Staccato HD P4 2011 Handgun

I recently picked up a new Staccato HD P4 2011 handgun as a shop gun for RFV Tactical. I wasn't really that interested in the new HD line of Staccato guns when they first launched because all of their new features weren't really important to me, but they have become very popular and I felt like I needed one for holster fitment/display purposes, as well as to showcase my stippling and trigger tuning on them. I actually acquired this brand new Standard package for $300 less than MSRP, so I felt like it was a pretty good deal.  

Photos from the Gunbroker auction

I installed a new Vortex Defender ST Enclosed red dot since this gun is a new platform for me and I've never used a Vortex red dot before. Vortex's new Defender line of pistol optics have received really good reviews in the competition scene, and this new enclosed version is very appealing to me. The glass is crystal clear and the window is a little taller than the Holosun 509T, which has been my favorite optic for concealed carry. Currently, there is not an option to mount a 509T to an HD P4 without stacking two mounting plates together. I also installed a Modlite PL-350C light that I had purchased a while ago for holster making purposes, but never had a gun that I wanted to dedicate it to until the HD. I'm not a big fan of the Modlite pistol lights, but I think the PL-350C looks good on this gun.

I tuned the trigger down to just under 3 pounds, as I do with all my 1911 and 2011 style guns, but since the HD is a Series 80 system, it requires a little extra work and a lighter firing pin block plunger spring to get the weight under 3 pounds. I also went with my Concealed Carry texture on the grip module while retaining the Star logos. I purchased three extra Mecgar 18-round metal magazines for it and made a new full-size weapon light indexing holster for the PL-350C with an integrated mag carrier so that I can carry it and shoot it at action pistol matches occasionally. I also purchased a "BlueGuns" prop gun that I will modify and prep so that I can make holsters specifically for the HD P4 since it doesn't fit my normal 2011-style holsters due to it's wider frame and slide. 

I was very surprised to find that the gun felt really good in my hands. The thumb safeties don't get in the way of my high grip because the grip module is slightly wider at the top near the frame to accommodate the Glock magazines. The ergonomics of the new grip module are really good, and it feels even better with my texture work. Zeroing the gun after the optic install resulted in the absolute best bench rested grouping that I've ever got with a handgun. I was very impressed with it's accuracy. 

The gun shoots just as soft as my non-ported Springfield Prodigy 1911DS, but it's not as heavy as the 1911DS, so it transitions from target to target faster and it's easier to carry. It doesn't return to zero quite as consistently as the 1911DS, but it's still a very nice shooting gun. Overall, I am extremely impressed with the HD P4, and I'm looking forward to spending more time with the gun.