The concept behind the Oracle Arms 2311 pistol is one which caught my consideration instantly — a pistol that comes with 2011-style options, however makes use of Sig P320-pattern magazines and is designed to be ambidextrous and modular. We get a 1911-style set off that’s higher than nearly something on a striker-fired gun, a customizable grip module that features built-in support-thumb rests, and it takes widespread, comparatively inexpensive Sig magazines.
This can be a pistol that isn’t attempting to be the subsequent Glock. Relatively, it targets a crowd that favors high-performance pistols and appreciates each the sensible and finer factors of the taking pictures expertise. They’re tight, well-finished, bad-ass-looking pistols. Oracle Arms (now Oracle Protection) debuted their 2311 pistols in early 2023, and like many different keen shooters, it took me some time to get my fingers on one. I shortly put the freshly minted Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional to work — might this be one of many prime selections for a concealed-carry gun?
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capability: 15 +1
- Journal Materials: Metal
- Dimensions: 5 inches (H) x 7.75 inches (L) x 1.378 inches (W)
- Weight: 1 kilos, 12 ounces (weighed with empty journal, no optic)
- Body: 7075 aluminum
- Slide: Metal, black DLC-type coating
- Grip: OA Grey polymer
- Barrel: 4.25-inch, ported
- Sights: Evening Fision tritium night time sights (suppressor top entrance sight included
- Optic prepared: Sure, contains 4 optic plates (RMR, DDP, Holosun Ok, and RMSc appropriate)
- Set off: Single-action, flat shoe, 4 kilos 8 ounces (measured)
- Security: Ambidextrous thumb security
- Worth: $2,349
Key Options
- 1911-style set off, hammer, and security
- Totally ambidextrous
- Comes with 5 Sig P320-pattern magazines
- Magwells are interchangeable to permit 15- and 17-round magazines to suit flush
- Barrel and slide are ported (non-ported mannequin out there)
- Grip module is designed to be stippled and has integral gas-pedal-style thumb rests
- A number of optic plates included
- 3-slot accent rail on mud cowl
Overview Highlights
- Extremely flat-shooting and controllable
- Good set off
- Strong worth for the bundle — most producers don’t embrace 5 magazines
- P320 journal compatibility is an enormous plus
- Reliability points with some ammo
- Accuracy: 1.945-inch common 5-shot group measurement at 15 yards (Three varieties of ammo)
Oracle Arms 2311 vs. 2011
The 2011-style platform, a modified tackle the classic 1911 that’s tailored to make use of double-stack 9mm magazines, has turn out to be more and more well-liked in recent times with the introduction of pistols just like the Staccato P, Springfield Prodigy, and MAC 9 DS. The particular “2011” nomenclature is trademarked by Staccato, however many 2011-style pistols are generally known as 2011s and incorporate related function units. Probably the most distinctive function that units 2011-style weapons other than common 1911s is that the body is brief. It terminates behind the set off and a detachable polymer grip module that features the set off guard attaches to it. Conventional 1911 frames embody each the set off guard and grip, with grip scales hooked up to the perimeters. So what’s the distinction between 2011s and the 2311? Listed here are a couple of key factors:
Magazines
The largest distinction — and a significant promoting level — of the 2311 is that it makes use of the already well-liked Sig P320-pattern journal. Most 2011-style pistols use the identical journal — a steel double-stack magazine that bottlenecks to single-stack on the prime. These mags can typically be finicky, and good 2311 magazines are costly — about $70 every. The bottleneck design is important to funnel cartridges up into the comparatively slender body. Some compact 2011 pistols just like the Staccato CS are designed to accommodate a extra compact journal that’s much like the Sig P365 X-Macro magazine in form and proportion.
The recognition of the Sig P320 platform and adoption by the U.S. navy ensures that the journal market is well-supported. You should purchase new Sig P320 mags for about $40, and high quality aftermarket mags from Magpul at an excellent cheaper price.
Grip Module
The Oracle Arms 2311 pistols have grip modules which are much like 2011s in idea and attachment, however their options and ergonomics are fairly completely different. The Oracle 2311 Compact Professional has a grip module that’s designed for some end-user customization. It has a grippy sandpaper-like texture, together with textured patches above the thumb rests, nevertheless it’s adequately subtle to permit for customized stippling. The pistol is available in a completely ambidextrous configuration, however a right-handed shooter might simply grind off the lefty thumb relaxation (and vice versa).
The grip on the 2311 is comparatively thick back-to-front. It has a small hump, however the grip angle is much like a 1911, 2011, or P320. Each shooter’s hand is completely different and, although I had no hassle taking pictures the 2311 Compact Professional nicely, I might have used a bit extra materials on the rear of the grip within the internet of my hand.
