A couple other options would be the Atlas Artemis and Infinity LO offerings, albeit at a higher price.

 

I wanted an Artemis but apparently so does everyone else. Ended up ordering an Alchemy Quantico

 

I do too. Been seriously considering a Brazos custom.

SC Limited | Brazos Custom Gunworks | United States

More “custom” than “semi,” the Brazos SC (semi-custom) limited gun is a competition-ready pistol designed specifically for USPSA Limited Division shooting.

www.brazoscustom.com

 

Wow looks pretty interesting.

 

You have some good choices there. I'd highly consider the new MPA v2 LOC as its essentially an Atlas Artemis clone at half the price (sight block and all).

MPA DS9 Limited Optics Comp - V2 (LOC-V2) - MasterPiece Arms, Inc.

The DS9 Limited Optics Competition Pistols were designed with heavy influence from our Team MPA members, which includes some of top Shooters in the USPSA. The DS9 LOC is a 9mm Minor Pistol intended for use in USPSA Limited Optics Division.

masterpiecearms.com

Get the discount code on PRS to get 15% off of your purchase at MPA, brings that gun down into the $3800 range.

(I don't own one, I have no relationship with MPA, I just think its a cool gun and may be a unique combination of features and price in the LO marketplace)

 

Just got one of these and it is a hoot. Input a 5 MOA SRO on it and it runs everything.

 

@2011Dave - what is PRS? I wasn't thinking about getting one with a sight block, but that is an interesting option.

@M-Peltier - I have not heard about them, I will have to research it. Have you shot one?

 

Yes, but not the SMO optic model. It left the impression on me that I will have one. Lol

 

@2011Dave - I found it, Google is my friend. lol

thank you

 

many consider the Atlas Artemis the ultimate LO pistol (this side of Infinity and a couple of others I guess). MPA is doing something very interesting making this gun for that price. (similarly the seem to have recently launched an XC clone for similarly good value).

Use the search function here, there is a thread wherein a bunch of guys here are discussing these new MPA offerings and their very good value Open guns.

 

What is your classification in USPSA? There are quite a lot of choices for LO gun. I use an Atlas Athena or a 5.4 Inch Infinity Sight Tracker. The Infinity is more accurate but a bit heavier so a little more sluggish. I have a few LO guns coming next year so I will be most likely using an Infinity LO Bushing gun.

Getting a tricked out high end 2011 as your LO gun probably wont make you much better. You may mentally think you are better, and that may be half your battle lol

 

Don't sleep on the Bul Armory competition pistols, specifically the Blaze (the others are discontinued so probably won't find any) whenever it gets released...

 

I currently am running an Atlas Athena. I first became interested in Atlas by researching their video library. They provide a competition shooter a LOT of great information, and it becomes clear very quickly that they are competition guys at heart.
I have gained a lot of confidence in the Athena very quickly.

 

Alien creator LO 👽

 

I own a 9mm Atlas Titan (5”) and love it. After a lot of forum reading (when I should be dry firing) it seems like the most ideal setup has a shorter(lighter) slide such as a 4.6” Athena or one of the barrel block guns depending on how heavy you want the front end. Plenty of people are just fine with a lightened 5” slide however. It seems like Vudoo has an excellent reputation for quality and is probably a best value in high end 2011’s. Sometimes used Atlas’ become available. I recently got outbid on an almost new Athena V2 that sold for just under $5000. Any of the guns you mentioned are likely to run great and not hold you back IMHO. I doubt the Orange is holding you back much, but I like shiny new things also.

 

To offer an opinion on the the Stacatto XL part of your question.…
I don’t own any Staccato’s but I own a few STI’s that preceded them. The 5.4” Stacatto XL probably cycles a little slower and is a little more front heavy then the shorter guns. Longer then 4.6“ slides don’t seem to be in fashion on LO guns but I believe it won't slow you down much. I believe a Stacatto or MPA in a similar configuration can shoot nearly as good as a Vudoo, Atlas or Infinity. You might need to have more trigger work and spring tuning done on the less expensive gun to get it where you want it. You might be more likely to need to send the less expensive guns back to get reliability issues fixed. One advantage to cheaper guns is people seem more likely to modify them to suit their preferences such as changing springs, magwells,triggers, safeties, sights, dremeling the grip etc. which probably is more of a benefit then the qualities the more expensive gun gives. it might be worth keeping an eye out for a used Titan or Athena.

 

I went from a Shadow Orange to a MPA DS9. With the disclaimer I am not a great shooter, the DS9 made me a better shooter. The Orange is a great gun, the DS( is a really, really really great gun. The trigger on mine is set at 2.5# and is super smooth with just the right amount of take up.

 

I went to a class this weekend and a fellow shooter had an MPA LOC, he had the aggressive texture on it and it felt like razor blades, that was after he said he took a file to it (yes he filed the metal grip)

 

I'm pretty sure they say on the website "your hands will bleed" with the most aggressive option.. I guess there's not an exaggeration there....

 

Thank you everyone for your feedback, I appreciate it. Right now I think I'm going to Try my staccato XL this weekend at a local match. If I was smart, I would just use that and call it good. But as most of us addicts here know and do, there'll be something new to my safe in their future.

 

Good luck

 

I've been really intrigued by the Vudoo Gunworks Priest, believe that's what Max L was shooting when he won the national title in LO. Competitively priced and able to spec out a build how you want it.

All that to say, I'm not sure how much the CZ is really slowing one down. Hwansik Kim just made GM in LO with a G17.

