Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Over the past few months, I’ve been thoroughly testing the Staccato C. I’ve competed in a 3-gun match, carried it concealed, and even used it at the Staccato-sponsored Area 4 USPSA Championship. Branded as “the perfect all-purpose handgun,” I wanted to see if it could live up to the claim.
With its summer release, the Staccato C offers both compact and full-size grip options, and features a heavier 4-inch bull barrel to minimize muzzle rise. It also uses the slimmer Staccato CS magazines that debuted last year. Optic-ready and equipped with a rail for weapon lights, this pistol has features that match its versatile reputation.
Table of contents
Staccato C Specifications:
- Caliber: 9×19 mm
- Capacity: 15+1 (Compact) or 17+1 (Full-size)
- Trigger: 4-4.5 lb
- Barrel: 4.0″ Bull Barrel (Available in Stainless Steel & DLC)
- Weight: 26 oz (Without optic & no magazine)
- Frame: 7075 Aluminum (Billet Precision Machined)
- Recoil System: 4.0″ Tool-less
- Dimensions: 7.6″ x 1.45″ x 5.4″ or 5.8″ (Full-size)
- Grip Width: 1.2″
- Magazine: 2×15 or 2×17
Out of the Box
The Staccato C arrives in a custom soft gun bag with storage for up to five magazines, a front zipper pocket for extra gear, a velcro nameplate with a matching pistol patch, and a cushioned divider for added protection. Along with the pistol, you’ll find two 15 or 17-round magazines (depending on if you chose the compact or full-sized frame), a cable lock, an owner’s manual, and warranty and safety cards, ensuring you’re fully equipped straight out of the box.
Frame
Aimed to mitigate recoil, the Staccato C features a frame machined from billet 7075 aluminum. Adding weight keeps the pistol shooting flat while offering a rigid platform for mounting weapon-mounted lights or lasers. This rigidity is particularly beneficial for those using IR or VIS lasers, though less critical for standard weapon lights.
A unique feature of the Staccato C is its polymer shell magazine housing. While the upper half of the frame is metal, the grip and trigger guard are polymer, blending the stability of competition guns with the lightweight advantage needed for daily concealed carry. The grip feels excellent in hand, with a slight undercut on the trigger guard allowing for a secure, high grip. The frame’s mild texture strikes an ideal balance for both competition and EDC use—providing a solid, non-slip grip for firing through stages without being too abrasive for appendix carry, preventing any discomfort or wear on clothing.
Magazines
The Staccato C is available with either a compact, or full-size grip. The pistol I received to review was the compact model, and it came with two 15-round magazines. For those who choose the full-sized variant, two 17-round mags will be included. This pistol uses the slimmer Staccato CS magazines that debuted last year. Currently, 15, 16, and 17-round mags are available for $70 directly from Staccato’s website.
My only real complaint during testing was dealing with the 16-round magazines I picked up in addition to those that came with the pistol. I always hand load my magazines, but loading the last round into the 16-round mags was nearly impossible. Even when fully loaded, seating the magazine with the slide forward and in battery was rough. To measure this, I placed the handgun on a scale and gradually applied pressure until the fully loaded 16-round mag seated—it took a staggering 127.2 lbs pushing down on top of the gun, which is just absurd.
Some Comparison
Curious about the difference, I compared the 15- and 16-round mags, only to find they were identical—except for the location of the last drilled hole and the number engraved on the back of the magazine. So, I treated them all as 15-round mags, and then everything worked flawlessly.
During matches, I often dropped the magazines in the dirt while moving through stages. Out of about 40 drops, only once did I notice the rounds becoming loose due to dirt buildup. I unloaded, removed the baseplate, cleaned the inside, and the magazine felt great again. I caught this before shooting the next stage, and throughout my testing, the magazines performed flawlessly and never failed to feed.
Trigger On The Staccato C
The trigger is one of the most essential components of any firearm, and the Staccato C’s trigger doesn’t disappoint. It can be ordered with either a curved or flat-faced trigger, but I had the curved one for my testing. Take-up is short and leads to a well-defined wall. There is no creep when pulling through the wall, and a crisp break. What I reallyappreciate is the short reset, bringing your finger right back to the wall and primed for the next shot. My pull weight measurement came in at 3.25 lbs. Staccato offers triggers tuned either between 3-3.5lbs or 4-4.5lbs from the factory.
