Best 2011 CA Legal

[No_glonks]

A used Atlas is an easy choice for that. Or a RCD for less, but you lose the alpha grip and some of the fit, finish, and support network.

Which model? Honestly I haven’t even looked into it

 

[Hindsight]

Which model? Honestly I haven’t even looked into it

Is this just general plinking and range use? Doesn’t need to fit into a specific action shooting discipline like uspsa Limited Optics or open or 2/3-gun?

 

[No_glonks]

Is this just general plinking and range use? Doesn’t need to fit into a specific action shooting discipline like uspsa Limited Optics or open or 2/3-gun?

No, just plinking and look pretty
And maybe deep my toes into competition world as total nub

 

[Hindsight]

No, just plinking and look pretty
And maybe deep my toes into competition world as total nub

I think the most flexible option is find a good deal on a used Atlas Apollo (probably V2) and then send it in to Atlas for a once over + have them fit a new nonported barrel. That way the ported setup is good for general fun and can be flexed into 2/3-gun or PCSL or even carried if you're very brave in terms of size/weight but the naturally aspirated setup will allow you to compete in USPSA LO or if/when you don't want to shoot a ported gun such as indoors or something.


You can get a new Kovert x RCD Mod 2 or something similar that's ported from Kovert for under $6k new (including sales and excise tax) and probably snag an optic as well for under $6k.

Both are what I'd recommend in that budget range and for those use cases/flexibility.

 

[KingRansom]

Once you buy that expensive pistol you still have to feed it. So call me stupid but I'll take an ria and 10,000 rounds over the super Gucci 2011 any day

 

[No_glonks]

I think the most flexible option is find a good deal on a used Atlas Apollo (probably V2) and then send it in to Atlas for a once over + have them fit a new nonported barrel. That way the ported setup is good for general fun and can be flexed into 2/3-gun or PCSL or even carried if you're very brave in terms of size/weight but the naturally aspirated setup will allow you to compete in USPSA LO or if/when you don't want to shoot a ported gun such as indoors or something.


You can get a new Kovert x RCD Mod 2 or something similar that's ported from Kovert for under $6k new (including sales and excise tax) and probably snag an optic as well for under $6k.

Both are what I'd recommend in that budget range and for those use cases/flexibility.

Thanks! I’ll look into it.

 

[River City Gun Exchange]

Site admins said unless CADOJ comes out and says it’s an AW it’s being treated as legal for now.

Sig won't even sell the GTO into CA because DOJ told their legal that it's a lugged barrel and is an AW. Their original roster submission was a GTO.

 

[Hindsight]

Once you buy that expensive pistol you still have to feed it. So call me stupid but I'll take an ria and 10,000 rounds over the super Gucci 2011 any day

I think that's a logical take. I usually just assume people who are looking into this are aware of that or are already stocked up to some normal or greater degree on the relevant caliber and grain and type of ammo they'd need. As in most considering the purchase wouldn't need to or be compromising in any other area of their lives, finances, or training.

Like I dislike dropping below a year's worth of combined general range training, match, and defensive ammo in a given caliber and will restock throughout the year as sales/deals happen. I think many other 2011s owners are the same - at least from what I've seen. 20k-50k rounds a year goes pretty quick.

Definitely don't buy a high end 2011 if you expect the gun to make up for a lack of practice and fundamentals, but it does certainly help a bit and make training much more fun.

 

[Battle]

It’s kind of crazy to me that the 2-4k handguns have “not as good” fit and finish lmao. My first car was $2200 in 2012. A beretta M9 that will shoot 30,000 rounds without a malfunction and you go to war with is $600

This is not really a correct comparison.

Sure a Toyota Corolla might get you 300k miles but it’s not going to give you the experience of an Aston Martin.

2011’s are a high end shooting experience. Berettas, Glocks, etc are functional workhorses.

