Over the last few years, I have developed an affinity for pistols. To be specific, full-size tactical pistols. As this addiction has grown, I continued to adjust my sights on better and better options. Today I am bringing you a review of one of those amazing pistols, the Staccato XC 9mm pistol.
As I mentioned, my taste has matured. Partially in part to being exposed to many fantastic options. In my line of work, it is easy to be exposed to high quality firearms. My very first experience with a Staccato was a year or two ago, with a review of the Staccato P. I really liked that pistol, but all it really did was push me towards something even better. The Staccato XC is arguably at the top of the Staccato heap, which sits at the apex of 2011 pistols.
What is a 2011?
Staccato’s basic design is a modernized version of the OG 1911 pistol, with a widened grip allowing double stack 9mm cartridges to be used. After this complete redesign of the famous pistol, it makes perfect sense to rename it 2011. Basically a hundred years later, the title fits as a gun for the next century. Staccato popularized the 2011 trend, and it has been embraced by many other manufacturers. Big names like SpringField Armory and Wilson Combat have introduced 2011 models. Where before they only offered the 1911.
Why would you want a 2011 over a 1911 you might be asking? And if you are, you might be due for a prostate exam. The 1911 has seen incredible service life and action across the globe. The venerable 45 ACP cartridges it fires are heavy and lethal, so why would you abandon this design for something new?
An easy answer is that the 9mm Parabellum has basically won the popularity contest. I see no value getting into the weeds of cartridge arguments today, most shooters prefer the 9mm over the 45 ACP. And it’s easy to understand why, its far more affordable, offers more capacity in a given firearm, and is still quite useful in lethal and competitive fields.
These things considered, it seems the 2011 design was simply an eventuality waiting to happen. The popularity of the 1911, with all of its benefits, made an excellent candidate to customize and fill-out with a fat bottomed magazine brimming with 9mm cartridges.
The incredible compensator built into the front of the barrel greatly reduces muzzle rise, keeping the gun on target. You can even see the red dot all through the recoil most of the time.
I tried a variety of different red dots, but I like the Holosun 507 Comp
My recent descent into the joy of hand-gunning has given me many opportunities to try new things. One of them is checking out many new red dot options, and it has been a great journey. Today’s topic is a result of my search for a good red dot to put on my Staccato XC pistol. One of the many options I tried during that process is the very popular Holosun 507 Comp red dot.
The 507 Comp is a big windowed beauty, it seems to share some feature with other 507 models but its obviously larger. These types of red dots are optimized for competitive style shooting which I find to be very fun. Lets get into this neat little optic.
The Holosun 507 Comp Red Dot
Specifications:
Window Size: 1.1×0.87
Dimension (in): 1.8×1.3×1.3
Weight (oz): 1.7
Reticle: 2 MOA Dot & 8/20/32 MOA Circle
Reticle Color: Red or Green model
Parallax Free: Yes
Battery Type: CR1632
Battery Life: 50000 hours
Brightness Setting: 6 Day Light & 2 Night Vision
Housing Material: 7075 T6 Aluminum
Surface Finish: Anodize
Adj. per Click: 1 MOA
Included in the Box
T10 L Key
User Manual
CR1632 Battery
Lens Cloth
Mounting screw assortment
As I cracked open the box from Holosun, I was greeted by the typical accessories. I was happy to see that the Comp had come with a few different screw sets for different mounting situations. Though my Staccato had come with a specific 507 Comp screw set. The included tool was very handy for installing and adjusting the optic.
The 507 Comp also uses Holosun’s shake awake technology, which you can set to turn the unit on with movement. It will also power down after a set time of inactivity. Adjusting this feature and the brightness levels can all be done using the two + and – buttons on the left side. On the opposing side you’ll find the typical Holosun screw affixed battery door. I also notice that compared to other XL sized red dots the 507 Comp footprint was more universal than some others.
Using the appropriate optics mounting plate and screws, the 507 Comp dropped perfectly onto the XC’s slide. The back end of the red dot’s housing is thin enough that I can still see both front and rear sights through the window of the 507, which was also a nice addition. I adjusted the reticle to match the sights before heading to the range.
Rangetime
Initially my adjustments were pretty close, but I decided to refine it slightly to make sure I was hitting my point of aim. I spent a while going through the various reticle options to see what I liked. It’s really quite interesting how the different options present themselves. I like the dot with the largest ring, it seems to help in target bracketing and still gives the precise shot placement of the fine dot. That said I could see somebody using the circles instead for fast shooting up close.
