Anyone conceal carry a 3 inch 1911?

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Sure you did

My current most-carried gun is a Kimber Ultra Aegis, converted to 9x23. Works like a dream. I've carried 3" Ultra Carry .45s, too, and they work great, too, as long as one is mindful of the need to occasionally replace recoil springs and mag springs.

Mike,
I just now slid this 'n off my belt for this photo...

Three inch Colt Defender, I carry it as a bug as well as CC.
Goin' on ten years, a case of 230gr W-W Ranger and nary a hick-up.
As a matter of fact it's the back-up I'm firing in my Hip Shootin' thread video.

Shown in one of my 'chicken hide holsters'



Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Dave, I've been looking at the Defender and also the Springfield Ultra Compact Lightweight. I was leaning towards the Springfield but now may favor the Colt.
You've also got some might fine stocks on that iron.

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Sure you did

Judging from the orders that I receive there are a lot of folks carrying the 3" 1911's.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Got the same gun Dave (unfortunately without the pretty stocks) and love it. It currently has Laser Grip stocks that work pretty well for sighting at self defense distances. Mine also shoots every time.

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Ignored facts still exist.

A former co-worker has a Springfield MicroCompact. I'm going to make him a tuckable IWB for it, as well as one for my Norinco M1911.

In a IWB holster like the Milt Sparks Summer Special it is easy to comfortably carry even a 1911 Government Model, but the Officers frame being shorter will tend to "print" even less.

I find the Officers Model is also easy to carry in my front pants pocket if the pants have a big pocket and are of a fairly heavy material.

These short 1911's can be finiky about working.

I had mine throated, and replaced the recoil spring and recoil spring plug with the Wilson unit.

The gun is as reliable as any 1911 I have shot.

Strangely enough it shoots one ragged hole at 15 to 20 yards.

I would like to have a second one with an Aluminium frame.

keith44spl

That is one nice looking "rig".

I have always carried a Commander. At 4" it's the shortest I'm comfortable with.

I've carried my Kimber Ultra carry 3" so much over the last 8 years that I'm now trying to make up my mind what type of refinish I'd like. Its showing wear on the sharp edges and at the muzzle. I'm leaning toward a desert tan frame with black slide Or maybe a titanium frame with black slide? in Dura coat
It has been an outstanding pistol so far , gobbles up whatever I feed it and shoots better than I can hold.

Ray, you'll be getting another order from me as soon as I can make up my mind.

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Sure you did

I'm iffy about the reliability of 3" 1911s, so I stick with a Commander (1911PD) when I choose to carry a 1911. I have carried a government model before too, but the 1911PD is easier to carry due to the scandium frame.

Yep. EDC is a 3" Kimber Tactical Ultra. (And Ray made the holster).

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

I carry a #' 1911 Ultra CDP in .45ACP. I love it. I also use it every wednesday evening in our "friendly" IDPA style compettion at our range at work. I usually don't win because we have a few flatout good shooters. I also have to do too mnay mag changes with the 7rd mags. I'm usually in the middle.

Sir,
Thank you.

Here's a couple of pics of my favorite 3 inch carry rigs,




I may be handcraftin' a few custom rigs for sale
(holsters and matching belts w/ silver buckels, ect...)
later in the year...Just gotta see how I'm comin' out on this here retirement thing.

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Dave how about some pics out of the holster?

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Sure you did

Mike,

Here's a pic of my 3" BUG / CC .45

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Business End Of That 3 Inch .45


Had an ol' boy tell me,"Mister, when I was lookin' at the business end of that pistol...All I was a seein' was a graveyard down in there."

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Now, we're talkin' Dave

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Sure you did

Mike,

Those short barrels without the bushing look 3 times as big.

Sometime later after that feller said that about the 'business end' of that 45.

Went to assisting the local Sheriff Dept. serve a warrant on a dope dealer.
I was just guarding the rear door, just to plug a hole.

Someone starts jerkin' on this back door...I raised that 3" .45ACP to eye level with who or whatever was fixin' to come out that door.

The door flies open, the Sheriff's alookin', I mean right down the gullet. I's smiles and holster up, he tries to force a smile.

Later during the search I ask him,"Whatcha see down there? A graveyard?"

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I will never again carry anything less than commander length 1911. Which is by the way 4.25 inches. Not 4 inches.

