First Look: STI International Costa VIP Pistol

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.