Another reason I couldn’t have anticipated liking the large circle dot reticle was it’s utility at distance. Shooting the Staccato XC at distances like 100 yards is doable, and the bottom edge of the circle made a perfect holdover point for such distances.
I did notice, as did others who picked it up, that the reticle of the 507 Comp seemed a bit fuzzy. But after some comparison I think it was simply because we were looking at things up close. For example, looking across my desk at the wall the reticle seemed fuzzy. But when looking at a wall 20-feet away it was perfectly clear. And the same was true outside on the range, so I think perhaps there might be a slight parallax issue.
The various brightness setting were very visible even in the high heat of full noon sun out in this desert. I like being able to adjust the intensity of the reticle, and keep it low at night when its dark.
Pros and Cons
With such a large window, red dots like the 507 comp give you a huge field of view. This makes it very quick to find the target in the window. Additionally the larger reticle of the Comp gives you more to see, something to pick up on visually if you don’t immediately see the dot when presenting the pistol. This can of course be changed to fit your needs as your skill level varies.
The ability to change the reticle to fit your preference is a huge advantage in itself. Something I expect we’ll see quite a few other optics manufacturers adopting soon. The fact that this unit can be ordered in either red or green is also a nice option for those shopping.
According to the manual, the 507 Comp only has 30 MOA of travel for both windage and elevation. I didn’t find this to be a problem, and I had no issues zeroing the optic.
There are those out there who think it’s a shame to put a Chinese made red dot on such a fine pistol as the 2011. I will admit that I also second guessed the proposition, but followed through my plan based on a few good points made by fellow shooters. I was initially thinking of putting something like a Trijicon SRO or RMR HD red dot on the gun, despite having a significantly higher price and wait time. But many friends and associates pointed out that many of the popular domestic manufacturers don’t seem to innovate their dots like Holosun does. I was also told that its not if I’ll break an SRO but when. I guess I’ll continue to shoot with this one, while looking for additional good options to outfit my guns.
As far as problems with the 507 Comp, I could only say a few things. The aforementioned fuzzy reticle turned out to be a very small issue, and one I don’t even notice or care about now. I also had the battery cover screw come out and get lost. But to their credit Holosun CS was quick to respond and sent me a replacement as fast as I could have hoped.
Last Words
Having spent some time with this optic, and shot a great many rounds with it I am quite happy with my purchase. I wouldn’t say that its the greatest option out there, but it certainly fits my modest purposes very well. Due to the popularity of this red dot, I’d say that I am not the only one who thinks its a good option.
In the world of big window red dot’s, there are lots of great options. The 507 Comp offers nearly everything the competition models do and more. It provides adaptability in a robust and proven design. And it cost’s less than half of what some comparable units. That doesn’t mean I wont be trying those models out though, so stay tuned for more. In fact, if you like the Holosun 507 Comp, check out my comparison against the Vortex Defender XL.
Since the introduction of John Browning’s Model 1911 pistol, countless others have copied and borrowed from it. Today’s subject is yet another one of those designs, today we are looking at the Taran Tactical Combat Master 2011 9mm pistol. The Combat Master is a 2011 style pistol, which dumped the single-stack 45ACP cartridge and magazines. In their place you can find double-stack 9mm cartridges. Adding both capacity and performance seems to be the norm with 2011 pistols.
This Combat Master was manufactured by a well known 2011 custom shop STI, who you probably know better as Staccato. I’ve played with a few of them, as well as other pistols. So today I am happy to get a full grip on this pistol and share it with you.
2011 Pistols
The success of the 1911 design is legendary, and regardless of whether you like it or not the design appears to continue. 2011 pistols take many of the greatest features of its predecessor, and bring more modern features. The main feature is double-stack magazines, which are typically for 9mm or 38 Super cartridges. With magazines like that, carrying twenty-plus cartridges in the magazine isn’t such a challenge.
Most 2011 pistols still use many of the same features from the 1911, such as the single-action trigger, safety mechanisms, etc. Excellent triggers, and ideal grip angles and all sorts of other advantages have also been mirrored in these pistols.
The Staccato P pistol is a 2011 pistol built specifically for use as a service pistol for law enforcement, but the general shooting public has very well received it. The high quality and performance of the pistol have made it highly sought after by pistol aficionados in and out of the LE community.
