Staccato 2011 P: An In-Depth Guide

What is a 2011 Pistol?

Before I get into reviewing the Staccato 2011 P pistol, it might be useful to explain what a 2011 pistol actually is. The name must seem suspiciously similar to that of the renowned 1911 pistols and there is a good reason for that: one is the continuation of another.

The 2011 series of pistols was initially introduced by the STI International brand, which is now known as, surprise, surprise, Staccato. They made a line of competitive pistols that took after the timeless classic 1911 but made a few considerable changes.

The 2011 is essentially a double-stack 1911, offering more modularity and increased ammunition capacity. While the 1911’s single-stack magazine typically holds 7+1 rounds, the 2011 employs a double-stack magazine that can hold from 17 to 20 rounds.

The increase in ammunition capacity necessitated changes to the grip design. The 2011 features a wider grip to accommodate the double-stack magazine. But it isn’t the only parameter that sets the grips of these two guns apart. The grip of a Staccato 2011 pistol consists of two separate pieces, and the whole grip frame attaches to the subframe, which makes it possible to change the grip. The 1911 pistol, however, only allows for changing grip panels, but not the grip itself

In short, the 2011 pistol is a revamped version of the good old 1911 pistol. STI International was the first brand to introduce this model and thus owns the trademark rights. But I am not covering just some 2011 pistols today. No, I am going to tell you about a Staccato.

The Staple of the Brand

Staccato wasn’t always the name of the brand. At first, it was the title of the pistol series. Profound in competitive handgun production, STI decided to make a line of hard-use, duty-built, tactical handguns and named it Staccato. As you can guess, the success was astonishing, so much as to incentivize the company to take a new name. The Staccato P series is the worthy successor of that line of pistols. 

Staccato 2011 P Review

The Staccato 2011 P, chambered in 9mm, is a gun that has been adopted by hundreds of law enforcement agencies, including some high-profile ones in Texas, Florida and California. Being a duty gun, it boasts reliability that other pistols can only strive to achieve. Both a 2011 and a top-end gun, this Staccato pistol can’t boast the title of an affordable firearm, but it’s well worth the money. Or is it? Here’s what I got.

Design and Construction

As I already mentioned, the Staccato 2011 P is designed to meet the standards of law enforcement personnel. As such, it comes as no surprise that this model is extremely robust. Some will say it’s a standard for duty guns, but that doesn’t diminish the value of this feature. Whereas the standard version comes in both steel and aluminum frame options, this particular model boasts a steel frame and is also optic-ready.

The serrations on the gun, both front and rear, make the gun extremely easy to grasp. The 1911-style pistols are known for their abundance of safety features, and the Staccato 2011 family followed suit. There are two external safeties: the grip and thumb ones, the latter being ambidextrous. The trigger and hammer also share the vibe with the 1911 model. If you take a peek inside the gun, you’ll see that all the metal parts are machined from billet or round-stock A2 steel (A is for air hardening). The gun feels balanced, so handling it brings nothing but pleasure (save for higher-than-average weight). Preinstalled on the barrel is an innovative Dawson Precision ICE Compensator, that is promised to significantly reduce recoil and muzzle rise. I’m not sure how much the compensator contributes to those aspects of the pistol’s performance, but I can attest to Staccato’s promise being true.

Grip

Now let’s talk about the grip. The grip frame of the Staccato 2011 P 4.4 is TAC-textured. I don’t know exactly what TAC means here, but finding a firm purchase wasn’t a problem, so I assume it’s some texture pattern. I think this grip will shine in the rain – I didn’t have the chance to personally test it in wet conditions. 

The double-stack magazine orientation influenced the grip design as well. The frame is wider than in a usual 1911 pistol, even though Staccato dumped grip panels and screw bushings of 1911 for a single grip frame extension. While there is no going around it, it might be less convenient for people with smaller hands. I have medium-sized hands, so I sort of dodged the bullet, but I can clearly see this being an issue for shooters with smaller hands. The pronounced beavertail is nice, though. The grip safety is raised at the bottom, which makes it more notable but also more easily activated.

Barrel

The Staccato 2011 P features a 4.4-inch DLC stainless steel coated barrel. It also happens to be a bull barrel, which is completely cylindrical, unlike a standard barrel that tapers outward. The 4.4-inch length strikes a balance between compactness and accuracy, which makes perfect sense, considering it’s a duty gun.