 

[Hindsight]

I think if we fast forward 5 years or more the 2011 will be the new ar-15. Prices on the AR have dropped considerably because everybody either has one and for the most part nobody really wants one at this point. You know how people's attention span is, on to the next newest thing

I think 2011s as handguns are a lot more accessible and it's a lot easier to find somewhere to train and compete with them than it is to find a decent 100 yard or further range within a short drive of most suburban or metro areas. 2011s are also a decent step above a polymer striker handgun as they provide additional capability on a platform that's harder to shoot as well as compared to ARs. Lower and mid tier ARs are very close to High end ARs in most of the ways that matter and tend to also be reliable. 3 points of contact makes them more stable, easier to index, shoot at distance, etc. 2011s also cross cut into the duty sidearm and ccw markets whereas I don't see or hear of LEOs carrying high-end personal duty rifles.

2011s have been popular in a smaller segment for a long time, but only really blew up in the past 5-7 years. Gucci ARs and Shotguns might blow up, but there's a higher barrier to entry. I don't know if what makes a high end 2011 is as scaleable as the difference between a RCD or Atlas vs Infinity, EMG, Rafferty, Venom, etc. is all the hand work, hand finishing, and customization. A lot of that can't be scaled up, especially when the actually good gunsmiths are working in a dying field no one wants to get into and CNC is getting so good. Most of an Atlas or RCD is just off the machine and then QCed/adjusted a bit. It's not a ton of hours of hand work per gun anymore.

 

[KingRansom]

I think that's a logical take. I usually just assume people who are looking into this are aware of that or are already stocked up to some normal or greater degree on the relevant caliber and grain and type of ammo they'd need. As in most considering the purchase wouldn't need to or be compromising in any other area of their lives, finances, or training.

Like I dislike dropping below a year's worth of combined general range training, match, and defensive ammo in a given caliber and will restock throughout the year as sales/deals happen. I think many other 2011s owners are the same - at least from what I've seen. 20k-50k rounds a year goes pretty quick.

Definitely don't buy a high end 2011 if you expect the gun to make up for a lack of practice and fundamentals, but it does certainly help a bit and make training much more fun.

I do understand that there are people that have very high disposable income and buying a high-end firearm or multiple high-end firearms really doesn't affect them monetarily. No different than somebody going out and buying a Lamborghini who makes a ton of money. Buy whatever brings you joy. But for those of us who don't have much money, there are much cheaper alternatives that do allow us to go out to the range and participate in an activity that we really enjoy

 

[Gawernator]

This is not really a correct comparison.

Sure a Toyota Corolla might get you 300k miles but it’s not going to give you the experience of an Aston Martin.

2011’s are a high end shooting experience. Berettas, Glocks, etc are functional workhorses.

Nahhh maybe Glocks, There are $150k Beretta's haha and the 92FS is a work of art. The M9/92FS is literally a cultural icon, very aesthetic. Many PD's use 2011's like Staccatos as functional workhorses at this very second. Your statement makes zero sense. "Staccato pistols are approved for duty use by over 1,800 law enforcement agencies across the United States"

Also Aston Martin is a really bad example... pretty bad reputation in the car space lol. It's more like comparing a Corolla (Glock) to a 911/insert fancy Italian car here (Beretta) to a 911 GT3 RSR (Taran Tactical)

"Aston Martin is experiencing a severe decline driven by mounting debt, widening pre-tax losses, and supply chain disruptions. The luxury automaker recently cut 20% of its workforce and delayed its electric vehicle (EV) plans, struggling to navigate U.S. import tariffs and weak consumer demand in China."

You do realize a 2011 is just a double stack 1911 ultimately.... literally the most workhorse pistol to ever exist, that won two world wars? lmao.

 

[Hindsight]

I do understand that there are people that have very high disposable income and buying a high-end firearm or multiple high-end firearms really doesn't affect them monetarily. No different than somebody going out and buying a Lamborghini who makes a ton of money. Buy whatever brings you joy. But for those of us who don't have much money, there are much cheaper alternatives that do allow us to go out to the range and participate in an activity that we really enjoy

100%. There are all kinds of folks in the 2011 space and some of them probably would be better served spending more time training than posting on Instagram or Reddit, but I guess what they do with their lives and money is their own business.

That being said, unless you’re like Christian Sailer or a similar level, you can get to the highest levels with near stock Glocks. Brantley being a good example.

 

[Gawernator]

100%. There are all kinds of folks in the 2011 space and some of them probably would be better served spending more time training than posting on Instagram or Reddit, but I guess what they do with their lives and money is their own business.

