I have to admit that I have gained a fondness for the smaller 1911s out there. I have both the EMP and a Colt Officers. Now I'm thinking of adding another to the stable.

I rarely read anything negative on a S&W 1911. Can any of you who own the 3" Pro Series model school me on its high/low points. Things to watch out for with this gun. Whether after getting one you wish you had gotten another model (and if so, which one). And . . . are the mags for this gun unique to this gun or are they common with some other 1911s (and if so, which ones)?

Thanks for your help!

P.S. I know someone will post a picture of their compact 945. Don't do that! I want one sooo bad, and simply can't find one. lol!

This may help you a bit:

My Pro Series Collection

The one at the shop I work at sure is nice. I would like it but I would have to have the front strap checked. Heck of nice looking and feeling compact 1911.

What is the story with the mags? Are they common with the Colt Officers model I have (use Wilson Combat mags with that gun)?

I have seen the 1911 compact in a Performance Center version at the S&W Sport SHooting Center store in Springfield. It is not listed in the catalog, but it exists. Hmmmm... the recoil must be ...

I have the new 3 inch Compact "Pro" series. It joins the standard 5 inch Pro series, a 4 1/4 inch PD and the 5 inch PD tactical rail model I already have. All have worked straight out of the box.

I wanted the 3 inch ever since I saw it at the Shot Show in 09. It's been worth the year and half wait. I have now put 50 ball, 25 flat point, 25 hollow point and 50 rounds of lead reload through it. NO malfunctions. Shoots to point of aim. Smith sent two additional recoil springs in the blue case, which was unexpected.

I have carried it now for several days under the suit coat. (I am a part time municipal judge.) It is noticably lighter than the other guns. The recoil is more pronounced than the bigger guns but not anything that can't be handled. I'm pleased.

I have owned this gun for a couple months now and love it. Smith sent 2 extra recoil springs as well. The gun has 300 rounds through it and is very reliable. I was orignally concerned with not having front strap checkering but there are lines there. After shooting the gun it is not a problem, the aggressive backstrap and grips provide a glue like grip on the gun. Recoil is heavy but very controllable. The gun shoots dead on to point of aim with 230gr bullets. I have been very pleased with it and would buy it again if I had the choice. Furthermore, I had been looking at Kimber's but could not justify the lack of a warranty and the higher price. Also, I have heard bad things about them and they need a tool for disassembly, the Smith does not.

I bought one and liked it so much I went and bought a second. Then I had Kevin, at Novak sights, mill a front night sight for each of them. I use one of them during every training course we teach to demonstrate the large muscle movement drills. Very nice guns and I never really noticed the recoil being any more or less than any of my other guns. Hope this helps.

Scott Jens
C.H.P.D. (ret.)
Check Six Training LLC
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I'm new to this forum and I've been looking at and wondering the same thing. I was weighing the choice's between the 3" 1911's available, and did not really hear alot about the little Smith. Out of them all I liked it the best. Thanks for the info.

Just bought a brand new one and shot it for the first time yesterday (after giving it a thorough cleaning). Put about 150 rounds of factory hardball range ammo through it (from four different manufactures).

Only had one failure to go into battery, which I deliberately provoked by riding the slide with too much pressure from my forward thumb. So, if you tend to make contact with the slide with your thumb edge (like me), be sure not to overdo the pressure because it's fairly easy to decelerate the short slide on this gun just enough to cause incomplete chambering.

Accuracy was outstanding for such a short barrel. No problem keeping a run of 7 slow-fire rounds well within a 9-inch paper plate at 50 feet, with an occasional cloverleaf included.

It's still a bit pricey (I paid $940 not including tax); but I feel like I got a superior firearm for the money. Truth is, I wanted this gun so bad that I probably would have shelled out north of $1,000 for it.

I have had one for quiet some time now.Have added night sights and different grips to it.I have a 7 round magazine from a Kimber that I am currently using because it fits flush with the bottom of the grip.I prefer that since I pocket carry mine with a De Santis pocket holster.Had a few feeding problems concerning hollow point ammunition when I first bought it as well as a problem with the firing pin safety.Sent it back to S&W and it has been trouble free ever since .All in all,they are great little 1911's.

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JR

I'm about to drop about a grand on a Pro Series Subcompact or a Colt Defender. In so many ways they seem similar. However, I'm not a big fan of shiny, stainless finishes (Colt) and the Smith (in some illustrations) has a big warning notation on the mag eject side of the frame. This looks pretty silly to me, but does not appear in many online photographs of the Subcompact? This probably isn't a deal breaker, but is the "magazine warning" lettering permanent on the Smith? Is it on all of the current production pistols? Thanks.