I put an order in today for a 4.1 steel frame, RMR footprint.. duo-tone nitride slide, brushed stainless frame.. 50% deposit up front.

Gilbert picked up the phone, both times I called in. He walked me through the build, process and offered some great explanations/ feedback.. build-time, within 2 weeks.

:O + ??!! =

The grip on the 4.1" and 3.1" are the same size--> though both can be built with the larger full-size grip option, similar in size, I'm guessing, to the C2 and P.

I almost went with the 3.1" but defaulted to my 4" preference.. The 4.1 will run mailbox optic and chandelier but @$1590 for the 3.1, it's not like I couldn't pick one up later, for a no-light, slim fit, get to/ from the market, carry option.

;D wheels within wheels, always turning.

 

I may have missed it but what mags do these take?

 

126mm MBX… so, common 2011 style.

 

I’m rooting for Gilbert to succeed with his new line. Great guy. I owned a handful of Bul guns over the last few years. All of which were purchased from him and every interaction was great. I’m not currently in the market but would love to snag one eventually.

 

They look almost identical to BUL 2011s, which isn't a bad design to model from. Curious to hear reports as they hit the market. Thanks for sharing.

 

sample size of 1 here but I'll add pics upon reception and give a detailed range report w range and EDC ammo.

"for a few dollars more" i added an inline 4x port today..

I was on the fence w porting but after reading some positive inline porting reviews, where similar inline ports seemed to be more performant than Vporting with less velocity loss, I decided to give it a shot. ;D

 

In for your review.

I too have been pulling for Gilbert since he started in on this venture. I hope it does well.

 

In for your review.

I too have been pulling for Gilbert since he started in on this venture. I hope it does well.

I have a bunch of ammo and a padlocked pole building range, 5 minutes away. I will surely let you know.

Right now I'm just tryna sort dot and light, holster.. thinking RMR HD and Surefire XR1, holster from QVO, ftw...and a few dollars more. Roger at QVO suggested their 4" 2011 holster would work but also that it could take some slight adjustment as he doesn't have the gun on hand to confirm.

 

Not sure if it's just the text on the slides and frame but they look "cheap"...?

Also curious to see how these will do and if they can compete with the carry Stacatto's and BULs

 

Cheap? 90% of the guns have lettering like that?

 

Looking forward to the review!

 

we have put together a totally made in the USA with American parts

And they are trying for a price niche less than Staccato, about in the range of a dressed up Prodigy.

 

I think they are putting together what the majority of people have asked for... A reliable 4"-4.25" pistol (w/ a smaller carry version as well) in both steel and aluminum with options for porting. That's the trend these days. I think it meets everything on paper. Reliability with be determined as pieces make it out to the masses.

 

I certainly hope these turn out to be worthwhile. I kinda don't know what to make of the extended pic rail. It seems like it creates a possible issue with annoying corners catching one's fingers/knuckles/palm when racking the slide. Curious how it works in real life use.

 

In for the review. Only a few transactions with Gilbert but tops service.

 

The only part of this that looks a little like the BUL is the trigger guard and even then it is different. Nothing else about it is identical to BUL that I can see.

The options for the Patriot seem to be built to compete with the 2024 Staccato C. CC and full grip lengths, and the BUL SAS II EDC and EDC Pro with the price point. Being made and having support here is big.

 

From what I understand, all parts are made here in the US, they did over a year of product development.. the hammer/ sear (don't quote me on this as i'm repeating from memory).. the recoil system has been totally redesigned

the UL grip was a weak point as well, IMO as it's alloy and not super grippery so the poly grip, along with the recoil management system and OPTIONAL STEEL FRAME --> FTW will deliver performance differences and I'm going to guess, benefits.

 

Also got the call this morning that mine is ready for shipment.. ;D and will be here, Saturday/ Monday.

 

Looking forward to your 1st impressions and then shooting review. It would be nice to save about $800 -$1000 compared to the Staccato C and still have a factory warranty with porting.

 

 

View attachment 1583251

Very nice. Is this pic from GP? BTW, I put that trigger on my CS and like it. What's your thoughts on the trigger under 3lb? This is for range or EDC? The size is kind of like the new C will be with the shorter CS grip. You went with the porting, right?

 

I dig it!

 

the www.GPArms.com website was updated this week..

also, today I confirmed the option for a chonky steel-framed FORZA 3.1 FTW.. guessing it would add 4-5oz on the non-reciprocating weight but forgot to ask specifics.

