u/Icy_Home5460

I purchased the HD P4 as a CA carry pistol. When the C4X came out right after, I decided to buy one of those assuming I was spending a lot of money for a little improvement in carry comfort and possible shootability. I was greatly surprised at how effective the little carry comp was on the C4X and how much more comfortable it was to carry.

With the C4X firmly holding the position of "Primary Carry Pistol," I wasn't sure what to do with the P4. Although it remains a quality backup carry gun, I did not enjoy shooting it after experiencing a compensated 9mm for the first time. I looked into how to add a compensator to the HD P4.

Rather than sending the gun off to have a chunk port cut into it, I ordered a compensated bull barrel from DSC Gunworks. Three weeks later it arrived and dropped right it with a tight fit. I added a Staccato mag funnel and a Surefire X300 Ultra B to round it out.

The gun still fits the same P4 holsters with open muzzles, such as the 4 Brothers holsters and a Black Scorpion Gear HD Pro USPSA holster.

The P4 is now my HD P4 Comp and is an awesome range toy and home defense pistol. It's getting more range time than anything right now.

I live in CA and the only 2011s we can buy over the counter without hassle are the Staccato HD series. When I bought the Staccato 2011 HD P4, I wished it came with a 4" comp'd or ported barrel or a full 4" barrel with an added comp.

Then the C4X came out right after I bought the P4. I bought the C4X thinking I was spoiling myself by paying a ton of money for perhaps a slight improvement in the shooting experience. I was wrong. The C4X shoots so much better than the P4 that I won't shoot the P4 again in it stock configuration. With the C4X firmly occupying the position of "primary carry pistol," I'm transforming The P4 into a competition/home defense pistol with a DSC Gunworks drop in compensated barrel, mag funnel, and Red Dirt trigger.

I have read about other 2011 owners talking about a gun's "return to zero." I understood the concept but had not experienced it. I had not shot a comp'd 2011 until I bought this. I like to use a shot timer at the indoor range to time how long it takes to present the pistol from low ready, fire to slide, reload from concealment, and fire to slide lock again. With the P4, my splits average 0.22 to 0.25 seconds. Distance is 15-21' with an accuracy standard of A Zone hits only. With the C4X, my splits dropped to 0.20 to 0.22 seconds. I can now shoot hammered pairs that actually impact together. It's a wonderful feeling.

I'm not saying that I think the HD series of 2011s are better than the legacy Staccatos or other 2011s. I'd rather have a Staccato C with the slimmer slide profile and the series 70 trigger. But as long as the California Roster of Approved Handguns exists, it looks like the C4X is the best carry pistol available for me at this time.