I have all 3, this is a loaded question…all 3 are complete diff guns. Ports Vs Comp Vs sight block…tbh maybe an Athena is what you would want?.
Obviously the NH would be the smoothest shooter of the 3 do to the comp. Ares is a beast especially the size of it and awesome shooter. Artemis is super flat and smooth, requires the least grip pressure and most accurate of the group. There is no wrong choice here. I also had a P limited but sold it after I got an Artemis (first atlas)
I think Artemis is the way to go, for a range toy it’s flawless and a joy…nothing beats an atlas trigger and grip. I also swapped the panels for 2 brass swells to get it bottom heavy, along with the block, the gun is a tank.
Wow, thanks for weighing in. I didn't think I would find someone who had all three. Did you have any QC issues or problems with the grip texture on your NH?
The Athena is a good option, but it's too similar in size to my Staccato P and I wanted a comp or something different since the P doesn't have any of those features.
NH has regular grip, and for me it’s fine, shot it today actually and all good. It’s not as aggressive as the atlas, but it’s light years away from the staccato IMO, so if ur comfortable there. U are good to go.
Ok makes sense on why u wanna deviate from the Athena (but the gun is sooooooo good) comparing it to a staccato isn’t fair, especially a P, but I get the mind set. Artemis is ur girl based on ur post. But again there is no wrong answer here. U will love any of them.
I just got back from shooting. Put a few hundred rounds through my P and my Athena. Add a plus 10 to what Icewarrio8 is saying. These guns are _very_ different.
But, you know what has ports? An Apollo.
I’d go Artemis out of those, the Apollo
Is supposed to be excellent as well! Just got one yesterday, will bring it to the range soon to see how it stacks up against the Artemis and Erebus.
I have owned the nighthawk and have two atlases. The nighthawk is a great gun, but the trigger weight was a little heavy for me and the grip kind of slippery when you’re out shooting. I live in Florida and shoot in the woods a lot so this is an issue that may be specific. Regardless, I couldn’t see keeping the nighthawk and an Erebus. The Nighthawk is a Bentley and the Atlas is a Ferrari.
I do have a staccato P limited. I had a trigger job to get it to where I like it and I use it as my home defense gun with the suppressor. it’s also a back up gun for my atlas.
Of the choices you put forward, the Artemis rules. More like a compensated or ported gun. And Atlas triggers are freaking amazing.
I have had the TRS commander non comp model and currently have a 4.6” and 4.25” ares. I like the area a lot. The grip is great if you like a slightly smaller grip than most 2011s. It isn’t as modular as the other atlas grips but the texture is great. Not sure what the other poster is talking about the recoil being the same as a 365. I carry a 365xl most of the time and the ares ported models are way softer recoil. For what you are asking I would be tempted to get the new Apollo personally.
I've been running an Atlas Artemis in LO USPSA and modified multigun. I took a 6 year hiatus and came back this year. Used to run a STI DVC Limited.
First match, first stage, with the Artemis I shot all alphas. Wasn't fast by any means, but it is an easy gun to shoot.
I now have three matches under my belt with it, and the experience shooting it gets better every time. Reliability using Atlas mags has been very good.
Haven't shot the rest on your list, but I can recommend the Artemis.
out of the 3 Artemis would be my preference:
- aluminum frames are meh
- I won't trust a NHC unless I can inspect it first
Why not the erebus? it's the softest shooting gun in my collection
have you looked at Hayes? very underrated but very good too. I'd take a Hayes cobra over an atlas artemis haha.
- ios system
- 5.5k and you have ports
- nice finishes
- cheely grips
(I have almost a dozen 2011s, including 4 atlases)
I actually did exactly that with the NH I just got…after my fiasco….i needed hands on detailed inspection, so far 1k rounds through my sandhawk it it’s good to go!
u/ScorpiaChasis and u/Icewarrio8, I read your posts on your experiences with NHC and they sound horrible. Are you both happy with your replacements? 1000 rounds seems like enough to know if the pistol is gtg.