Slide
The slide on the Staccato C features deep and effective forward and rear serrations that make racking and press-checking a breeze. It runs smoothly, with none of that wobble you get on most polymer handguns, giving a more solid and stable feel shot after shot. If ordering direct, Staccato also offers custom slide engraving which is pretty cool to see.
While the pistol doesn’t come with optic plates included, Staccato offers Dawson Precision plates on their website, covering nearly all red dot footprints. I picked up the DPP plate and ran a Vortex Defender-ST for the duration of my review without any issues. The only downside I encountered was that the rear sight pressed against the back of the red dot housing, which prevented co-witnessing with irons. This meant relying solely on the dot, but it held zero well throughout testing, and the setup worked smoothly.
Barrel
Both variants of this pistol come with a 4″ bull barrel either in stainless Stainless Steel or with a DLC coating. Staccato has also introduced threaded and non-threaded versions for each coating, offering a total of four-barrel configurations. The barrel is slightly crowned for improved accuracy and even features some fluting hidden underneath the slide.
Precision
To test the Staccato C’s precision, I ran four types of Hornady carry ammo along with Staccato’s new 136gr OTM Match rounds. My groups consistently came in just under 1″ at 10 yards. Like an amateur, I kept pulling the first shot in the groups below, but the remaining 4 rounds in each 5-shot group were nice and tight. I’m confident this pistol is accurate enough to produce even better groups and that I was the limiting factor here. Below are the groups I shot from 10 yards with the Staccato C:
Reliability
Throughout this review, I ran nearly 1,000 rounds through the Staccato C, using mostly Staccato’s own 136gr OTM Match rounds. While these are not yet commercially available, they said these rounds should be available soon. Straight out of the box, I simply loaded up and started shooting—not even adding a drop of oil. The Staccato C paired with their new 136gr OTM rounds and various Hornady ammunition ran flawlessly without a single malfunction. The 136gr OTM rounds also provided a noticeably softer recoil impulse, making it easier to keep my sights on target during rapid strings of fire. Rather than being snappy, the recoil felt longer and smoother.
While Staccato supplied a case of their Match ammo for this review, AmmunitionToGo.com is the official ammo sponsor. They consistently offer a wide selection from many manufacturers, maintaining competitive pricing and fast shipping. I’ve ordered from them several times and have only had good experiences. While they don’t currently offer Staccato ammunition on their website, you can find almost everything else. For the Staccato branded ammunition, you can purchase it directly from their website.
Staccato C Performance
As noted earlier, this pistol ran flawlessly throughout my review. After nearly 1,000 rounds of various ammunition, from 115gr to 147gr, it fed everything smoothly, and I didn’t even need to add a drop of oil. The recoil impulse is especially smooth with heavier rounds, like Staccato’s 136gr OTM match ammo.
Taking the Staccato C through a 3-gun match was a blast. Running through stages with tight, close-quarters shooting alongside open sprints and fast transitions, this pistol held up beautifully. Its smooth recoil and responsive trigger made it easy to stay on target, even with rapid movement. I used a 3D Gear Supply TLR-VIR II holster, which mounts to the weapon light for easy swaps between pistols—even allowing for a suppressed setup. Below is a video from my Instagram, showing a pistol-only stage in action.
I also shot with the Staccato C at the Staccato-sponsored Area 4 USPSA Championship. Though I don’t often attend USPSA matches these days, they offer an ideal environment to test a pistol’s limits. The grip, with its non-slip texture, felt secure and comfortable throughout the match, and the ambi safety worked great as a gas pedal, aiding in recoil management. For competitors, I’d recommend the 17-round mags over the 15-round ones, as I found myself reloadingmore than I would’ve liked in the limited optics division.
Summary of the Staccato C
All in all, the Staccato C performed exceptionally. It boasts a deep optic cut, perfect for co-witnessing irons, and has a low center of gravity that helps with recoil control. The frame’s blend of polymer and metal, along with the metal accessory rail, provides a reliable mounting point for IR or visible lasers and standard weapon lights. Fit and finish are top-notch, and I appreciate the American flag engraved on the frame. The trigger is crisp, and the pistol ran like a champ from start to finish.
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Staccato also offers a variety of customization options, including barrels, slide serrations, triggers, grip sizes, and custom engravings, allowing you to tailor this pistol to your needs. Starting at an MSRP of $2,599, the Staccato C has really won me over—more than I ever anticipated.
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