Action

In terms of action, you’ll see some familiar 1911 elements as well as some more innovative ones. The extractor and firing pin, for example, are similar to those found in 1911 pistols. The recoil system, however, is different, mostly thanks to the tool-less Dawson Precision guiding rod. The full-length guiding rod and a fixed spring plug make recoil a much lesser problem. The recoil system is also heavily sprung, and the word tool-less is also there for a reason. Such a configuration allows for easy disassembly and reassembly without the need for any tools. 

Trigger

The trigger felt crisp, with little pre-travel, a firm wall and a short break. The pull weight is around 4.5 lbs, which is probably a standard for duty guns, but it felt a bit heavy. I would say it’s a good trigger, but not a superb one, especially given the fact it’s polymer. For the price they ask, Staccato could have made it of metal.

Ergonomics

Lastly, the magazine release and reloading experience in general. The tolerances in the Staccato 2011 P are fairly tight, and pressing the mag release button felt the same. To make things worse, Staccato made it pretty small, and that combination is hardly the most appealing one.

The same goes for the slide – it was pretty uncomfortable to hit slide release with the right hand. Things did get more comfortable when I started hitting releases with my left hand. However, that required some dedicated attention as when you are used to something, it’s hard to break the habit. Anyway, I’d recommend all right-handed shooters who acquire this gun to do the same: don’t break your grip to reload the firearm and use your left hand for all the manipulations involved. Luckily, the handgun is friendly to a wide number of gripping styles, so you don’t necessarily need to adopt a new one. 

Performance & Shooting Experience

So, how did the Staccato 2011 P prove itself on a range? The performance was decent, I’ll give it that. If I deduct the time spent reloading and relearning to reload, I would say it was pretty enjoyable. The recoil is negligible for a 9mm gun, mostly because of its recoil system and higher-than-average weight. 

The weight, by the way, doesn’t necessarily add to the pleasantness of shooting this gun, at least for me. But I’m just a fan of lighter guns, I think the one with the polymer frame might have worked better for me. But I’m also a sucker for metal frames, so it’s always one thing or the other for me.  

I wasn’t able to fully savor this feature, but the Staccato 2011 P feels easier to shoot accurately. I assume that new shooters will have a much easier time honing their accuracy and learning to handle the gun with this model. I wouldn’t say this ease is something you can put a price tag on, but it is always nice to spend less effort to get the same results. The groups remained within a 4-4.5” margin, which for me is pretty good, and resetting target stood no chance. The sights came in really handy as well – the rear is wind-adjustable, and the front is fiber optic.

As I’ve already mentioned, the two minor reservations I have are regarding the trigger and ergonomics. The trigger is good but not great and the ergonomics for some reason feel like the gun is more suited for left-handed shooters. But you only need to get your left hand more involved, and the trigger is not bad, by any means. It’s just that for the price tag, I would expect a perfect gun. 

Concluding Thoughts

The Staccato 2011 P definitely has all the grounds to enjoy its place in the echelon of high-end handguns. It’s not perfect, but neither is any gun. If the concept of “buying your skill” is true, this gun is the closest thing that can bring you to it. If you are not on a tight budget and are ready to adjust your grip for this handgun, it will make for a great range partner. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily good for concealed carry (34 ounces will probably agree with me), but it’s a great gun to spend time on the range or keep at your home.

FAQs

What is a 2011 pistol?

A 2011 pistol is a double-stack version of the classic 1911 pistol, offering increased ammunition capacity and modularity.

How is the grip frame of the Staccato 2011 P different from a usual 1911 pistol?

The grip frame of the Staccato 2011 P is wider due to the double-stack magazine orientation.

What is the barrel length of the Staccato 2011 P?

The Staccato 2011 P features a 4.4-inch DLC stainless steel coated bull barrel.

What type of recoil system does the Staccato 2011 P have?

The Staccato 2011 P has a recoil system with a tool-less Dawson Precision guiding rod, full-length guiding rod, and fixed spring plug.

What is the trigger pull weight of the Staccato 2011 P?

The trigger pull weight of the Staccato 2011 P is adjustable for 4 to 4.5 lbs.

Is the Staccato 2011 P suitable for concealed carry?

The Staccato 2011 P, weighing 34 ounces, is not considered ideal for concealed carry but is great for range use or home defense.