Atlas Gunworks is one of the most influential names in modern 2011s. Not only do they produce their own in-house pistols, but they also manufacture parts and magazines used by many other brands, both through Atlas Gunworks and their subsidiary, Perfect Zero. Because of that, they are at the forefront of the 2011 explosion. Many of the guns I’ve tested have used Atlas parts and magazines.
Throughout the series, I’ve also tested the Perfect Zero 126mm and 140mm magazines. These magazines are excellent and a product I recommend.
Does Atlas produce a good gun? With the recent release of new V3 models, now’s a good time to answer that question. Let’s check out the Atlas Athena V3.
Thank you to Atlas Gunworks for providing a sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the 2011 Project
To understand the history of the 2011, Staccato, and the rise of this pistol classification, check out “Party Like It’s 2011: Staccato and the 2011 Revolution,” which tells the origin story. That article lays the groundwork for what follows, and this is meant to give you honest opinions on this growing market. Earlier entries are collected on the 2011 Project tag page.
Unlike other trends that come and go, this one has staying power. But unlike other trends, pistols in this class can cost thousands of dollars. The goal here is to give you an unbiased opinion on how these models stack up and help you decide which is best for your needs and budget.
Who Is Atlas Gunworks?
Atlas Gunworks builds its own 2011-style pistols and makes parts and magazines used by many other brands. The company was born of frustration. In the early 2000s, acquiring a high-performance competition pistol was often slow and difficult, prompting USPSA shooter Adam Nilson and master machinist Tod West to build their own solution.
The pair’s vision advanced significantly after they learned from 1911 gunsmith and IPSC World Champion Al Zitta. Today, Atlas combines precision machining, competition-driven design, and streamlined production to deliver high-performance pistols with shorter lead times and a strong focus on customer service.
Atlas Athena V3 Specs
Standard Specifications
| Specification | Atlas Athena V3 |
|---|---|
| Action | Single-action, hammer-fired |
| Caliber | 9mm |
| Capacity | 17 (126mm) / 20 (140mm) |
| Barrel | 4.6″ bull barrel |
| Sights | Fiber-optic, Glock-style front; black serrated rear |
| Optics | Optic cut with V3 plates |
| Trigger pull | Under 2 lbs. |
| Finish | DLC Black (as tested), Two-Tone, Silver PVD |
| Magazines included | 3 (one 126mm, two 140mm) |
| Weight | 37.28 oz. without magazine |
| Price | $6,595 |
Athena V3 Features
The Atlas Gunworks Athena V3 is a 9mm double-stack 1911 pistol built on Atlas’ V3 platform, featuring a 4.6-inch bull barrel and a billet-machined slide.
The all-black DLC pistol weighs 37.28 ounces without a magazine and uses a 19-pound mainspring and a 9-pound recoil spring. Aggressive slide cuts reduce reciprocating mass, while the refined grip texture and panel geometry provide a secure grip.
The Athena V3 is optics-ready, with a redesigned optics plate that adds two mounting holes for improved security. The system supports a wide range of footprints, including Romeo 3 Max/XL, RMR/SRO, Deltapoint Pro, RTS2/Vortex Razor, Holosun 509 and 507c, Aimpoint Acro P1/P2, Trijicon RCR, and others.
The fiber-optic front sight uses an interchangeable Glock-style mounting system, and a filler sight is available for shooters who prefer no front sight.
A sub-2-pound flat short trigger delivers a crisp break, while ambidextrous shielded safeties, a tactical magwell, and a lockback slide-stop improve ergonomics. Atlas also adjusted the feed ramp angle and bore dimensions to improve feeding and increase power factor, with angled grip bushings designed to prevent magazine over-insertion and protect the ejector.
Setup
The Athena V3 arrived with a Trijicon SRO already mounted. The SRO is an excellent optic and a top choice for competitors. The mounting system is similar to those from Miller Precision and other manufacturers, but it appears even more robust, which is saying something. After roughly 400 rounds, I experienced no issues with either the optic or the mount.
Otherwise, my setup matches the one in my Ranger 9X review: a Streamlight TLR-1 HL-X, the Safariland 6354RDSO – ALS Holster w/ QLS19 Fork, and the Safariland BASELINE MOLLE Belt, which I’ve grown to like quite a bit. As always, I’m running the pistol stock to keep things on an even playing field.
Now, let’s head to the range.
At the Range
A note on ammo. All “range ammo” is Blazer Brass 115-gr FMJ (5200). For accuracy testing, I used Hornady American Gunner 115-gr XTP. I picked up all the ammo for testing from Ammunition Depot.
Let’s get into the drills and accuracy testing.
