Carry Handgun of the Year - 2019

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Plan2Live

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I was listening to a syndicated radio broadcast last night. They had the marketing rep from STI on talking about their Staccato - C which has been named ICA Carry Handgun of the Year. ICA is the "Industry Choice Awards". The STI Staccato C is a single stack, 9mm, 1911 with a 3.9 inch barrel for the shockingly low price of $1,499.

I found it interesting that in today's environment a fairly large 1911 pattern pistol won the Carry Handgun of the Year award. The trend seems to be toward smaller and lighter striker fired pistols. I'm not saying the current trend is sensible and I'm not saying the STI isn't a capable carry gun, I just found that combination of features winning that award interesting. That's just my opinion, yours may be different.

For anyone interested in visiting STI's site, here is a link to the Staccato-C. https://stiguns.com/product-lineup/staccato-c/
 
Well that looks like a dandy gun. I sure wouldn't have an interest in carrying a $1500 handgun around though, especially when I can get a much cheaper gun that is perfectly adequate, reliable, and has a higher capacity.

Still looks like a nice gun, but I agree, it seems an odd choice to win IMO given the features it has and the features available on other guns.
 
How many people do you think are carrying one of those? I can name two guns that on their own have been bought and carried by more. Sig 365 & the Glock 43.
It could be that the guys that voted the STI Staccato C as the ICA Carry Handgun of the Year don't carry guns or they are just out of touch with the real world.
 
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Plan2Live said:
I found it interesting that in today's environment a fairly large 1911 pattern pistol won the Carry Handgun of the Year award. The trend seems to be toward smaller and lighter striker fired pistols. I'm not saying the current trend is sensible and I'm not saying the STI isn't a capable carry gun, I just found that combination of features winning that award interesting. That's just my opinion, yours may be different.
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They managed to make a lighter single stack 1911 using a poly resin grip, much like its bigger double stack stable mates.

Its just a little bit smaller than the extremely popular G19, you already know it will have an infinitely better trigger.

I honestly could not tell you who has won the award or who hasn't over the last 40yrs... not sure if I care either. :)

What would you vote for?
 
GunnyUSMC said:
I can name to guns that on their own have been bought and carried by more. Sig 365 & the Glock 43.
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Both Sig and Glock out produce STI by gargantuan numbers... Does shear volume mean better? If so Ruger owns that..

Remember its not the "Peoples Choice" or "Fanboys Choice" its the "Industries". Kinda like how crappy Music and Movies win awards that make you scratch your head...

(Not saying STI is crappy)
 
tarosean said:
What would you vote for?
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There isn't any semi auto pistol currently available that interests me enough to call it Carry Handgun of the Year. I prefer DA/SA, hammer fired pistols for concealed carry and the DA/SA that comes closest to tempting me is the Sig 225 A-1 but the "wings" or "tabs" at the base of the magazine give me pause, both from a functionality standpoint (getting bent from being dropped then stepped on in a fight) and from a comfort standpoint (sharp edges on spare mags in mag holster rubbing against skin or clothing). I'm also concerned that it looks like Sig is getting ready to drop this model. I would really like something slightly larger than the Sig 938 in DA/SA but that doesn't exist and likely never will. I carried a Sig 239 for several years and loved it but gave that to my son last year as a college graduation present. Meanwhile I'm getting by carrying a first gen Ruger LCP or a Ruger Speed Six when it's cool enough to wear a cover garment like a light jacket.
 
I have no doubt it's a very nice gun, especially at that price! Still I would be hard pressed to make it my Carry Handgun of the Year.

Oh, and I never heard of this "award" until now!
 
Sounds like some people got paid to make a big fuss about an expensive and little-known gun, because STI wants to boost sales.

Or maybe it's just a really nice gun, and that's what the "award" is about.
 
CDW4ME said:
They misspelled Glock 19 ;)
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And this is why I'll never own a Glock, There is nothing wrong with the gun, it's the fanboy mentality that seems to come with every purchase. I'll bet you can't even put up a post here about hunting elephants with H&H double rifles without someone mentioning Glock in their reply.
 
In 2019, if there was to be a carry gun of the year it should be the Sig P365, and I haven't even shot one.

Seems like the STI should've won an innovation award or something. But gun rags are ridiculous by their nature anyways.
 
So the NRA has "guns of the year," Guns & Ammo has "guns of the year," Outdoor Life and Field & Stream have "guns of the year," the APG has "guns of the year," the NSSF has "guns of the year" and so do several other groups, organizations and trade associations.

Personally, for a carry pistol, I'd say the SIG P-365 in a landslide, but ultimately, who really cares what the industry guys who get together to pat themselves on the back decide?
 
I'd agree on the P365, too, being a stronger contender. To me, a "carry gun" award should be recognizing the qualities of a firearm that makes it appeal to the widest range of carriers, because they will have a wide range of carry needs (concealment, shootability, capacity, simplicity, reliability, availability, and, to an extent, affordability.) A single-action, $1500 gun skips out on a pretty good amount of that total group. For one third the price, the SiG covers a lot of those needs, for a lot of people. In fact, for barely over one third the price of the SiG, the Taurus G2C covers a lot as well.

But, yeah, I agree that this is probably a "bought-and-paid-for" award in some way or another, anyway.
 
The model certainly interests me as it's pretty much the exact setup of the Wilson I've been oggling.

But is it a functional upgrade over my DW Valkyrie? Probably not.
 
I’d be curious to find out if the 365 outsold the LCP 2 for most carried, or even shield 2.0.
 
tarosean said:
Ha you guys are already complaining about the price tag... They will flip their lids when they find out 1000 pieces of 38 super brass alone cost more than 1000 factory 9mm bullets...
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Assuming typical STI quality (which would be the expectation and much of the reviews I've seen indicate this) $1500 is a great price
 
tarosean said:
Ha you guys are already complaining about the price tag... They will flip their lids when they find out 1000 pieces of 38 super brass alone cost more than 1000 factory 9mm bullets...
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:) Yeah, I don't see the need to carry a gun priced that high, even though it is pretty reasonably priced. But if it was a 38 Super at least it would tip me over to the "Well at least its a little different." mindset.

I'd take higher reloading costs to give me something different than just another 9mm. Not so much probably for a lot of folks.
 
460Shooter said:
Well that looks like a dandy gun. I sure wouldn't have an interest in carrying a $1500 handgun around though, especially when I can get a much cheaper gun that is perfectly adequate, reliable, and has a higher capacity.

Still looks like a nice gun, but I agree, it seems an odd choice to win IMO given the features it has and the features available on other guns.
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Probably "odd" as you say because magazines and manufacturers team up to create new hype based on old hype to fuel the market. People with money and feet in the market sponsor these "____ of the year" things. They weren't started by the guy next door.
 
tarosean said:
Ha you guys are already complaining about the price tag... They will flip their lids when they find out 1000 pieces of 38 super brass alone cost more than 1000 factory 9mm bullets...
Click to expand...

https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/38-Super-Brass/ $145 delivered to your door. If you can get 1000 rounds of 9mm delivered to your door for that price you've gotten an exceptional deal.

To be fair https://www.starlinebrass.com/brass-cases/9MM-Luger-Brass/ 1000 pieces of 9mm brass would be $136 to your door.
 
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