Both TTIs are built off the XC. Is the milling worth the premium? Only you can decide.

 

Both TTIs are built off the XC. Is the milling with the premium? Only you can decide.

They aren’t “built off the XC”

They use a Staccato grip frame, yes. I have both an XC and a Pit Viper and they are quite a bit different.

 

For what it's worth, I have a Vudoo Priest with no backup irons. I was worried at first if I'd like it without. To be honest, I don't think I'd want or need backup irons on a range toy. It works extremely well without them.

 

Get the XC and toss in few grand to put in your personal flavor.

 

The Pit Viper is a movie gun (and you pay for that) and the Sand Viper is essentially the same, but different color and optic ready. If you google enough, you will find out how the Sand Viper came about (COVID causing delay in the last JW movie.) I'm a John Wick fanboy, so I have several of the different guns used in this series. MPX, Glock 34's, etc. I bought the PV and SV direct from TTI and each had a 6 month lead time and with shipping to Iowa, no sales tax. I only shoot the Sand Viper and the MPX, the others are on display. But the Sand Viper is the flattest shooting pistol that I have and have not had one malfunction of any sort. A pure dream to handle and shoot.

It would not be the best choice for a first 2011 as it has its own niche in the 2011 space and it is not for everyone. I would not sell mine for any reason, just fun to have.

 

I have a lot of comped 2011's. I have the Put Viper, the XC, I had the TTI/STI Combat Master, a couple Costa Carry Comps and a slew of other size and caliber versions.

I would say the machining on the Pit Viper is better than that of the average Staccato but it is definitely not worth the extra $4k. You're paying for Taran's name and the affiliation to the John Wick franchise.

If it were my money I would think about Atlas if you find something you really like but don't want to customize it at all. Chambers makes some very well built guns but they're fairly plain with function over form.

Ultimately though I'd go full custom, SVI Infinity would be my first choice then Akai Customs and Nevermiss Industries if you can get on his books.

For $8k, you can get a lot of gun from a custom builder

 

I think the Erebus is probably the best readily available, off the shelf comped 2011 you can get, though that said, I have come to prefer the XC over it. The Sandviper shoots great and is undeniably cool, but it really doesn't do anything performance wise better or worse than an XC.

If you don't mind a wait and a price jump, there are several custom makers that blow the above listed pistols out of the water. Charyn Precision topping that list for me with Chambers in second.

 

There are several XC vs threads in recent history. The XC seems to be recognized as very close to the Erebus. The difference buys a lot of ammo. Or a grip and lots of ammo.

 

2A IN LA just did a video on top end 2011 - maybe worth a look. I'm in the same boat. Can always get the Erebus and customize if you want. Infinity with the new drop model is basically no go.

 

My friend and I found the Sandviper to be noticeably faster than an XC. But for the money, Erebus.

 

Erebus and xc are both comp guns, but that’s where the comparison ends. I’ve had stock XC’s, custom XC’s and they are very good, but Erebus is superior to an xc in every way, except price. Generally I would say stay away from the sand viper, but I have shot one and it’s amazing. The speed, accuracy and flatness of that gun is next level - sample of one of-course.

 

For the money the XC is extremely hard to beat and will easily give you the best bang for your buck. The Pit Viper will perform very similarly to the XC just looks a bit cooler and has movie credibility going for it. Erebus is sweet as I don’t feel it needs one thing done to it once you receive it.. grip and trigger are excellent right from the factory and has a buttery smooth slide. You can also get backup iron sights on the Erebus as an option.

 

Very few folks on the planet shoot fast enough (accurately) to be able to wring out the max performance in any of your options. With that said, Todd Jarrett brought a bunch of Staccatos including an XC, and his personally owned XC to the “Staccato Days” event at my local club. Felt like playing a video game. Super flat, and very soft recoil. 99% of shooters would struggle to max that gun out.

 

"....Todd Jarrett brought a bunch of Staccatos including an XC, and his personally owned XC to the “Staccato Days” event at my local club. Felt like playing a video game. Super flat, and very soft recoil. 99% of shooters would struggle to max that gun out."

In December 2023 I attended Todd Jarrett's Competition Pistol class at the Staccato Ranch. I ran the XL for the class, but offered at the end to let Todd shoot my Sandviper as he had yet to shoot one. He liked the pistol although there was no hint of his comparison to the XC.

