RECOVER TACTICAL 20/11. THE BEST REASON YET TO SBR YOUR 1911 or Ruger 22/45

In 2016, when everyone was up in arms about the ever-changing pistol brace laws and deliberating whether to go outlaw with other borderline accessories, I decided to bypass all the risk-anxiety of it and file ATF Form 1 (SBR) and a Form 4 (suppressor). Complete legality seemed the only way to really enjoy the unusual build I wanted to create around a Ruger MK III 22/45. (Yes, I wish I'd known Ruger was about to release the MK IV but that's another story.) The process of filing the tax stamps transpired to be little more aggravating than a regular visit to the DMV so for anyone who's hesitant, it's really no bigger deal. Unless you have legal hurdles or a liberal sheriff who hates firearms, it should be straightforward getting approved and it simply takes patience as you wait for the stamps to arrive in the mail. There's actually something weirdly quaint about the little old-school blue postage-type stamps you get in the mail that officiate your legality, but then suddenly it feels like Christmas. It's a permit to assemble the firearm you want and that firearm will always feel more precious than all the others you own. And now with efile it's even easier, so honestly, don't hesitate to go for it.

Three months after filing, the stamps were in my mailbox and I was able to liberate my chosen suppressor from my FFL. Finding a stock proved challenging however. Although there are countless gizmos available to improve the performance of the Ruger MK pistols, there was only one person I could find (in Finland) who made a CNC'd aluminum shoulder stock that attached to the top rail of my Ruger MKIII, so I promptly ordered that. It worked fine but being a fixed stock it made the whole package less transformable than I wanted and I soon tired of having to remove and attach the stock each time I visited the range. At that time I actually wrote to Recover Tactical to ask if they had plans to develop a grip-panel folding stock but they said they didn't, and I just figured they didn't feel there would be enough demand to warrant it.

Recover Tactical 20/11UR kit

The Recover Tactical 20/11UR costs $199.95 and includes Stabilizer Frame (chassis and stock), Minimalist Sling, Picatinny Side Rails, G7 Holster (can only be used with the 20/11 kit), FG20 Forward Grip and UR20 Upper Rails. The basic 20/11 kit is comprised of the stock and forward chassis only and costs $119.95: the basic kit is all you need if you're SBR'ing your Ruger 22/45.

The 20/11 attached to my Ruger MK III

But on December 1st of this year that all changed. Recover Tactical announced the release of their 20/11 stabilizer (pictured above, technically a folding stock and NOT a pistol brace) designed for the 1911 45ACP pistol. My AFD colleague reached out to Ron at Recover Tactical and requested a T&E unit that we could try and within days a package arrived via UPS with the full 20/11UR kit enclosed. Huge thanks to them for their generosity! Anyone who reads our blog knows we shoot from the hip when it comes to the products we preview, so this T&E unit in no-way guaranteed a positive write-up, but while unboxing the kit I was immediately struck by the design and build quality of all the components and how seamlessly everything fit together. Nor did I have to fish around in my toolbox for hex keys, they were included. It was clear I needed to make some minor tweaks to make it fit my MKIII 22/45 but with only four careful cuts to remove the forward chassis I was able to install the unit onto my Ruger pistol using the existing grip screws. (Kudos to Ruger's foresight in designing their 22/45 grip to accept any 1911 panels.) And it fit like a glove! Just looking at the photos here, anyone would assume the Recover Tactical 20/11 stabilizer was originally built for this Ruger. And suddenly the build I had  envisioned in 2016 was realized, and it's everything I wanted! Good things DO come to those who wait.

---

The Recover Tactical 20/11 kit in the folded position

Many friends have built out their Ruger Chargers into an SBR-type firearm and admittedly they are a lot of fun. However once a suppressor and brace are attached they barely feel less bulky than a 16" barreled 10/22 rifle, if I'm honest. But the size and weight of my SBR'd Ruger MK pistol is truly a game-changer, PLUS I can add a vertical grip under the allowances of my Form 1 stamp, PLUS the magazine is safely housed within the grip preventing it from being dislodged. It's even more compact than the new Uzi Pro. Adding a mini reflex sight furthers the svelte profile. When I first bought the pistol it had some reliability issues so I promptly returned it to Ruger and asked that they tune it to shoot all brands of ammo. I cared less about marksmanship accuracy than reliability, especially considering the time and money I planned to put into it. When I got the pistol back from Ruger they had indeed dusted it with their magic brush and I haven't had a single FTF or FTE in 3 years. Granted I've only shot a few hundred rounds through it over that timespan but for a 22LR pistol that's exceptional. It's also still very accurate. With the reflex sight, suppressor and new Recover Tactical stock, this feels like shooting a BB gun yet with all the efficacy of 22LR.

The pistol can still be fired with the stock in the folded position

At the range it consistently groups five shots into a silver half-dollar sized circle at 15 yards in three seconds. At 50 yards I can bounce tennis balls around the lawn. This would absolutely be beyond my capabilities without the Recover Tactical stock, which is why I wanted to SBR this pistol in the first place. For the average shooter, pistols can generally be shot either quickly or accurately, but not both. Speed + precision is normally reserved for rifles. I knew the intrinsic accuracy of the Ruger MK pistols is generally very good (i.e. demonstrable by anyone with a Ransom Rest) therefore adding a properly designed stock would necessarily transform it from a pistol into a carbine in an ultra-compact package. For me, it's diminutive size is the epitome of the SBR definition and usefulness and now with the addition of the 20/11 stabilizer it is the quintessence of firearm cool. If you are looking to invoke firearm envy among fellow enthusiasts at the range, this is sure fire assembly.

Rapid-fire accuracy with the attached 20/11 brace is exceptional

If you Google "pistol stock" you'll see all the images of pistols that have been used with stocks throughout history. It's a practice that goes back to the early days of the single-action revolver. Often those stocks were wobbly wire assemblages or cumbersome wooden triangles bolted to the heel of the grip, but they all aimed to serve the same function of accurizing a tricky weapon. And they worked very well which is why they were ultimately regulated by the ATF. The Recover Tactical 20/11 is truly a 21st Century solution. By using the same glass filled polymer as your average polymer pistol, it's super rigid and lightweight and offers a length of pull of 15.25" which is ideal to keep your nose clear of the bolt as it cycles each round.

Here's a very good breakdown on the constantly-shapeshifting-always-ambiguous rulings surrounding pistol braces (https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/keeping-your-ar-15-pistol-build-within-legal-limits/), all of which are moot if you simply file your Form 1. It should also be stated that after you have your tax stamps, the agents at the ATF are extremely helpful and gracious when it comes to queries you may have about rules, traveling etc. I'll never look back, it's the way to go. And when I file my next Form 1 for a 1911, I know exactly where to go for the stock. For more info on Recover Tactical and their array of affordable pistol braces and other quality accessories, you can visit their WEBSITE here. Thanks again to Ron, Mike and the rest of the Team at Recover Tactical. GOM.

---

Whether you Form 1 your 1911 or 22/45, the 20/11 stabilizer kit is guaranteed to make it your favorite firearm!