification out against other means that would not be so permanent...Just in case I end up not liking this gun after a season and resorting back to my Glocks! Hehe...did I say that out loud?!

Looks like a pretty low cost alternative to try out! I read your previous post when you stated how this helped you out. Thank you for sharing - I will approach this angle before I grind away on the slide. Many thanks again!

Does anyone know if this would be IDPA legal? I purchased this gun to shoot ESP with. Thanks for the idea, I've never seen one but just did a quick search.

I tried moving my thumb. But due to muscle memory, it always ended up back against the slide edge while riding the safety when running drills. I couldn't break the habit. I guess I'll try to lightly stone the slide edge. I hate to do this to a new gun though...