STI considered custom?

[flavor]

Hello, are STI guns such as the Staccato are considered custom like Wilsons and Nighthawks?

[CifaldiPrecision]

Wilson, nighthawk and STI are all considered semi custom. Not custom.


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[flavor]

Would you say STI is on the same level as Wilson and Nighthawk as far as hand fitting and quality?

[dummykid]

to me, STI is production gun with accuracy 2.5" group at 25 yard while NHC and Wilson Combat are 1.5" group.
I have Atlas Athena and had STI costa carry comp, and Atlas is way better than STI in term of build quality and accuracy.

[IVC]

STI 2011 is your gold standard for USPSA competition - other production/semi custom/custom guns are evaluated as better/same/worse (take each of those designations with a large grain of salt, though).

Wilsons and Nighthawks are rarely seen in competition. They are generally traditional 1911 designs with full frame and narrow body (single stack). If I had a choice, STI is a bonafide workhorse for high volume shooting, while the other two are BBQ guns that will likely do extremely well, but I wouldn't know until I started shooting them 15K+ rounds a year.

(I don't own an STI, but I do own a Nighthawk T3 stainless and two SVI Infinities.)

[flavor]

The STI Staccato for example are hand fitted and tuned just like Wilsons and Nighthawks?

[JTROKS]

I was told STI made their tolerances tighter than before due to the competition. I haven’t handled nor shot a new STI production gun lately, so I’m just gonna take a shot of Jack.

[AFTII]

Make mine an Old Forester Signature.

[flavor]

So what youre saying is that they are semi custom just like wilsons and nighthawks, but with just tighter tolerances? Also youre saying that STI's are proven more reliable and robust as its mainly used with hundreds of thousands of rounds for competition?

[CifaldiPrecision]

So what youre saying is that they are semi custom just like wilsons and nighthawks, but with just tighter tolerances? Also youre saying that STI's are proven more reliable and robust as its mainly used with hundreds of thousands of rounds for competition?

Tighter tolerance than previous STIs. Had to clarify that.


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[mmlook]

So what youre saying is that they are semi custom just like wilsons and nighthawks, but with just tighter tolerances? Also youre saying that STI's are proven more reliable and robust as its mainly used with hundreds of thousands of rounds for competition?

wouldn't consider STI's semi-custom
last I checked, you can't have them customize anything.

they are just expensive factory guns,
no different than Dan Wesson, Colt, Kimber, Springfield, etc...
difference is they specialize in the 2011 platform, as they are the inventor

for reliability and competition use.
if you want a 100% reliable gun, you'll have it loose and slightly over sprung.
i.e. factory glock

for 99.9% reliability with a tight fitted custom gun,
you have to keep everything clean, springs changed regularly, and your ammo/reloading must be on point

[flavor]

Are they hand fitted tight like Wilsons/Nighthawks, or do they have the parts machined and just put together like those other factory guns (DW, Colt, Kimbers, etc.)

I guess I just want to know if they are on the same level as Wilsons/Nighthawks?

[CWL]

As someone who used to compete, I'd say that STI's are good base guns from which you have customized to your personal tastes and needs.

Like anything, a "custom" is something built for you, not taken off a shelf.

@flavor, you seem to really want a real "custom" gun. If you do, you'll need to buy a good gun and have someone like Cifaldi build it into a real custom pistol. If you buy off-the-shelf, that's all it is, no matter what you paid for it, and real collectors/shooters will know the difference.

[mmlook]

Are they hand fitted tight like Wilsons/Nighthawks, or do they have the parts machined and just put together like those other factory guns (DW, Colt, Kimbers, etc.)

I guess I just want to know if they are on the same level as Wilsons/Nighthawks?

no, I would say STI on average is on par with Dan Wesson.
slightly better than Kimber, Colt, Springfield, Sig


look at the pricing as well, STI is and has always been a $1500-$2500 gun.

Wilsons and Nighthawks start at $3k for their off the shelf models

[SarcoBlaster]

Hello, are STI guns such as the Staccato are considered custom like Wilsons and Nighthawks?

Would you say STI is on the same level as Wilson and Nighthawk as far as hand fitting and quality?

The STI Staccato for example are hand fitted and tuned just like Wilsons and Nighthawks?

So what youre saying is that they are semi custom just like wilsons and nighthawks, but with just tighter tolerances? Also youre saying that STI's are proven more reliable and robust as its mainly used with hundreds of thousands of rounds for competition?

Are they hand fitted tight like Wilsons/Nighthawks, or do they have the parts machined and just put together like those other factory guns (DW, Colt, Kimbers, etc.)

I guess I just want to know if they are on the same level as Wilsons/Nighthawks?

Sounds like you're not going to be happy with anything unless it's a Wilson or Nighthawk, so why don't you just buy one of those?