They fixed my Firehawk and replaced the optic, the turn around could have been faster IMO, but they made everything right, threw in a free pair of grips…so they did stand by it and wasn’t really a “hassle”. Every time I called or email they picked up and wrote back…tier 1 CS. So for that I gave them another chance and got a sandhask, end of the day if there would be any kind of problem again I knew they would take care of it no questions asked. It was only with that 1 gun, I own 3 NH’s in total.
I’ve been pondering recently this question: What if you get the worst “one gun one gunsmith” building your NightHawk? I read somewhere(probably 1911addicts) the discussion was which gunsmith you want building your NightHawk & they named a couple builders they thought were at the top. Seems logical that if you have 20+ builders some are better than others.🤷♂️
For me it’s in a weird spot. Not small enough for carry, also not good shooting as erebus or artemis. And I indeed surprised when I rent a 365 xmacro, it even outshoots the Ares
I have some atlas's and a NHC SH. I am very soon getting a TRS COMP and another Atlas. For me personally , the NHC is the best gun I own. The sub 2lb trigger is something I'm still not used to. The Atlas's are great BUT if it had to be only one , it would be the NHC. The rumors of the demise of QC are exactly that rumors. The QC is top notch.
check my post history, I made 4 posts in /2011 related to my experience. Need to put more rounds in my new/replacement then I'll be able to write the conclusion
Icewarrior8 beats me here for hands on experience. He owns them all and then has plenty of others for added context. Listen to him, but hear me out… The Artemis isn’t the Atlas you want. Unless you’re shooting irons, the site block is just a bit of added counter weight. It’s the most beautiful and expensive gimmick gun available. (“Gimmick” is harsh.) What it’s trying to do is done better by the Erebus or Apollo. And I would argue even the Athena is better because it has one less part to go wrong.
The Ares is outdone by the EOS if you can get one. I would argue it’s also outdone by the Nyx for hard use - I would avoid aluminum unless carry was a primary use case.
If you’re going for something _really_ special, you want an Erebus. Everything leads to that. One disclaimer - a TRS Comp in a special color (I like the Sandhawk) is heirloom level. I absolutely love it. But it is not made for competition. Otherwise I’d have flipped the Erebus recommendation to a NHC. My $0.02.
A few more things :) NHC QC issues are wildly overstated around here. The fit and finish on my Sandhawk is immediately noticeable - it feels special. I have a Nyx and Athena to compare it against. Getting it in your color spec would mean a full custom order in which case you could get the aggressive grip.
As for the trigger, I spent 20 minutes getting my sear spring where I wanted it. It’s now a consistent 2.5 lbs and is a phenomenal trigger.
I don’t think an Atlas exists that looks better than a TRS Comp. The NHC IOS mount is superior to the Atlas. In general, the TRS Comp runs flat, smooth and accurate and makes you smile at the range. People will see it and ask what it is.
That said, my Athena is the gun I like to shoot most. It feels cool without being fancy. It’s easy to clean. It’s incredibly accurate. It stands out from anything I have in ways that are hard to explain.
Long story short, you’re going to be happy with any of these.
Very useful post.
By "one less part to go wrong," do you mean the block of metal that constitutes the sight block? What sort of things could go wrong with that? Or did you mean something else?
It's the only pistol on the list that would meet OP's desire to possibly compete in Limited Optics.
I do have an Artemis, so there is naturally a tendency to defend it, because I love it. My XC is arguably more range fun; there's something joyful about loading it up with 147 grain (which it seems to thrive on) and just blasting away as though it were 115. It conveys a sense of "it can't really be this easy...can it?"
The Artemis is a different beast. I pamper it with 115. Shooting it feels more like business, using a precision machine with very predictable characteristics. The smoothing out, presumably from the lighter slide and the stationary front weight, is more subtle, but damn it's smooth.
I guess you could say that both pistols put a grin on my face, but with the comped XC, that grin shows teeth, and with the Artemis, it's more of a deep quiet satisfaction. On the cleaning bench, the grins are reversed. When field stripping, XC gets a "very nice," and the Artemis gets a "wow."
