These days, it’s all about capacity and comps, no matter the platform. And if you’re a lover of the classic 1911 platform, having a modern pistol means breaking with tradition and adopting a double stack mag and a 9mm chambering while keeping your crisp single-action-only trigger. The just-unveiled SIG SAUER P211-GTO has all of that, and a bit more.
The name is a little puzzling at first, but after you look at this new pistol a little bit, the lines make sense and you get the muscle-car vibe. It looks intense, and mean, and packed with modern handgun features. And get this — the P211-GTO uses SIG SAUER P320 magazines!
“Engineered to deliver unmatched speed and flawless reliability, the SIG SAUER P211-GTO elevates the shooting experience.” said Robby Johnson, SIG’s chief marketing officer. “It sets a new benchmark for shooters who demand nothing short of exceptional. The P211-GTO combines groundbreaking innovation with the iconic, purpose-driven design at the heart of SIG SAUER’s legendary heritage.”
Let’s start at the front.
MACH3D Compensator
The proprietary and new MACH3D compensator is flush with the front of the Picatinny-adorned frame, and SIG says it reduces muzzle rise by 30% and its design “uses some of the most advanced manufacturing techniques in the industry, capable of delivering unprecedented reductions in recoil.”
The MACH3D, as the name implies, is 3D manufactured and uses a “special gas flow design” to reduce recoil for faster, more accurate follow-up shots.
More P211-GTO Features
The Mach3D comp is paired with a 4.4-inch bull barrel to further increase accuracy and reduce muzzle flip, and a full length dust cover on the steel frame meant to add balance and even weight distribution, while offering a sizable amount of accessory-rail real estate for lights and lasers. Plus, it looks pretty badass. G10 panels adorn the grip and it comes with one model-specific 23-round magazines, but it also ships with two 21-round P320 mags, and, of course, you can use any other P320 mags you already have with the P211-GTO.
The slide comes optic-ready with a SIG-LOCK PRO footprint. The straight-pull, flat-faced, skeletonized trigger is set at 3.5 to 4 pounds and the thumb safety is ambidextrous. There’s also a firing pin safety, and, being a 1911-based-gun (technically a 2011), it also has a grip safety.
This pistol doesn’t ride super light on the belt at 36.9 ounces (plus a mag filled with 23 rounds), nor is it highly concealable with an 8.5-inch overall length, but it’s not meant to be. From this spec list, this pistol is designed to be a tack driving, quick-shooting beast that belongs at the range in USPSA and other competitions, or in the holster of your SHTF rig.
Now that SIG has made this significant design leap forward, it’s pretty certain that more variations on this theme are soon to follow. The SIG SAUER P211-GTO will be available to purchase soon!
SIG SAUER P211-GTO Pistol: Full Specs
Caliber: 9mm
Pistol Size: Full-Size
Action: Single Action Only (SAO)
Barrel Length: 4.4-inch bull barrel with MACH3D Compensator
Threaded Barrel: No
Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Overall Width: 1.48 inches
Height: 5.25 inches
Weight: 36.9 ounces
Mags Included: 1 23-round mag, 2 21-round P320-Compatible steel mags (10-round variant ships with three mags)
Sights: Fiber Optic Front with a fixed black rear or XRAY3 day/night sights
Optic Ready:YES
Optic Footprint: SIG-LOCK PRO
Sight Radius: 5.56 inches
Slide Finish: Nitron
Slide Material: Stainless Steel
Trigger Type: Flat, skeletonized
Manual Safety: Yes - ambidextrous thumb safety and grip safety
Frame: Stainless Steel
Frame Finish: Nitron
Grip Module: Alloy
Grip Type: G10 Grip Panels
Grip Color: Black
Accessory Rail: 1913 Picatinny rail