I own and shoot 1911s, 2011s and an Oracle Defense (formerly Oracle Arms) 2311. The Stacattos are 2 C2s (iron sights) and 1 XL, and I have a first-run TTI Sandviper. All are used at my local gun club for member pistol matches focused on tactical/defense skills while the XL and Sandviper are my non-club competition pistols depending on the match rules. I've had a lot of shooters compare my XL and Sandviper with 80%-90% of shooters preferring the XL (using my 147/150 grain factory ammo) over the TTI (with variance in the shooter's choice of ammo). Dividing the shooters into two groups, competition and non competition, informal statistics revealed the 10% favoring the TTI were 2011-style competition shooters. I suppose that says something about a shooter's preference based on skill level.

As for me, I bought the first C2 (iron sights) in early 2021 as an EDC and soon started shooting indoor matches with it. Later that same year I bought the XL for indoor iron sight matches, and was soon using it in early 2022 for outdoor 3-gun matches (initially with the stock iron sights). While out shopping for a Trigicon SRO (2.5 mil dot) to put on the XL while also considering another XL as a backup competition gun, one of my LGDs trotted out a sexy pistol they had just received, a Sandviper. Bought it on pure impulse as I knew it would likely be the only opportunity to own a sexy gun from an iconic movie franchise. I don't regret the investment as its monetary value and coolness factor have only risen over the time. Having said that, at first I didn't enjoy shooting it over the XL and only took it out of the safe for range fun days or for its wow factor.

Fast forward to this year and I've advanced enough as a shooter to accomodate the distinctly different timing between the XL and TTI. The XL (using 147/150 grain) is VERY soft with a laconic slide return making it the perfect gun for where I was in my learning curve by forcing me to slow down a tad and focus on the fundamentals. Pulled the TTI out this Spring and, surprisingly, am now faster with the TTI (the Trigicon SRO 5 mil is perfect for this gun) out to 20 yards. At my last pistol shoot in June, a strong-hand only 5-string shot at a paper target from cover at 5 feet sounded like Hitler's Buzz Saw. I still pull out the XL for nail-driving accuracy out to 100 yards and prefer the XL for 3-gun matches when there is a need for absolute confidence (from the gun I'm most comfortable with at this time), there are 4" round steel targets at 30-50 yards and switching guns isn't advantageous, concern I may need to substitute a malfunctioning long gun with a pistol, or simply don't want to bother with reloading the shotgun in a stage.

As I'm 2 months away from turning 65, I don't see myself attaining the skill level to fully appreciate the nuances of a fully custom 2011 from a high end provider. Methinks a Staccato XC is in my future, likely after upgrading to a better box fed shotgun.

As with most everything in life, your personal skills, preferences, budget, and specific needs will vary from my own journey.

 

Was it a stock or did it have upgrades like trigger, grip, etc. ?

 

One was stock, but Jarrett’s was tweaked a bit. Even in stock form an XC would make most shooters immediately better, and as I said earlier, 99% would never be able to run it as well as it’s capable of being run.

I haven’t shot the other 2, and I’m sure they’re awesome. For the money, the XC is a damn fine weapon.

 

Also in this class is the Nighthawk TRS comp and Sandhawk. As with any gun purchase, figure out what you’re looking for. The Erebus is amazing, make sure the length is OK for what you want. Staccato XC has an island, comped barrel that has a unique feel.

 

This is the biggest question of the decade so far: who is building the TTI guns for Taran……anyone?

 

no one knows who builds them. Anyone saying otherwise is speculating. I still think it will get out eventually. I wouldn’t get surprised if it was Staccato nor would I be surprised if it wasn’t. But I think passing on speculation as fact is distasteful and wrong. Speculating is fine just let it be known that you don’t know.

 

@2011lover will probably know.

 

Erebus or XC if you want to save some money. The pitviper/sandviper is the best 3k gun for 8k

 

Here is the best explanation of the Pit Viper manufacturing process and pros and cons that I have come across. TTI Pit Viper Technical Review: Movie Magic vs Realty Realism! John Wick 4 (youtube.com)
Take a look at my photo of the grip screws on the Sand Viper and Pit Viper as an example.

 

Thanks for the video. I guess it shouldn't be surprising that a lot of the expense of a movie gun is aimed at making it look cool.

 

Mine works ok.

 

I’d say XC or if you want the best looking/coolest gun than TTI. Just know you may get a lemon, and either way the XC and Erebus will measure better. The TTI guns are just sexy though.

