IWI Masada Slim Commander Elite: Slim, Savage, Flat-Shooting

If you’re a fan of the Masada Slim 9mm pistol from IWI, then you’re going to want to check out the upgraded Commander Elite model. This new model upgrades the polymer-framed pistol to a Mischief Machine aluminum grip module with G10 grips. If you already have the Masada Slim pistol at home and simply want to upgrade to the aluminum grip module, you can do that or purchase a whole new pistol.

IWI Masada Slim Commander Elite

The Commander Module weighs 6.1 ounces, 4.1 ounces heavier than the OEM polymer Masada Slim Module. The difference between the polymer version and the Mischief Machine grip module is significant, especially with felt recoil. If you were to shoot them side by side, it’s hard to imagine them as the same handgun.

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If you’re not familiar with Mischief Machine, the business was launched in 2017 and has created numerous grip modules for popular pistols in the firearms industry. The collaboration with IWI began by examining the design elements of the Commander series that Mischief Machine had already created for other brands.

IWI wanted to retain the main features of the Masada Slim, with a more defined Picatinny accessory rail and a more pronounced high undercut. The result is a better concealed-carry handgun with more customization options and much softer recoil.

What’s the Same with the Commander Elite?

RMSc Shield Optics Cut

The slide on the Commander Elite model is the same as that on the original Masada Slim. It has a white front dot sight and a blacked-out rear sight. The slide is cut with the RMSc Shield footprint. So it is compatible with the Holosun EPS Carry, 507K X2, Sig Romeo Zero, and other red dot optics that share a similar footprint.

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I prefer the Holosun EPS Carry optic. Since it’s on my original Slim pistol, I decided to mount the same one on the Commander Elite model. This is an enclosed emitter optic, ideal for carry, as it prevents water, dust, debris, and other contaminants from reaching the emitter or clogging it.

Given how low the dot height is and the slide’s direct-mount capability, you can co-witness with the iron sights. This optic uses a 1620 battery and includes Solar Failsafe and Shake Awake technologies.

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What I appreciate about Holosun is that they offer the EPS Carry in multiple reticle options, including green and red. I went with the Green 2 MOA Dot & 32 MOA Circle on the Commander Elite pistol.

Upgrading the Sights

I changed the factory iron sights to the IWI R3D Night Sights from XS Sights. This set includes a tritium-powered front and rear sight and is available in orange or green. These sights are still designed in the traditional 3-dot notch and post sight picture. So, you don’t have to relearn sight alignment.

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The power of tritium is that its glow dot absorbs ambient light, allowing it to glow in low light. I mounted this sight set with the EPS Carry optic. However, I had to slightly Dremel the rear sight off to allow the optic to mount to the gun. Without shaving off the smallest amount of material, the XS Sights are not compatible with a red dot optic installed.

Flat Trigger

The flat trigger from the original Masada Slim is still used on the Masada Slim Commander Elite pistol. This trigger is built with a trigger shoe safety. So, without depressing the safety along with the trigger, the gun will not fire.

Magazine Release

The magazine release is the same on both model pistols. It will need to be moved to the grip module if you’re just swapping from the polymer-framed pistol to the Mischief Machine aluminum grip module. The grip module will have a new magazine-release retaining pin but will use the original spring, assembly pins, and button.

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The magazine release can be switched to left- or right-handed operation, regardless of which Masada Slim model you have.

What’s New on the Masada Slim Commander Elite?

Interchangeable Grips

The Mischief Machine Commander Elite grip module uses a 7075-aluminum frame with G10 grips. These grips are easily interchangeable, so you can customize the pistol with aftermarket grip panels. The module itself is designed with a 1911 angle grip angle. This provides a more natural and comfortable grip that most gun owners are familiar with.

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Increased Capacity

The Masada Slim originally had a capacity of 13 rounds. However, the Commander Elite grip module accepts CZ-75-pattern magazines and ships with one 13-round and one 17-round magazine. While it might not look aesthetically pleasing, having more capacity is always a good thing.

Updated Barrel

The barrel length – 3.4 inches – hasn’t changed, but it did get an upgrade. It features a longer feed ramp, improving the gun’s reliability.

The biggest issue with manufacturing carry guns is not knowing what kind of ammunition consumers might use with the gun. With dozens of ammunition manufacturers and hundreds of loads produced, a handgun must accommodate as many bullet profiles, overall cartridge lengths, and pressures as possible. Next time you’re going down the ammunition aisle at your local gun shop, look at how different every hollow point bullet looks from one box of ammunition to the next.

The longer feed ramp is an improvement that will allow the Masada Slim Commander Elite to feed more reliably across these ammunition variations.

