So I gave up on the STI Shadow

[APynckel]

Sorry guys, I cannot trust a weapon that I've only had in my hands once at a range since I purchased it over a month ago. I'm trading it back (at original price) towards Les Baer Stinger in SS.

[pbwalker]

ok

[APynckel]

ok

Was failing to go into full battery (could only be a mainspring issue). We replace the mainspring with a factory new unit, and same issue. So, with the gun failing to fully battery at least once every mag, I'm done with it, and definitely don't trust that gun with my life. Not that I don't trust STI, I don't trust that gun. With STI on a backorder of some umpteen weeks, I'd rather go ahead and spend some extra bucks and get a gun renowned for 100% reliability from the factory, and sub 3" groupings at 50 yrds like Les Baer.

I'm just done with officer's models.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

Did you test the extractor tension?

The 1911 platform operates using a controlled feeding process, and too much extractor tension hinders this process causing failures during chambering (failure to return to battery). A simple test, should this happen to you again, is to simply remove the extractor and cycle dummy rounds. If the dummy rounds feed properly, than the extractor needs to be tensioned properly, reshaped, or both.

Using a stronger recoil spring (I assume that's what you meant, not the mainspring) CAN potentially reduce failures caused by an out of tune extractor, however, they simply mask the cause, and it's always better to tune the extractor, rather than force feed the round. A tuned 1911 can run on some low weight springs, I know guys that run 11 to 12 pounders, and I run 14's, where as factory are usually 18 pounders.

[RoyGBiv]

Did anyone ask STI to fix it?
What'd they say?

[Greybeard]

I have the same question as Roy. With their reputation, methinks STI would be on that like stink on a skunk.

[APynckel]

If yall want to deal with it, go buy it. I'm cutting my losses on it.

[The Annoyed Man]

Lot of that goin' around lately:

viewtopic.php?p=631634#p631634

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=43291

I keep hearing how cool STi pistols are, and maybe they are, but so far I'm not that impressed with them based on these and other posts.

[atxtj]

I got my shadow two weeks ago and have put 200 rounds through it so far, it's been flawless. As soon as my Tripp mags and crossbreed show up, it'll be a great carry gun.

[Scott in Houston]

Lot of that goin' around lately:

viewtopic.php?p=631634#p631634

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=43291

I keep hearing how cool STi pistols are, and maybe they are, but so far I'm not that impressed with them based on these and other posts.

I am not sure how you define "lately" but one of those was 11 months ago. :)
2 reported incidents in a year isn't too bad IMO.
I don't own an STI but my observation is for every complaint about STI, there's a dozen praises. This is the inverse of what I normally observe about most brands of anything... cars, guns, etc.

Obviously, all brands of anything will have their occasional defect or malfunction, but statistically speaking, STI seems to be a safe bet.

[bayouhazard]

Lot of that goin' around lately:

viewtopic.php?p=631634#p631634

viewtopic.php?f=26&t=43291

I keep hearing how cool STi pistols are, and maybe they are, but so far I'm not that impressed with them based on these and other posts.

Usually 1911s. I don't see as many problems with Sigs and Glocks and Berettas.

[A-R]

If yall want to deal with it, go buy it. I'm cutting my losses on it.

Are you selling it? I'd be interested in purchasing it at a discount - since it is, after all, a "broken" gun - and since I live just down the road from STI, I don't mind hassling with them to get it fixed.

[APynckel]

If yall want to deal with it, go buy it. I'm cutting my losses on it.

Are you selling it? I'd be interested in purchasing it at a discount - since it is, after all, a "broken" gun - and since I live just down the road from STI, I don't mind hassling with them to get it fixed.

I got a full refund on the weapon from the range, as a downpayment on my Les Baer. I am no longer the owner of the weapon.

[A-R]

If yall want to deal with it, go buy it. I'm cutting my losses on it.

Are you selling it? I'd be interested in purchasing it at a discount - since it is, after all, a "broken" gun - and since I live just down the road from STI, I don't mind hassling with them to get it fixed.

I got a full refund on the weapon from the range, as a downpayment on my Les Baer. I am no longer the owner of the weapon.

Wow, that's cool. Which range/gun shop? Sound like good honest folks.

[APynckel]

If yall want to deal with it, go buy it. I'm cutting my losses on it.

Are you selling it? I'd be interested in purchasing it at a discount - since it is, after all, a "broken" gun - and since I live just down the road from STI, I don't mind hassling with them to get it fixed.

I got a full refund on the weapon from the range, as a downpayment on my Les Baer. I am no longer the owner of the weapon.

Wow, that's cool. Which range/gun shop? Sound like good honest folks.

Alpine Range in DFW. Shane has been very honest and good to me. He has good empathy.