Quick answer: A 2011 is a double-stack, modular-grip evolution of the classic 1911. It keeps the 1911's hammer-fired, single-action trigger and steel-frame feel, but adds a wide-body grip module that holds a staggered, high-capacity magazine. Where a standard 1911 carries 7 to 10 rounds, a modern 2011 in 9mm carries around 17. The Fusion XP PRO is exactly this: a 1911-based double-stack 9mm that runs standard Glock 17 magazines with a 17-round standard capacity.
The 2011 is one of the most searched-about pistols in the handgun world, and for good reason. It takes the most respected fighting and competition pistol ever made, the 1911, and solves its one real limitation: capacity. Below we explain what a 2011 actually is, how it differs from a 1911, what caliber and round count to expect, why these pistols cost what they do, and whether they are reliable. The original Fusion shop video is right here to walk you through it.
What is a 2011 pistol?
A 2011 is a wide-body version of the 1911. The term started as a way to describe a 1911 built with a double-stack magazine instead of the original single-stack. Everything that makes a 1911 a 1911 is still there: the single-action trigger that breaks clean, the low bore axis that keeps recoil flat, the crisp manual thumb safety, and the slide-to-frame fit that serious shooters love. What changes is the grip. A 2011 uses a wider frame and grip area so a staggered, two-column magazine fits inside.
That one change ripples through a handful of parts. A 2011 needs a wider magazine well, a magazine catch sized for the fatter grip, a trigger bow wide enough to clear the bigger magazine, and the magazines themselves. Many 2011-pattern guns also use a two-piece grip: a steel or aluminum frame with a separate grip module bolted on. Others are machined as a single piece. The Fusion XP PRO is a modern take on this idea, built to run common Glock 17 magazines so feeding is simple and magazines are easy to find.
- Frame and grip: wider, often a modular grip module on a metal frame
- Magazine: staggered double-stack instead of single-stack
- Trigger: a wider trigger bow to clear the double-stack magazine
- Magazine catch: longer, to reach across the wider grip
- Action: still hammer-fired, single-action, just like the 1911
1911 vs 2011: what is the difference?
The short version: a 1911 is the original single-stack design, and a 2011 is the wide-body, double-stack evolution of it. They share the same action, the same manual of arms, and most of the same internal logic. The 2011 trades a slimmer grip for far more rounds on board. If you love how a 1911 shoots but want closer to twice the capacity, the 2011 is the answer. Here is how the two compare side by side.
| Feature | 2011 (double-stack) | 1911 (single-stack) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | High. A 9mm 2011 like the Fusion XP PRO carries 17 rounds standard. | Lower. Most carry 7 to 10 rounds depending on caliber. |
| Grip and frame | Wide-body grip, often a modular grip module on a metal frame. | Slim one-piece grip, easier to conceal. |
| Magazine pattern | Staggered double-stack. The XP PRO runs standard Glock 17 magazines. | Single-stack 1911 magazine. |
| Action | Hammer-fired, single-action. Same crisp 1911 trigger feel. | Hammer-fired, single-action. |
| Price tier | Premium, machined platform. The Fusion XP PRO starts around $1,099. | Wide range, from budget to fully custom. |
1911 vs 2011 at a glance. On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
What caliber is a 2011, and how many rounds does it hold?
The most common 2011 caliber today is 9mm, because 9mm is affordable, easy on recoil, and lets the double-stack magazine hold the most rounds. Other chamberings exist, but 9mm is what most shooters want. In 9mm, a full-size 2011 typically holds in the high teens. The Fusion XP PRO is built around standard Glock 17 magazines and ships with a 17-round standard capacity, which is roughly double what a single-stack 1911 holds. Because it uses common Glock-pattern magazines, finding spares is simple and inexpensive.
Why are 2011 pistols so expensive?
A 2011 costs more than a basic polymer striker pistol because it is a machined, fitted, metal-frame gun, not a molded one. The frame, slide, barrel, and fire-control parts are precision-cut and hand-fitted so the slide rides tight and the trigger breaks clean. That work takes time and skilled labor. You are paying for the same kind of fit and finish that made the 1911 the benchmark for serious shooters, now in a high-capacity package.
