Before You Buy - The New “Do Everything” Staccato C

9mm has long been the king of concealed carry cartridges and, more recently, the king of pretty much every USPSA competitive division. 9mm often offers a solid mix of capacity, manageable recoil, and stopping power, which covers everyone’s most basic needs when it comes to handguns. However, in the world of compact 9mm pistols, it’s tough to find one that’s easy to hide and still a joy to shoot. Most options either prioritize concealability at the expense of performance or go bigger for better handling, but lose that carry-friendly edge.

Cue the Staccato C. Released not too long ago in 2024, this 4-inch barrel 2011-style pistol takes the compact 9mm category in a fresh direction, building on the original single-stack C model with upgrades that make it great as a range competition pistol, but also make it great for those who want it to do double duty as a truly modern CCW pistol. Today, we’ll look into what it’s like to carry and shoot this gun, based on my time with it so far, to help you figure out if it’s the right pick for you and your handgun needs.

Specifications and Key Features

Much like a lot of other recent releases that share the exact same name as their predecessors, the Staccato C is not just a slight variation, its a complete rethink on the idea. The first Staccato C, a single-stack design, topped out at 8 rounds in its flush-fit magazine, similar to other compact single-stack 9mm 1911s of the time. 

The new version jumps to a double-stack format, giving you 15 rounds with the standard flush-fit mag or 17 rounds with the extended baseplate option. Where the old model stuck to a traditional 1911 single-action trigger, the Staccato C goes modern with a crisp, light trigger that’s tuned for the 2011 platform—safe for carry without a manual safety, thanks to its internal design and a passive trigger safety. This design also includes the Series 80 firing pin block which makes it much more drop safe.

Here’s the official word from Staccato: “The Staccato C is a 4-inch pistol designed as the ultimate all-purpose handgun. It’s compact enough for concealed carry, yet substantial enough for duty or home defense, delivering signature Staccato shootability, speed, and accuracy in a versatile package.”

• 15+1 or 17+1 Capacity
• Crisp, Light 2011-Style Trigger
• Optic-Ready Slide with X-Serrations
• Polymer Grip Shell with Star Texture
• MSRP: $2,599.00
  

Being a compact 9mm, the Staccato C’s controls—like the slide stop and mag release—are smaller than what you’d find on a full-size duty pistol. They take a bit more effort to work, especially if your hands aren’t huge, but they’re not quite as large as a full-sized 1911 pistol. The slide helps out with deep X-serrations front and rear, cut in a sharp, angular pattern that spans the full height of the slide—great for racking, press checks, or clearing jams - all things you’ll be doing a lot of on the range if you’re getting in your routine practice.

The frame uses a lightweight aluminum core wrapped in a polymer shell, sporting a star-shaped texture that grips well without tearing up your skin or clothes when carried inside the waistband. The lightly fluted bull barrel, at 4 inches, adds a touch of weight up front, which helps with recoil control compared to shorter-barreled micros but also features supreme precision, far beyond what I’m capable of shooting freehand and under the timer. 

Range Performance

Compact 9mms tend to split into two camps for me: tiny ones that are rough to shoot but easy to hide, and bigger ones—like the Glock 19—that shoot smoother but bulk up your carry profile. I would normally lump the new “micro-compact 9mm” category in with the compact guns, too, but they’re honestly an entirely different animal. The Staccato C lands somewhere in between a Compact and Micro-compact 9mm single-action pistol.

Picking it up, it feels small but not cramped. With the 15-round flush mag, I can just barely get a full one-handed grip (I’ve got average-sized hands). Drawing from a Staccato C holster feels natural either way, though the extra grip length on the larger Staccato frame models will give you better overall purchase on the gun for repeated follow up shots during something like a USPSA competition. 

