Tag Archives: 10mm

My Imported 2011: The EAA Witness Girsan 2311 CMXX

March 11, 2026pistols, Product review10mm, 2011, 2311, 45 acp, 9mm, CMX, CMXX, eaa, european american armory, girsan, witnesscoldboremiracle

Prologue

I speak to many folks in the firearms industry on a day to day basis. In one of those conversations somebody brought up Girsan 1911 pistols, and as the discussion continued my interest grew. So, when my opportunity to get one arose, I jumped on it. And that brings us to today’s review, and the model we are looking at is the EAA Girsan 2311 CMXX 9mm pistol. The CMXX is a double-stack 1911 style pistol chambered in 9mm, this style of pistol has colloquially become known as 2011 pistols. After the famed Staccato pistols that popularized the genre.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, zeroing, adjustment, — the Witness 2311 CMXX fitted with a Nightstick Weapon Light, you can read about that one here

European American Armory (EAA) is the company that imports these pistols and distributes them in the US. Girsan manufactures a variety of firearms at their factory in Turkey and has done for over thirty years.

The Girsan 2311 CMXX

I said we often call them 2011 pistols, but it appears Girsan wanted to skip that and called theirs a 2311. There are some reasons I suppose behind that, and the CMXX definitely has some progressive features. Let’s get into this pistol and see what makes it tick.

Specifications

Caliber	9mm, .45ACP or 10mm
Magazine	Standard Double Stack 1911
Action	Single Action
Barrel	Bull Barrel Lock-Up with Compensator
Finish	Cerakote® Black
Optic Ready	RMSc Footprint
Grips	Improved High Texture
Sights	Removable 3-Dot Sights, Fiber Optic Front Sight
Slide	Lightening-Cut Slide
Safety	Auto Firing Pin-Block (No Grip Safety)
Thumb Safety	Ambidextrous Lever
Accessory Rail	Full Accessory Rail

I must start out by stating something obvious. As a happy owner of a Staccato XC, I find the Girsan CMXX to be so similarly styled that its impossible to ignore. So much so that the boys in the office and I have taken to calling the CMXX “the Turkkato”. Obviously I don’t mind, as I like my Staccato very much. Though it would be somewhat unfair to compare the two. That said, keep in mind throughout this review that this is coming from a guy who also shoots a Staccato.

A Different Grip

The Girsan CMXX follows the same pattern as many other 2011 style pistols. Using a polymer grip mated to a steel frame. The grip has an aggressive texture that makes it stick to your hand very well. At the base of the frame, you’ll find a magwell flare to aid in guiding magazines into the magwell. Above the grip area you’ll also find the typical dual safety levers on either side of the grip.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, grip,

Standing out from the crowd of other 2011 pistols, the CMXX does not feature a grip safety. The traditional 1911 feature that is depressed by the hand when you grip the pistol has been swapped for a firing pin block. Much like striker fired pistols, the CMXX firing pin is blocked from protrusion unless the trigger is pulled. When disassembled, you can see the very same features under the slide as you would on a Glock.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, optic, footprint, rmsc, firing pin safety, — here you can see the firing pin block safety that replaces the grip safety common on other 2011 pistols

Slide and Barrel

Moving our attention to the slide, it is more traditional 2011 design. Except for the firing pin block of course. The extractor is internal, and not visible when the slide is locked closed. Up front there is a compensator built into the 4.25-inch barrel, which also features the traditional link to attach to the frame. On the top of the frame there are some simple three-dot sights, the front one being a fiber optic orange.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, rear sight, — I removed the rear sight because I’m a red dot nerd

The rear sight can be removed using a couple center-aligned screws. Underneath you’ll find an optics cut with lugs for the popular RMSc red dot pattern. I would for sure use that very soon, since I’m a sucker for pistols with red dots. In fact, such a sucker that I tried various options. I used the Vortex Defender CCW, and the Enclosed Solar version, as well as the Holosun SCS Carry enclosed red dot.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, red dot, mounting, — installing one of the three red dots tested on the Girsan 2311

Range Preparations

Before I headed to the range with this pistol, I wanted to kit it out to my tastes of course. That would require a few accessories; the Vortex Defender would fit nicely on top for the initial trip, a Surefire X300 light, all tucked neatly into my Safariland ALS holster.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, safariland, als holster, — the Safariland ALS holster is my absolute favorite, and the CMXX fit perfectly

As I removed the rear sight, I found the firing pin block neatly tucked underneath. I had to carefully remove the sight and replace it with my red dot. It would be very easy to lose the pin-safety spring during this process so be careful.

