First Look: STI International Costa VIP Pistol

by
posted on July 13, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
sti-international-costa-vip-pistol-f.jpg
STI International, based in Georgetown, TX, announced the launch of the brand-new Costa VIP personal-defense pistol in the Costa series, which is designed with the input and assistance of self-defense expert Chris Costa.

The Costa VIP pistol is constructed particularly for the concealed-carry market. The company's VIP pistol models are constructed with a shortened grip in order to facilitate easier concealed carry, and handling is improved with the company's TreeBark stippled grip. The gun also features a 4.15-inch bull barrel, a tritium front sight and a fixed-ledge rear sight that can be used to rack the slide off a solid, level surface. The pistol is also built with a Picatinny rail machined into the dust cover on the frame, giving users a mounting surface for lights and lasers.

The pistol is finished with STI's Diamond-Like Carbon finish, which gives the pistol a black, low-profile look. The gun is built on the company's 2011 platform, which provides users with a double-stack magazine in a 1911-style pistol, giving them added capacity while still retaining the controls and feel of a traditional 1911.

In addition, the 2011-style pistols offered by STI provide a flatter recoil impulse, which allows shooters to better control the handgun, stay on target and fire faster follow-up shots. The gun is equipped with an ambidextrous safety lever, so it can be used easily with both hands or by left-handed shooters. The Costa VIP pistol comes out of the box with a fine-tuned trigger that features a 3.5-pound break.

The gun is available in both 9 mm and .45-ACP-chambered models and ships with two 120 mm magazines, which provides a magazine capacity of 15 rounds in the 9 mm model, while the .45 ACP model features a magazine capacity of nine rounds.

The suggested retail price on the new STI International Costa VIP pistol is $2,599.

Latest

shotgun cleaning
shotgun cleaning

Shotguns: Cleaning Tips for Your Shotgun

Yes, even shotguns need cleaning. Here’s a quick primer on how to do it properly.

First Look: Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Lever-Action Rifle in 360 Buckhammer

Smith & Wesson's popular lever-action rifle now has another straight-walled cartridge option.

Handguns: Carry Rotation Downside

Back when I first got into the gun business in the mid-1990s, my gun-handling and shooting skills were, to put it charitably, extremely—well, let’s go with “mediocre.”

First Look: Crossbreed Lightguard Holster

Crossbreed has released a holster for pistols with attached weaponlights.

Rifles: Find the Right Ammunition

Sometimes, trial and error is the only way to “fix” a poorly performing rifle.

First Look: Girsan CMX Witness 2311 Pistol

Girsan has removed the grip safety from the double-stack 1911 design in this new pistol.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.