My gut tells me that this article is going to hit home with two distinctly different groups of shooters: those who have already shot a Staccato 2011 (and these folks don’t need any convincing) and those who still think the entire concept of a $3,000 overbuilt carry gun is ludicrous. Either way, Staccato is a powerhouse that can’t be ignored.
I’ll be the first to admit my bias. I had long been a doubter, but not anymore. Now, I just have to find the money and stand in line.
Early Development
For nearly 70 years, the 1911 was the epitome of the duty pistol. The .45 ACP cartridge worked exceptionally well, and ballisticians trusted in the round’s weight rather than the combination of speed and bullet shape that has come to dominate 9mm development.
The classic Government .45 has long been one of my favorite guns, even when I was a kid. I’ve carried 1911s for years, but the platform’s capacity limitations have always been a concern. Para Ordnance dropped their double-stack 1911s back in the 1980s, and no one really paid much attention. The rest of the industry was busy trying out alternative calibers and plastics.
Para’s double-stack .45 ACP was so big. As a proof-of-concept, it was ideal. As a practical gun, not so much. Para’s 14-45 was too big for my hands, and I’m 6’4”. I dismissed it as a novelty, and so did just about everyone else.
Everyone, that is, except Virgil Tripp and Sandy Strayer. These two took the inspiration and honed in on the idea of separating the grip from the frame. They formed Strayer Tripp International (STI). Later, this company would rebrand as Science, Technology, Ingenuity, and—in 2020—as Staccato.
Big, Heavy, Metal Guns
When people began jumping on the STI train and talking about the 2011s, I was dubious. What’s the point? I remember a long line of metal-framed full-sized 9mms (like the P226, which I still consider to be a masterpiece). Why would I want a 9mm that was even larger and heavier?
After a couple of years of odd range trips that included Staccatos, I’m a convert. I get it now. While the Beretta 92FS still has its cult following, and the Sig Sauer P226 remains even more timeless, the Staccatos add a level of craftsmanship and precision that immediately sets them apart.
It is this emphasis on precision that caught the attention of competitive shooters, and the 2011 platform, writ large, took on an elite status for those who pride themselves on their ability to shoot fast and accurately.
That’s Not Me
I’ll contextualize my position a bit. I don’t shoot competitively. I’m far more concerned with EDC, concealed carry, and intensive training than I am with speed for speed’s sake. But damn, these guns are fast.
My newfound appreciation for the Staccato line comes from working on Duty Holster projects for Safariland that include the Staccato guns. Seeing these from a LE perspective has helped me gain a new appreciation for what I’d dismissed previously as a competition pistol.
Staccato is one maker among many in the double-stack 9mm 1911-style gun scene. Most 2011s and “double-stack 1911s” have overcome the problems with the wide grips by eliminating the 1911’s grip panels. Instead, most use a grip that attaches to the frame itself as an integral unit that incorporates the grip texture needed for control the way a polymer-framed pistol would.
As there’s a lot of steel in these guns, and they tend to be carried with large magazines, they weigh a ton. This is one reason why so many of these types of guns have aggressive slide cuts, but the weight is responsible for the ease of control, too. More on that later.
However, as my opinion on these has evolved, I find the same things that sold me on the P226 appealing in the 2011s, and those attributes are even more pronounced.
Staccato’s P and XC
The P has a 4.4-inch barrel. The XC extends that to a full 5-inch length, but part of that is the integral comp on the frame’s extension. Under the hood, they’re very similar pistols.
The P hits a sweet spot with its balance. I find that it draws cleanly, presents flawlessly, and is exceptionally easy to hold down for fast split times. The P swings easily and intentionally, which helps me pick up multiple target sequences and even the movement of targets (like on a dueling tree) with ease.
The grip on the Staccato pistols is a handful. I know more and more people who are carrying these concealed, but even with my girth, I feel more self-conscious about carrying the P IWB than I’d like.
