sti nowlin 9 x 23

viesczy · 12-04-2001, 11:22 PM

Hey all, if you recall, (if not that's cool) I was questioning those in the know about 9x23s this and that in 1911.

After some thought, internal debate, I decided to go the semi custom route rather than picking up that NIB Colt that I am aware of in an out of the way gun shop and having that tricked out. I decided to try out Nowlin because of their known quality and to be a little different.

The pistol has finally arrived! Only twice as long as originally stated, but I have the patience of Job so the time didn't bother me a lick.

Externally it sports a blued slide and a hard chromed frame, the "extended" combat type thumb safety, memory grove grip safety, Ashley Express Pro sights (front and back night sight).

Internally it has the FLGR (I'm not 100% sold on those), ramped Nowlin barrel in 9x23 of course and that's about all I can think of right now.

No digital camera, so I can't post any pics. With the problems Terry and Allan have had in the past posting pic, I sure I'd be up for three nights straight just fingering out how to get the pics here let alone the right size! :wink:

As compared to the Baer Custom Carry and Stinger that Dave also received in this week, the Nowlin compares quite well in both fit and finish. Easily as tight as the Baers' without that "you need to break 'em in" fitting. :roll: The slide moves like grease on glass sprayed with that lubricant that Clark Griswold used in Christmas Vacation.

The test target, fwiw, shows a .912" grouping at 25 yds. My first thought was, is that it? I can shoot that with my 25-06 at 300 yds with iron sights! :wink:

I won't get a chance to work this puppy out until the weekend, but if it shoots as good as it looks, I'll be one happy clam! I'll let you all know how the session goes.

If my job wouldn't have blocked out all the forum sites I'd be an even happier clam but I guess they want me to work or something! :grin:

Derek

Ned Christiansen · 12-05-2001, 09:14 AM

Hey Derek, keep us posted. I have not dealt with Nowlin that much, but from what bit I have, and from what I hear and see elsewhere, they are a class act.

.912 at 25 yards.... and you're complaining? You are a tough customer :smile:!

gyp_c2 · 12-05-2001, 12:01 PM

...I KNOW you must be joking about that sorry .912 group :wink:

...Better for you to just box it back up and send it to Colorado for verification...I can have it back to you in 3 years and it will be totally broken in...:wink:

...If not...By golly, I'll keep it 'til I get it right!!!

Good Luck with that "loose" shooter of yers'...

Rob Longenecker · 12-05-2001, 04:25 PM

Nah! Don't send it to Colorado! Everyone knows it's too cold there now to shoot well.
Send it here to me in Texas. It's in the mid 70's. Perfect shooting weather.

gyp_c2 · 12-05-2001, 09:02 PM

Nope...too humid and the air is full of petrochem...bad fer' Nowlins especially...Colorado is where it wants to "visit"...

fortyfiveshooter · 12-06-2001, 07:13 PM

I have had Nowlin's build me two guns. The first was a Crusader in 45acp single stack. With Adjustable night sights, blued slide, hard chrome frame, checkered front strap. The second was a Crusader on a STI frame.
Both guns are great, Jack Ostendorf the GM there is great, I have had nothing but great service from them and nothing but compliments on them both. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will get them on there.

viesczy · 12-09-2001, 06:41 PM

Okay, I had chance this weekend to put 100 rounds of STHP through the Nowlin and here's what I can tell you all.

That pistol is far more accurate than what I can shoot.

It was only about 42 degrees out and drizzling when I was shooting (yes I was shooting it in the elements) so my cold fingers weren't doing the pistol the justice in the accuracy department, but the pistol can shoot!

I was at the 50' mark and I fired a 4 shot cluster at less than an inch! The 5th opened it up to 1.75" of an inch, but I am very impressed! I should've dragged the bench from the 50 yrd mark and really checked out how accurate the pistol was, but with the rain I wasn't up to re-arranging the range's furniture. If it shoots that well with just me and my two mits in the standard shooting position. . . the mind wobbles!

I will say this, the Ashley Express Sight does NOT lend itself to shooting past about 60 feet. Any thing past the 25yd mark and you can measure the groups with a yard stick! At least in my hands.

I'm gonna run the rest of the case of STHP through the pistol and decide if the Ashley Express front and back night sights are staying or going. If I don't get longer range shooting with those Ashley's down, either a set of Straight 8s or Bar/dots will be put on the dream that this Nowlin has proven to be--super accurate and smooth shooting.

Derek

fortyfiveshooter · 12-09-2001, 10:43 PM

At the IDPA Spring Nationals I got sold on the idea of the Ashleys. So I sent my gun back to Jack at Nowlins and he put on the Pro Express adjustable with night sites. I shot and shot and didn't really like them. The the real test I shot the gun in an IDPA classifier, my normal CDP rank is sharpshooter in the mid 120's, that day I dropped to marksman!!! Same day I also took my other Nowlin with the standard Bo-mar style adjustables in .40 on the STI frame. I asked it I could also shoot it in ESP for classification, I did and ran a 128. That was all it took for me, I sent the gun back to Nowlins and had the original adjustable put back on. It was a total of a $240 experiement that told me what worked for me.
By the way the sights I have on my Nowlins are the -0- (dash,dot,dash) adjustable night sites. For me those two little bars are like finger pointing to the front sight saying "hey look here!!!"