Magwell Compatibility

The Commander Elite grip module has an enlarged magwell compared to the polymer grip module. The more significant upgrade is that the new grip module has an interface for a future magwell attachment. Mischief Machine makes a Slim Commander magwell made of 7075-T6 hard-anodized aluminum.

The only current downside is that the 17-round magazine will not work with this magwell without proper baseplates, or the magazines will over-insert. The next item Mischief Machine is working on is baseplates to fit this magwell.

On the Range with the Masada Slim Commander Elite

The biggest benefit of the Mischief Machine grip module is the additional weight it provides. The heavier a gun is, the less felt recoil and muzzle rise you will experience. My friend Steve, aka Mr. Big Kid, and I shot hundreds of rounds through the Commander Elite module right out of the box without cleaning or oiling the gun, and we had zero malfunctions.

Steve was familiar with the Mischief Machine brand but had never shot an IWI pistol before.  He was genuinely surprised at how comfortable the pistol was to shoot. Likewise, he told me it felt more like shooting a full-size pistol than a compact one.

I expected the Commander Elite pistol to feel much better than the polymer version. However, I didn’t expect it to be as drastic as it was. The Mischief Machine grip module truly transformed the pistol into one of the most comfortable, manageable, flat-shooting carry pistols.

Just out of curiosity, I shot my Canik MC9 Prime back-to-back against the Masada Slim Commander Elite to see just how effective the new grip module is. It features a slightly longer barrel than the Masada Slim, and the barrel is ported. The Prime is a polymer-framed pistol, so it’s lightweight. However, the Commander Elite pistol had less felt recoil than the Prime even with its longer ported barrel.

Holster Compatibility + Belt Setup

The Mischief Machine grip module is just different enough from the Slim grip module that you can either modify your old holster or purchase a new one. Using a blow dryer, heat the Kydex until it reforms to the Mischief Machine grip module. Without reforming the Kydex, there won’t be proper retention on the gun.

If you’re looking for a holster for the Masada Slim Commander Elite pistol, I recommend three holster manufacturers. They make proper retention holsters specifically for the Mischief Machine grip module.

Pro 2 Customs

Pro 2 Customs IWB Kydex Holster uses 0.08-inch thick Kydex. Likewise, all the clip options they offer allow you to adjust the cant of the pistol from 0-15 degrees. They also offer tons of Kydex color options, and I opted for the OD Green version. I also prefer the Discreet Carry Concepts Mono Clip, which has two clips that latch onto the bottom of your 1.5-inch-wide belt.

The sweat guard extends to the top of the slide and is considered a “high” sweat guard height. Finally, they offer their holster with an optic cut to accommodate red dots. The company also offers the option to have the holster opened for a threaded-barrel fit.

FPS Holsters

FPS Holsters offers a full CCW kit for IWI that includes a holster and two single-magazine pouches. This holster can be worn at Appendix or 4 o’clock, depending on how you mount the belt clip. The magazine pouches are adjustable, so you can adjust the retention you want or use them with different firearm magazines.

You can choose the holster to be molded for the gun only or with a specific light combination. Finally, you can add the Mod Arm to push the firearm grip closer to your body, reducing printing.

ANR Designs

The ANR Designs Quick Ship Inside The Waistband Holster features a high sweat guard and is made of Kydex. It is also compatible with red dot optics and suppressor-height sights. The retention can be adjusted to your preferred level. It is offered with an optional concealment claw attachment. I recommend this because it helps tuck the gun into your body for better concealment.

There are tons of Kydex colors and print options to choose from, so you can make the holster your own. Once again, you have numerous holster clip options, so you can customize the holster to your needs. You can also add a matching magazine pouch with your holster order.

Hunter Constantine

My go-to concealed carry belt lately has been the Hunter Constantine Camo Carry belt. This belt can be worn with or without belt loops. This 1.5-inch-wide belt is optimized for Appendix inside-the-waistband carry but can accommodate other carry positions as well.

The belt has a sliding adjustment clip to set the belt to your exact waist size. It also comes with two loops, so you can quickly adjust the length by hooking the buckle into either loop. It is available in different camo patterns and five different belt sizes.

Making the Masada Slim Commander Elite My Primary CCW

The IWI Masada Slim pistol has been my concealed carry pistol for years. However, after getting the Commander Elite version, I have made it my primary, and the older polymer version my backup. My goal this year is to have people shoot both guns back-to-back to allow them to compare for themselves. I think the difference in felt recoil between the two will shock everyone who shoots both.

Masada Slim Commander Elite Specifications

Performance