I could do pretty well with the P11 at the range, and the recoil wasn't bad. I had heard (on the old KTOG forum) that you needed to shoot it a lot, or shoot it only. The guys who seem to do best with it are the guys who seem to shoot only (or primarily) their P11s. The trigger can be smoothed and lightened a little, but it's still a long, heavy trigger.
I was shooting a lot IDPA some years ago and thought I'd give my P11 a try in a match. The first string I wasted 2-3 shots adjusting to the trigger. (I never shot it regularly at the range, and shoot a lot of other guns.) After that first slow start at the match, I did far better with the P11 than I expected. The gun is fine, but it's really not the arrow, it's the indian... I wasn't a good indian.
I got to thinking that because the P11 was a carry gun that I didn't shoot often, it was probably not the right "carry" gun for me. I traded it away.
I later picked up a Kahr P8, which I liked a lot -- even the trigger. But, someone offered me a price that was almost twice what I paid for it, and I sold it. I've since had several smaller guns (P3AT and LCP), and have also owned an LC9 and still own a PF9. I find the PF9 easier to shoot, and the trigger, while awkward, doesn't require me relearning the gun before I can hit something. I shoot it first each time I go to the range, now, and can regularly hit the broad side of the barn. Couldn't do that with the P11 until I'd shot half a mag.
I have been giving serious thought to the new Ruger LC9s, however. If the trigger is as good as most claim it will be hard to pass up.