SpeedRacer

Well, I accidentally bought a gen 5 Glock 17 yesterday. I shot better with that and 124 gr factory rounds than I do with my Steyr and competition 147 gr. Now I'm debating on getting a 34 with optics for IDPA and I'm already shopping for Glock mods, something I never thought I'd do as I'm one of the Glock haters. Still "need" a 2011 though, as long as it will fit my hand. Clearly I need to get my hands on some and then it sounds like I'll be calling Adam. Thank you all very much for the input.

What makes a bull barrel better than a bushing barrel? Is it just weight and if so, would it really make a difference for a non-pro? And no, they're not allowed

Yes. Seems that a properly built 2011 can do that. I'm fine changing springs and grips if necessary. Regarding the statement about other striker fired guns, I already have a Steyr, PPQ, M&P among others. We have a good gunsmith and when I've talked to him about ways to make my Steyr shoot perfectly flat, have a 2.5 lb pull and no take up like a well tuned 1911 his response is to get a well tuned 1911/2011. I initially found STI and thought it would be easy. The deeper I delve into brands/tuners/options the harder it is to decide. I figured there were a few brands that are considered the holy grail, like the Veyron to car enthusiasts and this was the best place to find them.

Thanks for the replies so far! One manufacturer mentioned to me that I'd need aluminum or polymer grips for a 2011 to keep it weight legal in IDPA. Anyone shooting IDPA with steel grips? I'm not a huge fan of CZ although the guy who typically wins the club matches, with times nearly half of mine, shoots the SP-01. Maybe I'll fondle it. While money is not a big concern for me, I don't want to get stupid here. Hence the $4k budget. Besides, if I spend more than that my wife has already threatened to get her next purse directly from Louis Vuitton. For those that haven't been to one of their stores, they don't list prices. But many are over $4k. So the gun would essentially cost me over $8k. But I do want the best damn gun that $4k can buy. Atlas looks like all full dust covers. Not IDPA legal.

First off, I've been shooting since I was in the military in the early 90's but only really began shooting regularly a couple years ago. I started shooting IDPA twice/month at my local club matches in June 2017 and I typically shoot 800+ rounds/month to practice. My current gun is a Steyr L9-a1. I like it but it has some limitations. So I've come to the point where I go Glock or STI/similar. I've handled a couple STI's although I've never fired one. But I don't want a Glock. I have read reviews all over the place and spent the last few weeks reading through this forum. I've decided to jump to .40 so I can shoot minor PF in IDPA but also major PF if I decide to shoot USPSA as well. I've read enough reviews about STI and minor problems that I'm leery about them, especially when I hear many people need work done to make it reliable upon receiving it. For that kind of price, I want reliability from day 1. That led me to CK Arms, Brazos (STI) and Infinity (not waiting 12 months). I hope to actually shoot a 2011 in the next few weeks. One issue may be my relatively small hands. A Glock 34 is fine and my 1911 and single stack guns are perfect. But my Steyr, FiveseveN and most DS Sigs and HK's require I rotate my right hand slightly counterclockwise to get enough trigger on the finger and prevent shooting off left. This of course affects recoil control for shot #2. So I either fire very fast and precise with my hand behind the backstop or I shoot accurately but slower. Another reason to move on from the Steyr. I figured I'd ask these questions here since I can't go fondle different 2011's and grips. There seems to be a lot of custom options and I don't know where to start. Questions: 1. Are there some grips that are better suited to smaller hands? I have Wilson Combat skinny grips on my 92A1 and it now fits my hand perfectly. Do certain companies make different thickness grips? 2. It seems for USPSA a 2011 is advantageous over a 1911 for the extra rounds and fewer reloads. Is that correct? 3. Is there a manufacturer currently that everyone seems to trust the most to make a smooth and reliable gun? I'd spend $2500 to $4k for the right one. CK Arms doesn't advertise one but they will make a bushing barrel IDPA legal 2011. Thanks a bunch. Steve