Cabot Guns Insurrection 9mm Double-Stack 1911: Field Tested

Whether it fills the role as a fighting pistol, competition winner or just a fun shooter, the Cabot Guns Insurrection double-stack 1911 is feature-packed to get the job done.

April 17, 2024 By Fred Mastison

There are undoubtedly varying opinions on who has had the greatest impact on design and engineering. The list of innovators is long and fills a spectrum of arenas, but for me, one name stands above everyone else. John Moses Browing with his 128 firearm patents on more than 100 different firearms has made arguably the greatest world-changing impact. While innovative, one of the main characteristics of his designs is longevity. Many are still used and being built today, both for consumers and the military.

None, though, is more ubiquitous than the iconic 1911. This is the pistol that fought in two world wars, countless military operations, fought against gangsters and lawmen, as well as won international glory on the firing lines in multitudes of shooting disciplines. This gun is as popular today as it was more than a century ago. However, there has been some evolution. Enter the 1911 Jedis at Cabot Guns, builders of some of the finest 1911s the earth has ever seen. Their take on the 1911 comes from a mix of utter precision-machining and art. Their pistols fit as well in an art gallery as they do a gun safe. While some companies would rest on the extensive laurels earned by Cabot, they have instead turned their attention to a new design. Say hello to the Cabot Insurrection.

This is Cabot's first gun in the double-stack 1911 market. As you would expect from Cabot, the Insurrection is not just another double-stack clone, but rather a handgun that was essentially designed and engineered from the ground up. Cabot shared with me that the Insurrection is a double-stack 1911 pistol that’s been meticulously crafted to redefine the very essence of American firearms innovation. This exceptional pistol has been two years in the making, and every moment spent in development is evident in its flawless design and performance. Crafted exclusively from 100 percent U.S.-sourced stainless steel, the Insurrection is not just a firearm. It’s a testament to Cabot Guns’ unwavering commitment to quality and precision. This gun is chambered in 9mm Luger and is compatible with all STI/2011 style magazines currently on the market. On a side note, the magazine provided by Cabot is an improved version of the STI magazine. While others will work, I am inclined to stay with anything that has been improved from Cabot.

"We've been working on this for more than two years," said Nick Morrow, Cabot Guns director of sales and marketing. "A lot of people think, out there on the market, that a double-stack 1911 is no big deal. Obviously, Para had their high-cap style back in the '80s and '90s, and then in the '90s, STI introduced the 2011 style. There are a lot of other options coming to market right now, and it isn't just as simple as slapping a 1911 upper on a double-stack lower and going off to the races. There's a lot of different things you have to look at, and we came up with what we believe to be the best double-stack 1911 platform on the market.”

The Insurrection starts from U. S.-sourced 416 stainless steel. The gun features a 5-inch hand-fit, match-grade barrel with a flush cut and crown. Cabot offers the Insurrection with barrel ports, and when incorporated, their inclusion is said to reduce perceived recoil by as much as 22 percent. The barrel, and the rest of the gun, are treated with a plasma DLC coating. Below the barrel is a full-length, stainless-steel guide rod. An 11-pound recoil spring is installed from the factory, but Cabot includes a 9- and 10-pound recoil spring with each gun to enable owners to fine-tune the gun's operation with various 9mm loads. As factory-configured, Cabot specs the Insurrection to run with 124-grain 9mm ammunition.

The insurrection includes a reverse dovetail fiber-optic front sight and ledge rear sight. This eliminates the possibility of the front sight drifting left or right during heavy use. An RMR-compatible optic mounting point is available as an option on the gun, and a set of backup iron sights are included that offer a lower 1/3 co-witness sight picture, ensuring a clear view of a mounted optic's dot through the window. The tri-top slide is cut with serrations at the front and rear, and there are also serrations running from front to rear on the slide's top.

The slide also includes Cabot's Advantage internal extractor. This is unlike the traditional extractors we see in 1911s and works flawlessly. This extractor has a couple of interesting advantages. The first is that it doesn’t lose its tune. If you are a serious 1911 shooter, you know that extractors are almost like musical instruments that need to be tuned for correct performance. You also do not see the extractor tunnel on the back of the pistol making disassembly and reassembly much easier.

The frame is a proprietary design from Cabot with a stainless-steel double-stack frame and grip. The trigger feature is the Cabot double-radius trigger shoe. It is designed to give a perfect finger position in the middle of the trigger with some vertical serrations to help in that arena. It is a good trigger and is tuned to break at a comfortable 3.5 pounds. The operation and controls of the gun are all classic 1911 style. The frame also features a Picatinny accessory rail. The pistol ships with two 17-round magazines, and 20-round magazines are also available.

I was fortunate and honored to get an Insurrection before the release date. Cabot is meticulous about everything related to their guns down to packaging. My box included a note affixed to the inside of the case stating that the gun had been built for me and my testing. Anyone who says it doesn’t matter how the gun arrives is the kind of person who drinks vodka from a plastic bottle. I have had other Cabot pistols on my desk before and they were all spectacular. The Insurrection was no different. The fit and finish were beautiful. While hard to quantify, the gun simply felt like a high-quality gun. Cabot takes the time to get rid of blocky sharp edges making it comfortable to run. It came complete with a Trijicon SRO, and I was soon at the range and loading mags.

I wanted to run a spectrum of ammo during the test, so I chose Federal’s 147-grain American Eagle, Hornady’s 115-grain FTX Critical Defense, and Blazer Brass 115-grain FMJ. Yes, I know that Cabot suggests 124gr, but I wanted to see how everything else fed. After a short moment to zero the SRO, I was off to the races. The gun sat well in my hands, and the texture provided a good purchase. The first shots were good, and at 10 yards, I had a nice single ragged hole made with five rounds. At 15 yards, it became a 1-inch group in slow fire and at 25 yardsl, it was an impressive one and a quarter inches. At speed, the gun performed equally well. While I would not classify the Insurrection as heavy, it has some heft. This slight additional meat on the bone does contribute to recoil management and reducing muzzle rise. At the end of the day, the pile of brass said it was time to wrap up. While not a durability test by any stretch, the 500 rounds I put through the gun all ran without issue and had zero malfunctions. I would be hard-pressed to say which ammo performed best, but the 115-grain Hornady seemed to have the best feel. Short of running junk, I don’t think this gun will ever be ammo-sensitive.

Many say the 1911 is past its prime and should be put out to pasture. I disagree wholeheartedly, and obviously, Cabot does as well. The market for quality 2011s is real and growing. The Insurrection is as beautiful as it is functional. The attention to detail on this gun is exceptional. The lines are perfect, and the blending is amazing. Throw in the fact that I would take this to a gunfight, and we have a serious pistol. Cabot also shared with me, “Cabot Guns has not only delivered a remarkable pistol but also ushered in a new era of excellence in the world of firearms. The Insurrection is not just a firearm; it’s a testament to Cabot Guns’ unwavering commitment to quality and precision.” The Insurrection is a solid addition to the double-stack market and is worth a serious look if you are shopping for one.