The sights are Dawson Precision units which are a fiber-optic front with a bright red dot and a serrated rear with a wide U-notch. They’re drift-adjustable for windage with a punch—I had to nudge mine slightly right to zero at 15 yards—but they’re built for fast, close-range work. I eventually swapped through various red dots using the RMR-compatible mount from Dawson Precision. While red dots add to the overall size of the carry footprint, they’re undoubtedly much better for acquiring a fast sight picture.

Throughout the last 8 months or so that I’ve had this handgun, it has shown me that it's less maintenance intensive, adaptable for a wider variety of tasks, and of course, is extremely fun to shoot on the range with whatever ammo you have on hand. It’s obviously at its best when shooting match-grade competition ammo, but shooting regular bulk 115-grain 9mm will still see you having a great time at the range for practicing drills. To date I have had no malfunctions with the pistol using factory-loaded ammunition. 

Competition Roots, Carry Ready

The Staccato C’s DNA is naturally tied to the 2011 competition world - fast shooting characteristics should be inherent in the design, and it shows in the trigger and recoil management. The addition of a light like an X300 Turbo or TLR HL-1 will give you a decent reduction in muzzle flip, while its light 3-1/2lb trigger is easy to stage, and cleanly breaks for nice, accurate shots with only deliberate input from the shooter. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s just a range toy. This pistol pulls double duty as a concealed carry option with ease. At 25 ounces unloaded and just over an inch wide, it’s not the lightest or slimmest 9mm out there, but it slips into an appendix holster or IWB rig without printing much, especially with the 15-round mag and a nice outer jacket. The 4-inch barrel gives it a little extra length over micro compacts, which pays off in a smoother shooting experience that’s still manageable for everyday carry. As an unintended added bonus, the new Staccato C looks downright sharp. The slide finish and black grip shell combo gives it a sleek, timeless vibe that Cordura, leather, and Kydex complement perfectly, whether you’re carrying it or showing it off at the range.

On the range, the Staccato C’s 4-inch bull barrel and tuned recoil spring make a difference. Recoil is snappy but not harsh—less flip than a Glock 43X, for instance, which is both much lighter and slimmer yet is capable of carrying the same 15 rounds that the Staccato C can. The trigger breaks clean at around 3-½ to 4 pounds with minimal travel and virtually no overtravel, which is a step up from any striker-fired compacts. 

One downside: the aluminum frame and shorter barrel heat up fast. After 4-5 mags of rapid fire (60-75 rounds), the gun gets warm enough that you’ll want to let it cool off. That’s not a big deal for defensive practice, but it can get hot if you are quick at loading mags or end up running multiple stages back to back at a competition. For carry, it fits great in an appendix holster or Staccato C IWB holster—I’ve used several different types of holster designs with no issues. Though at 25 ounces unloaded, it’s heavier than most modern micro compacts - even if they’re equipped with optics.

Pros of Staccato C:

• 15 or 17-round capacity beats most compact 9 mms
• Smooth, light 2011 trigger stands out in its class
• Optic-ready slide and solid iron sights
• Easy to shoot with good recoil control
  

Cons of Staccato C:

• Holster choices are limited for now, but of course, Falco Holster has plenty of Staccato C holster options
• Gets hot quick during extended shooting
• Pricier than typical compact 9mms
• Heavier than ultra-light micro pistols

My Final Thoughts

Although Staccato is not a name that most people commonly associate with concealed carry duty, I think the new Staccato C is a great addition to the list of available handguns that can fulfill that role well, using a combination of modern accessories and proper technique. I’ve run thousands of rounds through mine so far—mostly range FMJ, plus some Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST defensive loads as well as Staccato’s special match-grade ammo—and it hasn’t hiccupped once.

I can’t vouch for its durability past that yet, but the build quality feels top-notch: tight slide-to-frame fit, no rattles, and a finish that’s held up to holster wear. If you’re hunting for a compact 9mm that’s easy to carry, and can handle its own at a USPSA or Speed Steel competition, then the Staccato C will get you through all that and more for its $2,600 asking price.