The Staccato P is a 2011model pistol. The 2011 design is a modern version of the 1911 design. Incorporating double stack magazines and chambered in 9mm has brought incredible versatility to the pistol. It comes in a custom soft case with three magazines.
STI was famous for making these pistols. They have since rebranded to the Staccato name and lead the way in the 2011 pistol market.
Being new to both 1911/2011 designs and the Staccato P, I was very excited to get familiarized with this pistol and see what all the hype was about and if it was well founded.
STACCATO P REVIEW
The Staccato P is a pistol designed for duty and anyone else who could use the features of the pistol. The manufacturer has gone to great lengths to get the pistol approved for LE service by at least 650 agencies, including the Texas Rangers.
With an MSRP of $2199.00, it is certainly not an entry-level pistol; however, to be fair to Staccato, it boasts professional-grade features to justify that price. The Staccato P has all the great benefits of the extremely popular and common 1911 design but also adds new technology and features to enhance the historical design with modern expectations. Pistol shooters who want exceptional quality and extremely smooth operation will be happy to feel the sticky Staccato stippling in their hands.
Much like buying a sports car, this pistol is not something you’d compare to the average 9mm pistol on the shelf at your local gun shop. And much like the sports car, you may want to get it purchased before the wedding and not after.
SPECIFICATIONS
Caliber
9mm
Capacity
17 rounds
Barrel length
4.4 Inches
Trigger
4-4.5 lb adjustable
Dimensions
Length 8.0 X Grip Width 1.3 X Height 5.5 – Width At Safeties 1.49
Weight
33 ounces (empty)
PROS & CONS
PROS
Outstanding SA trigger – adjustable and crisp
Optics ready – to add your favorite red dot
Ambidextrous safety- in case you’re wrong handed
Picatinny accessory rail- to mount accessories
Flared magwell- for enhanced mag changes
Heavy bull barrel- for enhanced accuracy
Dawson custom sights – fiber optic for better sight picture
CONS
Short slide release – hard to reach with my thumb
I need another one
ON THE RANGE TESTING
I was understandably excited to get the Staccato P to the range, I had already worn in the pistol quite a bit playing with it in my office. But with a few boxes of ammunition and a few targets, I headed to my shooting spot.
After loading a few mags, I loaded the pistol and made it ready to shoot. The feeling of the slide riding forward and chambering a round is addictive, smooth as glass, and locks up tight. I’m not a big manual safety guy, but the 2011 safety is so easy to use that it immediately became second nature. It is almost automatic that as the pistol comes up, your thumb moves it from safe to fire, and back to safe as you return the pistol to the holster.
The trigger was everything I’d hoped to be, clean and crisp. The short reset seemed to allow for incredibly rapid follow-up shots, allowing a massive amount of lead to be put downrange very quickly. And the clean break of the trigger allowed for accurate shooting on targets, and the hits just kept coming.
I found the large grip of the pistol to be very comfortable in my hand. The rough texturing and the full palm gave a great deal of purchase on the grip. And being a bit heavier than your average 9mm pistol, the recoil was very easy to control with this better and bigger grip area.
The bright fiber-optic front sight was quick to find and easily aligned with the rear sight. I would love this pistol even more with a red dot mounted to it, perhaps next time.
As I plowed through the ammo, I quite enjoyed doing reloads. The Staccato P features a flared magwell to aid in rapidly seating new magazines. I found myself loading two or three rounds per mag just to get more reloads in.
The frictionless slide of the magazines against the polymer grip module made seating the magazine effortless, and empty mags drop free and clear with an appropriate press of the release. I was quickly becoming a fan of everything this pistol was, and deciding if I could justify keeping it.
RELIABILITY
The reliability of the Staccato P was immaculate. During the course of firing several hundred rounds, I experienced no malfunctions. That may not sound like much, but the way it just chewed through everything smoothly and without so much of a hiccup made it feel even more reliable.
Slow shooting cadences and rapid mag dumps all resulted in the same way, a locked open slide waiting for the next magazine to be loaded.
The cycling of the slide and the chambering of cartridges all worked so flawlessly that it felt like a well-oiled machine churning away in the palm of your hand.
ACCURACY
I am not what I consider a big pistol accuracy fanatic, nor do I consider myself exceptionally talented in accurately shooting pistols. As far as I am concerned, if I can hit what I aim at within the distance I typically shoot, then it’s good enough for my purposes.
The Staccato was certainly better than I was, as I found it easy to hit everything I aimed at. I did find that the sights aligned pretty naturally with my generic pistol pointing, which may have helped my shooting significantly. I think I might have shot even better had I installed a red dot on the back of the pistol, but that’s for another time I guess.