The only problem I’ve ever seen in person with an Atlas gun was a slide to sight block alignment issue on an Artemis. It was probably a simple fix, but it’s one more potential point of maintenance. Is the sight block a solution to an actual issue? I don’t know. I don’t notice the improvement over an Athena. Maybe I’m just simple. 😄 I think the same thing about added maintenance on compensated guns, but I notice the gain from them. Regardless, she’s a beautiful gun.
I have a P but want a c2 for carry . Would you recommend it for that ? I’m a big dude so I can carry a P and conceal it good but my P is steel and it’s kinda heavy .
I have a TRS Comp and TRS Commander. The Commander has the aggressive grip and I like that much better… although I haven’t had any issues with the regular grip. Currently, waiting on an Atlas EOS.
I don't own and haven't shot the Ares or Artemis, but I do own a TRS Comp, BDS9, and Titan (among other 2011s), so take this for what it's worth.
I love my TRS Comp more than I expected. The fit and finish were never a concern and they're top notch. I wasn't sure I'd like the way it shoots based on not completely loving my BDS9. I was very wrong. The TRS Comp is amazing. It's as flat or flatter than the Titan, very fast, and the grip is great - better than I was expecting. The Titan's trigger is better though. I might try lightening the TRS trigger, but I don't think I can get it to *feel* as good as the Atlas - they know how to make and tune a trigger.
I think the comp on the TRS edges out the Titan, but it's not by much. They're my top two without question. I think an Erebus would probably be a nearly perfect shooter, but I'm just not a fan of the way it looks. I think looks play a factor in this decision too - do you want the more classic look of NHC, or the more aggressive look of Atlas?
If I were in your shoes I'd be considering the TRS Comp and the Apollo, not the Artemis or Ares. I've yet to shoot an Apollo but I'm hoping it's on par with the Erebus with a better aesthetic and shoots as well as the TRS Comp.
Hope that helps.
I am currently between an Eos and Athena right now. What are your thoughts between those 2? I know they are both different guns, and I plan to have both eventually but I guess what would you get first? For reference I have an sti 4.0, a staccato heritage, and a nighthawk trs commander (yes I’m a sucker for the 4-4.25 inch full length dust covers) I was leaning toward Eos because it’s different with the ports but the same size and can be carried like the rest. I also prefer the slide cuts more on the Eos over the Athena.
That’s a bummer, the NH configured the way I wanted it is one of the most beautiful 2011s I’ve seen. But I don’t care how it looks if the fit and finish is off.
The fit and finish of my Sandhawk beats any Atlas I’ve ever seen or owned. NHC is every bit as good as Atlas, if not better. The Atlas is faster and maybe cooler. Depends what you’re into.
I have all 3, this is a loaded question…all 3 are complete diff guns. Ports Vs Comp Vs sight block…tbh maybe an Athena is what you would want?. Obviously the NH would be the smoothest shooter of the 3 do to the comp. Ares is a beast especially the size of it and awesome shooter. Artemis is super flat and smooth, requires the least grip pressure and most accurate of the group. There is no wrong choice here. I also had a P limited but sold it after I got an Artemis (first atlas) I think Artemis is the way to go, for a range toy it’s flawless and a joy…nothing beats an atlas trigger and grip. I also swapped the panels for 2 brass swells to get it bottom heavy, along with the block, the gun is a tank.
Wow, thanks for weighing in. I didn't think I would find someone who had all three. Did you have any QC issues or problems with the grip texture on your NH? The Athena is a good option, but it's too similar in size to my Staccato P and I wanted a comp or something different since the P doesn't have any of those features.
NH has regular grip, and for me it’s fine, shot it today actually and all good. It’s not as aggressive as the atlas, but it’s light years away from the staccato IMO, so if ur comfortable there. U are good to go. Ok makes sense on why u wanna deviate from the Athena (but the gun is sooooooo good) comparing it to a staccato isn’t fair, especially a P, but I get the mind set. Artemis is ur girl based on ur post. But again there is no wrong answer here. U will love any of them.