I had one 3 inch and two four inch 1911 style guns (after all they aren't really 1911's) and they were unreliable at best.

Can't bring myself to trust another so I carry this instead.

Dave, that Defender you have, or a Springfield Micro Compact is what I'm looking to get. Trouble is, the Colts and Springfields are hard to come by right now.

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Sure you did

Mike
First,.. I am NOT a great shot.. but on a good day with " Range Ammo".. @ 7 yards

I LOVE my Kimber Ultra CDP II.. I had sent it back to Kimber for a little tweaking.. plus I had it KIMPRO'ed as to have it totally blacked out.. The Crimson Trace Grips work wonders for these old eyes..

Right now the market is flooded with Kmber's and you should be able to fine great deal..
PM me if you need a price check..

Sal

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Nice Shoorod ya got there Sal

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Sure you did

See my next post

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Looks like those old eyes can still shoot straight.

I carry a Colt lightweight stainless Commander an awful lot. I may try a 3 incher like the Defender someday but friends haven't been happy with them or their predecessor, the Officers ACP, or some other makers' offerings. To be honest, none of them spent much time or ammo sorting out their new guns before they soured on them and traded them off.

The weight matters more to me than the size. I can carry an aluminum frame Commander hidden way more successfully than a steel frame 3 incher.

I used to carry a Government Model (5 inch barrel) when in uniform and the Commander in plain clothes or off duty. I have gotten to be so happy with the Commander's portability that I carry it in uniform every day, too.

Dave, those are nice rigs.

Buff,

I like 'em all too!

Defender
A couple of 5" Gov't Models
Lwt. Commander




One time, a bunch times...

An ol' boy that I cruises the tall & uncut with sometimes, came by a sayin', "My pistols jammin' up!"

Take a quick look, the darn thing was dry as a bone...Probably hadn't saw a drop of oil in who knows when.
Those stainless guns need a little drink of lube a little along too.

They all shoot good and I shoot 'em all!

Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

I am currently carrying an Armscor, High Standard Crusader Compact, in one of Rays IWB holsters for my full sized 1911.
She eats everything I feed her and runs like a timex.


Jim

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Big bullets leave big holes

There is some truth that 3" 1911's can be finiky.

However if you get one sorted out they can "run" as close to 100% as it gets...

The sane can be said for ANY 1911 and ANY other handgun as well.

We have all even seen revolvers that had problems...

I CC a Springfield Armory EMP in 9x19 in a Galco IWB holster. This gun has been utterly reliable thusfar, is fairly light-weight, and the outfit works great.

I carry my full size Kimber quite a bit in the cooler months. 4-5 weeks ago a deal presented itself on a new Defender and I scooped it up. About a week later I started second guessing the decision due to some of the stories I was hearing about reliability with the 3" guns. So it still sits unfired, and I remain on the fence about what to do with it. Some days I want to keep it, some days I see it as trading material for a nice revolver or Comander size 1911.

This thread is really not helping my situation much. Lol.

I carry a Kimber Ultra CDP II in .45 ACP with 230 grain Federal Hydrashocks. I had to send it back to Kimber for reliability issues, they put a new slide on it and switched it from an external extractor to an internal one and now it doesn't miss a beat. At across the room ranges, 10 yards or so, it will rip one ragged hole. Reliability is 100% with any ammo I have tried to put through it. For holsters I use a Kramer horsehide vertical scabbard in cold weather and a Kramer horsehide IWB #2 in hot weather. I'm 6' and 175 pounds and with the IWB I can conceal the gun under a T-shirt!

My Colt Series 80 Officers Model feeds everything I put into it. Doesn't seem to care what the ammo is 230 hardball/JHP, 200 SWC/JHP, 185,...it all gets made into a pile of empties. Must have a good one!! I carry it in a Kramer #3 just like madmikeb...Works well for me. On occasion I also carry my Star Firestar M45. It too, feeds everything including empty casings....great gun and SOOOO under-rated. Good for me however.
Randy

I used to carry a Colt Officer's Lightweight all the time, Mexican carry. Never had a problem with it. Shot ball rounds, Black Talon and Gold Dot. I've reverted back to my 649 and 49.

What did Colt change from the Series 80 to the Series 90? Anyone carrying the Series 90?

I carried a 1911 compact (3.5") for a while but due to the weight went back to a Kahr P45. Same # of rounds but much lighter.