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12-04-2001, 11:22 PM	#1
viesczy Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 91	Hey all, if you recall, (if not that's cool) I was questioning those in the know about 9x23s this and that in 1911. After some thought, internal debate, I decided to go the semi custom route rather than picking up that NIB Colt that I am aware of in an out of the way gun shop and having that tricked out. I decided to try out Nowlin because of their known quality and to be a little different. The pistol has finally arrived! Only twice as long as originally stated, but I have the patience of Job so the time didn't bother me a lick. Externally it sports a blued slide and a hard chromed frame, the "extended" combat type thumb safety, memory grove grip safety, Ashley Express Pro sights (front and back night sight). Internally it has the FLGR (I'm not 100% sold on those), ramped Nowlin barrel in 9x23 of course and that's about all I can think of right now. No digital camera, so I can't post any pics. With the problems Terry and Allan have had in the past posting pic, I sure I'd be up for three nights straight just fingering out how to get the pics here let alone the right size! :wink: As compared to the Baer Custom Carry and Stinger that Dave also received in this week, the Nowlin compares quite well in both fit and finish. Easily as tight as the Baers' without that "you need to break 'em in" fitting. :roll: The slide moves like grease on glass sprayed with that lubricant that Clark Griswold used in Christmas Vacation. The test target, fwiw, shows a .912" grouping at 25 yds. My first thought was, is that it? I can shoot that with my 25-06 at 300 yds with iron sights! :wink: I won't get a chance to work this puppy out until the weekend, but if it shoots as good as it looks, I'll be one happy clam! I'll let you all know how the session goes. If my job wouldn't have blocked out all the forum sites I'd be an even happier clam but I guess they want me to work or something! :grin: Derek

12-05-2001, 09:14 AM	#2
Ned Christiansen Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 687	Hey Derek, keep us posted. I have not dealt with Nowlin that much, but from what bit I have, and from what I hear and see elsewhere, they are a class act. .912 at 25 yards.... and you're complaining? You are a tough customer :smile:!

12-05-2001, 12:01 PM	#3
gyp_c2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Colorado or Louisiana or... Posts: 1,420	...I KNOW you must be joking about that sorry .912 group :wink: ...Better for you to just box it back up and send it to Colorado for verification...I can have it back to you in 3 years and it will be totally broken in...:wink: ...If not...By golly, I'll keep it 'til I get it right!!! Good Luck with that "loose" shooter of yers'...

12-05-2001, 04:25 PM	#4
Rob Longenecker Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 720	Nah! Don't send it to Colorado! Everyone knows it's too cold there now to shoot well. Send it here to me in Texas. It's in the mid 70's. Perfect shooting weather.

12-05-2001, 09:02 PM	#5
gyp_c2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Colorado or Louisiana or... Posts: 1,420	Nope...too humid and the air is full of petrochem...bad fer' Nowlins especially...Colorado is where it wants to "visit"...

12-06-2001, 07:13 PM	#6
fortyfiveshooter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 265	I have had Nowlin's build me two guns. The first was a Crusader in 45acp single stack. With Adjustable night sights, blued slide, hard chrome frame, checkered front strap. The second was a Crusader on a STI frame. Both guns are great, Jack Ostendorf the GM there is great, I have had nothing but great service from them and nothing but compliments on them both. As soon as I figure out how to post pictures I will get them on there.

12-09-2001, 06:41 PM	#7
viesczy Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 91	Okay, I had chance this weekend to put 100 rounds of STHP through the Nowlin and here's what I can tell you all. That pistol is far more accurate than what I can shoot. It was only about 42 degrees out and drizzling when I was shooting (yes I was shooting it in the elements) so my cold fingers weren't doing the pistol the justice in the accuracy department, but the pistol can shoot! I was at the 50' mark and I fired a 4 shot cluster at less than an inch! The 5th opened it up to 1.75" of an inch, but I am very impressed! I should've dragged the bench from the 50 yrd mark and really checked out how accurate the pistol was, but with the rain I wasn't up to re-arranging the range's furniture. If it shoots that well with just me and my two mits in the standard shooting position. . . the mind wobbles! I will say this, the Ashley Express Sight does NOT lend itself to shooting past about 60 feet. Any thing past the 25yd mark and you can measure the groups with a yard stick! At least in my hands. I'm gonna run the rest of the case of STHP through the pistol and decide if the Ashley Express front and back night sights are staying or going. If I don't get longer range shooting with those Ashley's down, either a set of Straight 8s or Bar/dots will be put on the dream that this Nowlin has proven to be--super accurate and smooth shooting. Derek

12-09-2001, 10:43 PM	#8
fortyfiveshooter Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 265	At the IDPA Spring Nationals I got sold on the idea of the Ashleys. So I sent my gun back to Jack at Nowlins and he put on the Pro Express adjustable with night sites. I shot and shot and didn't really like them. The the real test I shot the gun in an IDPA classifier, my normal CDP rank is sharpshooter in the mid 120's, that day I dropped to marksman!!! Same day I also took my other Nowlin with the standard Bo-mar style adjustables in .40 on the STI frame. I asked it I could also shoot it in ESP for classification, I did and ran a 128. That was all it took for me, I sent the gun back to Nowlins and had the original adjustable put back on. It was a total of a $240 experiement that told me what worked for me. By the way the sights I have on my Nowlins are the -0- (dash,dot,dash) adjustable night sites. For me those two little bars are like finger pointing to the front sight saying "hey look here!!!"