The grip module is capped with an aluminum magwell that gives good traction for the pinky finger, however is in any other case fairly low-profile. The 15-round magazines movement out and in of it with little effort, and if you wish to use bigger 17-round magazines, you possibly can swap for a bigger magwell that can present a flush match with these.
No Grip Security
A function of the 1911 that many 2011-style pistols nonetheless use is the grip security. Some shooters find it irresistible, some shooters hate it and pin them down, and a few shooters don’t care both method. I believe it was a superb transfer to forego the grip security on the Oracle 2311. The pistol nonetheless has a superb ambidextrous thumb security and beneficiant beavertail on the rear of the body.
Barrel/Recoil System
Most 2011-style pistols use barrels and recoil methods that keep on the 1911’s fashion. This implies they usually have 1911-style locking lugs, a pivoting barrel hyperlink, and a guide-rod/spring plug meeting to include the recoil spring. The Staccato CS 2011 does use an ingenuitive captured recoil system, nevertheless it nonetheless has a spring plug on the finish and makes use of the 1911-style barrel. The Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional is completely different.
The barrel that the Oracle makes use of is extra much like striker-fired designs. The entrance portion of the chamber locks up with the slide when in battery, and it has a hard and fast barrel hyperlink beneath. It makes use of a easy one-piece full-length information rod and non-captured recoil spring that’s retained by the slide itself — not a spring plug. The barrel on the 2311 Compact Professional that I examined is ported, however non-ported fashions can be found too.
Controls
The Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional is adorned with slim however efficient working controls. Typically, the pistol’s grip and controls really feel a bit sharp, however not obnoxiously so. It has a triangular journal catch with a textured oversize button. To go with the ambidextrous slide cease levers and safeties, this button is definitely moved to the opposite facet of the grip — one thing lefties will admire.
The slide cease is just too far for me to achieve with my right-hand thumb so, as with most 2011 pistols, I’ll actuate it with my help hand thumb or press the right-side lever down with my set off finger to launch the slide. The controls all match nicely and the security levers haven’t any slop. The proper-side slide cease lever has a little bit of rotational play when not engaged, however I didn’t discover it distracting.
The Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional, A Race Automotive Taking pictures Expertise
Shootability is among the largest chasms that separates most striker-fired pistols from high-end 1911 and 2011-style weapons. Certain, Dale Earnhardt (R.I.P.) might drop some jaws with grandma’s Buick, however he actually might do higher with an actual race automotive. It’s no completely different with weapons. Good shooters acknowledge and may exploit the benefits that higher gear provides them. Any shooter can profit from utilizing a gun that’s simpler to shoot and usually, these weapons are simply that.
I discovered the 2311 Compact Professional to be extremely flat-shooting, little question aided by the barrel ports, and the warmer the ammo, the higher the porting labored. With a crimson dot, and even iron sights, I used to be in a position to keep on course by rapid-fire strings in addition to any pistol I’ve ever fired. Taking pictures the Compact Professional alongside my Staccato CS, the ported barrel of the 2311 made muzzle flip much more manageable than the CS. The set off is crisp with little or no takeup or overtravel, and the reset is equally as quick. With a superb grip, you possibly can pour the coals to it with this gun and your sights by no means go away the goal.
Not solely is that this enjoyable — in fact it’s enjoyable — it’s a doubtlessly life-saving attribute for a concealed-carry gun — this variant’s major function. The flexibility to shoot precisely, shortly, and keep on course is a good benefit for any potential self-defense state of affairs. When you’re accustomed to a pistol that shoots this fashion it’s robust to return to the realm of the common.
Accuracy
The Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional didn’t blow me away on accuracy. It’s completely ample for defensive functions, nevertheless it’s not going to win any bullseye matches. Throughout three varieties of premium defensive and match ammo, the pistol averaged 1.945-inch 5-shot teams from 15 yards. Per our handgun accuracy protocol, teams had been fired standing, utilizing a bagged tripod for support, and this pistol was examined with a Holosun EPS Carry optic.
| Ammo | Common 15-yd Group Dimension | Variety of Teams Recorded |
| Hornady 135-gr +P Important Responsibility | 2.176 inches | 4 |
| Remington Golden Sabre 124-gr +P | 1.955 inches | 3 |
| Staccato 125-gr Match HAP | 1.838 inches | 9 |
Reliability
I’ve excessive hopes for each gun I check — it takes an incredible period of time and ammo to check them completely — and I used to be a bit upset with the reliability of the Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional. A $2,000 pistol ought to operate completely, and plenty of less-refined handguns do.