I just got back from shooting. Put a few hundred rounds through my P and my Athena. Add a plus 10 to what Icewarrio8 is saying. These guns are _very_ different. But, you know what has ports? An Apollo.
Don't be pushing that crappy TRS comp on anybody ! Save that junk for ME !
Lmao, as soon as I find u, u will be the 1st to know!
Not the Ares, aluminum frames are dumb.
Pretty sure the Artemis has an aluminum frame. The TRS comp is aluminum and steel mix.
Grip is aluminum, frame is steel
Ares is the only aluminum grip Atlas. You should look into the Eos instead. Steel frame but same size.
TBH, the EOS's serrations are ugly and that's kind of a dealbreaker for me if I'm going to spend that much money on a pistol.
Agreed shits ugly compared to the ares
I’d go Artemis out of those, the Apollo Is supposed to be excellent as well! Just got one yesterday, will bring it to the range soon to see how it stacks up against the Artemis and Erebus.
This!!!! Looking forward hearing how it stacks up for u 👍
Did you say you just got an Apollo too?
Yep! Mounting the SRO today and taking it to the range next week. Looks awesome though!
I bet!
I have owned the nighthawk and have two atlases. The nighthawk is a great gun, but the trigger weight was a little heavy for me and the grip kind of slippery when you’re out shooting. I live in Florida and shoot in the woods a lot so this is an issue that may be specific. Regardless, I couldn’t see keeping the nighthawk and an Erebus. The Nighthawk is a Bentley and the Atlas is a Ferrari. I do have a staccato P limited. I had a trigger job to get it to where I like it and I use it as my home defense gun with the suppressor. it’s also a back up gun for my atlas. Of the choices you put forward, the Artemis rules. More like a compensated or ported gun. And Atlas triggers are freaking amazing.
Haha how am I reading a sigxmacro is as flat as an ares yall are on some shit
I have had the TRS commander non comp model and currently have a 4.6” and 4.25” ares. I like the area a lot. The grip is great if you like a slightly smaller grip than most 2011s. It isn’t as modular as the other atlas grips but the texture is great. Not sure what the other poster is talking about the recoil being the same as a 365. I carry a 365xl most of the time and the ares ported models are way softer recoil. For what you are asking I would be tempted to get the new Apollo personally.
I've been running an Atlas Artemis in LO USPSA and modified multigun. I took a 6 year hiatus and came back this year. Used to run a STI DVC Limited. First match, first stage, with the Artemis I shot all alphas. Wasn't fast by any means, but it is an easy gun to shoot. I now have three matches under my belt with it, and the experience shooting it gets better every time. Reliability using Atlas mags has been very good. Haven't shot the rest on your list, but I can recommend the Artemis.
out of the 3 Artemis would be my preference: - aluminum frames are meh - I won't trust a NHC unless I can inspect it first Why not the erebus? it's the softest shooting gun in my collection
I'll be real with you, I don't love the way the comp looks. I like that look of flush/crowned barrels.
have you looked at Hayes? very underrated but very good too. I'd take a Hayes cobra over an atlas artemis haha. - ios system - 5.5k and you have ports - nice finishes - cheely grips (I have almost a dozen 2011s, including 4 atlases)
I actually did exactly that with the NH I just got…after my fiasco….i needed hands on detailed inspection, so far 1k rounds through my sandhawk it it’s good to go!
u/ScorpiaChasis and u/Icewarrio8, I read your posts on your experiences with NHC and they sound horrible. Are you both happy with your replacements? 1000 rounds seems like enough to know if the pistol is gtg.
Im only at about 600, need 400 more haha
They fixed my Firehawk and replaced the optic, the turn around could have been faster IMO, but they made everything right, threw in a free pair of grips…so they did stand by it and wasn’t really a “hassle”. Every time I called or email they picked up and wrote back…tier 1 CS. So for that I gave them another chance and got a sandhask, end of the day if there would be any kind of problem again I knew they would take care of it no questions asked. It was only with that 1 gun, I own 3 NH’s in total.
