6 Best Double Stack 1911s in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

The 1911 is one of the longest-serving pistols in military history, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. Usually, the 1911 is limited to eight rounds in a magazine, give or take, but double-stack 1911s can quickly double that number.

Over the past few years, double-stack 1911s have significantly impacted the industry, often utilizing the 9mm round. Staccato does it best; if you can afford one, the Staccato P is my number one recommendation.

However, not everyone can afford to spend $4,000 on a pistol, which is where the Springfield Prodigy comes in.

I was lucky enough to test these firearms for this article and had a great time. Many of my friends even use Staccato Ps for concealed carry, while others have opted for other options on this list, so I get to play with them often.

I can achieve fantastic accuracy with them. They feel great in the hand, and the weight helps keep the muzzle down and on target.

Whichever one you choose, any option on this list will probably be the most accurate pistol in your collection.

Keep reading to discover which double-stack 1911s we recommend and what makes them so appealing.

Best Double Stack 1911 Pistols

Image	Product	Price
	Best Overall – Staccato P	Check Price
	Best Value – Springfield Prodigy	Check Price
	Best 10mm – Rock Island Armory Tac Ultra Threaded	Check Price
	Best CCW – Staccato CS	Check Price
	Best Competition – Atlas Gunworks Artemis	Check Price
	Best Budget – Rock Island Armory Tac Ultra HC .45 ACP	Check Price

Best Overall – Staccato P 

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The first time I got my hands on the Staccato P, I knew why there was so much hype surrounding this pistol. Holding one in your hand indicates the finer things in life, and shooting one is an experience within itself.

The Staccato P stands out in a world full of polymer pistols, as it features a steel or aluminum frame with very little polymer. On the range, it’s the flattest shooting pistol I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting.

While it’s a treat to look at, it’s also smooth as butter. Especially when the barrel is replaced with the DLC option, which makes racking the slide easier and more reliable (also thanks to the external extractor), it’s suitable for multiple situations, from competition to duty use.

Overall, it was an easy pick for our top spot: it’s built well in the USA and has been tested and trusted by many law enforcement agencies. Just get your hands on one, and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Check out our Staccato Preview to learn more about our favorite DS 1911.

Best Value – Springfield Prodigy 

Specifications

Pros & Cons

While the Prodigy isn’t the most affordable pistol on the market, you get many high-quality features for the price.

Those features include an optics-ready slide with forward and rear serrations, a match-grade bull barrel, and an accessory rail.

What’s better is that the Prodigy offers the option of a 26-round magazine. Something Staccato doesn’t provide. Who can argue with more shooting and less reloading? This also means you have more rounds to defend yourself with if you use it for carrying or home protection.

I could tell the difference between the Prodigy and Staccato P on the range, but the differences were minimal, with most being featured on the pistol itself.

Still, it shoots flatter than any other pistol in my collection. I would say it’s due to the bull barrel, which gives you that match-grade accuracy.

You will love the Springfield Prodigy if you don’t want to spend Staccato money on a shooting 1911.

Read more in our Springfield Prodigy review here.

Best 10mm – Rock Island Armory Tac Ultra Threaded 

Specifications

Pros & Cons

There are many features that I fell in love with while shooting this pistol, such as its full-powered abilities from the 10mm round, its flared mag well, and its spectacular iron sights that come standard from the factory.

Best of all, you get 16 rounds of 10mm at your disposal with one magazine. That makes this pistol a solid option for being in the backwoods, where the 10mm is highly effective in keeping bears and other wildlife at bay.

Of course, it’s not as flat shooting as the Staccato P or Springfield Prodigy since it’s chambered in 10mm, but the extra length on the slide and barrel make a huge difference and help keep this big 1911 on target.

Thanks to the threaded barrel, you can easily attach a compensator to the front, which improves its shootability. I’ve shot it with a comp and without, and it’s worth getting one if you’re planning to carry this to protect yourself in the woods.

If you’re looking for a 10mm 1911, the Rock Island Tac Ultra should be on your list.

Plus, it doesn’t break the $1,000 mark like many others.

Best CCW – Staccato CS 

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Back to Staccato, the CS is the ultimate concealed carry pistol on the market. It’s as smooth and easy to shoot as the Staccato P but built and sized for carrying.

