Reloading time is improved and shooting grip is improved with an STI aluminum magazine well funnel. Each pistol comes with a tuned and tested magazine fitted with an extension that increases capacity to 17 rounds.

The rear of the slide is machined to accept a Bo-Mar rear sight, the granddaddy of all fully adjustable pistol rear sights on the market today and, in my humble opinion, the best.

The full-length dustcover of the upper frame assembly provides additional recoil-dampening weight, and to my way of thinking it looks really cool! At the rear of the frame are an STI palmswell beavertail grip safety, ambidextrous thumb safety levers, and a lightweight Clark Combat hammer that helps reduce locktime. The lower frame/grip assembly features further radical modification.

To wit, an APS Grip Modification. First the checkering on the grip frame is ground off and replaced with a textured surface to provide enhanced recoil control even with perspiring or oily hands. Material is removed under the trigger guard to permit a high grip while the trigger guard itself is reshaped and textured to provide a secure purchase by those who favor the "finger around the guard" grip. The APS modification includes a paint job. The customer can request almost any color, but my test pistol came with a very attractive white/silver/black streak pattern that really sets it apart from the herd.

The chore of magazine reloading is speeded up thanks to an EGW Extended Paddle magazine release and an STI aluminum magazine well funnel. The latter accessory provides a gaping opening that should ensure smooth reloads for even the most uncoordinated among us, to say nothing of helping secure the pistol in the shooter's hand. Each pistol comes with one tuned and tested magazine fitted with an extension that increases capacity to a most reassuring 17 rounds. This is very useful because in USPSA shooting you can never have too much ammo!

Accuracy at 25 yards with the Clark Custom 2011 Combat pistol was extremely good, averaging right about two inches for six different .40 S&W loads.

Internally, the pistol features all polished and fitted Clark Custom innards to provide a crisp, 2.5- to 3-pound trigger pull. An STI narrow, skeletonized trigger features an overtravel stop so the shooter can adjust it to his preference. And Clark's Big Bushing Reverse Plug recoil spring system with a two-piece spring guide rod ensures smooth functioning and consistent lockup.

More Than A Pretty Face
So much for my surface examination. When I got to the range I found out just how special the Clark pistol really is. The pistol was test-fired for accuracy from a rest at 25 yards with factory ammunition and handloads. I selected .40 S&W factory loads from Winchester, Remington, CorBon, and Speer, and I also included two handloads that I use for shooting USPSA and steel matches.

As can be seen in the accompanying chart, accuracy was above reproach with the pistol showing a distinct preference for slower moving projectiles. CorBon's rather sedate Performance Match ammo produced a nicely centered, 1.5-inch group, but the group I mentioned at the beginning of this report was even more impressive. It measured 1.75 inches but had three .40-caliber bullets in one ragged hole that measured only 0.55 inch in diameter!