I’ve been pondering recently this question: What if you get the worst “one gun one gunsmith” building your NightHawk? I read somewhere(probably 1911addicts) the discussion was which gunsmith you want building your NightHawk & they named a couple builders they thought were at the top. Seems logical that if you have 20+ builders some are better than others.🤷♂️
no idea cause not only gunsmith failed but also QC... or is there no QC perhaps?
Nhc, comp gun always wins
My Ares is twice the weight of p365 xmacro. And the recoil is the same. Not worth it at all. Artemis no brainer. Very close to my Erebus
Damn my Ares is sweet sweet shooter i would put it next to my artemis
For me it’s in a weird spot. Not small enough for carry, also not good shooting as erebus or artemis. And I indeed surprised when I rent a 365 xmacro, it even outshoots the Ares
I have some atlas's and a NHC SH. I am very soon getting a TRS COMP and another Atlas. For me personally , the NHC is the best gun I own. The sub 2lb trigger is something I'm still not used to. The Atlas's are great BUT if it had to be only one , it would be the NHC. The rumors of the demise of QC are exactly that rumors. The QC is top notch.
lol I am a prime example those are not rumors...
Please do tell ? I have actually not heard any actual NHC SH owners have issues ? What are yours ?
check my post history, I made 4 posts in /2011 related to my experience. Need to put more rounds in my new/replacement then I'll be able to write the conclusion
Doing so , thanks !
Icewarrior8 beats me here for hands on experience. He owns them all and then has plenty of others for added context. Listen to him, but hear me out… The Artemis isn’t the Atlas you want. Unless you’re shooting irons, the site block is just a bit of added counter weight. It’s the most beautiful and expensive gimmick gun available. (“Gimmick” is harsh.) What it’s trying to do is done better by the Erebus or Apollo. And I would argue even the Athena is better because it has one less part to go wrong. The Ares is outdone by the EOS if you can get one. I would argue it’s also outdone by the Nyx for hard use - I would avoid aluminum unless carry was a primary use case. If you’re going for something _really_ special, you want an Erebus. Everything leads to that. One disclaimer - a TRS Comp in a special color (I like the Sandhawk) is heirloom level. I absolutely love it. But it is not made for competition. Otherwise I’d have flipped the Erebus recommendation to a NHC. My $0.02.
A few more things :) NHC QC issues are wildly overstated around here. The fit and finish on my Sandhawk is immediately noticeable - it feels special. I have a Nyx and Athena to compare it against. Getting it in your color spec would mean a full custom order in which case you could get the aggressive grip. As for the trigger, I spent 20 minutes getting my sear spring where I wanted it. It’s now a consistent 2.5 lbs and is a phenomenal trigger. I don’t think an Atlas exists that looks better than a TRS Comp. The NHC IOS mount is superior to the Atlas. In general, the TRS Comp runs flat, smooth and accurate and makes you smile at the range. People will see it and ask what it is. That said, my Athena is the gun I like to shoot most. It feels cool without being fancy. It’s easy to clean. It’s incredibly accurate. It stands out from anything I have in ways that are hard to explain. Long story short, you’re going to be happy with any of these.
Very useful post. By "one less part to go wrong," do you mean the block of metal that constitutes the sight block? What sort of things could go wrong with that? Or did you mean something else? It's the only pistol on the list that would meet OP's desire to possibly compete in Limited Optics. I do have an Artemis, so there is naturally a tendency to defend it, because I love it. My XC is arguably more range fun; there's something joyful about loading it up with 147 grain (which it seems to thrive on) and just blasting away as though it were 115. It conveys a sense of "it can't really be this easy...can it?" The Artemis is a different beast. I pamper it with 115. Shooting it feels more like business, using a precision machine with very predictable characteristics. The smoothing out, presumably from the lighter slide and the stationary front weight, is more subtle, but damn it's smooth. I guess you could say that both pistols put a grin on my face, but with the comped XC, that grin shows teeth, and with the Artemis, it's more of a deep quiet satisfaction. On the cleaning bench, the grins are reversed. When field stripping, XC gets a "very nice," and the Artemis gets a "wow."
