I’ve largely ignored the Masada series, not for any particular reason, but as long as IWI is making Jerichos, that’s the handgun I go to with IWI in mind. The Masada line always struck me as “just another” polymer-framed, double-stack, striker-fired pistol. That is, until I had the chance to shoot the Masada Slim Elite 9mm at a firearm writer’s event. That’s when I realized how wrong I was.
At the IWI table, I grabbed the Masada and a few magazines of ammo and just started shooting. When someone offers you free ammo and a gun, you take them up on the offer. What stood out to me was my ability to hit a steel target at 100 yards, not just once or twice, but repeatedly, over and over.
I was sold. I could have probably asked IWI to send one for test and review, but I’m too impatient, so I sought one out and purchased it. I knew I was going to buy it regardless, so why waste time?
Now, after a few hundred rounds of ammo, I have a full and complete opinion on it.
The Masada Slim Elite: A Category of Its Own
Before handling one, I assumed the Masada Slim was just another micro-compact. IWI markets it as such, but that doesn’t quite fit. When I hear “micro-compact,” I think SIG P365.
The Masada Slim is a little longer and wider than the standard P365. It’s not quite a subcompact either. The Slim Elite stands alone in terms of size; it’s its own thing. It doesn’t fall into any particular industry standard. It’s this weird size profile that offers excellent concealment but a full grip that fits your hand.
The Elite is the latest model of the Masada Slim. It has a removable chassis system or fire control unit that can be removed and dropped into other grip modules.
The Elite represents the latest grip module, which offers a few enhancements over the original Slim:
- A short Picatinny rail for lights or accessories
- A more aggressive grip texture
- An integrated magazine well for faster reloads
It ships with a flush-fit 13-round magazine and a 17-round option with a spacer. It’s also optics-ready with an RMSc footprint.
The gun uses a flat trigger with an integrated trigger safety, but no manual safety. It has metal sights and a reversible magazine release. MSRP is $499.99, but it appears to retail for around $450.
Specifications
- Barrel Length: 3.4 inches
- Overall Length: 6.45 inches
- Weight: 23 ounces
- Caliber: 9mm
- Capacity: 10/13/17
- MSRP: $499.99
Chasing Accuracy With The Masada Slim Elite
At the range day event, I probably shot at least 100 rounds, but likely more; I wasn’t counting. I was making hits and enjoying the gun, so as you’d imagine, I wanted to replicate those hits once I had my own. The first thing I did was install a Cyelee CAT0 red dot on my gun and start shooting.
With the gun zeroed at 15 yards, I immediately stretched my legs out to 50 yards. At 50 yards, I engaged an IPSC steel target and landed hit after hit. I kept increasing speed to the point where I was five for five in 3.5 seconds at 50 yards from the ready. It was too easy.
I switched to a smaller IPSC target, notably a target that was only 33% of the size of a full-sized IPSC target. With slower, controlled shots and a good grip, I engaged six and eight-inch gongs and got the same result. I could hit them with ease.
At 10 yards, my groups were one ragged hole, and at 15 yards, I landed them all in the T-zone of a Sage Dynamics target. The Masada Slim Elite is an absurdly accurate gun, especially when you consider its size. It shouldn’t be this easy to shoot this accurately.
Controlling Recoil and Shooting Performance
The full-sized grip that’s just a hair wider than the normal micro-compact makes a significant difference when it comes to recoil control. The aggressive grip texture and rather larger rear overhang are both contributors to the lack of recoil. My hand chokes up under it in a great grip.
The end result is a gun that handles very nicely. It’s not snappy by any means, and while the dot leaves the optic during recoil, it returns right back to its original position, which makes shooting fast fun.
I tried to push myself to new limits and was able to shoot double taps in .40 of a second and hit the target.
I scored a 2.38 on the Bill Drill on my first try. I wasn’t quite “cold,” but it was my first run at that particular drill. I’ve never gotten a sub-2-second Bill Drill, and 2.38 is fast for me, especially with a concealment-oriented firearm.
Ergonomics and Handling in Action
Ergonomically, the gun is well-designed and easy to handle. The integrated magwell helps you run those reloads quickly and intuitively. The 17-round magazine also makes reloads a lot faster due to its extra-long nature.
For a defensive situation, I’d carry with the 13-round magazine and use the 17-round as a reload. The magazine release button looks like it belongs on a full-sized gun. It’s big, easy to find with your thumb, and drops the magazine freely.
The aggressive grip texture is nice, and the slide release is small, but larger than most of the competition. The flat-faced trigger feels great, and it’s crisp and easy to reach. There isn’t much to change on this gun. I’ll add taller sights to co-witness with the optic, but that’s it.
A Worthy Option
The Masada Slim Elite isn’t revolutionary by any means. What it does well is take everything a gun should be and excel at every task. It’s more than accurate; it’s exceptional. It’s ergonomic, it’s reliable, and it’s easy to control. Mix that with a rail and optics-ready compatibility, and you get a very capable handgun.
It’s a dark horse option that outperforms most of the competition by a slight margin. At the same time, it’s not a pricey gun. IWI’s price is very fair. Wrap all that up, and the fact that it uses CZ-75 pattern magazines, and we’ve got a helluva gun.
If you’re looking for something different that doesn’t compromise on performance, the IWI Masada Slim Elite deserves a spot on your shortlist.