That being said, unless you’re like Christian Sailer or a similar level, you can get to the highest levels with near stock Glocks. Brantley being a good example.

Lol people say the same thing with sport bikes and superbikes. But if normies don't buy that equipment.... then pro's don't get sponsorship and the companies don't make profit. Ducati has to make money somehow. I guess that applies to every sport really.

 

[Battle]

Nahhh maybe Glocks, There are $150k Beretta's haha and the 92FS is a work of art. The M9/92FS is literally a cultural icon, very aesthetic. Many PD's use 2011's like Staccatos as functional workhorses at this very second. Your statement makes zero sense. "Staccato pistols are approved for duty use by over 1,800 law enforcement agencies across the United States"

Also Aston Martin is a really bad example... pretty bad reputation in the car space lol. It's more like comparing a Corolla (Glock) to a 911/insert fancy Italian car here (Beretta) to a 911 GT3 RSR (Taran Tactical)

"Aston Martin is experiencing a severe decline driven by mounting debt, widening pre-tax losses, and supply chain disruptions. The luxury automaker recently cut 20% of its workforce and delayed its electric vehicle (EV) plans, struggling to navigate U.S. import tariffs and weak consumer demand in China."

You do realize a 2011 is just a double stack 1911 ultimately.... literally the most workhorse pistol to ever exist, that won two world wars? lmao.

Way to read waaaay too much into the analogy.

 

[AR15barrels]

legal to buy new in CA

Sounds like you mean "on roster".
ALL of the other methods of obtaining off-rosters that everyone is talking about above will not be available at most FFL's as they will require an exempt person to be PPTing it to you as an FFL can not legally sell you them from the FFL's inventory OR it may require an 07FFL to "re-manufacturer" an off-roster into a different gun that they then sell you as a single shot.
If you buy a single shot re-manufactured gun, it's not going to DROS to you as the actual name that was originally on the gun and that may be problematic if you ever wanted to put it on a CCW.
If you want something that's CLEANLY DROSed to you as NEW directly from a manufacturer without any funny business, then "on roster" is what you are really asking for.

 

[Gawernator]

Sounds like you mean "on roster".
ALL of the other methods of obtaining off-rosters that everyone is talking about above will not be available at most FFL's as they will require an exempt person to be PPTing it to you as an FFL can not legally sell you them from the FFL's inventory OR it may require an 07FFL to "re-manufacturer" an off-roster into a different gun that they then sell you as a single shot.
If you buy a single shot re-manufactured gun, it's not going to DROS to you as the actual name that was originally on the gun and that may be problematic if you ever wanted to put it on a CCW.
If you want something that's CLEANLY DROSed to you as NEW directly from a manufacturer without any funny business, then "on roster" is what you are really asking for.

I don’t live in the liberal Bay Area, no problem with that here or on roster CCW rule. Not wanting a 2011 for CCW either anyways. But that’s cool. As long as it can be done.

To answer your question, no, doesn’t have to be on roster if SSE works

 

[AR15barrels]

I don’t live in the liberal Bay Area, no problem with that here or on roster CCW rule. Not wanting a 2011 for CCW either anyways. But that’s cool. As long as it can be done.

To answer your question, no, doesn’t have to be on roster if SSE works

SSE only works at very specific FFL's that can do it.
If you want to walk into ANY standard 01FFL, then it has to be on-roster or PPT.
PPT obviously is pre-owned even if it's was not fired so that likely fails your "NEW from an FFL" requirement.
Using your out-of-state father to intrafamily one also fails your "NEW from an FFL" requirement as your father needs to own it before you can do that.

 

[dshytz]

Only one I can think of is the Staccato XD. everything else is non roster. You'll have to pay a premium for any other 2011 on the secondary market.

 

[Gawernator]

SSE only works at very specific FFL's that can do it.
If you want to walk into ANY standard 01FFL, then it has to be on-roster or PPT.
PPT obviously is pre-owned even if it's was not fired so that likely fails your "NEW from an FFL" requirement.
Using your out-of-state father to intrafamily one also fails your "NEW from an FFL" requirement as your father needs to own it before you can do that.

Obviously there’s a way since people in the thread are buying them