There are some really nice guns out there. And with fifteen years (and counting!) in the firearms industry with too many events and range days to count, I can confidently say I’ve shot some really nice guns. At home, I’ve got a few, too, including a Nighthawk T3, which by all accounts would fall in the R.N.G. category. I recently got my hands on the Staccato HD C3.6 to find out if it lived up to its reputation as top-tier.
Back in the day, I was aware of a high-end firearms company called STI (Strayer-Tripp International) that made race guns that looked different and much cooler than other guns.
These double-stack 2011s were finely tuned and had all the bells and whistles, like hard-chrome two-toned finishes, integrated compensators, and insanely good single-action triggers with a 2- to 2.5-pound trigger pull. If you could get someone to let you try one at your local IDPA or USPSA match, you were blown away by how flat and how fast they shot.
I think it was around SHOT Show 2020 when I began to hear buzz about Staccato, and it didn’t take long to find out that the company was formerly known as STI.
STI Becomes Staccato
In 2019 they decided to go in a different direction and design guns for both law enforcement and general use. They named the company after the STI model Staccato, their most popular full-size duty-carry gun — sort of the “tactical” sibling to the race guns.
The transition yielded a line of high-performance 2011-style pistols, which are essentially modern evolutions of the classic 1911 platform with double-stack magazines, optics-ready slides, and competition-grade manufacturing.
Staccato’s HD series takes this to the next level with designs specifically tailored for carry and accepting Glock-pattern magazines. The C3.6 is the smallest in the HD lineup, featuring a 3.6-inch bull barrel housed in a lightweight aluminum frame.
This design allows for easier concealment without compromising the shootability that Staccato is renowned for.
Chambered in 9mm with a 15+1 capacity and flush-fit mags, the HD C3.6 is clearly designed primarily as a carry pistol. The precision-engineered aluminum-alloy frame contributes to its light weight: around 24 ounces empty. This makes it noticeably lighter than Staccato’s full-size models while still maintaining the signature 2011 design and ergonomics.
The overall length of the pistol is compact at 7.1 inches, with a height of 4.8 inches, putting it right in the sweet spot of suitability for concealed carry in an IWB or appendix holster.
The trigger is a crisp single-action pull with a weight range of 4-4.5 lbs. The pistol is optics-ready for popular red dots like the Trijicon RMR I paired with it.
It ships with 15-round Mec-Gar magazines (two, three, or four, depending on which package you purchase), but it’s compatible with most Glock-pattern magazines as well as higher-capacity options from the Staccato ecosystem.
The pistol is available in finishes of stainless steel or DLC on the barrel, and the slide features aggressive serrations for easy manipulation.
One standout feature of the HD C3.6 is its true ambidextrous design. Both the safety and the slide catch are fully ambidextrous, making it the first time I’d seen an ambi slide catch on a 1911/2011-style platform. This makes the gun genuinely user-friendly for left-handed users or anyone who needs to switch hands on the fly.
As weapon-mounted lights are somewhat commonplace on defensive use pistols, the HD C3.6 does have a rail, but it’s short and may not provide enough space for some common gun lights.
First Pass: The Staccato HD C3.6 with Iron Sights
I historically have always preferred shooting pistols using iron sights versus optics, so my first run with the HD C3.6 was at an indoor range.
Despite its compact size, well-suited for concealed carry, the HD C3.6 handled and fired with the feel of a much larger firearm. The aluminum frame and 3.6-inch barrel contribute to its compact dimensions, but the ergonomics and balance make it feel like a full-size gun in hand.
The 2011 grip angle and texturing provide a secure hold that minimizes muzzle rise, making the recoil exceptionally manageable.
I tested the C3.6 at a range of 10-15 yards. From these distances, I consistently printed tight groups, easily under 2 inches with slow, deliberate shots. At 7 yards, quicker-fire strings remained on target, thanks in part to the reduced muzzle rise; getting the gun immediately back on target was a piece of cake.
I generally prefer a more aggressive grip texture, and the grip texture on the HD C3.6 strikes a perfect balance between providing good control and being comfortable.
The factory-stated trigger pull of 4-4.5 pounds felt perfect for adefensive and general-purpose firearm, and the crisp reset made follow-up shots effortless. Of all the C3.6’s features, the reset was the one I was most impressed with.
Recoil-wise, the C3.6 feels more solid than a Glock 19, with a grip that’s bigger and more comfortable than a SIG P365 (my current daily-carry gun). Granted, both of those are striker-fired pistols, so the shooting feel isn’t exactly the same.
Throughout approximately 200 rounds of Staccato Range Ammo, I didn’t experience any malfunctions, which speaks to Staccato’s build quality right out of the gate. There were no issues with feeding, ejecting, or firing.
Second Pass: Optics and a Ghost Town
On a recent 70-degree-and-sunny Texas day, I made my way out to the epic Staccato Ranch in Florence, Texas, to take the C3.6 for a spin through one of their HAVOC courses.
I chose the Lone Star Hideout; a simulated Old West ghost town where you run-and-gun against the timer and shoot color-coded steel plates—lots of them!
This time I had mounted a Trijicon RMR Type 2 Reflex Sight, which was perfect for a course where I was challenging my toughest competitor: myself. I was immediately impressed by how easily I could acquire the bright green dot. It stood out against the Texas sky and made target transitions feel effortless, even in bright sunlight.
The Lone Star Hideout course was fun. I ran it over and over, having an absolute blast and enjoying the ring of steel as the gun effortlessly found the targets every time.
With more than 200 rounds of Staccato Range Ammo (which is manufactured on-site at the staggering rate of 100,000 per day) fired on the Lone Star Hideout course, I only had two failures to eject, which I was able to immediately clear and move on. As this was my last pass through the course and I was undoubtedly a bit fatigued, it could have been caused by me limp-wristing it.
So… Does the Staccato HD C3.6 Rank Up There with Really Nice Guns?
It does. Although I didn’t push it to the limits of competition (even in competitions I don’t push the limits of competition—I’m just in it for the fun), the C3.6’s accuracy and reliability suggest it could perform well in USPSA or IDPA with the right setup.
For everyday carry, it’s a reliable choice: light enough to be easily concealed under a shirt or in a purse but substantial enough to instill confidence.
Manufactured at the impressive 800-acre Staccato HQ/Ranch and triple-serialized, these guns aren’t cheap; with an MSRP around $2,500 (depending on package/configuration), the HD C3.6 is a solid choice for a premium American-made pistol, especially if you’re serious about your EDC.
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Staccato HD C3.6 Specs
CALIBER: 9mm
ACTION: Single-Action, Semi-Automatic
BARREL: 3.6 inches, Bull
OA LENGTH: 7.1 inches
WEIGHT: 24 ounces (empty)
GRIPS: Polymer Module with Texturing
SIGHTS: Optics-Ready (Trijicon RMR Mounted), Fixed Iron Backup
FINISH: Stainless/DLC
CAPACITY: 15+1
MSRP: $2,499.00 w/DLC coated barrel and a total of 3 mags
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