Some time back, I had the chance to shoot my friend Bret’s Staccato C2 2011 9mm Combat Pistol. Bret was the first one I knew to own one. I came away with a great deal of respect for the pistol. It delivered great accuracy and a smooth performance.
What Is a 2011 Pistol?
For those unfamiliar, a 2011 (or 2311, depending on the manufacturer) is basically a modern evolution of John M. Browning’s single-action 1911. It keeps the basic design while incorporating features today’s shooters have come to expect, like higher-capacity magazines and enhanced controls.
Some, myself included, would argue Browning got it right with his original .45 ACP pistol. His laterP-35 Hi-Power, a slimmed-down, high-capacity 9mm of the 1911 concept, remains one of the finest and most ergonomic handguns designed. My Springfield Armory SA-35, based upon the Browning’s Hi-Power, is one handgun I won’t part with.
Even so, competitive shooters and armed citizens continued asking for a high-capacity 1911 pistol with the added features of ambidextrous thumb safeties, extended grip safeties and grips designed around modern double-stack magazines.
Early double-stack 1911s chambered in .45 ACP often had grips that were too large for many shooters. As defensive ammunition improved, demand shifted toward defensive double-stack 9mm 1911s. Many of the earliest examples were expensive and geared primarily toward competition rather than concealed carry or law enforcement use.
Why the Staccato C2 Stands Out
Staccato was one of the earliest companies to successfully bring a 2011 to the market. Its line of 2011 pistols helped to define this category of defensive handguns: a single-action trigger, modern ergonomics and double-stack magazine capacity in a pistol suitable for duty, concealed carry and competition.
The Staccato C2 is the company’s compact carry model. After shooting Bret’s, I understood why it has developed such a strong reputation.
Though Staccato describes the C2 as a compact carry gun, it didn’t feel compact when I was firing it. Its full-feeling grip provided stability and accuracy more similar to a mid-size or full-size pistol
Staccato C2 Features
While Staccato’s description of its made-in-the-USA C2 as a “compact carry gun with double-stack capacity” is accurate, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Generally, compact means the barrel of a handgun is shorter than the standard length. It doesn’t always mean the grip is shortened, though it can.
The C2 measures 7.5 inches long, 1.49 inches wide and 5.5 inches high, compared with the full-size Staccato P at 8.1 inches long, 1.5 inches wide and 5.9 inches high. However, I felt like the shooting comfort made it feel more like a full-sized service pistol.
Compact 2011 Carry Design
The C2 uses a 3.9-inch barrel and an aluminum frame precision-machined from 7075 aluminum billet. It weighs 25 ounces without a magazine or optic, making it light enough for daily carry while still substantial enough to feel steady in the hand.
Staccato equips the pistol with its 3.9-inch Recoil Master System. The C2 also includes a single-slot accessory rail designed to accommodate three specific weapon lights.
Double-Stack Magazine Capacity
The C2 ships with two 16-round magazines. That capacity is one of the defining features of the modern 2011 platform.
The pistol retains the basic single-action 1911 operating system while giving the shooter considerably more ammunition than a traditional single-stack design.
Trigger and Safety Controls
The skeletonized single-action trigger is listed at 4 to 4.5 pounds. At the range, I found the C2 trigger extremely crisp. It is an excellent target and combat trigger.
The C2 also includes the familiar grip safety and extended ambidextrous thumb safeties. The slide release remains a standard single-sided design.
Sights and Optics
The standard green front sight uses a light-gathering pipe and is designed to co-witness with most optics. Staccato also includes an optics kit with the pistol.
Bret’s C2 was well-equipped with a Holosun HE507C X2 green-dot optic and a SureFire X300A Ultra weapon light. I believe the green dot is the way to go if you use an electronic optic. The visibility is startling and helped in achieving
Staccato C2 Specifications
Caliber: 9×19
Barrel: 3.9 inches, stainless steel or DLC
Frame: 7075 aluminum billet, precision-machined
Trigger: Skeletonized, 4 to 4.5 pounds
Weight: 25 ounces without optic or magazine
Recoil system: 3.9-inch Recoil Master System
Magazine: Two 16-round magazines
Sights: Green light-gathering sight, designed to co-witness with most optics
Optics: Optics kit included
Safety: Grip safety and extended ambidextrous thumb safeties
Slide Release: Standard, single-sided
Rail: Single mounting point designed to fit three specific weapon lights
Price: $2,299
How the Staccato C2 Compares to the Girsan Witness Brat
I brought along my EAA Girsan Witness 2311SC 9mm “Brat” or comparison. After my original review, I mounted XS Sights’ DXW2 night sights, a vast improvement over the factory sights. They were fast to acquire, especially as my eyes get older.
The Girsan Brat is also a compact double-stack single-action pistol, though EAA refers to it as a 2311 rather than a 2011. It has a 3.4-inch barrel. The ½-inch difference as compared to the Staccato’s 3.9-inch barrel is noticeable in feel. Even with its full-size grip and large magazine funnel, the Girsan feels like a compact pistol.
Why Compare the Two Pistols?
The EAA Girsan and Staccato C2 are similar enough in appearance and operating system to make a comparison worthwhile. Both 9mms are double-stack, single-action pistols with compact barrels and full-feeling grips.
