Girsan Witness 2311 BRAT OR: Carry More, Shoot Fast

Compact double-stack 1911 with a 3.4 inch barrel, 17+1 on board, and a crisp trigger. We ran the optics-ready BRAT with Shield’s OMSsc to see if this RMS-cut carry gun really delivers.

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Take a 1911 double stack and design it with a 3.4 inch barrel for better concealment and quicker presentation. But it is a 2x stack so you still have the beefier grip size for superior control. Nice!

Ammo capacity? 17+1 in 9mm and 11+1 in .45 ACP. Quality sights, nicely textured grips, ambidextrous safety, and a crisp 1911 trigger. All for under $800 suggested retail.

If you are Turkish gunmaker Girsan, you call your build the Witness 2311 BRAT, with the European American Armory (EAA), Corp. the sole USA importer of this handy 1911. The BRAT arrived in this country in October 2024, and I ran the heck out of one. The BRAT was a formidable pistol, functional and very accurate.

Plus, it provided a 1911 fan-boy like me a comfortable platform that included a great 1911 trigger and the ammo capacity of a striker-fired pistol. What more could a shooter like me ask for?

In June 2025, Enter Stage Right the Witness 2311 BRAT Optics Ready, the pistol I have been running of late, my test model chambered in 9mm. I matched it up with a high quality red dot from Shield Sights and it is a perfect pairing for concealed carry or home defense. Be a great truck gun, too, smaller and very maneuverable and with substantial firepower.

While the BRAT’s barrel and slide are steel, the frame is aluminum. Couple that frame with the shorter barrel and the BRAT weighs in at a nifty 22.4 ounces unloaded. Of course, a full magazine makes it considerably heftier.

The grip module is poly and well textured along the sides, the front and the back. The flared magazine well not only made reloads fast and easy, that flaring at the very bottom of the grip provided a small shelf for my palm to add a little extra stability.

The ambi manual safety easily clicked into and out of place with my thumb. The tiny serrations at the very bottom of the grip safety work in concert with the extended beavertail for firm control of the pistol’s recoil.

The skeletonized trigger on my test model BRAT OR snapped at a crisp 2 pounds, 8 ounces on average. No take up. Squeeze and my shot was gone. The trigger’s serrated front face created a tactile connection with my finger pad.

🛒 Check Current Price for Girsan Witness 2311 Brat on GunsAmerica

I chose the Open Mini-Sight Sub Compact from Shield Sights. It fit right into place on the RMS slide cut, and I secured it with two of the screws provided, after dabbing a bit of blue thread locker onto each screw.

The OMSsc featured a translucent roof. Initially, I wondered if that acrylic roof was strong enough to withstand pistol recoil and a hard bump or two. Then I saw Shield had bonded the top edge of the lens to the underside of the transparent roof, and it all appeared very secure to me. The optic handled recoil without any noticeable effect, and it definitely took several bumps. Zero held.

Shield’s translucent roof provided an unobstructed field of view and allowed more light to enter the sight picture than any red dot I have used, which helped the red LED dot pop sharp and clear.

The Shield ran on one CR1632 3V Lithium battery and should operate for 1.5 years with average use. It is an always on red dot with auto brightness. The optic’s crystal clear glass lens features anti reflective, color free coating. The red dot is available in 4 or 8 MOA; mine was 8 MOA. Shield constructed the housing of T6 6082 Aluminum.

Zeroing note. At first I could not feel clicks and did not know the movement per turn. Using Shield’s MiniDial solved it immediately and the zero clicked into place.

The day was bright and sunny at my outdoor range. I first zeroed at 10 yards from a rest. Using Remington UMC 9mm 124 grain FMJ, I put ten rounds into center mass on a Caldwell Dual-Zone Silhouette. I pulled one low, but the other nine printed a 1.45 inch group.

Next up was Winchester Active Duty 9mm 115 grain flat-nose FMJ. From 8 yards offhand, my best five-shot groups measured 1.35 inches and 1.1 inches.

For a defensive load I ran the Sierra THD 124 grain. Best groups were 10 shots at 1.9 inches at 10 yards offhand, 5 shots at 1.3 inches at 8 yards offhand, and 5 shots at 0.90 inches at 5 yards offhand.

The BRAT ships with two 17 round Check-Mate steel mags. To up capacity, the new Check-Mate stainless 2011 compatible 9mm magazines hold 19. I ran both through the BRAT at a measured pace and with mag dumps. They were flawless and seated cleanly. MSRP is $84.99 each.

For concealed carry I used a Falco Talon Guard – Hybrid IWB Holster with an appendix claw. It fit the optic-equipped BRAT almost perfectly and proved comfortable over two days.

The 175 rounds I put through the pistol were not a torture test, but even without added lube I had zero malfunctions. The larger double-stack grip kept shooting comfortable. The OMSsc’s auto brightness kept the dot visible in bright sun and transitioned well into shade.

All in all, BRAT and OMSsc made a great pairing. I would carry this combo and would count on it for home defense. If I ever buy a truck, the BRAT is coming along for the ride, too.

• Pros: 17+1 capacity in a compact 1911 format, crisp 2 lb 8 oz trigger, RMS-cut optics ready, grippy module with flared magwell, reliable with multiple loads.
• Cons: Optic adjustments require the MiniDial for precision, full mag adds noticeable weight, double-stack grip may be large for some hands.