That full-sized grip, though, allows for excellent magazine capacity. The grip’s texture is much better than that of most polymer-framed handguns. My hand sticks perfectly.
Flawless Operation
Like the others in this class, the Staccato guns are hammer-fired. The safeties function like those on 1911s. For a generation raised on Glock pistols, it will take some training to get the thumb-safety timing right (as well as getting accustomed to carrying cocked-and-locked), but the learning curve is hardly steep.
The fit and finish of the Staccato line are commensurate with what you’d expect from guns at this price point. Everything on these is milled. While some companies use forgings and metal injection molding, Staccato cuts everything from billets to bars. The result is a gun built from materials that will stand up to the abuse of use.
While some of the old-school 1911s were built to loose tolerances—and often had a bit of a rattle if they were shaken side-to-side—the fit and finish of Staccato’s milled pieces is far more exacting. Though the overall fit is tight, their moving parts move freely and precisely.
As for the finish, the Staccato guns don’t go for bling. There’s very little about this specific 2011 line that could be called ostentatious. In fact, I can’t come up with a single thing.
How do they shoot?
I’ve already alluded to the weight and how this helps with recoil management and movement. This, alone, would be enough for most shooters to notice a difference in performance.
The balance, though, is superb. As someone who has spent the last decade training with Glock 9mms, I’m wildly impressed with how this gun feels in the hand and how well it moves between targets. I’d compare it to moving from a perfectly functional pump-action shotgun to a well-built over/under.
Accuracy, though, is a given. If you are one who likes to shoot tight groups, this is the place to start. And, honestly, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the guns shoot straight.
If it didn’t, that would be a story.
As is, this is a handgun that’s way more capable than you are. Get behind the trigger and check your skills. You can bet that all of your bad habits will be readily apparent.
Accessories
Like almost every gun on the market, Staccato pistols need lights (at the very least) and are set up for red dot optics. The sights are just tall enough to be seen with most red dots. The light we worked with on this shoot was a Nightstick and the optic is a Leupold Delta Point Pro.
Holsters are available. If you are looking for an IWB, I can suggest the Incog X, but outside-the-waistband holsters are more prevalent, and the 6,000 series from Safariland is a solid choice. These are available in Level I retention or in Level III (and can be set up as Level II or Level IV, though those are rare).
Sticker Shock
Staccato’s guns aren’t priced high because of fashion, as some guns are. Staccato runs a lean operation that’s heavy on production costs, which results in some sticker shock for those who expect a double-stack 1911 to be priced in the same range as an entry-level 1911.
This has ramifications for LEOs, too. Though plentiful, careers in law enforcement rarely top the compensation charts. In short, the price of a Staccato often puts these guns out of reach for duty use.
Add the price of a light, optic, holster, and spare magazines, and the investment becomes even less practical for some. However, more departments are realizing that this investment is really worth the extra cost. The number Staccato touts in its marketing is 1,600 (though this is for departments that have approved the Staccato for use, not the number that have adopted the platform).
From the holster development angle—often a solid inside look at the handgun side of the gun industry—the Staccato fits topped the most requested fit list at Safariland in 2022 and 2023, and the request was specifically for duty-rated retention holsters.
Demand for the guns remains high, too. Staccato typically has a long waiting list. This scarcity has helped drive a sense of exclusivity for the brand. In all of my dealings with their teams, I have yet to see any artificial throttling of availability to foster artificial, fashion-industry-style scarcity; they simply can’t keep pace with the demand.
Conclusion
And maybe that’s why I feel like such a chump. After years of holding back eye-rolls when my friends fawn all over their Staccatos, I get it. The meticulous craftsmanship shown in these builds set these work-horse designs in a league once reserved for boutique and custom safe queens.
But the end product isn’t destined for a life on a carpeted shelf in a Liberty Fatboy. The Staccato P and XC have, in my estimation, taken the top spot in the full-sized duty gun category, and I have a hard time imagining what, if anything, might dethrone them.
