One of the best things about having an interest in firearms is that all of the competition between manufacturers means that there is always a “latest and greatest” gun to look at, something new to look forward to. It keeps it exciting.
(On a humorous side note, the musician world refers to that desire for having the next new thing as “having G.A.S.:” Gear Acquisition Syndrome.)
Along with those new guns, there’s always someone telling you which ones are the latest and greatest that you should spend your hard-earned money on. We all have our personal preferences, of course, but most can agree on things to look for in that best new gun: build quality, a nice trigger, meets the other particular needs of that purchase (ammunition type, size, etc.).
Among those expressing their preferences, a writer named John B. Snow has a very definite opinion on what he considers to be the best compact pistol of 2023 which is what we’ll talk about today. Snow’s pick? The Staccato CS. He writes,
Everything on the gun runs well. The magazines, which hold 16 rounds, are intelligently designed. All the controls—mag release, slide lock, ambidextrous safety—are positive and intuitive to use. The stippled grip texture is, in the words of one judge, “perfect.”
The trigger has minimal take-up (which you’d never notice in a defensive situation), a crisp break, and a short reset. The Staccato 2011 CS also has an innovative dual-spring recoil system that’s unlike anything you’ve seen on a 1911, 2011 or striker-fired pistol.
Snow continues:
Bottom line, for its size you won’t find another pistol that combines speed and accuracy the way the Staccato CS does. Its 1.439-inch accuracy average placed it right in the midst of what the best full-sized pistols we tested this year shot. And with a reflex sight mounted (ours carried a Holosun EPS Carry 2), we were able to run it like a sport bike on an empty highway.
You can watch an unboxing video for this pistol below.
Snow does mention the $2,499 price of this pistol (at the manufacturer’s website), so, obviously, this isn’t a choice for everyone.
If you’ve got the cash flow for this pistol, though, and “willing to make that commitment [to get comfortable with its 2011 platform],” you’ll “enjoy this pistol and soon see why it deserved an Editor’s Choice award as the best compact pistol of 2023.”
Clearly, he’s sold on it.
Is this the right pistol for you? That depends on your needs (and your budget). If you’ve got the cash, though, the Staccato CS may be a compact pistol worth considering.
