Recover Tactical’s 20/11 Stabilizer Kit for the1911

I recently took a look at the Recover Tactical CC3H Grip and Rail System, which was an easy way to update your old, stock 1911 pistol. Recover Tactical has another product that will update your old GI gun, this time to a PDW platform. Let’s check out their 20/11 Stabilizer Kit and see what it has to offer.

Recover Tactical’s 20/11 kit is ready for use right out of the box. It utilizes the gun’s built-in sights without any need for calibration. It’s fully compatible with all full-size, single-stack, 1911 pistols, compensators, and red dot optics. No pistol disassembly or permanent modifications are required. Constructed from lightweight and compact glass-reinforced polymer, the design is modular, with optional Picatinny rail adapters available.

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Donor Gun and Installation

I once again used my old Springfield Armory GI spec 1911A1. It’s a basic pistol with no dust cover rail, dinky GI sights, and no optics cut. There are probably millions like it around the world. While still certainly functional as is, you can up the versatility with something like the 20/11 kit.

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Like the CC3H Grip and Rail System, installation of the 20/11 kit is very simple. Simply remove your old grips and set the grip screws aside. The 20/11 is a two-piece clamshell that snaps around the frame of your full-sized, single-stack 1911. You do need a model without a dust cover rail for the 20/11 to fit.

To secure the brace kit, simply reinstall your grip’s screws. Then insert and tighten down the provided nut and bolt just forward of the trigger. That’s it. It only takes a few minutes and doesn’t alter the gun in any way. They do have a video available if you need any help.

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Ergos and Use

With the 20/11 kit installed, you’ve quickly turned your old 1911 into a nifty PDW. But how practical and effective is it? First off, the ergonomics are very good. Like the CC3H, you can still easily access all of the standard 1911 controls. Whereas the CC3H grips are wrap-around style, the 20/11 ones leave the front strap exposed. So that makes for a slightly smaller grip, which may be helpful for some folks.

The brace folds to the right side of the gun and locks closed. It’s easily opened, though just by tugging on it. It locks into place and is released by a push button on the left side of the brace arm. The brace comes with a folded-up arm strap and can certainly be used with such. Since we’re currently in an era where it’s okay to shoulder braces again, I used the 20/11 that way.

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The brace is thin because, well, it’s a brace, not a stock. So you don’t get much surface contact if you do incidentally shoulder it now and again. Still, it’s comfortable enough to shoot. I didn’t have any issues getting down on even the very low-profile GI sights on my 1911. More modern higher sights, or an optics-mounted slide, should work even better.

End to End

With the brace extended, the 20/11, with a 5-inch Government Model 1911, is just 20 inches long. Folded length is 12 inches. It makes for a great compact house, or backpack gun. It will actually fit in the Recover Tactical G7 holster as well. Although it seems a little bulky to carry that way to me. Still, it’s an option if you’re wearing a field jacket, trench coat, or something.

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You can fire your 1911 with the brace folded or extended. It’s very lightweight, so firing with one hand is no issue if needed. You can still access all of the controls as well. With the brace extended and firing from the shoulder, the slide does come back towards your face.

Some folks may find that disconcerting, but it stops a good 3 inches or more from the tip of my nose. So you aren’t in any danger of getting bonked in the face when you shoot. Unless you have a super long nose, maybe. The brace arm does sweep up behind the slide as well, though, to provide an additional safety buffer.

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Accessories

The included rail allows you to add the light or laser of your choice. I used my Streamlight TLR-1 HL for my testing. Since the 20/11 doesn’t affect feed or function otherwise, I also used Mec Gar 11-round .45 ACP mags with this PDW setup.

Recover Tactical also has a number of optional accessories for the 20/11. They have an angled foregrip that mounts below the forward rail. This does obscure the rail, however. That’s okay, though, because you can always get the optional side rails and put a light there instead.

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Want an optic but don’t have an optics cut slide? They have that covered as well, with a top rail that will accept a red dot sight. A cheek piece for the brace arm is available as well if you do opt for the optics mount.

I did have the forward grip and tried it out with my build. It worked well, but since I didn’t have any of the other accessories, I went back to mounting the light on my 20/11. I would like to get the side rails and optic mount to try at some point.

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If you live in the US, and SBR your 1911, there are actual stock options available as well. Recover Tactical actually has at least half a dozen packages available with various brace and stock options, as well as additional accessories. Or you can just buy what you want à la carte.

The basic 20/11 package is available in Black or Tan and runs for $119.95. Bundles can run up to $199.95.

Breathing New Life into the 1911

Recover Tactical’s CC3H kit makes upgrading your great-grandpap’s 1911 simple and easy. The 20/11 kit takes things a step further and helps turn that century-old pistol into a modern, capable, 21st-century PDW, all at comparatively reasonable cost. And it does it without having to alter the original gun in any way. So you can increase the function of your old guns, without hurting their value.