First Impressions
The first thought I had about this gun was, “That’s a weird name” – but I’m apparently old now and miss trends or choose not to accept them. Even Dictionary.com recognizes Brat to mean “confidently rebellious, unapologetically bold, and playfully defiant.” When you chamber the gun in the Lord’s caliber of .45 ACP and pair it with the short barrel, it can strike some of those cords.
Girsan gives you two 11-round magazines with the gun in an unassuming case. Upon picking up the gun, I immediately liked some features, but there was one thing I wish I could change. Let’s start with the good stuff.
The grip is nicely textured all the way around and welds to the hand well. The rear grip safety is positive and easy to actuate; the same can be said of the ambidextrous slide safety. The magwell is also large and flared, making magazine changes easy. It’s also removable if you’d like to swap it out. On the bottom you have a full-length accessory rail, providing lots of options for lights and lasers.
The one thing I immediately didn’t like about the grip is that the mag release is just a touch far for my hands. The grip is very large for my average-sized hands, and there is no way to adjust it, so to release the magazine I need to break my grip significantly. The same can be said about the slide stop/release.
The trigger felt fine upon the first few dry fires. It’s not the nicest 1911 trigger I’ve ever felt, but it’s nothing to poo-poo, either. There is a little bit of take-up to get to the wall, just a tiny creep at the wall, and a clean break. Reset is short and audible to get you back on target.
(Photo: Seth Rodgers/Guns.com)
Specs
Caliber: .45 ACP
Capacity: 11+1
Overall Length: 7 inches
Barrel Length: 3.4 inches
Height: 5.75 inches
Weight: 1.4 pounds
comparisons
I couldn’t find any 2011 substitutes in our Certified Used collection when I was looking for a comparison, but I did find a Kimber Custom Shop Ultra Stainless II 1911 on site. Since I already had a Yaqui holster for a 1911, it just made too much sense not to get. The Kimber comes in significantly slimmer than the Brat, but it also has a four-round disadvantage.
The Kimber has the looks a 1911 enthusiast will love, while the Brat has more of that tactical vibe. Let’s see how it stacks up to a couple others in my inventory.
EAA also sent along a Girsan 2311 Witness Match to test, but in 9mm as opposed to the .45 ACP that I have in the Brat. The Match features a more refined trigger meant for competition and target shooting.
Compared to the M&P 2.0 10mm, the Brat is a bit larger in some ways and smaller in others. The capacity advantage of the Brat is impressive compared to the Kimber but falls a bit short of the 10mm striker-fired pistol.
Of course, if you want a little more bling to your bang, Girsan also makes the Spoiled Brat. This version sports a gold slide, safety selector, grip safety, hammer, locking pin, and magazine release for those who want to up their sophistication. Senior Editor, Chris Eger, got one in for review has been showing it off to the fellow writers as of late.
Initial Shots
It’s been a while since I’ve shot either a .45 or a 1911-- I almost exclusively shoot 9mm these days-- so there was both a surprise and a bit of a training curve in the first couple of magazines. I paired the Brat with some 230-grain Federal Punch, which I’ve always found to be a bit spicy. Sending rounds downrange out of the 3.4-inch barrel proved that to be true.
While the gun is significantly heavier than guns I’m used to testing, it didn’t mitigate the recoil as I would have hoped. You can expect a good bit of recoil. Again, some of that could be me not having shot the Lord’s caliber in a while. After about four or five magazines, I found myself getting used to it and grouping shots decently with an average cadence of 1-2 seconds between fire.
The low-profile Novak-style sights worked well enough, though if I were to keep this gun for defensive purposes, I could see wanting to upgrade to night sights. Finally, I wish there were front slide serrations on this gun. It’s become a fairly standard feature, to the point where I find myself going to the front of the slide first to put the gun into battery.
Carrying the Brat
One day while scrolling through my Instagram feed, I came across the guys at QVO Tactical making a holster for the 2311 Brat. They make great content but even better holsters, so almost on a lark I ordered one for this gun. I hadn’t ever run up the round count on this to use it as my primary EDC, but I carried it off and on as a backup gun for about a month.
It carries a bit like a brick on the hip, especially compared to the smaller Kimber, which I rotated in as a backup some days. For those reasons, and because I wasn’t ready to give up the AIWB spot that my EDC takes up on the belt, I decided to get an OWB holster.
Perhaps I was too optimistic that the OWB would conceal a bit better, or this gun just carries a bit big. I think it’s probably a combination of both. The oversized flared magwell, while great for quick reloads, is a blowhard for printing and tends to dig into the skin a bit while sitting at a desk typing.
Printing became the real issue, as it was difficult to find any garment that could conceal the Brat. I also found carrying it around the house a bit cumbersome, bumping into all sorts of objects. These are issues I wasn’t necessarily having with the Kimber.
For these reasons, it’s probably not a gun I would carry very often, if at all, in this configuration. Still, the print of the holster and look of the gun pair nicely.
Running Up the Round Count
After the initial range visit, I took the Brat back out a handful of times, with two particular visits running the round count into the hundreds. Especially compared to the Kimber, the “thump” of the .45 ACP was never taken away, though some ammo fared better than others. I found 230-grain Federal Syntech pleasant to shoot, and it held groups well.
Meanwhile, ammo selections such Federal Punch or S&B still packed quite a bit of that initial “thump,” which could make shooting uncomfortable for some. Upon breaking down the gun, it’s evident why this straight blowback might pack such a punch. A polymer frame, while great for cutting down on weight, doesn’t do much mitigate recoil.
I typically shot the Brat as my first gun at the range, and it was always a bit of a wake-up. After around 50 rounds, my hands got used to it, and groups started forming a bit better. Accuracy was never something to brag about, but still plenty serviceable for self-defense. Then again, it’s a short 3.4-inch barrel, so quarter-sized groups probably shouldn’t be expected.
I put just over 500 rounds through the Brat, mostly Federal Syntech and S&B 230-grain FMJ training ammo, with select rounds of Federal Punch and Hornady Critical Defense making an appearance. In that time, the gun experienced several failures to chamber a new round. This happened across both Federal ammunitions and the S&B, so it doesn’t appear to be ammo-specific. It’s an easy enough malfunction to clear, but it should be noted.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Cool-looking gun
- 11+1 capacity in the venerable .45 ACP
- Budget-friendly double-stack 1911
- Gold and black finish brings the fashion
- Flared magwell makes mag changes easy
- Ambidextrous safety
- Bull barrel aids in accuracy
Cons:
- Several malfunctions in limited testing
- Carries bigger than it weighs and magwell tended to pinch the skin
-
Not optics ready
Conclusion
Brat Summer of 2024 may have passed, but you can still “be brat” with a Girsan 2311SC Brat at your side. Double-stack 1911s are lots of fun, and Girsan has put together one that could be a real treat for your next range visit, especially if you decide to take the gold and black option. Have some fun in 2025! Be a little rebellious and grab a 2311 Brat.
