2011 Pistols
The Combat Master is a 2011-style pistol, meaning it dumps the single-stack .45 ACP cartridge and magazines in favor of double-stacked 9mm. Adding both capacity and performance seems to be the norm with 2011 pistols, building on the success of the legendary 1911 design. With double-stacked magazines typically in 9mm or .38 Super, carrying 20-plus rounds isn’t such a challenge.
The 2011 brings more modern features but keeps many of the greatest features of its predecessor, such as the single-action trigger, safety mechanisms, etc. Excellent triggers, ideal grip angles, and all sorts of other advantages have also been mirrored in these pistols.
The Combat Master
As we learned in the “John Wick” series of films, the Combat Master isn’t just a 2011. As I picked the pistol up from its case, I was instantly aware of its unique design. Like most 2011 pistols, the full-sized Combat Master feels excellent.
The dragon-scale grip gives excellent tactile feel in the hand, and the weight lets you know that you have something valuable in your hand. The sensuous lines and facets of the slide show singular craftsmanship, as do the immaculate finishes.
The looks of the pistol alone make it exceptional, but pulling back on the slide brought a new level of elation. It was perhaps the smoothest pull I have ever felt – like ball bearings on a polished steel rod is one way to describe it. Spring tension pulls the slide back forward, snapping closed like the door of a luxury car.
With handsome coatings on all surfaces, it doesn’t surprise me the slide is so smooth. It may be the smoothest thing I’ve ever felt in a handgun. Gripping the pistol, I lined up the sights, using the bright fiber-optic front sight. The rear sight is adjustable to better fit your aiming technique, but I found it perfectly serviceable as it was.
Controls
The trigger break on this pistol was as good as I anticipated. These types of pistols are well known for their clean triggers, and the Combat Master’s adjustable trigger is well worth your time. The single-action trigger has very little movement and breaks like something from a match gun. The hammer seems very light to me, but it does the job. The hammer itself is skeletonized, and the spring tension makes it very easy to manually cock.
Like the 1911s before it, the ambidextrous safety of the Taran Tactical Combat Master is comfortably actuated by the thumb, as if John Browning and the man upstairs had agreed that this is how safeties should feel. Whether right or wrong, I found myself riding the safety and using it as a thumb shelf, which was very comfortable.
The slide release was the only thing I found myself cursing on the Combat Master. Perhaps ignorant of proper 1911/2011 etiquette, I simply couldn’t hit the slide release without breaking my grip. Maybe I need training in the proper way to perform a reload, but I found it to be just a bit irritating.
Releasing the double-stack magazines was easy with the oversized magazine release button. It was just the right amount of oversized, too, easily found and actuated, but not by accident.
Shooting the Combat Master
With a few boxes of Federal 115-grain 9mm ammo, I headed out to shoot the Combat Master. My initial thoughts about the pistol went as follows: the magazines were easy to load and quite roomy. I assume that has something to do with making room for .38 Super cartridges. A perfectly flared magazine well made it easy to blindly insert magazines, and I found myself doing very well with reloading the pistol quickly.
Such a soft-shooting pistol likely has to do with weight and the recoil spring balance. The spring was surprisingly soft, allowing me to perform John Wick-like loads by simply jacking my arm quickly. The inertia alone was enough to run the slide to either chamber a round or unload a live round from the chamber.
I say soft-shooting, and by that, I mean it is controllable and easy to shoot. With a weight balance like this, I was impressed with how flat-shooting the pistol was. Double tapping was incredible, as both shots would land almost touching.
Accuracy from the Combat Master was something you would surely expect, and stacking shots tightly was surprisingly easy with the crisp trigger and bright sights. The heavy match-grade barrel does an excellent job.
Sharp accuracy and smooth operation are likely due to the very precise manufacturing of the Combat Master. Taking the pistol apart gave some insight into how this precision pistol works. The barrel slides into the slide from the front, barely fitting in just the right position. Again, the perfect fit and slick finishes show the quality and forethought from its engineers.
Pros & Cons
Without a doubt, this pistol has an exceptional feel. So, if you are looking for a singular handgun with both a performance and prestigious impression, you will find it here. As you might imagine, it certainly comes at a cost. Surely much of that comes with the name, so keep that in mind.
There are only a few things I would change about this Combat Master given the chance, and first would be the slide release, though that is obviously dependent on your hands and preference. If I were going to continue shooting this gun, I would undoubtedly want some kind of extended catch, as I simply cannot reach it with my shooting grip.
I’ve also recently become a huge fan of red dots on my pistols, and this pistol doesn’t have that option. Other similar Taran Tactical pistols do offer an optics-cut slide; perhaps the Sand Viper might be a better fit if you want to use optics.
Related Review: Sand Viper Versus Pit Viper – Pick Your Poison
Besides that, there is almost nothing I could nitpick on this pistol. The fit and finish is immaculate, looks are stunning, and it feels as good as it looks.
Pros:
- Exceptional fit and finish
- Stunning good looks
- Smooth and flat shooting
- Trigger is excellent
- Accuracy is impressive
- Shoot John Wick's gun!
Cons:
- Expensive
- No optics cut
-
Could use an extended slide release
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, the Taran Tactical Combat Master is one of the nicest pistols I’ve ever had the luxury of shooting. Much like the other Staccatos I’ve shot, it has all the great features that made the 1911 such an iconic pistol. Staccato certainly taken it to the next level, bringing precision manufacturing and modern metal surfacing to the design. It’s a perfect balance of performance and artistic metalwork, in my opinion.
The finished product is incredibly aesthetically pleasing, and a shooting performance to match. While all this comes at a cost, it is surely worth it to those who seek such a handgun. Were I more affluent, I’d certainly splurge to ensure this gun stays in my holster. But for now, it will head out to the highest bidder, and I will comfort my mourning heart with a mag-dump in a Combat Master cadence.
