The STI Taran Tactical Innovations Combat Master 2011 pistol is undoubtedly a head-turner. Like many gun enthusiasts, I was drawn to it as a fan of the John Wick movies, where this gun was prominently featured. I initially bought it because of its iconic appearance—it’s a movie gun, and it looks completely awesome. Over time, I grew to appreciate its performance, but I also encountered some significant drawbacks.
ProsThe Combat Master 2011 excels in its aesthetics and presence. It’s a well-designed firearm that immediately catches attention, and it performs well under ideal conditions. The large frame and long barrel contribute to its accuracy and control during rapid fire. It’s a gun that feels great to shoot when everything is working as it should.
Working patrol in a busy area, I often had my gun drawn at some point during almost every shift. The Combat Master 2011 would frequently draw attention from fellow officers after situations were under control. They’d approach me with comments like, “Wow, is that the John Wick gun?” It was pretty cool to see how much recognition and admiration the gun got—it definitely added a bit of personality to my duty gear.
ConsDespite its strengths, the Combat Master 2011 has some notable downsides. The gun’s size and weight are considerable. Carrying such a large firearm on patrol in a very busy area can be a disadvantage, especially during foot pursuits. I’ve had to chase suspects while already carrying over 30 pounds of gear, and the bulk of this gun definitely added to the strain.
Additionally, finding a holster to accommodate its size and barrel length was a challenge. The dragon scale grip also didn’t work for me initially; it felt too slippery. I switched to STI’s tree bark style grip, which significantly improved control.
One of the biggest issues was reliability. The cycling of the slide was a particular problem. The disconnector was so strong that I could feel the delay as the slide moved forward after each shot. This made the gun feel less smooth compared to other options.
Weather conditions also exposed the gun’s weaknesses. I brought it to a law enforcement match on a dry and dusty day, and by the time I shot my stage, the gun was covered in dust. This caused multiple malfunctions and pushed me to seek a solution. I reached out to Will's Custom Guns, a gunsmith about two hours away from me, for their Duty Reliability Package. They polished the internals and replaced the extractor with an Aftac spring-based extractor, which improved reliability. I also purchased a heavier recoil spring from STI (now Staccato), which helped slightly with the slide delay but didn’t completely resolve the issue.
ConclusionThe STI Terran Tactical Innovations Combat Master 2011 is a solid pistol with an iconic look and strong performance in ideal conditions. However, its size, weight, reliability issues, and challenges under harsh environments made it less practical for my needs. Despite my efforts to improve the gun, these issues ultimately led me to switch to a different firearm. While it might not be ideal for patrol or duty use, it’s still a great option for fans of the John Wick series or those looking for a flashy and fun range gun.
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