Let’s take a look at the Staccato P 2011 and what it has to offer. The Staccato brand used to be known as STI. They rebranded a few years back and are now called Staccato.
While doing that, they updated the look of their guns and pretty much just changed their marketing scheme.
The Staccato 2011s have a number of models, including a concealed carry model, full size model, and what we’re going to talk about today, the Staccato P.
Most people don’t realize that there is a pretty big difference between a 2011 and a 1911, and we did a quick article on it. You can check that out if you want, and the 2011 is slightly different than the 1911. It’s mostly due to the frame and a lot of times the caliber.
The caliber isn’t necessarily the only difference, but a lot of times the 2011s are 9mm, but there are 45s. So, let’s get into the Staccato P, because after all, that’s what you’re here for.
Staccato P Features
Let’s talk about the Staccato P’s features. You definitely want a gun at this price point to have features.
Pistols can only have so many, but for over $2,000, you do expect to get some very basic but at the same time advanced and polished features. This gun definitely comes with top notch features, so let’s dive into them.
Grip/Ergonomics
The grip on this gun is very interesting. If you don’t know, 2011s are two piece frames.
The second piece of the frame allows you to interchange it with polymer, an aluminum, titanium, or tungsten even frame for your 2011.
That makes it very light and also somewhat modular. It’s very interesting to grab this gun, because it’s all metal top construction and polymer grip.
When you grab the bottom, it almost feels like you’re grabbing a Glock frame but this one is much more polished.
The grips have the Staccato logo, which is a stylized star, and then the grip texture pattern.
Texturing
The texturing on the grips is actually interesting, because it’s the star logo turned on itself and duplicated.
It provides a pretty decent tactile feel but it’s not as abrasive as some grips, but at the same time, it does its job, and it does it well in that when you’re shooting it.
If you have a firm grip this grip texture is gonna be just fine.
Overall, I have no issues with the grip. Now, there is no way to change the panels on the 2011 like there would be if this was a 1911, because this frame would have to come totally off.
So if you want to change that, you would obviously have to get a whole different lower. The grips are actually molded into the trigger guard, and you would have to change out the whole piece.
Now that can be done, but obviously you’re going to be limited to what Staccato offers, so you pretty much have to take the grip out of the equation in this.
There is still your normal screw on the grip panel but here’s only one of them. It’s at the top of the grip, and that’s standard when you start talking 1911s.
Sights
Let’s talk a little bit about the standard Staccato P’s sights. This particular model is the RDO.
That stands for the red dot optic model, but naturally it still comes with sights, the front being a fiber optic sight.
I actually really like this fiber optic sight. I believe it’s green, although my green and yellow sometimes are a little rough.
Overall shooting this, I really like the fiber optic sight, and I’m not a fiber optic sight person.
However, it does work well on this gun. The rear sight has just your normal U, and has very sharp edges, but it also doesn’t have any dots, which I really like.
I like to run this style of iron sight, it reminds me of the Trijicon sight on my Glock 19, so this really fell into place.
Granted, I don’t have fiber optic sights on my Glock 19, but again, I don’t know why it really works for this gun. I don’t like fiber optic sights on nearly any other gun, so I’m rather surprised I liked it on the Staccato P.
I don’t know if it’s because it’s the 1911 or 2011-style gun that makes me like it, but I like it. That’s all I can tell you.
Overall, the sights are really good. You can change them, but personally, I wouldn’t. The only reason I would change this on this RDO model is to add a red dot sight.
Red Dot Sight
I plan to add a Trijicon RMR to the Staccato P RDO. Once it arrives I’ll at it to the gun and report bag.
Controls
So, let’s discuss the controls. The controls are your standard 1911 style controls. This is a single-action gun, which means you have to have the hammer cocked, obviously. Let’s start from the back and move to the front.
Safety
On the back of the grip, you have your palm safety. With that, you’re not going to be able to pull the trigger unless you have established your master grip and the palm safety’s activated. This palm safety is polymer-like the grip, so it’s not a metal pressure plate.
Grabbing it is seamless, and if you’re establishing your correct master grip, you’ll have no problems with this.
Moving forward on the gun, you have your safety. This safety is what you’d expect from a 1911 style safety.
It’s very tactile. There is a definite loud audible click.
It’s very easy to pull down. It’s very easy to engage with your thumb. It’s a simple push up. It’s a simple pull down.
It’s ambidextrous, so it’s on both sides. Overall, good safety. Not a fan of pistol safeties, but I understand the 1911s are going to have them, and on this one, it’s good.
I really like it. No problems with it, especially on the 1911. The lines are cut out. It’s very clean. It looks great, and it functions phenomenally.
Slide Stop
Moving further up the gun, we’ll go to the slide stop/slide release.
Of course, it’s still, a 1911 style gun.
There is one slide catch/release, whatever you want to call it. It’s only on the left side of the gun.
I found that it sits forward pretty far from my right thumb. I’m a right-handed shooter, so when it’s forward, it’s hard for me to get to it.
So, if I’m going to pull down on it to release the slide with the gun in the normal grip position, I’m going to pull down on it with my left thumb.
With that being said, I think it’s important to say that it is very easy. It is much easier than a stock Glock slide release.
It functions easily. It has a nice little ledge that allows you to pull down and send the slide forward.
Overall, this thing’s great. It does sit into the frame a little bit, which is an interesting design, but it’s not a negative. It’s just an observation.
Magazine Release
Last but not least for the controls is the magazine release. If there are any cons on any of the controls, it’s going to be the mag release.
Again, it’s just a little small quarter of an inch dot right behind the trigger well, that releases the magazine.
It works fine, but it is kind of gritty. It’s harder to press, but when you do, it does release the magazine and everything’s fine.