The 2311 Compact Professional is a tight-fitting gun, and I assumed it’d want a break-in interval to work the kinks out. Once I began taking pictures it with bulk AAC 115-gr FMJ ammo, I instantly skilled repeated failures going into battery with a dwell spherical. A thump on the rear of the slide would lock it and I’d proceed taking pictures. It was unhealthy sufficient that I added extra lubricant and switched to Hornady JHP ammo, and it appeared to be advantageous with that. After about 300 rounds, the pistol nonetheless didn’t like a pair varieties of ammo and would repeat the malfunction.
As I’ve spent extra time taking pictures the pistol — I’ve fired near 1,500 rounds at this level — the problem has subsided and it solely occurs with a pair varieties of ammo, on maybe 1 or 2 out of 100 photographs. Now it solely happens when racking the pistol or dropping the slide to chamber a spherical. I’ve watched the gun carefully and have a pair observations and theories about what’s occurring — all components that contribute to a slower, less-smooth recoil and chambering cycle than weapons like Staccatos have.
Cartridge Presentation
Probably the most notable potential subject I see is how the journal presents the cartridge to be loaded into the chamber. On this grip and body, the P320 journal holds the highest cartridge at a reasonably flat angle, pointing instantly on the lengthy, steep feed ramp. P320s utilizing the identical magazines, and my Staccato CS, place the highest spherical in order that it’s pointing on the chamber.
After a lot of firing, the feed ramp on the Oracle has a noticeable quantity of copper buildup from bullets skipping off it, up into the chamber. Most pistols present some feed-ramp contact, nevertheless it’s typically minimal. The 2311 Compact Professional doesn’t appear to deform hole factors on the feed ramp, however that little little bit of contact is probably going slowing the chambering down a bit.
Put on Patterns/ Slide-Barrel-Body Match
One other oddity that I seen was an extreme quantity of end put on between the slide and barrel, and on the slide rails behind the disconnector. Some put on is regular, however not this a lot. After a taking pictures session, the chamber space of the barrel seems prefer it has end put on, nevertheless it simply wipes away — it’s materials from the slide rubbing off on the barrel, even when the pistol is well-lubricated. It’s not a regarding quantity of damage, nevertheless it signifies some becoming points. After almost 3,000 rounds, my Staccato CS exhibits a lot much less end put on. I believe that this contributes to the hesitancy of the slide to shut on some ammunition, and it appears to have smoothed out over the past 500 rounds.
Stiff Disconnector
A minor factor, I did discover that the disconnector is somewhat stiff and gritty, and when slowly drawing the slide again, you possibly can really feel the resistance from it. An enormous deal? Most likely not. But it surely would possibly contribute.
A Clear Invoice of Well being
Although I’m not thrilled concerning the issues described above, and wouldn’t be completely satisfied about that if I’d purchased it off the rack, I don’t suppose it’s a deal-breaker for this gun. It’s an early manufacturing mannequin and hopefully the parents at Oracle will get these kinks ironed out. Even so, on the final journey to the vary, I fired 200 rounds of assorted varieties of ammunition (together with ammo it will barely run earlier than) and had no malfunctions in any respect. Cleaned and well-lubricated, it appears to have kicked the fever.
Issues the Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional Does Properly
The Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional is a high-speed modular design that may accommodate plenty of shooters. It’s acquired good ergonomics, ambidextrous controls, and a fantastic optics system. It’s laser flat taking pictures and, for the worth, it’s a superb bundle with a full loadout of magazines, optic plates, sights, and case.
The place the Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional May Be Higher
For my private choice, I’d prefer to see a less-humped grip. Extra importantly, I’d reasonably it not take a case of ammo to interrupt the gun in and get it operating easily.
FAQ
Costs differ per mannequin, however the 2311 Compact Professional bundle sells for somewhat over $2,000
Oracle Arms 2311 pistols are made in Dayton, Nevada.
A 2311 is a pistol made by Oracle Protection (previously Oracle Arms). It’s a double-stack 1911-style pistol that contains a 2011-style grip module that makes use of Sig P320-pattern magazines.
Closing Ideas
It’s all the time simple to jot down the glowing critiques of the star gun that did every little thing nicely. It’s not really easy to interrupt down and interpret less-than-ideal efficiency from weapons that you just hoped can be excellent — and people are extra widespread than you would possibly suppose. Total, I believe that the Oracle Arms 2311 Compact Professional is a extremely cool gun that gives a incredible taking pictures expertise. The bundle presents a fantastic worth, and it’s a high-quality gun that may give the shooter an actual benefit as a concealed-carry gun. That being stated, I’m not impressed with taking a whole lot of rounds to successfully break the gun in. I hope (and imagine) that they’ll and can iron that out.