The Staccato CS can also be bought with a stainless steel or diamond-like carbon barrel, the latter aiding in smoother action and the former offering more accuracy.

It’s as accurate as the Staccato P, featuring the same bull barrel. The same recoiling system also helps it feel virtually absent of recoil. Although you feel more recoil since the barrel is shorter, I’ve found it minimal.

It is slightly heavier than your polymer-framed pistols, but there are multiple areas where Staccato sheds weight, like the slide, barrel, and grips on the frame.

What’s left is what you need and a little extra to let you know you’re carrying a piece of art.

Best Competition – Atlas Gunworks Artemis 

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Atlas Gunworks makes custom firearms; almost everything about the Artemis can be changed, from the grips to the layout of the safeties, the trigger, and anything else you can think of.

Of course, when spending SEVERAL thousands of dollars on a firearm, you would hope it’s built exactly how you want it.

It’s a race gun, so it shoots flat, is as accurate as you are, and smoother than anything you’ve ever fired. It can be bought in either 9mm or .40 S&W and features a compensator to give you even less muzzle rise.

The Artemis also comes optics-ready and can be ordered with a specific footprint.

Unfortunately, since every pistol is different, discussing them individually is hard. Still, they all come standard with a stainless steel bull barrel and all the bells and whistles.

The specific configuration and everything else is up to you.

Best Budget – Rock Island Armory Tac Ultra HC .45 ACP

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Continuing on our previous discussion of the Rock Island Armory TAC Ultra in 10mm, it’s also worth considering the TAC Ultra CS 1911 in .45 ACP. This variant brings its own unique qualities to the table while maintaining the high standards set by its 10mm sibling.

Similar to the 10mm version, the .45 ACP model is equipped with features that enhance its tactical utility. The aggressive G10 grips, which I found to be a standout feature in the 10mm, are also present in the .45 ACP variant.

These grips provide an exceptional hold, crucial for maintaining control during firing. However, as with the 10mm model, the texture can be somewhat harsh on the hands during extended use.

The .45 ACP version also inherits the solid build and design quality of the 10mm model, including the smooth racking action, checkered slide release and magazine release, and ambidextrous thumb safeties with a positive click.

The iron sights, which were a highlight in the 10mm version, continue to impress in the .45 ACP model, contributing to its accuracy and ease of use.

Where the .45 ACP diverges from the 10mm is in its caliber-specific characteristics. While it doesn’t offer the same high-capacity magazine of 16 rounds like the 10mm, the .45 ACP provides a classic and time-tested caliber choice.

It’s a caliber well-regarded for its stopping power, making this model a solid option for self-defense, though it may not match the 10mm’s suitability for wildlife defense in backwoods scenarios.

The .45 ACP variant, while not featuring the flat shooting capability of its 10mm counterpart, still benefits from the same thoughtful design elements, like the extended slide and barrel, which aid in target acquisition and shooting stability. Like the 10mm, this model also supports the addition of a compensator thanks to its threaded barrel, enhancing its shootability.

While the Rock Island Armory TAC Ultra in .45 ACP doesn’t offer the raw power and capacity of the 10mm variant, it stands on its own merits.

It brings the reliability, tactical features, and affordability that we appreciated in the 10mm version, packaged in the venerable .45 ACP caliber.

For those considering a tactically-oriented 1911 without exceeding the $1,000 price point, the .45 ACP variant of the Rock Island TAC Ultra is also worth considering.

Who These Are For

This list is for those who love and appreciate the 1911 platform but want additional capacity. If you don’t love the platform, this article isn’t for you, and I say that because 1911s (or 2011s) are costly.

And if you don’t want one that badly to pay the going price for one, it will be hard to justify it later.

These 1911s are rugged, accurate, versatile, and offer way more than other pistols on the market. And let’s not forget how attractive they are.

Whether you want to use it as a concealed carry gun or outshoot your friends on the range, there’s a 1911 out there for you. And the customization options are endless.

So again, if you love the 1911 and want one with additional capacity for EDC, the range, home defense, or any other area where you’ll need a true and accurate pistol, this list is for you.

How We Chose Our Top Picks

1911s and 2011s are expensive. So when choosing these picks, we couldn’t focus too much on price since there is a fine line between good and bad ones, and usually that line is price.

