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The New Staccato HD: Where Performance Meets Glock Magazines
SHOT Show 2025 was full of new products and innovations. Staccato, one of the foremost innovators in the pistol market, did not disappoint and had people lining up at the booth every minute the show was open.
Among the sea of new products was the Staccato HD, which resulted from Staccato listening to its fan base while maintaining the quality and craft the Texas-based company is known for.
The new Staccato HD with the Trijicon RMR HD. Source
It is full of new features that many of us are excited about, but the biggest draw is that it accepts Glock magazines!
If you’ve shot a Staccato, you know it is not perfect, especially if you have smaller hands. However, Staccato has addressed these issues and a few others.
We got our hands on the new HD at SHOT and checked out the new Trijicon RMR HD, so we’ll go over our first thoughts and explain why they pair exceptionally well together.
First Thoughts of the Staccato HD
Putting your hands on a Staccato is always a pleasure. As someone who is used to a Glock 19, the Staccato HD is one of those pistols that make you think, “Ahh, so THIS is what a pistol is supposed to feel like,” while remembering why the 1911 frame is so loved.
The HD is no different. Of course, there are visible changes, such as the rear sights being moved in front of the new optics mounting system that Staccato calls “HOST” and the removal of the grip safety, but outside of those, things still seem pretty normal.
Then there are ones that aren’t so visible.
Who knew removing the grip safety could make such an impact?
The most notable is that the Staccato HD can run with Glock magazines. This is a game-changer because Staccato magazines are expensive, and who doesn’t have a bunch of Glock mags lying around anyway?
The pistol ships with two steel 18-round MecGar magazines. Considering these magazines are about $40 less than Staccato’s, that alone is a big deal. That’s if you don’t opt for a Glock magazine instead. The HD is designed to use 17-round Glock magazines, like those compatible with the Glock 17 and 19.
Ergonomically Speaking
As I said in the introduction, the Staccato HD is a culmination of customer feedback and quality that is well paid for.
One issue Staccato owners had was the slide release being too far forward. This issue was especially problematic for smaller-handed shooters, so Staccato simply moved it back to ensure that shooters could reach it without changing their grip too much.
Returning to a polymer pistol after getting your hands on a Staccato is hard.
The controls are still ambidextrous, with the ability to swap the magazine release while the slide release remains two-sided. The slightly slimmer grip allows shooters to get their hands around the grip more efficiently, and the beavertail is higher, slightly lowering the bore axis.
I especially love that the grip safety has been removed, further reducing the grip’s thickness. However, the grip texture remains aggressive, making it easy to maintain control even when wet.
HD P4 vs. P4.5
Barrel lengths are indicated within the names of Staccato HD P4 and Staccato HD P4.5.
I don’t think I have to say the actual lengths, right?
The P4 has a Bull Barrel, typical of Staccatos, while the P4.5 features a Sight Block Barrel. This allows for more weight on the front of the pistol, resulting in less muzzle flip.
Both trigger pulls come in right around 4-4.5 pounds.
How Many Times Can You Say “Safety”?
One of the foremost objectives of the Staccato HD was increasing reliability. To this end, an internal extractor has been added to increase ejection and feed reliability, and a captured flat-wire buffered recoil spring has been used.
To ensure that safety was not compromised when the grip safety was removed, Staccato also added a firing pin block safety. That sentence has a lot of safety, but it is good to know that none was sacrificed to attain a slimmer pistol.
Are you still with me here? Safety is essential, you know. Staccato put the HD through many strict Texas-tough tests before showcasing it at SHOT Show 2025.
Staccato HD and Trijicon RMR HD: Match Made
Did they get together and collaborate on the name? Or was it purely coincidental?
I’m not sure, but a Trijicon rep says that the two are great for each other, and people seem to agree.
No wonder shooters love these so much.
Back to the HOST system: This allows footprints such as the Trijicon RMR and Leupold Delta Point Pro to be directly mounted to the pistol without an adapter plate. However, other footprints will need one.
When mounted on the HD, the RMR HD sits almost flush with the rear sight, allowing for a proper co-witness. The rearward piece of the rear sight sits perfectly under the raised portion of the RMR HD, making the two look like they came from the same factory.
The fitment is almost factory-made.
Conclusion
Staccato is not reinventing the wheel but is keeping the 1911 platform alive and combat-ready. With the advancements, the P4 and P4.5 are solid options for duty pistols, and Staccato is even offering $800 off for LE personnel (at the time of writing this).
I suspect that the ability to use Glock magazines will become a standard with Staccato, especially since most gun-owning households and police departments have Glocks. Hopefully, we will see more additions to Staccato’s offerings without the grip safety.
Now, to get it on the range. More on that soon!
Be good and take care.