I wasn’t expecting the Girsan to outshoot the more expensive Staccato, especially as Bret is a good shot. I simply wanted to see the difference between the two modern combat pistols from very different price ranges. The USA-made Staccato, equipped with a green-dot optic and excellent trigger is priced at nearly $2,400, while the Turkish Girsan with upgraded sights cost about $769.
I met Bret at his range with the Girsan Brat, and three boxes of 9mm ammo—a box of Federal 147 Grain Syntech Training Match Ammo, which has a muzzle velocity of 1000 FPS, a box of Federal 150 grain Syntech Action Pistol Ammo which has a muzzle velocity of 890 FPS , and a box of Sig Sauer Elite Defense 9mm 124 grain JHP ammo with a muzzle velocity of 1165 FPS.
We set the target up at 21 feet and took turns using the Staccatto and the Girsan Brat shooting 5 shot groups with the available ammo. We then marked the groups and the pistol used.
At the Range
I met Bret at his outdoor range with my Girsan Brat and three boxes of 9mm ammunition: Federal 147-grain Syntech Training Match, with a muzzle velocity of 1,000 feet per second; Federal 150-grain Syntech Action Pistol, with a muzzle velocity of 890 feet per second; and SIG Sauer Elite Defense 124-grain V-Crown, with a muzzle velocity of 1,165 feet per second.
We set a B-27E PROS silhouette target at 21 feet and took turns firing five-shot groups with each pistol. After each string, we marked the groups and noted which handgun had fired them.
I wasn’t looking to declare a winner but to see the practical difference between the pistols at different price points.
Reliability
We started with the 150-grain Federal ammo and experienced occasional failures to feed with both handguns. The issue only appeared with the 150-grain load.
Because the malfunction occurred in both pistols using the same ammunition, the ammunition was likely the common denominator rather than either handgun.
Shooting the Staccato C2
I was just as impressed as the first time I shot the Staccato C2.
The Holosun HE507C X2’s bright green dot stood out vividly on the varying shades of black, gray, orange and white on the target. This range session improved my opinion of pistol-mounted optics … at least when they use a green dot.
I achieved a nice group slow-firing with the Holosun on the Staccato. The green dot helped me slow down and focus on the fundamentals of my trigger squeeze. That said, my opinion about defensive handguns has not changed.
Acquiring a dot quickly from the draw, while moving or from an awkward shooting position during an actual defensive encounter is different. For a dedicated defensive handgun, I still prefer a green laser backed up by a good set of XS sights. I’ll save electronic optics primarily for rifles.
Test Results
The Girsan Witness Brat produced some decent groups. Across four five-shot groups, it averaged 3.43 inches.
However, the Staccato C2 consistently produced smaller groups. Across five five-shot groups, it averaged 2.5 inches. If Bret’s lone 4-inch group is removed, the remaining four groups average an impressive 1.75 inches.
Five-Shot Group Results at 21 Feet
| Shooter | Staccato C2 | Girsan Witness Brat |
| Bret | 1.5 inches, 2.5 inches, 4.5 inches | 3.75 inches, 4 inches |
| Average | 2.5 inches (1.75 inches excluding 4-inch group | 3.87 inches |
| Scott | 3.5 inches, 1.5 inches | 3.75 inches, 2.25 inches |
| Average | 2.5 inches | 3 inches |
| Overall Average | 2.125 inches | 3.44 inches |
The results are clear: The Staccato C2 is the more accurate pistol.
Whether that advantage came entirely from the pistol itself, the Holosun optic, the added weight of the SureFire X300A helping steady the muzzle or some combination of those factors, I don’t know. My early model Girsan wasn’t set up to mount an optic, so there was no way to determine how much difference an electronic sight would make.
I suspect a green-dot optic would tighten my groups with the Girsan during slow-fire shooting. But I was pleased with the Brat’s performance using the XS sights and bet those groups would improve further if I took it out of the safe more than once or twice a year.
One thing I can say for sure is that the Staccato C2 has an extremely crisp trigger. Factory specifications list it at 4 to 4.5 pounds.
For comparison, my Wheeler Engineering trigger gauge measured the Girsan Witness Brat’s trigger at 4 pounds, 15 ounces. That is quite respectable and not far off from the more expensive Staccato’s pull weight.
Final Verdict: Is the Staccato C2 Worth It?
Staccato offers a broad range of options for the C2, as well as an extensive line of pistols and specialized service perks. The company has built a reputation that is second to none for defensive, duty and competitive use.
Staccato’s line of pistols is extensive enough to meet the needs of law enforcement officers, military personnel, veterans, concealed carry permit holders, home defenders and new shooters. In other words, the company is building top-of-the-line pistols for nearly every serious defensive or competitive handgun role.
After two opportunities to shoot Bret’s C2, I came away very impressed. The Staccato C2 is exceptionally accurate, smooth-shooting and equipped with an excellent single-action trigger.
That performance comes at a premium price. Shooters looking for a more affordable 2011 pistol have other choices. EAA Girsan offers several 2311 models, and Springfield Armory offers the Prodigy, what it calls a 1911 DS (double-stack).
No matter which version fits your needs or budget, one thing is clear: the double-stack 2011-style 9mm pistol is here to stay.