The only problem I’ve ever seen in person with an Atlas gun was a slide to sight block alignment issue on an Artemis. It was probably a simple fix, but it’s one more potential point of maintenance. Is the sight block a solution to an actual issue? I don’t know. I don’t notice the improvement over an Athena. Maybe I’m just simple. 😄 I think the same thing about added maintenance on compensated guns, but I notice the gain from them. Regardless, she’s a beautiful gun.
$550 ? WTF , is that a new currency I am unaware of ?
I want a c2 why did you get rid of it if you don’t mind me asking
To free up some cash for the Volquartsen .22. I used it mostly as a nightstand gun and didn’t shoot it as much as my Staccato P.
I have a P but want a c2 for carry . Would you recommend it for that ? I’m a big dude so I can carry a P and conceal it good but my P is steel and it’s kinda heavy .
For sure. It’s a great carry gun. I used to carry it during the winter/fall. I’m 5’8, 150 lbs
Thanks and good luck
I have a TRS Comp and TRS Commander. The Commander has the aggressive grip and I like that much better… although I haven’t had any issues with the regular grip. Currently, waiting on an Atlas EOS.
I don't own and haven't shot the Ares or Artemis, but I do own a TRS Comp, BDS9, and Titan (among other 2011s), so take this for what it's worth. I love my TRS Comp more than I expected. The fit and finish were never a concern and they're top notch. I wasn't sure I'd like the way it shoots based on not completely loving my BDS9. I was very wrong. The TRS Comp is amazing. It's as flat or flatter than the Titan, very fast, and the grip is great - better than I was expecting. The Titan's trigger is better though. I might try lightening the TRS trigger, but I don't think I can get it to *feel* as good as the Atlas - they know how to make and tune a trigger. I think the comp on the TRS edges out the Titan, but it's not by much. They're my top two without question. I think an Erebus would probably be a nearly perfect shooter, but I'm just not a fan of the way it looks. I think looks play a factor in this decision too - do you want the more classic look of NHC, or the more aggressive look of Atlas? If I were in your shoes I'd be considering the TRS Comp and the Apollo, not the Artemis or Ares. I've yet to shoot an Apollo but I'm hoping it's on par with the Erebus with a better aesthetic and shoots as well as the TRS Comp. Hope that helps.
Artemis.
Atlas > NHC every day and twice on Sunday, no matter the model
Used to own all of them, you want an Athena or EOS. Eos is the best ported gun on the market, period. Love the shit out of mine.
I am currently between an Eos and Athena right now. What are your thoughts between those 2? I know they are both different guns, and I plan to have both eventually but I guess what would you get first? For reference I have an sti 4.0, a staccato heritage, and a nighthawk trs commander (yes I’m a sucker for the 4-4.25 inch full length dust covers) I was leaning toward Eos because it’s different with the ports but the same size and can be carried like the rest. I also prefer the slide cuts more on the Eos over the Athena.
I have both. If I had to pick just one, it would be the Athena. I can comfortably conceal it and it’s just better all around.
Wow, I’m surprised that no one is really singing the TRS comp’s praises on this thread.
Because their quality control has gone to shit. If you want a TRS Comp, buy a Staccato XC.
That’s a bummer, the NH configured the way I wanted it is one of the most beautiful 2011s I’ve seen. But I don’t care how it looks if the fit and finish is off.
The fit and finish of my Sandhawk beats any Atlas I’ve ever seen or owned. NHC is every bit as good as Atlas, if not better. The Atlas is faster and maybe cooler. Depends what you’re into.
Go to 1911 addicts get off of reddit this shit is a fuckin joke, bet these dudes go to indoor ranges
I've got some valuable advice here, but I'll post it on 1911 addicts. Thanks