The Staccato C
The standard line of Staccato pistols is comprised of the C2, P, XL, and XC. These handguns use the traditional 1911/2011 design, and Staccato calls them its Version 2, or V2, generation. “V1” refers to the guns designed and built before Staccato rebranded, when the company was known as STI.
This 2024 C is part of Staccato’s Version 3 or V3 generation, which includes the CS and 2024 C. With a 3.5-inch barrel, the CS is intended to be the perfect carry gun, while the C was envisioned as a more do-it-all gun, with its 4-inch barrel and 26-ounce weight.
Before we get into the details, the short list of improvements on the V3 C includes:
- Redesigned 9mm magazine
- New grip to accommodate that mag
- External extractor
- Fluted barrel
- Improved rails
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Wider frame
Magazine
The new magazine is the most significant change to the 2024 C. The original 2011 was designed for the .38 Super, which was popular for competition in the early ’90s. The .38 Super cartridge is about the same length as that of .45 ACP.
Since then, 9mm has grown in popularity, and many manufacturers have begun building 2011s chambered in 9mm. The 9mm’s smaller dimensions didn’t work as well in the original 2011 pistols, and early models were notorious for being unreliable without precise custom tuning.
Eventually, Staccato perfected the 9mm 2011, in both feed geometry and magazine construction, with its V2 generation. Still, the company never overcame the fact that the base design was for a much larger cartridge. That’s why the 2011 grip is so big. Smaller shooters have always had a problem with the standard 2011 grip.
Related Review: Are Staccato Double-Stack 1911-Style Pistols Worth the Money?
Enter Staccato’s V3. The V3 magazines for the C and CS are specifically designed for the 9mm. Right now, two mag lengths are available. The compact mag works with the CS compact grip and holds 15 rounds, while the full-length magazine holds 17 rounds. The C 2024 is offered with either a compact or a full-sized grip.
Grip
Along with the new magazine, the grip was redesigned to accommodate it. It is now much smaller in front-to-back length, width, and trigger reach. Compared to the C2 grip size, it is a big difference. People with smaller hand sizes will really benefit, especially from the shorter trigger reach in addition to the overall slimness.
Ergonomics, texture, and the undercut are all great. The blending of grip safety and thumb safety is good, as you can feel edges, but no hot spots. You only need to press in the grip safety halfway for disengagement, which is standard for Staccato. Magazine ejection is solid, although the mag release button spring is a little heavy.
Overall, I think this grip is nearly perfect. It’s thin enough to conceal, but wide enough to get a good grip quickly. Super slim grips, while easier to hide, suffer during fast draws because you don’t have much surface area for your hand to grab. The 2024 C hits the sweet spot for grip size and texture, making the gun very controllable. All you need to decide is if you want the full-length or compact grip.
More Updates
The third big improvement is the external extractor. It is well established that external extractors are superior because of their reliability and ease to maintain, so I’m glad Staccato has finally integrated it.
V3 guns also have fluted barrels. This is primarily to help heat dissipation, with the added benefit of giving debris a place to go. Fluted barrels also hold lubrication better. This is also partly why the slide rails were redesigned. The primary function of the new rails is to improve slide-to-frame fit, but cuts were also added for increased reliability.
Finally, a wider frame increases durability, while the added weight helps absorb recoil. Earlier CS guns didn’t have this beefed-up frame, but going forward, all CS pistols will have it.
Overall, the new C keeps many Staccato 2011 features. All parts are machined from bar stock, and the iron sights and slide design stick with the Staccato aesthetic. The top is rounded with good serrations, and the front fiber-optic sight pairs with a blacked-out rear notch.
The slide stop is typical for a 1911, as are the ambi safety levers. The barrel is still a linked design. There is a full-length guide rod, but now the spring is captured for easy removal.
Specs
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 17+1
- Trigger Pull: 4-4.5 pounds
- Barrel Length: 4 inches; bull barrel available in stainless steel and DLC
- Overall Length: 7.5 inches
- Width: 1.45 inches
- Height: 5.4 inches
- Weight: 1.6 pounds (without magazine)
- Frame: Billet precision machined 7075 aluminum
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Magazine: Comes with two 15-round or two 17-round magazines
Testing Notes
In hand, the C 2024 feels great, with a tight slide-to-frame fit and solid barrel lockup. Racking is smooth. You barely can feel the disconnector. It was a little gummy at first, but that has worked itself out. Safeties were good-sized and solid with no wiggle.
The curved aluminum trigger broke at a little under 3.5 pounds. There was some movement in the trigger, but not much. Take-up was short, and the break was crisp with no over-travel, followed by a short reset. Overall, it’s a great trigger.
This C is incredibly fast and soft shooting. This 4-inch gun shot softer than other full-sized 5-inch 2011s I was testing. I don’t know if it is the internal geometry or the new grip, but it shoots super flat for a 4-inch gun. As expected from Staccato, this is a high-end duty pistol – not a custom competition gun, but a reliable, refined workhorse. After shooting it, I would say this is probably the best new do-everything Staccato. The 4-inch barrel can do it all.
In my opinion, this C dethrones the Staccato P and shoots better than the new Staccato HD that takes Glock magazines. The Staccato HD grip is not contoured as well as the C and feels fatter and blockier. I also tended to accidentally engage the safety on the HD, which has never happened to me on any other gun.
Also as expected, this Staccato is dead reliable. One of the best ways to assess good functioning on any firearm is to analyze the ejection pattern, and the C has consistent 3 o’clock ejection.
Bill Drills
Bill drills were under 2.5 seconds because of the soft-shooting nature, ergonomic grip, superior trigger, and outstanding Leupold Delta Point Pro.
If you notice something different about the Bill drill footage in this video, it’s because I’m using the new Shooters Global SG Timer 2 that can integrate with your phone camera to show your time and shot splits within the video itself. It is now my favorite shot timer. If you are serious about improving your performance, check it out – it even works for dry fire.
Cons
My only three complaints are the price, holster availability, and proprietary magazine. At around the $2,500 mark, a Staccato C is not a budget option, but you get what you pay for. The build quality is top tier.
As for holster availability, while you can make it work on certain 2011 holsters, it is hit or miss. Because of the larger frame, not all 2011 holsters will work. Since it was only released in 2024, not all holster manufacturers have started producing V3 gen-specific models.