Bill Drills
I start in a low ready, with the target about 7 yards away. The goal: six A-zone(ish) hits in 1.25 seconds or less.
My average time over six attempts with the Atlas Athena V3 was 1.2 seconds. First shots were at 0.31 seconds, while follow-ups hovered around 0.2 seconds. I had a bad trigger freeze on the first run, but after that the gun settled in well.
This Atlas was brand new, and I was the first person to put rounds through it. By the time I ran the Bill Drills, I had fired a few boxes of ammo, but the gun still needed more break-in time. Overall, not great times, but not bad ones either.
Accuracy Testing
From a tripod-mounted pistol rest, the Athena put down a group measuring around 1.25” center-to-center at 10 yards. However, there was a four-shot cluster that measured about 5/8”, so the gun has potential.
At 25 yards, things opened up to just about 2”. A little disappointing for a pistol of this level, but sometimes finely tuned 2011s don’t love 115-grain ammo, even though this is what most people pick up from their local FFL (yes, I know these are tuned for competition).
1-and-1 Drills
The 1-and-1 is my favorite drill, and like the Bill Drill, it starts from low ready. 1 shot fired, slide lock, reload, 1 shot. My goal is to hit a 3.25-second par time.
I have small hands, which can make shooting 2011-style pistols interesting. For this, I’d roll my strong hand to engage the magazine release, then use my support hand to hit the slide release before moving back into position.
My average time with the Athena V3 was 3.23 seconds, including a 0.38-second first shot and 2.47-second reloads—again, fairly average.
The magazine release is threaded for an extended paddle, but without one, it feels a little small. I also kept striking the magazine against the front of the magwell during reloads, causing it to stick. It’s not the most forgiving design I’ve come across.
The Humbler
This is a good finisher I picked up from James Williamson of HK—no, it’s not the Humbler used by Larry Vickers and Delta Force. The par time is 10 seconds. Either start from the holster or from a bench. Ten shots into the A-Zone, then reload and take two shots into the head A-Zone.
This was another solid run. My overall time was 10.05 seconds, with a first shot of 2.28 seconds and follow-ups in 0.61 seconds. I did have one shot low (I think on the second shot), but otherwise it was pretty good.
Sizing Up the Atlas Athena V3
Where the Athena V3 Delivers
The Atlas Athena V3 is a well-built gun. Atlas has earned its reputation by putting out a quality product.
The trigger on this is excellent. It has about 1 mm of take-up, a clean break, and a very short reset. The trigger pull is under 2 lbs., which is impressive. It is one of the better triggers in the series.
The optic mounting system, along with the fiber-optic front sight, is my preferred setup. No complaints there. The slide release is oversized, which I like, while the grip module feels slightly thinner than others. All positives in my book.
Mixed Results Here
My biggest issue is that the Athena didn’t stand out in any one area. Its recoil impulse felt noticeably snappier—even compared with the commander-size Combat Special, the Athena produced more felt recoil. I also didn’t care for the grip texture; I prefer something more aggressive. On a hot, humid day, the gun began shifting in my hand.
Also, I did not like the safety. I’m usually a fan of an oversized safety, but for whatever reason, on the Athena, I got a hotspot on the lower inside of my thumb when riding the safety.
The slide serrations and lightening cuts look cool, but I didn’t find them particularly effective. They’re supposed to make the gun easier to manipulate, especially on hot days when your palms get sweaty. Personally, I’d trade the cool aesthetics for more effective serrations. But that’s just me.
An extended magazine-release paddle would make the pistol much better. At this price, Atlas should include one in the box so it’s ready to use without requiring another order.
Finally, the magwell was average. The rear has a nice radius, but the front does not. I scratched up the front and ended up taking some material with me.
Where It Falls Short
After reading what I wrote, you probably think I don’t like this gun, which isn’t entirely true. I do think it’s a very well-put-together firearm. Atlas clearly knows what they are doing—they have a proven track record. I just think a gun that costs over $6,500 should be nearly perfect.
I have high expectations, and I am going to be more critical of a gun that costs more than my first car. Plus, the market is substantially more crowded now, and that competition has raised the bar—look at the Miller Precision Ranger 9x, or the Race City Defense Core, for example. I’m just not sure Atlas did enough on the V3 to justify the price tag.
Zooming Out
Atlas is one of the biggest names in the 2011 space. As I laid out, they have their fingerprints everywhere and are a big reason this segment has exploded. They build a good pistol; I simply didn’t think it was great. At $6,500, I need the gun to be great.
Up next in the 2011 Project: The Dark Forge Reaper. It’s the series finale, so we push what’s possible. We discuss a company and a pistol shrouded in mystery. They didn’t merely adopt the darkness; they were forged in it. Stay tuned.