I'll be shooting the Patriot against a Bul UL w DSC Gunworks v6 ports.. and should be able to draw some comparisons there as well as with an XC.. Alchemy Hicap- which are in a different category as far as size but.. maybe of interest, against a steel-framed, inline ported 4.1".

 

So I got the tracking for the Patriot DS, yesterday and when I checked it this morning it was already sitting at my local, waiting for me.. unreal?!

I picked it up and inspected at the shop.. I was pleased at first handle. The grip was grippy without being abrasive. The grip hand-feel was full but the geometry felt right. The fitment, slide to frame, barrel, was tight and right, zero movement, zero rock, the slide- on rollers.

I wanted to mount the optic when I got home and then go shoot but everything I read said, let the locktite set for 24 hours. I didn't want to have issues in the future, so I took it to the range directly and shot off irons.. in the bustle hustle, I forgot my phone, so I took some candid shots [below] after.

I brought 3 different ammo cans to the range- Freedom 124gr new, 'something' 115gr reman, and a mixed dump can of '9mm' that's a blend of several past orders, including new, reman and some trash Russian steel case rounds, Sgt. somebody, don't recall but the latter, never ran well in a lot of guns.

It's 90f today.. the 75'x50 'range' steel pole building, was already 100f+ inside.. think Easy-Bake Oven.

Normally I'd open the big shed door, set up the fans but the idea of blowing 90f air into the even hotter oven.. seemed like an exercise in futility. I figured the extra heat would let me check out the grip texture, under sweaty, slick conditions.

Due to the heat and shorter planned session, I just brought the Bul UL along. At 3.25" w V6 porting from DSC Gunworks, it seemed like it would be a fair comparison.

Shooting-

So the first mag was with the 4.1 Patriot CC on the 124gr 9mm Freedom new rounds..

I expected, with the inline porting, for the gun to be loud but the report, wasn't much different from any other non-ported gun. The recoil reduction however, was a different story. The 4x 4mm in-line ports were highly performant.

The flat wire slide spring seemed light in racking but delivered excellent control.

The recoil management is where I was really impressed if not a little confused.. the gun seems to shoot as light// as the XC..

I think it's a combination of the grip module, the recoil system, slide/ frame weight, fitment and inline porting.. IDK. The Patriot DS shot flatter than any similar sized gun I own and easily comparable to the absent XC.

The trigger is amazing..in that it's crisp, has a defined break, fast tactile reset .. everything that makes a 'good' trigger, the trigger does, with aplomb.

After 1 mag in the Patriot (no light, no dot sight), I picked up the Bul UL, which has a TRL8 light on it and RMSx optic..

First off, the report from the vPorting on the UL is 50% louder, muffs/ plugs and the face blast, which seems to be the case with all Vported guns I've shot.

The larger 4mm x 4 inline Patriot ports have a more natural feel when shooting that keeps the gun centered and down on target better.

The recoil on the alloy framed/ gripped UL is significantly higher/ more than the Patriot.. which is likely, in part due to the ++ Patriot frame weight, an extra 4-5oz and from what I can tell, the better, polymer grip and recoil system on the Patriot.

Even without a light hanging off it, the Patriot outshot the Bul UL, hands down.. at .75" longer, slide/ barrel.. It wasn't even a close comparison.

I shot 1 mag with the Bul, 6 with the Patriot..

The first Patriot mag was 124, the next 115, then 124.. the 4th was loaded with both 115 and 124..

--> FLAWLESS execution with a regular ejection pattern. It was difficult to tell the difference between the mixed grain rounds.

At this point, my shirt was soaked, I had huge salty drips off my forehead in my eyes every few seconds.. probably lost a gallon in water weight while there..

I decided to burn a few mags down, as fast as I could pull the trigger.. I seent a bunch of youtubers do it so I figured, why not me?

For the burn, I grabbed the mystery can, with random, unknown 9mm.. except that I know it has 115, 125, 147 grain, steel and brass cased ammo, from several years of shooting.

Mixed in were 5 rounds of Federal HST and 5 rounds of Underwood screwdriver tipped Xtreme Defense 90gr, that travels at 1500+ fps.

I loaded 2 mags, at random and let them rip.. with again, flawless performance. Not a bobble, with a tight group, at 7 yds.

Through all this, the GRIP was phenomenal. I never had to grip any harder or get concerned about control..it just was part of the gun, unconsidered while shooting. The grip stayed planted in my hand and never once thought about moving around. The grip undercuts are deep and allow you to get both hands, way up on it.

