gun review: STI International Tactical 5.0
fi cult system I’ve ever had to deal with as far as disassembly/reassembly. T e slide stop simply pops out, lulling one into false confi dence. T e Recoil Master has to be re- moved next. Disassembly requires that the
spring be fl exed until the guide rod extends out past the muzzle and a tool can be placed on it, capturing the unit. T en, after several more times watching STI’s online instruc- tional video, the gun comes apart.
Frankly, it was a little annoying watch- ing that exceptionally calm STI fellow ef- fortlessly disassemble and reassemble the pistol without one single expletive. After my fourth or fi fth failed attempt, it was clear he was mocking me. However, after complet- ing the process a few times, it did become easier. In fairness, I’m a bit of a klutz with the dexterity of a Sasquatch with matching social grace. A shooter who is a smidge more mechanically inclined should have no issue maintaining this STI pistol.
The Tactical SS performed well with a SureFire X300 Ultra mounted, Chip McCormick Power 10 magazines, and Federal 230-grain HST +P ammunition.
Range Time T e intent of this pistol purchase was home defense. In this role, it will be wearing a SureFire X300 and charged with a Chip McCormick Power Ten magazine. My choice of defensive ammo for the big bore is always the Federal 230-grain HST +P. T is loading has had great success in law enforce- ment-related shootings and is as reliable as any duty round on the market. It tends to run a hair over 900 fps out of a 5-inch bar- rel, which in my opinion is a substantial contributor to its eff ectiveness. Properly testing one’s equipment prior to trusting it for serious social work is a repeated theme with me.
Since this pistol would almost always be loaded with 10 rounds in a McCormick magazine with one in the chamber, that’s how it was tested. I had two other shoot- ers load the pistol’s chamber with an HST and then top off the magazine, exactly as it would be loaded in service. T e three of us shot it this way four times and the pistol ran perfectly. By the end of our two-day shooting session, the Tactical SS 5.0 had eaten 100 HSTs and 100 Federal 230- grain American Eagle full-metal jackets without issue from the McCormick maga- zine, a Wilson Combat 47D, and the STI factory magazines.
Accuracy
A 1.44-inch fi ve-shot group at 25 yards. The elevation was perfect, but hit 2.5 inches left of the point of aim. A quick sight adjustment for windage moved the group to the center.
13 The Police Marksman May-Jun 2014
Accuracy testing a full-size duty pistol usu- ally consists of a fi ve-shot group at 25 yards. I was able to squeeze fi ve Federal HSTs into less than 1.5-inch on my fi rst attempt from a sandbag rest. T e pistol shot about 2.5 inches to the left of point of aim at that dis- tance. Upon inspection, the front sight was slightly off center. A bit of time with a sight pusher fi xed it up.
www.policemarksman.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46