the full picatinny accessory rail allows you to line up your weapon light where you choose

Under the front of the pistol there is a complete picatinny rail, giving you various positions to mount weapon lights. I like this feature as many other pistols don’t have it. I grabbed a few boxes of Magtech, Blaser, and Federal ammo before heading out to shoot the CMXX.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, CCW, enclosed, red dot, holosun, scs carry, magtech, ammunition, — the CMXX worked great with my **Staccato 20-round magazines** too

Shooting the Girsan 2311 CMXX

My very first shots through the CMXX were at an indoor range, weather required me to do my shooting under a roof. This quickly made me aware of the concussion from the compensator of the pistol. Its louder than un-comped pistols, but certainly not a problem. And the reduction in muzzle-rise is well worth the racket.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, muzzle, compensator,

I put several magazines through the 2311, and was quite happy with how it ran. In fact it seemed after just a box or so of shooting, the pistol seemed significantly smoother and softer. Over the course of several weeks, I spent several trips to the range and other places to pump ammo through the CMXX.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, — I ended up keeping the **Vortex Defender CCW Solar Micro red dot** on the gun, more on that later

I used both the 17-round magazines that came with the Girsan 2311, as well as some of the 20-round Staccato magazines. All of them functioned flawlessly, and the CMXX churned through ammo. I even took the liberty of removing the flared magwell, just to see how my reloads went. Perhaps if you were going to carry this gun that would be helpful, but I ended up putting it back.

Reliability

During the course of my shooting, we only experienced one malfunction. One failure to go into battery that I can’t be sure was the fault of the pistol or some of the remanufactured ammo I was shooting that day.

hard to see, but the Holosun SCS Carry red dot was also a great choice and fit

The ejection pattern of the pistol was slightly different than expected. It seemed like most of the time brass would eject more in the up direction than to the side. It would occasionally get scooped forward by the red dot and thrown forward. But it never caused any problems.

Shootability

Standing alone, this pistol shoots great. It is smoother and flatter-shooting than my striker-fired guns. Of course it is very hard not to compare it to my Staccato, being as they are so similar. But that would be an unfair comparison as the Staccato costs four times more.

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, surefire x300, Staccato, staccato XC, holosun, 507comp, — not comparable at all! 😀

The trigger has smoothed up a bit since it came out of the box, but it still has a very slight gritty-ness to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still nice, just not as nice as it could be. The gun feels fantastic in my hand but for the cross-pin that secures the flared magwell. The texture is very grippy, and the controls are crisp. The safety detent is stiffer than I anticipated, hopefully it wears in.

I love the texture on the slide, it makes for excellent purchase when grabbing the slide. The flat-coil recoil spring is stiffer than I expected too, I wouldn’t mind putting a softer spring in it if I could get it to work.

Shooting with the iron sights was fine, but I prefer using a red dot. Even so, using the red dot’s built-in notch as a rear sight was still perfectly usable with the front sight.

Quality

I’ve handled quite a few 2011 pistols in the last year or so. At SHOT Show alone I grabbed way too many. Generally they feel fantastic, as do their nineteenth-century counterparts. The Witness CMXX feels well built, smooth fitting, and not sloppy. Its a touch stiffer than other 2011 pistols, but it still has that quality feel. For a pistol at this price point I feel its quality is more than adequate.

holosun, scs, carry, holosun red dot, solar, Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, — been using the **Walkers Game Ear Suppressor ear buds** too

Value

As the field of 2011 options continues to deepen, I see this as an excellent modest option. So many options are out there, and this isn’t even the cheapest one of them. But I can say it is certainly worth the price in my opinion. Girsan is no stranger to making 1911 style pistols, so I expect this gun will continue performing well into the future. I’m tempted to buy another in 10mm.

Continue Reading Here

Girsan, witness 2311, 9mm, eaa, 2011, vortex, vortex optics, defender CCW, enclosed, red dot, match x, streamlight, holosun, — also for comparison, the CMXX’s older brother, the **Girsan Match X** (5-inch) wearing a Holosun 407 and **Streamlight**

Glock 29 10mm Compact Pistol

December 30, 2023pistols, Product review10mm, ccw, glock, glock 29coldboremiracle

Introduction

Few pistols have seen the proliferation of Glock’s venerable design. The polymer framed striker pistols are everywhere. Today we will take a first look at a new-to-me Glock design, we are reviewing the Glock 29 10mm Compact pistol.

Background

I must admit; to be completely honest I have never been a big fan of the Glock design. But in my defense it has been based mostly on aesthetics and looks. As the design’s service record and popularity are undeniable.