OVERALL FEEL
The overall feel of the Staccato P is outstanding. The perfectly filled hand with the perfect fit controls and trigger was missing only one thing for me. The slide release was a bit too far forward for me to reach with my thumb, making it necessary to break my shooting grip in order to do so.
I don’t know if they make an extended version, but if they do, I would certainly buy it, as it is the only thing I could complain about this pistol.
The hybrid frame of the Staccato P uses either steel or aluminum for the upper portion of the frame to mate with the slide assembly, and the grip area of the frame consists of a polymer portion.
I actually really like this feature; it gives you the robust metallurgy you want to properly carry the slide assembly while still giving the versatile properties of polymer magwell and grip.
BULL BARREL
The Staccato barrel is quite heavy, or thick might be a better word to describe it. This extra barrel material likely makes it stiffer and a better shooter; it also adds weight to the overall firearm, which I don’t mind though others may.
The tool-less guide-rod has a spring-loaded lever built into it, which allows the guide-rod and barrel to be removed from the slide without any tools. You simply push the guide rod forward out the front of the slide, then depress the lever, which locks the spring in its compressed state.
You can then remove it from the slide, followed by the barrel. It’s a very slick system to use and goes a long way at adding value to the pistol.
PICATINNY ACCESSORY RAIL
Under the front of the frame, you will find a Picatinny accessory rail. It’s perfect for mounting your desired weapon light. I installed mySurefire X300, and it fits perfectly.
OPTICS READY
The Staccato P can quickly be converted to shoot with a red dot sight by removing the rear sight mounting plate. It can be replaced with a Dawson Precision RDS mounting plate. These can be ordered on Staccato’s website for various optic configurations.
I shot the Staccato P throughout several range trips. I also carried it as my main CCW for about a month. I fired several hundred rounds through the pistol, using repetition to see if my poor 1911 skills would cause issues to surface.
Shooting steel targets at ranges from fifteen to thirty yards was very enjoyable with this pistol. Maneuvering it from shot to shot and forcing repetitive mag changes made me like it more.
I also let other friends shoot it to see if it was simply my skirt being easily blown. But as I found with everyone who picked up the Staccato, they too were quite impressed with more than just its looks.
I used two different types of Winchester ammunition during testing. Both were from Winchester, one was a 124-grain load, and the other was a 115-grain load. Both of them shot flawlessly and with comparable accuracy.
I perhaps might give the 115-grain load the nod because it seemed faster to get from target to target.
FAQS
CAN A STACCATO P SHOOT 9 MAJOR?
The Staccato P is not recommended for 9 Major ammunition, but it will shoot +P ammunition.
WHAT DOES DPO STAND FOR IN STACCATO?
DPO stands for Dawson Precision Optics mounting system for mounting red dot optical sights.
IS +P 9MM BETTER?
+P is ammunition loaded to a higher pressure for more velocity.
IS 38 SUPER +P STRONGER THAN 9MM?
38 Superis a slightly longer case; this allows it to shoot similar velocities at lower pressure. Or higher velocities at similar pressures as the 9mm Luger.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STACCATO C2 AND P?
The Staccato C2 is a concealed carry version of the pistol. It features a shorter barrel and grip module and uses the aluminum upper frame to save weight.
IS THE STACCATO P POLYMER?
The grip module portion of the frame is polymer.
WHICH STACCATO DID JOHN WICK USE?
In the John Wick film, he used a Taran Tactical Combat Master version of the Staccato pistol.
CONCLUSION
After spending more than a month with the Staccato P, I have been able to develop a pretty good understanding of the gun. I believe the modern 2011 design brings all the best features of the original 1911 and so much more. It also allows modern technologies, materials, and practices to be applied to the time-tested pistol design.
If the only improvement was the double-stack 9mm cartridge capability, that would be a significant improvement by itself. But the added improvements and composite frame that come incorporated in the Staccato pistols bring so much more, and they do it with sex appeal and class.
I truly enjoyed the time with this pistol. Only days after I picked it up, I decided I needed to find a way to keep it. It crosses all the T’s and dot’s all the i’s for me as far as a pistol can. It feels well built and smooth as it could be.
The trigger is outstanding, as are the other controls but for the short slide release. The heavy barrel and quality sights make it easy to shoot well, the positive grip lets you know you’ve got something fantastic in your hands, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep holding onto it.
