Wilson Combat has been in the double-stack 1911-inspired 9mm game for quite a while now, and those pistols have stayed popular for a reason. The shop has been back-ordered on various models more often than not. That is not hype. That is demand meeting a company that has spent fifty years making 1911s people actually want to own.

The latest and, in a lot of ways, the best of the bunch is the eXperior Elite.

This pistol was purpose-built for a red dot. The slide has extra material where it matters so the optic sits on a slide that actually matches the width of most RDS units. The Trijicon you see on a lot of these is a perfect example. On a standard-width 1911 slide the optic hangs over the sides. It still works, but it looks like an afterthought. Wilson built this one from the start so the glass belongs there.

It feeds from a high-capacity steel magazine proprietary to Wilson’s double-stack pistols. Capacity is 18 rounds. Those magazines have an excellent reputation for being well-made and reliable. That matters more than most people want to admit.

Trigger? Exactly what you expect from a single-action 1911-style gun done by Wilson Combat. In my opinion they have been the gold standard on this for years. Excellent triggers across the 1911 line, and this one is no exception.

Barrel is a fluted cone-style stainless match-grade piece. That configuration has become standard on Commander and shorter 1911 barrels for a reason. No downside I can see.

Ambidextrous safety is standard. Slightly extended checkered mag release is standard. This example is the standard black finish; other color options exist if you want them. Front and rear slide grasping grooves are unique and look good. Functionally they work.

Here is something a lot of people sleep on: the external extractor. Because this pistol was designed from the ground up as a 1911 gun—not a cut-and-paste copy of a single-stack—the external extractor makes all the sense in the world. Reliability-wise it is a major plus. Kudos to Wilson for putting it on there. Starburst grips are present, as they should be. That pattern is famous for a reason.

These pistols are not cheap. Two things to keep in mind. First, it is a Wilson. Resale stays relatively high because of a fifty-year reputation as a superb custom 1911 maker. Second, we live in a 2011 world where people are paying well north of $4,000 for high-end versions. The eXperior Elite’s MSRP of $3,999 does not look so bad sitting next to that.

Bottom line: if you are not a 2011 guy for whatever reason, but you still want a high-end double-stack 9mm that shoots like a custom 1911, this is the gold standard. The new hotness from Wilson Combat.

As always, stay safe and have a good one,

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