Firearm: Staccato C2 (MSRP: $1,999)
When we featured the Staccato C a while back, a number of comments centered on the capacity. “You lost me at eight rounds” was a common refrain, or words to that effect. Well, if you’re in that camp, then the Staccato C2 is what you’re looking for. While the C is based on the standard 1911 style, with a single-stack magazine, the C2 is 2011-style, with a double-stack, 16-round magazine that brings capacity to 17 rounds. That’s more than the G19, for those keeping score in the capacity debate…
This extra capacity must come at the expense of size, right? The C2 has to be some ridiculously oversize pistol you need a trenchcoat to conceal and a full competition belt to carry, right? Well, actually, no. With a 3.9-inch, bull barrel, overall length of 7 and a half inches, height of 5 and a half inches and unloaded weight of 25 ounces, it’s pretty close in size to the G19, actually. Yes, it’s a bit wider, owing to the ambidextrous thumb safeties, but even then only about .2 inch wider than the Glock.
So, you get a superior trigger and more capacity in a handgun the same size as a G19 with the Staccato C2. What’s not to like about that? There’s simply no getting around the price; at a hair below 2 grand, it’s definitely on the high end of what folks are likely to shell out for an concealed-carry pistol. Is it worth nearly triple that of a Glock or M&P? That’s exceptionally hard to quantify; Staccato has a solid reputation in the competition world and among elite law enforcement communities as a great performer. Its handguns run well even under adverse conditions, something we need to consider in a pistol we rely on for defense.
And, again, we come back to the idea that there are more options, and that’s a good thing. For the concealed-carrier who prefers the 1911-style single-action operating system, but wants more capacity than 7 or 8 rounds, the C2 puts it all together in a package the same size as some of the most popular concealed-carry pistols around. That’s quite a feat to accomplish, and again, I urge anyone on the fence to get ahold of a Staccato pistol and try one out on the range before making any decisions. Try the trigger, feel the gun in the hand and you might have a better appreciation for the workmanship that goes into a more expensive handgun.
Holster: Blackpoint Leather Wing (MSRP: $88.99)
While the outside-the-waistband position might be a little more traditional, especially for the single-action operating system of the Staccato C2, the Blackpoint Leather Wing is hardly a traditional holster. It’s a combination of leather and Kydex, but not in the way that leather and kydex are typically married in a hybrid holster arrangement. Typically, a Kydex outer shell will be bolted to a leather backing in these setups, so that the Kydex offers retention while the leather gives additional comfort against the body.
In the Blackpoint Leather Wing, though, the Kydex fully encloses the pistol, while the leather attaches to the sides and provides the belt-attachment points. This accomplishes three separate tasks: retention is identical to an all-Kydex rig, right down to an adjustable screw to increase or decrease retention. Second, it allows the holster to better conform to the individual’s body and carry position. The flexibility of the leather allows the rig to conform better to curves and contours, while still anchoring firmly to the best. Lastly, the rigid Kydex shell means easy drawing and reholstering, even with the rig pulled in close to the body. If you’re a fan of outside-the-waistband carry, this is a system worth giving a try.
Optic: Trijicon RMRcc (MSRP: $699)
We covered Trijicon’s new RMRcc micro-red-dot optic a while back, but on a Smith & Wesson Shield Plus Optics-ready pistol. We’ve added it to the Staccato C2 in this episode to highlight another advantage to this slightly-smaller version of Trijicon’s renowned RMR red-dot optic. While the RMRcc is only slightly thinner and shorter than the full-size RMR, that slight decrease in size makes it a better fit for smaller handguns like the Shield, or slimmer handguns like the Staccato C2.
With 3.25- or 6.5-MOA dots available, the RMRcc has one drawback to its bigger brother: its unique footprint. While the RMR has become one of the industry standards, the smaller size needed for the RMRcc meant it cannot share footprints, and had to use a new, unique footprint. It’s not a problem for the Staccato C2, as the company has a proprietary plate system that replaces the entire rear sight along with the optics cut and has been milled specifically for the RMRcc, so this combination works quite well indeed. It is, after all, a Trijicon RMR at heart.