But as my tastes have matured, I have become more and more open to Glocks and the band of clones that copy them. So I suppose it should come as no surprise that my curiosity built when I opened up the case of the brand new model 29 Compact.

9mm pistols are for sure my favorite pistol round, but there is something a little magical about the 10mm. For only one more millimeter you gain impressive power and performance. Obviously there is more to the design than just a bigger bullet, there is additional powder capacity which increases velocity.

All the 10mm bros can’t be wrong, so I decided it was my turn to descend into the 10mm rabbit hole. And the Glock 29 was the vehicle of choice. The model 29 is an abbreviated version of the model 20 10mm pistol. Trimmed up and reduced to fit in a CCW holster of your choice, but still bring the 10 millimeter heat.

Specifications

Type Striker Fired

Size Sub-Compact

Caliber 10MM

Barrel Length 3.78″

Color Black

Capacity 10 Rounds

Accessories 2 Mags

Sights Fixed Sights

Frame Material Polymer

Finish Matte

Glock 29 Features

Safe action trigger system- prevents accidental discharge of the pistol

10 round magazines- holds ten round of 10mm Auto

Low Profile Sights- the compact sights pop in your sight picture

Picatinny accessory rail- to add your preferred weapon-light

Grip texturing- to help you hold onto the pistol under recoil

Other models and Generations

The Glock 29 is available in both a 4th gen and 5th generation. The Gen 5 version incorporates some of Glock’s latest changes. Such as interchangeable grip backstraps, removed finger grooves, and ambidextrous slide release. These are some nice features for those who are looking for them.

As mentioned above, the model 29 is a compact version of the larger Glock model 20. The larger model 20 allows additional grip area as well as additional weight to better allow the shooter to control the pistol.

If you find yourself trying to decide which model would better fit your needs, I would for sure get your hands on them. For my hand size, I find the 29 to be almost too small. I think adding a +2 magazine base plate would easily solve that concern for me.

Glock 29 Review

To review the Glock 29, a friend and I took the pistol and a few boxes of ammunition into the hills. The model 29 was literally new in the box unfired by me, so it was with great anticipation that we prepped for shooting.

Loading the chubby 10mm cartridges into the magazine wasn’t a challenge. Using the provided magazine loader that comes with the gun seemed to only add time to the process. It didn’t take long before we were stacking shots on targets.

It is not uncommon for shooters to create an idea in their mind of how a new gun experience will go. Having no experience with the Glock 29, I had imagined it would be a fairly spicy kick. With perhaps a little bit of a challenge to control.

Shooting the Glock 29

Shooting the pistol actually turned out to be much more pleasant than I had expected. The recoil wasn’t bad at all when shooting 180 grain ball ammo, and controlling the gun only took a little bit of time to get used to. The short grip was a slight hindrance, though one I could deal with considering this pistol is optimized for concealing.

The controls worked great and allowed quick manipulation of the pistol. The sights, though simple, were very useful and effective.

I was surprised at how easy it seemed to shoot the model 29 accurately. Keeping shots on milk jug sized targets at around 15 yards at a swift cadence was impressive. As someone who does a lot of fishing in bear country, my shooting companion mentioned how the 29 might serve as an ideal fishing companion.

After shooting the 29 for afternoon I’d say I have to agree. Ten or more rounds of 10mm Auto would make a great deterrent to any menacing assailant two-legged or more.

One of the more common praises of Glock pistols is their reliability. The simplistic design has simply worked for decades.

During our shooting we experienced only a single malfunction, where a round failed to fully seat into battery. A slight tap was all it took to correct the situation. While I am not positive what caused the malfunction, I find myself quick to dismiss it as potentially an unbroken in pistol. The ammunition and pistol functioned flawlessly together outside of this single issue. Time will tell if it was a singular event.

With a comfortable and pleasant experience shooting the Glock 29, its sub six-hundred dollar street price seems to be pretty fair. There are a few other comparable pistols in the same price range. Though many of them lack some of the 29’s advantages. For example; the Springfield Armory XD compact shares its size. But lacks the Glock reputation and service history. The Smith & Wesson M&P shares the service experience but lacks a compact model. These features tend to make the Glock 29 stand out.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Nice consistent trigger pull
Simple yet useful sights
Compact size can go anywhere
Did I mention it’s 10mm?
Glock

Cons

10-round capacity
Can be a bit of recoil for some

Report Card

Shootability (B+) shooting the Glock 29 was easier and more fun than I expected.

Ergonomics (B) Everything was very comparable to other Glocks, but for the slightly short grip.

Reliability (B+) Aside from the single malfunction, it seemed to run fantastic.