Overall, it’s a very minor complaint. It’s not something that is a deal breaker. I would just like to see something that is a little larger and easier to push.
It’s almost not worth mentioning, but in an effort to be fair, consistent, and thorough, it needed to be mentioned.
Trigger
So let’s talk about the trigger on the Staccato P.
They’re known to be hit or miss. This one is a polymer trigger and it is adjustable.
I have not adjusted it from the factory setting.
When you pull it, there is very little take-up, like most 1911s. You hit a wall, and upon pulling it, there’s just a very small wall, and then you get a decent little break and then release.
The reset will require you to go all the way out on the trigger, so the release is all the way back out, and then you come back and it’s a little squishy. The trigger’s not great, but it does work. It’s decent, and I’ll write more about that later.
Action
The 2011, like any 1911-style pistol, is a hammer-based design. It’s a single-action pistol so the hammer must be cocked for the gun to fire.
The hammer is extremely smooth and light weight. If you needed to manually cock the hammer for any reason you’ll have no issues making that happen.
If you want to replace the hammer you can, Staccato even offers that option with two types of coatings as well as four different styles to choose from.
Range Bag
If you are looking for the perfect range bag for your Staccato P than look now further than the Lynx Defense Pistol Range Bag.
It’s the perfect size and fit for the Staccato P or any 2011 in your collection.
Our Pistol Range Bag can fit all of the accessories you need to carry along with your Staccato P 2011.
While the Staccato P does come with its own case if you want to carry more than just your Staccato and its magazines you’ll want to upgrade to a larger pistol bag.
If you want to carry some ammo and range gear then grab a Lynx Defense Pistol Range Bag and head to the range.
Accessories
While the accessories for most 1911 and 2011 are available in abundance. But some of the Staccato P accessories are limited to what you can get from Staccato.
Staccato Grips/Magazine Releases
The grips and specifically the grip frame on the Staccato P can be completely removed and replaced.
There is a number of aftermarket options including full grip frames from Extreme Shooters or you can have a stippling service stipple your grip.
Personally, I like the Staccato P’s grip frame and texturing so I wouldn’t mess with it personally, but to each their own!
Staccato Trigger
The one issue I have with this gun is the plastic or polymer Staccato trigger. You would expect something at this price point and this level of firearm would at least come with a metal trigger.
Metal triggers are important to me because I feel like there is less of a chance they can be broken.
You can change out the trigger on the Staccato P and there are a number of YouTube videos and Forum posts that explain the process.
There are also a handful of people that tell you a gunsmith needs to do it, while that’s not a bad idea if you feel comfortable enough then don’t hesitate to make the trigger upgrade yourself.
Magazines/Bases
Magazines for the Staccato P aren’t cheap, thankfully it comes with 3 magazines from the factory.
The 17 round magazine for the Staccato clocks in at $70 /piece. So while they aren’t cheap they are metal and quality.
Aesthetics
Let’s talk about the aesthetics of the Staccato P. This thing looks great. All black gun, stainless steel barrel, so it’s silver. This thing is jet-black all over. All the parts match.
The slide matches, and the barrel and the guide rod are stainless steel silver, so they all look great.
The overall design of this has two CNC cutouts on the front and the back, so it has front serrations and rear serrations essentially, but they are a design of their own unique style.
I really like the branding that’s done on the Staccato. You have 2011 cut into the frame on the left side, and you have “Staccato P” cut into the frame on the right side.
You have the serial number etched into the frame, as well as the slide. It’s an interesting place in the slide. The serial number is actually in the mag well, so when you slide your slide back on the wall of the chamber, you have a matching serial number.
There’s also an American flag etched into the frame. Looks to be laser engraved, into the frame on the right side, just behind the trigger, just above the grip. Very, very tastefully done.
The magazine well has a plastic flared mag well. The thing is spot on if you ask me. There are even little cutouts where you could grab your mag if you needed to with your fingers.
The magazine well is exceptionally done. Underneath the frame, you have the name of the manufacturer, Staccato, etched in, and also the manufacturer’s location, which is Georgetown, Texas.
Overall, the aesthetics of this gun are impeccable. You get what you pay for four on the aesthetics. Form, function, and fantastic-looking gun. Going to be hard to beat the overall look and feel of this gun.
Shooting
Let’s talk about shooting the Staccato P.
Shooting the Staccato P, it’s a dream. It’s very much like the Para Ordnance 1911 that I have.
It’s not a 2011 because of the frame. It is a 1911, but it’s a Double Stack 1911 chamber of 9mm. It is as smooth as this gun.
Now, the frame is a little wider in the grip, which makes this gun for my small hands feel better while shooting.
Recoil is very, very, very negligible with this gun, and you can stay on target impeccably easily. I can’t stress how flat this gun is while you’re shooting it. This gun in 9mm is just an absolute dream to shoot.
The smoothness, the trigger, the reset, the magazine, everything just comes together.
Staccato P Final Thoughts
Once you shoot it, is it worth $2,300? Yes, and I think that’s an important thing to note that you’re getting what you pay for here.
I own a Para 1911 Double Stack. Would I pay for this if I already have that? Probably not, because they are nearly equal in all regards as far as shooting goes. If you wanted something new and up-to-date, then absolutely the Staccato P is a no-brainer.
But with that being said, if you already own a 2011 or you own a Double Stack 1911, I’m not sure the Staccato is bringing much to the table for you.
But if you don’t and you are in the market for one, the Staccato P is where I would go. There is no doubt. I would not look any further. This is where I’m going. This is great. This gun is phenomenal. If you want a 2011, pick up a Staccato P.
The end.
P.S. – If you want a blast from the past check out the similarities between the Browning Hi-Power and the double stack 1911’s of today.