 

Hard to go wrong with a priest for the money. I love mine. That said, thinking a shadow 2 trigger is slowing you down is just crazy talk. Wanting a new gun is fine we all like shiny new things but thinking its going to instantly change your times is the wrong train of thought. I switched maybe 6-8 months ago to 2011s and I'm not finishing as well as I did with my caniks lately. The main difference is I was training a lot more before with the caniks and now life has gotten into the way and im barely training at all. A "better" gun is not a sub for training there are people absolutely killing it with shadows in LO. Again I support you wanting a new gun but just be honest with yourself going into it. Want want it because its a new toy not because it will make us better.

Now to answer your question better. I jumped in the 2011 thing straight to the deep end. in about 6 months or so ive had a staccato P, STI tactical, 2 prodigy's I've done all the things too, a vudoo and 2 akais. also shot my buddies atlases, shot and worked on a buddies MPA. What ive learned mostly is that price doesn't really translate into performance. the Atlas were largely disappointing, i'm sure ill get **** on for that comment but thats my opinion. Nice guns great fit and finish but they shot just OK to me. The akais were great but again not twice as great as my vudoo or even the supped up prodigy as far a PERFORMANCE goes. Yes way better quality guns but it just doesn't really translate into score. I was also disappointed in my buddies MPA small things keep breaking on it and he's had to send it back a few times as well as ive had to swap his trigger since the shoe just broke off mid stage. If you're looking at it purely from a competition stand point vudoo is I think the best option.

 

Hard to go wrong with a priest for the money. I love mine. That said, thinking a shadow 2 trigger is slowing you down is just crazy talk. Wanting a new gun is fine we all like shiny new things but thinking its going to instantly change your times is the wrong train of thought. I switched maybe 6-8 months ago to 2011s and I'm not finishing as well as I did with my caniks lately. The main difference is I was training a lot more before with the caniks and now life has gotten into the way and im barely training at all. A "better" gun is not a sub for training there are people absolutely killing it with shadows in LO. Again I support you wanting a new gun but just be honest with yourself going into it. Want want it because its a new toy not because it will make us better.

Now to answer your question better. I jumped in the 2011 thing straight to the deep end. in about 6 months or so ive had a staccato P, STI tactical, 2 prodigy's I've done all the things too, a vudoo and 2 akais. also shot my buddies atlases, shot and worked on a buddies MPA. What ive learned mostly is that price doesn't really translate into performance. the Atlas were largely disappointing, i'm sure ill get **** on for that comment but thats my opinion. Nice guns great fit and finish but they shot just OK to me. The akais were great but again not twice as great as my vudoo or even the supped up prodigy as far a PERFORMANCE goes. Yes way better quality guns but it just doesn't really translate into score. I was also disappointed in my buddies MPA small things keep breaking on it and he's had to send it back a few times as well as ive had to swap his trigger since the shoe just broke off mid stage. If you're looking at it purely from a competition stand point vudoo is I think the best option.

Wow, as someone who's been debating an MPA or Vudoo, this is quite the indictment in MPA. Vudoo won nationals last year, MPA won this year. So either gun has the performance needed to win, and beyond most of our capabilities.

I've read multiple threads about mpa issues, mostly from older generations. But I've yet to hear any issues about quality from Vudoo. Which is a bummer because I was leaning more towards MPA.

 

I have two MPA's. One is the LO version for USPSA. The other is the IDPA compliant version.

I probably have 20k through the USPSA gun. About 5k through the IDPA gun.

ZERO problems with either.

MPA customer service has been phenomenal; both pre-sale and post.
I have subsequently sent MPA multiple questions about possible future purchases.
All emails have been answered in detail within 24 hours.
Some of my emails have been answered on a Saturday and Sunday as well.
I am sold on MPA. 100%.

 

Just when I think I quit them, I get roped right back in

 

Out of your list, MPA will probably be the best choice. XL probably the worse. Vudoo in the middle or neck and neck with the MPA.
I do love my Athena but a bit over the price point of the ones you mentioned. Worth it though… at least for me.

 

Is there a noticeable difference between the MPA and the Athena's recoil pattern?

 

So I use the atlas artemis for LO, but have tried out my priest for Open as I have it ported and wanted to shoot it at my local match for fun. My times and accuracy were pretty much the same, but i did notice the vudoo priest (and probably with all 5 inch slides pistols) was slightly sluggish compared to the Artemis 4.6 inch slide. Did it make a difference to me-no since I dont shoot fast enough for it to matter.
If I had to buy one gun for LO, i would definitely go with the priest for the price and the accuracy/fit of the parts was on par with the atlas. Also, in my opinion, the hybrid grip is the best grip that is a non V2 atlas grip that uses replaceable side panels.

 

For the money the MPA Ds9 can’t be beat IMO.

I have an Island barrel xl with a steel cheely grip and love it but the factory ds9 feels softer. It’s now going to my main and the XLi will be playing back up.

A buddy has an Athena and while it’s nice I like the way the ds9 and XLi cycle and return much better.

I handled a priest at a match but didn’t get to shoot it. Fit was about the same as my ds9. Would like to try one

I do want to try a sight block gun like the new ds9 LOCv2 or an Artemis though

 

I was glad when the came out with limited optics because I had this XL in 9 that I didn't know what to do with. I was shooting my XL in 40 for limited major but now I've got something to do with that silly 9. I kind of wish the allowed two divisions in a match like our IDPA matches do cause the use the same gear, for IDPA I shoot two XC's.

 

Alot of guys in my nearby club run MPA and seem to love them. Seems like quite a few had to send theirs back initially, for various reasons. I personally love my Atlas Athena. It’s a perfect pistol to shoot in a variety of matches (IDPA CO, USPSA LO, PCSL etc).

 

Just hit this baby at a fair price

 

I've not attempted to speak to Brazos over the phone however all emails, about 10 I'd guess, have been answered within a day or two.