Accuracy (A) The accuracy of the pistol was better than expected

Value (B+) There are few other options out there for a compact 10mm, especially with this reputation.

Preferred Ammunition

I shot both Blazer 180 grain ball ammunition and American Eagle 180 grain ball ammunition through the Glock 29. Both of them seemed to work and shoot great. For more serious work I like shooting Speer Gold Dot 200 grain hollow points.

Shop all Glock pistols at Palmetto State Armory

Upgrades and Accessories

Holster

The Glock 29 for sure needs a good holster. Whether you want to use it as a concealed carry pistol, or as bear-mace, you will need a way to keep it close. A whole harness system like those offered by Crossbreed Holsters is a good way to keep it close. And if maximum concealment is your goal, the concealing options from Galco will help keep your Glock high and tight.

Weapon Light

A good light source is important for a CCW pistol. A compact pistol like the Glock 29 would benefit from one of the many compact weapon lights like the Streamlight TLR8.

Magazine Baseplates

Additional length can be added to the grip with extended floor plates. And the addition of more capacity is also welcome. These ones from Pearce will give an additional rounds, as well as helping you control the pistol better.

Sportsmans Warehouse has the full Glock pistol lineup, shop here.

Final Thoughts on the Glock 29

I said in the beginning that I was never a big Glock fan, but that view is changing. The Glock 29 is surely on my list of Glocks I don’t mind having. It fills a pretty small niche of 10mm compact pistols, and it does so with Glocks service reputation and style. For a reasonable price it has good features paired with a great shooting experience. If you are looking for a really powerful compact pistol, make sure you don’t look past the Glock 29 before spending your hard earned money.

-CBM

Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 10mm Pistol

November 24, 2023pistols, Product review, Shooting hardware10mmcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Striker fired polymer framed pistols seem to be all the rage these days. Smith & Wesson is no stranger to the subject, and today we will take a look at one of their offerings. In today’s review we will take a look at the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 10mm pistol.

Specifications

WIDTH 1.16 in

LENGTH 7.4 in

HEIGHT 5.7 in

WEIGHT 44.7 oz

CALIBER 9MM

SIZE FULL

CAPACITY 17

ACTION STRIKER FIRED

BARREL LENGTH 4.25

GRIP POLYMER

SIGHTS WHITE DOT

OPTIC READY YES

SAFETY NONE

COLOR/FINISH BLACK

STATE COMPLIANCE N/A

THREADED BARREL NO

BARREL MATERIAL STAINLESS STEEL

FRAME POLYMER

Tall sights are great when used with a **suppressor** or **red dot sight**

Background

The M&P line of pistols has been around much longer than I had known. With a focus on duty service with the military and police. But these handguns have come a long way since those first manually ejected .38 Special pistols.

The M&P line has evolved with some very venerable models, most of them chambered in the very popular 9mm. Smith & Wesson’s 2.0 version of the M&P 9 is also available in 10mm auto. The 10mm has become another one of those great cartridges with a cult following. You may ask yourself why, I mean isn’t it just a longer .40 S&W?

Sharing bore-size with the .40 is a familiar trait of the 10mm. But it carries a great deal more energy due to its longer case length and greater powder charge. With average velocities two to three hundred feet per second faster than the .40, the 10mm is a powerful cartridge.

But does this cartridge live up to the legendary reputation?

The M&P 10mm kitted out with a **Surefire X300**

M&P 9 2.0 Features

Optics Ready slide

Allows easy and robust mounting of a red dot optical sight to co-witness with the tall iron sights.

15 Round Magazines

Shooting bigger cartridges doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice capacity.

M2.0 Flat-faced Trigger

The flat-faced trigger allows comfortable placement and a very clean trigger pull

Picatinny Accessory Rail

You can add your favorite weapon light under the front of the pistol

Low Bore Axis

Keeps the pivot point of the pistol lower allowing for better control

Adjustable grip insert

Allows you to custom fit the M2.0 to fit your grip

18 Degree Textured Grip

The grip angle and texturing allows for natural aiming and control of the pistol

Other Models of the M&P 9 2.0

The M&P 9 M2.0 is also available with a thumb safety, as well as two Performance Center models that include a compensator and two tone version of the pistol.

Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 10mm Pistol Review

Shooting the M2.0 was going to be a treat for me. I already loved the feel of this pistol, and getting it on the range would prove to be a good time. With a few boxes of ammunition from Ammo To Go I headed up to my spot to see how big of a difference there was between 9 and 10 millimeters. I’d also brought some accessories to kit out the pistol a few different ways.

