Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
Compact double-stack 1911 with a 3.4 inch barrel, 17+1 on board, and a crisp set off. We ran the optics-ready BRAT with Defend’s OMSsc to see if this RMS-cut carry gun actually delivers.
🛒 Test Present Worth for Girsan Witness on GunsAmerica
Compact Double-Stack 1911 Vitality With Actual Capability
Take a 1911 double stack and design it with a 3.4 inch barrel for higher concealment and faster presentation. However it’s a 2x stack so you continue to have the beefier grip measurement for superior management. Good!
Ammo capability? 17+1 in 9mm and 11+1 in .45 ACP. High quality sights, properly textured grips, ambidextrous security, and a crisp 1911 set off. All for underneath $800 advised retail.
If you’re Turkish gunmaker Girsan, you name your construct the Witness 2311 BRAT, with the European American Armory (EAA), Corp. the only USA importer of this useful 1911. The BRAT arrived on this nation in October 2024, and I ran the heck out of 1. The BRAT was a formidable pistol, purposeful and really correct.
Plus, it offered a 1911 fan-boy like me a cushty platform that included an ideal 1911 set off and the ammo capability of a striker-fired pistol. What extra may a shooter like me ask for?
Optics-Prepared From the Manufacturing unit: Meet the BRAT OR
In June 2025, Enter Stage Proper the Witness 2311 BRAT Optics Prepared, the pistol I’ve been operating of late, my take a look at mannequin chambered in 9mm. I matched it up with a top quality pink dot from Defend Sights and it’s a excellent pairing for hid carry or residence protection. Be an ideal truck gun, too, smaller and really maneuverable and with substantial firepower.
Whereas the BRAT’s barrel and slide are metal, the body is aluminum. Couple that body with the shorter barrel and the BRAT weighs in at a nifty 22.4 ounces unloaded. In fact, a full journal makes it significantly heftier.
The grip module is poly and nicely textured alongside the perimeters, the entrance and the again. The flared journal nicely not solely made reloads quick and simple, that flaring on the very backside of the grip offered a small shelf for my palm so as to add a little bit further stability.
The ambi guide security simply clicked into and misplaced with my thumb. The tiny serrations on the very backside of the grip security work in live performance with the prolonged beavertail for agency management of the pistol’s recoil.
The skeletonized set off on my take a look at mannequin BRAT OR snapped at a crisp 2 kilos, 8 ounces on common. No take up. Squeeze and my shot was gone. The set off’s serrated entrance face created a tactile reference to my finger pad.
🛒 Test Present Worth for Girsan Witness 2311 Brat on GunsAmerica
Witness 2311 BRAT Optics Prepared Specs
Mounting the Defend OMSsc: Set Up, Zero, Outcomes
I selected the Open Mini-Sight Sub Compact from Defend Sights. It match proper into place on the RMS slide reduce, and I secured it with two of the screws offered, after dabbing a little bit of blue thread locker onto every screw.
The OMSsc featured a translucent roof. Initially, I puzzled if that acrylic roof was sturdy sufficient to resist pistol recoil and a tough bump or two. Then I noticed Defend had bonded the highest fringe of the lens to the underside of the clear roof, and all of it appeared very safe to me. The optic dealt with recoil with none noticeable impact, and it positively took a number of bumps. Zero held.
Defend’s translucent roof offered an unobstructed area of view and allowed extra mild to enter the sight image than any pink dot I’ve used, which helped the pink LED dot pop sharp and clear.
The Defend ran on one CR1632 3V Lithium battery and will function for 1.5 years with common use. It’s an at all times on pink dot with auto brightness. The optic’s crystal clear glass lens options anti reflective, colour free coating. The pink dot is out there in 4 or 8 MOA; mine was 8 MOA. Defend constructed the housing of T6 6082 Aluminum.
Zeroing observe. At first I couldn’t really feel clicks and didn’t know the motion per flip. Utilizing Defend’s MiniDial solved it instantly and the zero clicked into place.
OMSsc Fast Specs
Vary Outcomes: Actual Teams, Actual Ammo
The day was vivid and sunny at my outside vary. I first zeroed at 10 yards from a relaxation. Utilizing Remington UMC 9mm 124 grain FMJ, I put ten rounds into middle mass on a Caldwell Twin-Zone Silhouette. I pulled one low, however the different 9 printed a 1.45 inch group.
Subsequent up was Winchester Lively Responsibility 9mm 115 grain flat-nose FMJ. From 8 yards offhand, my finest five-shot teams measured 1.35 inches and 1.1 inches.
For a defensive load I ran the Sierra THD 124 grain. Greatest teams had been 10 photographs at 1.9 inches at 10 yards offhand, 5 photographs at 1.3 inches at 8 yards offhand, and 5 photographs at 0.90 inches at 5 yards offhand.
Mags & Carry: Test-Mate 19s and Falco IWB
The BRAT ships with two 17 spherical Test-Mate metal mags. To up capability, the brand new Test-Mate stainless 2011 suitable 9mm magazines maintain 19. I ran each by way of the BRAT at a measured tempo and with magazine dumps. They had been flawless and seated cleanly. MSRP is $84.99 every.
For hid carry I used a Falco Talon Guard – Hybrid IWB Holster with an appendix claw. It match the optic-equipped BRAT virtually completely and proved comfy over two days.
Reliability Notes & Takeaway
The 175 rounds I put by way of the pistol weren’t a torture take a look at, however even with out added lube I had zero malfunctions. The bigger double-stack grip saved taking pictures comfy. The OMSsc’s auto brightness saved the dot seen in vivid solar and transitioned nicely into shade.
All in all, BRAT and OMSsc made an ideal pairing. I’d carry this combo and would depend on it for residence protection. If I ever purchase a truck, the BRAT is coming alongside for the experience, too.
Execs & Cons
Execs: 17+1 capability in a compact 1911 format, crisp 2 lb 8 ouncestrigger, RMS-cut optics prepared, grippy module with flared magwell, dependable with a number of masses. Cons: Optic changes require the MiniDial for precision, full magazine provides noticeable weight, double-stack grip could also be giant for some palms.
Out there on GunsAmerica Now
Brian McCombie (Author)
A full-time author, Brian’s work focuses on searching and firearms, day and thermal optics, and different taking pictures gear. He’s been lucky sufficient to hunt a lot of the USA and Canada. His favourite hunt is chasing Texas hogs at evening utilizing a suppressed rifle outfitted with a thermal scope.
Dream hunt: Alaskan brown bear.
He’s taken handgun self-defense programs and long-range rifle lessons for hunters. Brian continues to dive deeply into the brand new applied sciences a lot part of right now’s searching and taking pictures experiences.
His prime firearms embrace AR-15’s and AR-10’s, double-stack 1911’s, and lever actions.