Some may say that their $500 1911 is the best, but they only use it once a month on the range. It would likely not hold up in the field if it were getting heavily used, so I didn’t mention those ones.

If you want cheap, buy a Glock.

Durability, minimal failures, features, and high magazine capacities were paramount in choosing these pistols. Often, people think a low price and no failures out of 100 rounds in an indoor range make a good firearm, but that’s not always true.

So, these firearms had to perform, and they had to perform well. I used cheap-range ammo and some of the best ammo to shoot hundreds of rounds through these to ensure they wouldn’t give out when you needed them the most.

How To Choose a 1911

Choosing a 1911 is like choosing any other firearm. If you want to carry it, buy one smaller. If you’re using it to compete, buy one built for competition. And if you’re using it for home defense, buy one more suited to combat applications, like a Staccato.

Sure, you can buy a Staccato, but some may be better off with a Springfield Prodigy.

So think about it, what are you going to use it for? Indeed, you don’t need a $3,000 pistol for home defense; that’s just not wise. You can buy a high-end AR-15 for that price and be way better suited for the task.

You should run drills and work on your skills. In that case, you can benefit from the Staccato. It is used by law enforcement personnel, after all, who constantly rely on their firearm to get them home at night.

Now, I don’t recommend you ditch your Glock for a 1911. Every firearm has a time and place. 1911s are great if you don’t mind the extra weight that comes with them, but Glocks have been a favorite of many due to their flexibility and lightweight capabilities.

Another fine example is if you’re going to be in the backwoods either hiking or hunting.

Which would you rather have with you? A 9mm Staccato or a 10mm Rock Island Tac Ultra? I’d go with the 10mm because the 9mm is meant for self-defense against human targets, whereas the 10mm is more versatile.

You can use 10mm on a bear and put an aggressor down.

So it’s all up to you.

To find the suitable 1911, consider how much capacity you want and which accessories you’ll want to add.

Why Are 1911s So Expensive?

In a word, novelty. In two words, novelty and craftsmanship.

Enthusiasts of the double-stack 1911s cherish them for reasons akin to their admiration for the classic model.

The hallmark of this firearm is its single action-only trigger, renowned for its lightness and crispness, complemented by a distinctly firm reset. These handguns typically operate with a seamless smoothness and exhibit incredible precision, especially in the hands of skilled marksmen.

Their accuracy and fluid operation facilitate ease of control, enabling shooters to consistently and effectively hit their targets with minimal difficulty.

The double-stack variant of the M1911, affectionately known as the ‘fat bottom,’ enhances this experience by allowing for extended shooting sessions due to its larger magazine capacity.

Another aspect that sets the 1911 apart is its potential for personalization and gunsmithing.

Unlike a Glock, which has limited customization options, the M1911 is often described as a blank slate, open to many modifications.

Glocks are often used for combat and defensive purposes. They were made to be inexpensive, but 1911s were not.

This versatility is a significant factor in the 1911’s premium cost. Crafting these guns is a complex task, and enthusiasts greatly value the distinctive designs and individualized features that various manufacturers incorporate into their semi-custom production models.

As you can see, the more features you get and the more the community trusts a pistol, the more you will pay. This goes for everything in the firearms industry, from pistols to shotguns and rifles.

Let’s not forget how well-balanced these pistols are. You can take a Staccato or Springfield Prodigy and use it as a competition gun, and you can also use them for self-defense or good ol’ plinking on the range.

They’re versatile in that way.

Conclusion

Many pistols were considered when making this list. One example was the Girsan Witness, which is close in price to the Springfield Prodigy but not in performance and features.

It doesn’t feature a bull barrel or suppressor-height sights to co-witness your red dot and doesn’t have a 26-round option.

So, I opted for the Springfield Prodigy instead. The Girsan is a fine firearm, just not what I recommend for someone looking for the best double-stack 1911 at that price point. You can quickly get something better for a couple of dollars more.

These picks offer the best at every price point, from features to performance. I can wholeheartedly recommend them to you- otherwise, they wouldn’t be here.

So, if you’re looking for the best double-stack 1911 on the market, look no further. This list is all you need.

Be good and take care.