Sootch00 Reviews the STK100 9mm Pistol from Rock Island Arms
Rock Island Armory has been making 1911s for decades and for a budget 1911, they are some of the best on the market with very high quality finishing plus the tolerances are really good. In fact, my good friend Robbie Wheaton, from Wheaton Arms, who builds custom 1911s has always been impressed with Rock Island Armory.
Now we had the STK100 which is a striker fire, 9mm pistol. Of course, it’s very similar to the Glock. In fact, the Gen 3 Glock to be specific. But one of the huge differences between the Rock Island Arms’ STK100 and your standard Glock is the aluminum frame. While a lot of companies are making really nice striker fired polymer framed pistols, this one in particular is really a game changer. Now yes, you can buy aftermarket aluminum frames for your Glock, but with the Rock Island Armory, the price is right plus you’re coming in with the 1911 grip angle – which makes this more of a natural shooter. And speaking of shooting, this gun shoots flat and there is definitely a lot of recoil reduction as far as felt recoil with this pistol.
I want to thank Rock Island Armory for sending the STK100 for this review. With the popularity of Glock, it’s no surprise that a number of companies have come in and just capitalized on their design. Now this design is off of the Gen 3 as the patents have expired. However, their trademarks have not expired and the trademark is on the Glock look. A lot of companies are coming in and they’re changing things but are still keeping a lot of the same design. So this means we’re getting guns that are not Glock killers, but we’re getting guns that are Glock “clones” based on the design, and just have a different look. What’s really cool is that these companies are incorporating different features and we’re gonna see some really unique things coming out. The STK100 is one of them.
The biggest change over all of your Glock clones, or a lot of the guns that are similar and are being offered, is that the STK100 does have the alloy frame. One thing about Rock Island Armory is they make really quality firearms at a very reasonable price. You kind of get the best of both worlds because there’s a lot of features to this handgun.
Honestly, the first thing that just really impressed me was just the low muzzle flip, the really flat shooting. With that aluminum frame, it gives you a little bit of heft and then you have just those lightning cuts in the slide – which it is lighter than the Glock. So, you really are able to get back on target faster, you just got this good solid mass in your hand and when that gun fires, the slide comes back and it just stays right on target. One thing about the grip is it is heavier so it’s going to give you a little bit of heft that’s going to mitigate some of the recoil.
Of course, we’ve got 17 rounds, just like your Glock 17 and of course it is magazine compatible. One thing that I really like is that natural point of aim of the 17 degree grip angle for your 1911. It really just gives you just a lot more natural ability to pull that site up and you can see it immediately. With the Glock, I got used to it because I’ve shot Glocks for years, but there’s something about this that has really made me excited because I am a Glock fan. The STK100 is taking that whole concept and moving it to another level. The reliability was excellent and we had no malfunctions whatsoever. Switching out the Glock magazines was not a problem. With the extended slide rails, I think it makes it smoother on the frame, there’s less flex so it just feels very solid when you’re firing the handgun.
Overall, I was really impressed with the STK100 from Rock Island Arms. The reliability was just really excellent.
SPECS
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17
- Barrel: 4.5”
- Overall Length: 7.91”
- Overall Width: 1.25”
- Overall Height: 5.16”
- Weight: 1.80lbs
- Front Sight: Tenon Cut with Retaining Screw
- Rear Sight: Fixed Integrated on Optic Cover Plate
- Grips: Aluminum (Integrated on Frame)
- Finish: Black Anodized
- Action: Semi-Automatic
- Trigger Pull: 3-7lbs
Big thanks to RIA and Fiocchi USA for their help.
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