RE-Optimized: Staccato C2 EDC

Way back in Concealment Issue 35 we took a Staccato C2 and worked it over for our OPTIMIZED column. Since then, this pistol has remained unchanged from its final form at the end of that article, faithfully serving as the author’s EDC pistol for nearly three years. But, as they say, it’s never too late to change, and it was about time to refresh this space blaster of a carry gun. To read about the first round of upgrades, you can visit the original article here.

For the sake of brevity, we’re going to focus on what we changed…

GRIP WORK

The C2 is Staccato’s only model to feature what they call their Officer Double Stack (ODS) grip. The accepts standard pattern 2011 magazine but is slightly shorter, running a 16-round flush-fit magazine as opposed to the standard 17-round stick. 

While you can use longer mags in the shorter grip, the 2011 design does not feature any protection against over-insertion meaning you could potentially damage your ejector if reloading larger mags under duress. Furthermore, the ODS grip size and accompanying 16-round magazine are not nearly as popular in the DS1911 market at large, making them generally harder to come by and less cross-compatible. 

It was these concerns that led us to a seemingly counterintuitive decision: swapping to a full-size 2011 grip module. While there is a slightly increased risk of printing under a cover shirt, the length difference is about half an inch, and the swap would allow us to run the same full-size mags in our carry gun and range gun without risk of over-insertion damage.

There are a number of 2011 grip modules available in the aftermarket, but we were intrigued by the unique simplicity of the MJD Solutions Bald Grip. Exactly what it sounds like, the Bald Grip is a slick grip module meant to be a blank slate for coating/texture artists like P4 Coatings, who is responsible for the finished look on this particular grip. The Bald Grip is available in a variety of colors. 

We chose FDE, which was then coated with KG Gun Kote to preserve the two-tone, black-and-tan colorway. Some folks have complained that 2011 grips—and OG Staccato grips in particular—are too bulky to grip securely. The MJD grip feels slightly narrower than the OEM grips and the P4 texture job seemed to take another bite out of the bulk. 

The end result was a slightly longer, noticeably thinner carry grip that now offered seamless compatibility with our range/match 2011s that all feature full-size grips.

Finally, we replaced the MJD polymer mainspring housing with a steel unit from Dawson Precision. This adds 1.65 ounces of weight to the heel of the pistol. While it doesn’t sound like much, the lightweight aluminum frame of the C2 could stand a little counter-balancing and dropping the center of gravity down a little bit with something as simple as a high-mass mainspring housing seemed like a no-brainer of a swap.

MAG CAPACITY

Swapping to a full-size grip led us to take a look at our magazines. Traditional capacity for 2011s is 17 rounds, which is about industry standard. But Check Mate recently released an Ultra-High Capacity (UHC) magazine. This magazine is dimensionally identical to the standard 17-round stick, but with a capacity of 19 rounds. Because more bullets is always better, we were intrigued by the idea of being able to up our EDC pistol to a 19+1 capacity while still maintaining the concealability of a flush-fit mag. We experienced no feeding issues with the UHC’s whatsoever and were even able to insert them, fully loaded, into our C2 with the slide closed and a round in the chamber. 

CARRY HOLSTER

Of course, carrying a gun is about more than just the gun – a tragically overlooked fact across much of the concealed carry world. A proper holster and belt is the very thing that allows this hog leg of a handgun to be concealable in the first place. Hiding a full-size service pistol with weaponlight, compensator, and red dot optic takes some pretty aggressive holster design. We’ve been fans of LAS Concealment for years, and this pistol previously rode in their Saya 2.0 holster without issue. 

But the team at LAS recently released their Tanto – a legitimately innovative design that takes all the good of the Saya and elevates it above and beyond. Not only does the Tanto feature a pair of the vaunted DCC belt clips but places them along the holster’s contours to maximize concealment. The modular wing design, including the ramped wedge options shown on our sample here, pulls even full-size pistols tight to the body, burying them in the natural curves of the torso to make even this hefty handgun disappear under jeans and a t-shirt. 

The Tanto is also semi-universal. Retention is off the weapon light, not the trigger guard. So, our X300 model will fit almost any pistol wearing that particular light.

In keeping with our go-big-or-go-home carry philosophy, it takes an especially well thought out mag pouch to conceal a 20-round Staccato mag as a backup. We’ve been using the Gray Fighter Gear Sanguis pouch, an ultra-minimalist, ultra-modular pouch originally designed to hold tourniquets. 

It’s deep concealment ability and demure frame allowed us to keep a rather large reload under wraps. But, along with their new holster, LAS has also launched the Enso mag pouch. We had some doubts about this pouch at first, primarily because of the rakish angle it keeps the magazine positioned at. But we were happy to eat a warm plate of crow after carrying with the Enso for a couple of hours. 

Said angle seems to tuck the butt of a 20-round mag in the hollow just below our floating ribs, keeping it out of sight even under summer weight shirts. While not empirically documented, our dry-practice reloads felt smoother and a little quicker out of the angled pouch versus every other vertically-oriented mag pouch we’ve worked with. As a bonus, this frees up our Gray Fighter Sanguis to do its intended job of carrying a tourniquet.

While none of these changes were earth shattering or effort-intensive, the result was a facelift that played to this pistol’s existing strengths while adding some fresh enhancements that leaves us with a compensated, red dot, light-bearing pistol carrying 20 rounds on tap with another 20 on standby – all of which is still easily concealed under our regular wardrobe. 

Why you can trust RECOIL

---

Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. 

Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. 

At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. 

Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products.

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOIL

For years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included).

Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.

You want this. Trust Us.