First up I shot the pistol just as it came, using the iron sights and some Blazer ammunition. With 15 rounds loaded up, I started shooting. You can definitely feel the extra pep in the step of the 10mm.

Like every other M&P 9 it felt great in the hands, just a bit more spicy due to the extra millimeter in the ammunition. The different sound of 10mm cases bouncing across the ground sounded like coins being tossed in a parking garage.

If you like the M&P line, check our review of the M&P Shield Plus

I was very pleased with the improved M2.0 trigger. It has a fantastic wall that you feel as the first stage is taken up. It is very consistent and predictable, followed up with a smooth snap when you press. I typically dislike blade safeties, but this design I really quite liked.

Another control that surprised me was the slide release. There appears to be a spring-detent that makes the sensation of a popping when you press the mag release. It really adds a nice touch to the reload.

Shooting through the fifteen round magazines went all too fast. Even adding a plus-2 magazine base plate for a total of 17 cut the fun off too soon. But to be fair, seventeen rounds of 10mm is a pretty impressive battery.

Continue reading at Gun University

The tall sights of the M&P M2.0 were very easy to see and pick up while presenting. Shooting accurately with this pistol was awesome, easily hitting most things within handgun range. Adding a red dot to the gun brought another level of fun to shooting the M&P. Keeping your eyes focused on the target while raising the pistol until the red dot lined up felt like cheating.

Reloads took me a little bit of practice to get used to. I typically train with a Glock 17 clone or a Sig P320 of some type. The magazine release on the M&P was different enough that I had to make a more deliberate effort to press it. I’m sure this is simply a question of practice and training.

The flared magwell also helped me with reloads, making it easy to stab the magazine under pressure.

The **Eotech EFLX** made an excellent addition to the M&P

Shooting both the Blazer and American Eagle ammunition the M&P hummed along like a tuned engine. No malfunctions of any kind were experienced, and I was left wanting more ammo.

With an MSRP under $700.00 this pistol sure seems to bring a lot of features and value. With its optics ready slide, quality trigger, and the ability to pump 10mm auto rounds like a slot machine. You’d be hard pressed to beat this for a service grade 10mm pistol.

Pros & Cons of the M&P 9 2.0

Pros

Excellent trigger
Great slide cuts for support hand purchase
Optics ready slide
15 round capacity
Excellent texture for grip
Reliable function
Shoots accurately
Excellent quality for price

Cons

Could use adaptable mag release button
Ammo isn’t cheap for 10mm

The enhanced M2.0 trigger is fantastic

Report Card

Shootability (A) The M2.0 is an excellent shooter, it definitely feels like it is made for shootin’ & scootin’.

Reliability (A) We experienced zero malfunctions during testing of the M&P, it ran flawlessly.

Ergonomics (B+) The gun feels great, its adaptable grip is helpful. I’d like a bigger mag release button.

Accuracy (A) I had no issue hitting what I was aiming for inside of 20 or so yards. And anytime I missed, I knew it was me before the bullet got there.

Value (B+) The market is full of good options, the M&P is an excellent choice for a 10mm at this price point.

Preferred Ammo

Ammunition used during our testing was from Blazer and American Eagle. Both were 180 grain FMJ loads. Both of them shot very well, and I couldn’t say one shot any better than the other.

This 10mm usually carries a magazine full of Speer Gold Dot 200 grain Jacketed hollow points. These also shoot great from the pistol, and double as defensive rounds.

Upgrades and Accessories

Optics

An optics ready pistol like this for sure needs a good red dot. I used a cheap one that fit, but I would recommend something much better for this handsome pistol. Something like the always popular Holosun 507 or a Romeo 1 Pro.

Sight picture with and without red dot

More Ammo

Plus two base plates like the ones seen here from Floyd’s Custom Shop are a great way to increase capacity of your M&P. There are many great options from other companies as well.

A Good Holster

A pistol like this deserves a good holster. I am a big fan of the Safariland ALS line of holsters and would strongly recommend getting one that fits your model M&P.

Final Thoughts

Smith & Wesson surely knows what they are doing with the M&P line. One thing after another kept making me like the pistol more and more.

The M2.0 has a fantastic trigger, shoots smooth and reliably. And it feels fantastic in the hands. The 9mm version of this pistol has an incredible lineup of competition. But when it comes to 10mm, the field narrows considerably.

For the price, this pistol brings a great deal of value and features that will live up to the M&P standard of service. If you are looking for a good 10mm pistol for defense or just for fun, do yourself a favor and take a look at the Smith & Wesson M&P 9 2.0 10mm.

-CBM