That said, expensive is relative. The 2011 platform used to start well above $2,000 from most makers. Fusion built the XP PRO specifically to bring a true double-stack 1911 within reach, with models starting around $1,099. You get the machined frame, the Tennifer QPQ finish, the tri-topped slide, and Glock-magazine compatibility without the four-figure-plus premium the category is known for.
Are 2011 pistols reliable?
Yes, when they are built right. Reliability in any 1911 or 2011 comes down to fitment: how the barrel, extractor, ejector, feed ramp, and recoil spring all work together. A well-built 2011 is every bit as reliable as a well-built 1911. The double-stack magazine does not make the gun less dependable on its own. What matters is the quality of the build and the magazine. Run good magazines, keep it reasonably clean and lubricated, and a quality 2011 will run.
One honest note on recoil and feel: a heavier steel grip soaks up more recoil, while a lighter polymer grip module can feel a touch snappier. Neither is a flaw, just a trade-off in weight and feel. If you want the recoil flattened even further, a factory-compensated model like the Fusion XP COMP ports gas at the muzzle to keep the sights flat and fast between shots.
Who makes 2011 pistols, and what are good examples?
"2011" describes a style of pistol, the wide-body double-stack 1911, not a single brand. Fusion Firearms builds two of them. The XP PRO is our flagship double-stack 9mm: a 1911-based, hammer-fired, single-action pistol on a wide-body frame that runs standard Glock 17 magazines, with a 17-round standard capacity, a Tennifer QPQ finish, and a tri-topped slide. Models start around $1,099.
The XP COMP is the compensated version, built on the same XP PRO platform with a factory compensator for flat, fast follow-up shots. It also runs Glock magazines and is made in the USA. If you want to go deeper on the platform, read our full breakdown of the XP PRO, the next evolution in double-stack 1911 pistols.
Which 2011 parts are different from a 1911?
Most of the gun carries over from the 1911. The parts that change exist to make room for the double-stack magazine and the wider grip:
- Frame, with a wider magazine well
- Double-stack trigger, with a wider trigger bow
- Magazine catch, longer to reach across the wide grip
- Magazines, staggered double-stack
- Mainspring housing with magazine well, on some models
- Grips and grip screws sized for the wide body
Frequently asked questions about the 2011 pistol
What is a 2011 pistol in simple terms?
A 2011 is a 1911 with a wide-body grip that holds a double-stack, high-capacity magazine. It keeps the 1911's hammer-fired single-action trigger and adds roughly double the rounds. The Fusion XP PRO is a 9mm example that holds 17 rounds.
What is the difference between a 1911 and a 2011?
A 1911 is the original single-stack design, usually 7 to 10 rounds. A 2011 is the wide-body, double-stack evolution that holds far more, around 17 in a 9mm like the XP PRO. Same action and trigger feel, more capacity and a wider grip.
What caliber is a 2011 pistol?
Most 2011 pistols today are chambered in 9mm because it is affordable, low in recoil, and maximizes magazine capacity. The Fusion XP PRO and XP COMP are both 9mm.
How many rounds does a 2011 hold?
A full-size 9mm 2011 typically holds in the high teens. The Fusion XP PRO ships with a 17-round standard capacity because it runs standard Glock 17 magazines.
Why are 2011 pistols so expensive?
Because they are machined, hand-fitted, metal-frame pistols rather than molded polymer guns. That fit and finish takes skilled labor. Fusion built the XP PRO to lower that barrier, with models starting around $1,099.
Are 2011 pistols reliable?
A well-built 2011 is as reliable as a well-built 1911. Reliability comes from quality fitment and good magazines, not from the single or double stack itself. Run quality magazines and keep it clean and lubricated.
Who makes 2011 pistols?
"2011" is a style of pistol, not one brand. Fusion Firearms builds the XP PRO, a double-stack 9mm 1911 that runs Glock 17 magazines, and the compensated XP COMP built on the same platform.
