kcobean Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 I got this STI a few months ago. I changed out the insert on my DAA holster and started shooting it at local matches immediately. My performance took a nose dive and I figured it was just that I needed time to get to know the gun. I've continued to struggle with steel and am getting way more deltas than I was with my XDm. I FINALLY got the gun out to a static range today to sit down at a bench and do slow fire at some USPSA targets. The results were extremely disappointing. Nothing about those targets resembled a group by any stretch of the imagination. I took the gun over to the plate rack and shot just slow fire at the plates and was missing left and right. I picked up my son's Caspian...no problem. I took out my XD 40 carry gun, no problem. So I'm pretty sure that the performance issue here isn't me, it's this gun. So now the work begins. I don't have a history on this gun. Is it possible to shoot out a barrel in a handgun? Is it my ammo, and if so, is it a bullet type, COAL, bullet shape issue? Has anyone experienced this before that might shorten my time-to-resolution with a little valuable insight? This is super frustrating because I really like this gun, but it's useless to me right now. The recoil and mainsprings have been replaced. I'm using 165 grain RNHP's on 3.8-3.9 grains of Titegroup. My COAL is a 1.18, though I've shot 1.13 stuff and had similar issues (at least at matches). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Is there visible rifling in the bore? How is the lock-up? Poor accuracy will normally be a matter of inconsistent lock-up. Fitting a new barrel should be able to get the gun shooting accurately. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Death Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Are you shooting minor power factor with it ? Is it a 40 or 9 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 28, 2014 Author Share Posted July 28, 2014 There is rifling in the barrel, and it locks up nice and tight. Slide to frame fit is good too. It's a .40 cal and my I'm shooting major PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blairmckenzie1 Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 plated or jacketed bullets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 STI has a lifetime warranty. Call them and they will send you a tag to send it back. When you get it back, it'll be better than ever. Diagnosing barrel fit issues on the internet is difficult or impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianATL Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Don't forget the obvious sights loose or broken by chance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toothguy Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 The rear sight on my Target Master kept coming loose. I tried blue but finally had to use red Loctite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bofe954 Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Had anyone else shoot it? With your ammo, and then their ammo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Neill Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 You may also want to slug the bore and check that against the bullet diameter. Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee blackman Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Which STI did you get? Getting a new gun always involves a learning curve. Different trigger, manual safety, different grip angle, all these things can make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Let someone else shoot it off the bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Bob Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) I'm using 165 grain RNHP's on 3.8-3.9 grains of Titegroup. My COAL is a 1.18 Didn't anyone notice the obvious here. That load you're shooting doesn't even come close to major PF. You need about 4.8gn-5gn titegroup with that oal to make pf. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol You may not even be making minor pf. Get the load up too specs first before you start looking at other reasons. The load may be too light to shoot accurately. Edited July 28, 2014 by Postal Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Hello: "Postal Bob" has hit the nail on the head. You will need about 4.5 grains to make major in a 5" barrel with 165grain bullets at 1.180" OAL. Thanks, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfinney Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Try some factory ammo and see whats what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heckler Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 plated or jacketed bullets? This. I have learned some barrels can throw plated bullets all over. I was told this may be due to crimp but have not had time to verify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rambo Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 (edited) Try some factory ammo and see whats what. I think this should be the first step... Test with factory ammo to create a baseline. Maybe something like Atlanta Arms and Ammo... Edited July 28, 2014 by Rambo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Death Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 I'm using 165 grain RNHP's on 3.8-3.9 grains of Titegroup. My COAL is a 1.18 Didn't anyone notice the obvious here. That load you're shooting doesn't even come close to major PF. You need about 4.8gn-5gn titegroup with that oal to make pf. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol You may not even be making minor pf. Get the load up too specs first before you start looking at other reasons. The load may be too light to shoot accurately. That was where I was heading with post #3 I didn't want to call him a cheater until I had the facts right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polymerfeelsweirdman Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 plated or jacketed bullets? This. I have learned some barrels can throw plated bullets all over. I was told this may be due to crimp but have not had time to verify. I have seen plated bullets just run like junk through Glock barrels. Groups? More like random distributions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 I'm using 165 grain RNHP's on 3.8-3.9 grains of Titegroup. My COAL is a 1.18 Didn't anyone notice the obvious here. That load you're shooting doesn't even come close to major PF. You need about 4.8gn-5gn titegroup with that oal to make pf. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol You may not even be making minor pf. Get the load up too specs first before you start looking at other reasons. The load may be too light to shoot accurately. Yeah, sorry Bob, I gave bad data. I was just home from a weekend of offroading and shooting a was exhausted. I am using 5.0 grains of Titegroup. 3.8 is what I load in my son's 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 I'm using 165 grain RNHP's on 3.8-3.9 grains of Titegroup. My COAL is a 1.18 Didn't anyone notice the obvious here. That load you're shooting doesn't even come close to major PF. You need about 4.8gn-5gn titegroup with that oal to make pf. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol You may not even be making minor pf. Get the load up too specs first before you start looking at other reasons. The load may be too light to shoot accurately. That was where I was heading with post #3 I didn't want to call him a cheater until I had the facts right LOL...Not a cheater. My ammo chronos around a 171 PF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 plated or jacketed bullets? These are plated RNHP's. They shoot like a dream in my XDm, but I know every gun is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 Try some factory ammo and see whats what. I'll do that. I hope this proves to be an ammo problem and not a gun problem. Of course, I'll have to figure out what to do with a couple thousand rounds of ammo if it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3djedi Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I had the same problem in one of my guns with 180g berry's RS plated bullets. I finally tried some factory 165g and it was night and day difference in accuracy. It also kicked like a mule but it was accurate..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ssanders224 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 My guess is the plated bullets. Do you notice odd shaped holes in your target? My Schuemann 5" barrel throws played bullets everywhere, no matter how I load them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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