Tomorrow morning, before it gets hot.. I'll bring the XC, Alchemy Hicap, for a more competitive comparison.. The 4.1" slide will cycle faster than the longer XC or Hicap, so I'm interested to see how they compete/ compare.

As stated, the fitment between slide and steel frame is tight 0 rock/ 0 movement but butter smooth back and forth, easy rack and no sticking points along the glassy slide path.

The safety sets with an audible, tactile snick on and off.. the grip safety is a non-factor, in that I didn't notice it was even there.

I don't know man.. I really don't know what I just witnessed/ experienced.

I had, per usual, unreasonably high expectations, for sure, as well as recent experience with some decent guns in the same size, including the SFX9 4", Staccato P Heritage, Bul UL and the Patriot 4.1 CC steel.. beat them all, soundly. It may well be the best, flattest, most shootable gun I've shot in memory.

Between all the features, the grip, recoil system, steel frame, slide lightening, inline porting, balance, springs, fitment..it's tough to say who the real hero is there but I think it's a little of each aspect, coming together in an organic whole.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow, compared to the XC and Quantico Hicap but it's more than a horse race.. at this point, either gun will have to do what it can, to keep up.

At the risk of sounding gratuitously steeped in braggadocio, I've never been more satisfied with a gun purchase and the subsequent performance, in recollection.. never had my high expectations, absolutely smashed and exceeded like this before.

Fitment rates a 10, performance a 10, smile factor- goes to 11.

Thank you Gilbert Perez.

 

Nice! Good write up. Very happy to hear that it performed so well. Interested to see what you think when you compare it to the bigger guns.

 

DAMMNNNNN ITTTTT. I needed another option like I needed another hole in my head!! 😓😓😓
I've had GP on the list but this def brings it up a few notches. Very interested to hear your next comparison w/ the big boys. I really wish a full dust cover is an option!

 

yep, I don't know what all the options are but I think he's pretty open to discussing.. and I think these models will continue to evolve.. but as is, they're pretty slick.

I'm 100% in on the steel frame. For any size- 5oz extra for better shootability, is a no-brainer.

I'm in the midst of a massive sell off and trying not to be loco here but that 3.1" steel frame FORZA is calling to me ;D

 

Very good write up! It looks like a nice gun.

You got the full steel version, correct?

 

yes, steel frame.. my preference on all guns.

 

Great write up. I've been waiting around for the 24 C long grip and am rethinking this. Especially for the price point. I could get this ported for much less. I have the same trigger on my CS and like it.

 

Great write up. I've been waiting around for the 24 C long grip and am rethinking this. Especially for the price point. I could get this ported for much less. I have the sake trigger on my CS and like it.

I was waiting for the C as well but bummed on the alloy frame.. you can get the 4.1 Patriot with the full size grip, probably order the smaller grip too, inline ported and still be below the C cost. Staccatos are shooters for sure but this gun smashes all my elevator buttons.

 

Gilbert said they spent a lot of time on the grip, and that’s a big part of the recoil reduction with these guns. A steel framed Forza is very intriguing to me as well, although I have a ported CS so no logical reason for me to get one.

 

By spending a lot of time on the grip to reduce recoil, do you mean they engineered a new material for it?

 

I was thinking I'd get a compact light, instead of the x300u but my options were limited because, afaik, US manufactured lights include Surefire and Inforce.

I had an Inforce Wild 1 here already but the light would necessitate getting the complimentary light bearing holster.. and it's a bright 600 lumen, imo better than the TRL7/8 but still 600.

I live in the sticks, on gravel and it's dark out here, sometimes for over half the day ;D so while sometimes less is more, that is not the case here.

I posted in another discussion about the XR1 https://www.1911addicts.com/threads...xperience-with.241129/?post_id=3434709&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-3434709 so I'll just post pics here of the gun/ light and when the new QVO 4" 2011/ XR1 compatible holster gets in.

I may just end up ordering another QVO 4" holster 2011 "More Discreet" IWB Holster - QVO Tactical, LLC for the x300uB so I have options and possibly use the XR1 for the FORZA 3.1 Forza | GP Arms.

As I've said above, the steel-framed 4.1 Patriot DS just outclasses the louder, v6 ported UL, in every way.. and it's only .85" longer in the slide/ barrel.

I'd expect the 3.1" FORZA to do the same.. with 4-5 oz difference in frame weight, a better (traction/ performance) polymer grip and superior recoil system, developed by Gilbert's team at GP Arms.