 

If you want something that's ready to go out of the box and doesn't need anything done to it (except an optic), go with the Erebus. If you like to modify and customize your guns go with the XC. I've shot both and without any mods, the Erebus is the best shooting gun, but is not $3,000 worth better shooting. Although I have an XC and I'm putting a steel cheely grip/magwell on it, pinned beavertail, and infinity trigger as we speak. These mods might make it better shooting than the Erebus, we'll see, but with still several thousand $ less than the Erebus. The Erebus and the Pit/Sand Vipers are way overpriced IMO.

 

I have own several XC’s, trs comps, an dvcp, and had the sand viper. I sold the sand viper. Other than machining and cooler looking aesthetic I don’t think the extra $3k is worth it over the XC or TRS. I haven’t owned an Erebus but have shot one and if you are ok paying the extra money that would be my choice. As others have stated most of us aren’t good enough shooters to run them as fast as possible so any of these options would be amazing. The XC is very hard to beat for the money.

 

When i bought my XC back in 2021 it felt like such a big investment at the time before discovering all of these "higher" end comped 2011s that are $2k - $4k more expensive. After putting several rounds through the XC with fantastic reliability I can say with confidence that it was worth every penny and is the definition of "best bang for your buck".

 

I am an admitted movie nut and a big John Wick fan. I have most of the movie guns just because. I wouldn’t hesitate buying a Pit Viper. It’s a nice gun and shoots very flat. But it isn’t a value option, you are paying the for the franchise and the TTI branding. But it’s a solid shooter if that’s what you want. The sand viper would be the same just optic ready. I have shot Atlas guns and they are nice just not my cup of tea. Infinity makes a great firearm. I have owned 3 and sold them all not because I didn’t like them but I was offered a lot more than I paid for them. I am getting my 4th next month. And when I designed it, I didn’t get backup irons for it. So you have my feelings on that. The Staccato XC is a well regarded firearm and considering the market, not a bad value. The new kid on the market seems to be the Vudoo Priest. I personally don’t like the overall esthetic and I hate Cerakote on a tight fitted pistol. It’s too thick and it wears too easily for my tastes. But people here seem to love them. But the price seems to be fair. The more I have gotten into 2011s the more i have come to the conclusion that most of the ones I have shot are fully capable of running faster than I can make them. Just buy what you like and shoot and train as much as you can. When you feel like you have reached the limit and know what you like, then go full custom. I have a Charyn build coming up in 2025 and I am most excited about that because I feel like I will get it built exactly how I like it and I know the quality will be impeccable.

 

Just buy what you like and shoot and train as much as you can.

This is really the point that I feel like most people miss. Too busy chasing someone else's definition of the "best" and not enough time enjoying training and putting in work.

And of course, I can't wait to see what you have Charyn build

 

Having owned all three , and the erubus twice
Heres my .02
The sandviper shoots and feels good in hand , but at 8 k the fit and finish is lacking

the erubus has very nice fit and finish , it also a shooter
But not that great as to make it a keeper

the xc is the only full size 2011 keep
Its just flat out fun to shoot
Shoots anything and shoots it well

my list of have come and gone
Gun crafter double stack 38s
Nighthawk at least 3 in 9mm
Artimus 9mm
Erebus 2x 9mm
Atlas gtx 9 mm
Staccato p , c , c2

I carry a cs

Hope that helps

 

Having owned all three , and the erubus twice
Heres my .02
The sandviper shoots and feels good in hand , but at 8 k the fit and finish is lacking

the erubus has very nice fit and finish , it also a shooter
But not that great as to make it a keeper

the xc is the only full size 2011 keep
Its just flat out fun to shoot
Shoots anything and shoots it well

my list of have come and gone
Gun crafter double stack 38s
Nighthawk at least 3 in 9mm
Artimus 9mm
Erebus 2x 9mm
Atlas gtx 9 mm
Staccato p , c , c2

I carry a cs

Hope that helps

Why would you said that the Erebus is not a "keeper"? Really interested to hear your perspective as I'm considering it as a grail piece.

 

This thread has so much range, from xc lovefest to sand viper dog pile and even no cleaning a gun for 20,000 rounds. If I liked popcorn I would definitely be consuming the s out of it while reading this.

As one of the members said, get what you want. If I learned anything is that my experience with a gun can and usually is totally different than your experience with the same gun. Owning guns is a trial and error. Eventually you stumble into gats “you” love and gats that are meh.

All this back and forth is fun fodder but totally useless for decision making purposes.