landry92 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) I'm picking up a new STI 2011 standard frame kit. I'm going to build it into a 9mm stock gun for steel shoots. My question is should I go with a 5in or 6in slide? Also I am not sure of the frame I want. I was looking at an STI, caspian or an already machined Brazo slide. I'm leaning towards a caspian slide, any suggestions why I should go with an STI slide instead? Thanks Edited November 4, 2013 by landry92 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltdmstr Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 9mm is low recoil to start with, and you're going to have a bunch of extra weight in the barrel due to the small bore. So a six inch gun will be super top heavy. Even with a metal grip. I would do 5" bushing style barrel with long dust cover and lightened slide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blu46and2 Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Six inch bushing gun, perfect! My six inch 9mm weighs less than a 5 inch full dust cover .40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 My 6" weighs less than my 5" both are 40's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whoops! Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Go with the 5" and the Caspian slide . . . I would recommend a Caspian frame as well, but it won't hold the resale value as well as a 2011 type frame . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I have a 6" Benny Hill 9mm 2011 with a lightened slide that I bought for steel matches. Y'know, it's a nice gun, but I've had a hell of a time getting it not to cycle sluggishly. I can't stand to feel the gun go "chunk-chunk" every time I fire a shot. I have seriously considered trading it off for a decent 5" 9mm. My 95-gr. rocket 9mm loads help speed up the action some, but I still don't know..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbullet Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Go for a combination that is light enough to make for those quick draws and transitions. I suspect 5 inch is a good compromise in this respect while the 6 inch may just be too heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 4.5" Sight tracker......mine runs like a sub machine gun!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIIID Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 4.5" Sight tracker......mine runs like a sub machine gun!! You mean 5.4, yes. Go with the 6 inch set up. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 4.5" Sight tracker......mine runs like a sub machine gun!! You mean 5.4, yes. Go with the 6 inch set up. Rich Nope, I meant 4.5" or IMM length. It's an open gun minus the Cmore and comp. It's my favorite shoooting pistol. [/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 Ask around to see if someone might have one that you can shoot. Do your best to try them both, before you buy. That way you will be confident in your decision.. Thanks and good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sthrngnr Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I've had both , and a 6" sight tracker is going to be my next build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landry92 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Thanks everyone, I've decided to go with a 5in caspian slide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxshooter Posted November 4, 2013 Share Posted November 4, 2013 I have had two open guns that started life with STI slides. Both slides had normal and not excessive lightening cuts. Both of the slides cracked with less than 5000 rounds on each gun. Both slides were replaced with Caspian slides with the same lightening cuts. There has been no problem with either gun since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasonatlaw Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 One of each? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Hello: A light 6" 9mm is pretty sweet. I use 121grain bullet at 135PF. It knocks down steel great and the sight radius works on those long small plates. I also have a 4.150" bull barreled pistol I use for IDPA and it is also sweet to shoot. Lastly I have a 5" bushing barreled 9mm that fits on the same 2011 frame as the IDPA barrel. Favourite one to shoot for steel matches---6" bushing barrel. Hose them down matches 4.150" bull barrel. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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