I think many folk lean one way or the other and have strong opinions of why they do so. I have a 5906 and a .45 Para 1911. I would be interested to hear from others who have both a 1911 and a S&W 3rd Gen [of any calibers] how they compare the two. Do you favor one over the other for any particular uses? Or do you like both equally for all things? Or would you always choose one over the other for everything?
Compare your 3rd gen to your 1911
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This question requires too much thought. 
In all seriousness, I think they are so different (apples and oranges) that there is no basis for comparison. I think they both are good, and you just have to decide which one better fits your needs and your hands.
In all seriousness, I think they are so different (apples and oranges) that there is no basis for comparison. I think they both are good, and you just have to decide which one better fits your needs and your hands.
Kadonny
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I love my 4506 and 4516, but if I'm going to carry a .45 pistol, I'll carry my Dan Wesson Guardian (alloy frame) rather than my 3rd gen .45s. You just can't compare them weight wise. The S&W guns are too heavy IMO to carry all day and my Dan Wesson is just as reliable. That being said, I am sure there are others who will disagree with me.
I love the classic 1911 styles but love the third gens also. It's a matter of opinion and intended use.
I love the classic 1911 styles but love the third gens also. It's a matter of opinion and intended use.
Badquaker
Member
I sold my pc 3rd gen and bought another 1911.
While it is an apples and oranges comparison, the biggest difference between my 3rd gen 45's and my Kimber Stainless target II 1911, to me, is that my 3rd gen 45's run flawlessly right out of the box. And continue to do so after many years and thousands of rounds.
The 3rd gen 45's never needed a multi thousand round "break in" period. They didn't need multiple expensive trips back to the Yonkers factory. And still malfunction when returned. My 3rd gen 45's run 100% with their original factory magazines and any ammunition I can stuff in the magazine. No need to purchase and try multiple expensive after market magazines trying to get the gun to run.
My 4506-1 R3 is as accurate, if not more so, than my Kimber with its supposedly "match grade barrel".
So, I trust my life to 3rd gen 45's. I carry them on and off duty. I would not carry a 1911, any 1911, for serious purpose.
And I would trust a second gen model 645 just as quick as I would a 3rd gen 45 too. Regards 18DAI
The 3rd gen 45's never needed a multi thousand round "break in" period. They didn't need multiple expensive trips back to the Yonkers factory. And still malfunction when returned. My 3rd gen 45's run 100% with their original factory magazines and any ammunition I can stuff in the magazine. No need to purchase and try multiple expensive after market magazines trying to get the gun to run.
My 4506-1 R3 is as accurate, if not more so, than my Kimber with its supposedly "match grade barrel".
So, I trust my life to 3rd gen 45's. I carry them on and off duty. I would not carry a 1911, any 1911, for serious purpose.
And I would trust a second gen model 645 just as quick as I would a 3rd gen 45 too. Regards 18DAI
serpentine
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Between my 1911SC and 5906, I choose the 1911.
If I had to choose one, however, to be the one and only. It would be my 5906. I don't have enough range time with my 1911SC to pronounce it as my most accurate but my 5906 is the one to beat in my collection. It is crazy reliable, and has good round capacity. And I have some spare parts for it.
The downsides to it are:
1. The safety/decocker is just counter intuitive to me. Operating it is different than all my others with safeties.
2. Heavy and big to conceal and wear all day (although a shoulder harness could remedy that).
But in a scenario where it has to be chosen as the one and only, then sh** has hit the fan, and those previously mentioned downsides don't apply.
If I had to choose one, however, to be the one and only. It would be my 5906. I don't have enough range time with my 1911SC to pronounce it as my most accurate but my 5906 is the one to beat in my collection. It is crazy reliable, and has good round capacity. And I have some spare parts for it.
The downsides to it are:
1. The safety/decocker is just counter intuitive to me. Operating it is different than all my others with safeties.
2. Heavy and big to conceal and wear all day (although a shoulder harness could remedy that).
But in a scenario where it has to be chosen as the one and only, then sh** has hit the fan, and those previously mentioned downsides don't apply.
I own many 3rd Gen's and many 1911's. Nothing will ever replace my 1911's. 
Denver Dick
US Veteran
Wow, I guess I'll have to think that one over . . . 
Let's see, I own five .45 3rd Gens plus a 645. I own one 1911 that I've not shot in several years . . .
Gee, I guess I'll go with 3rd Gens.
Let's see, I own five .45 3rd Gens plus a 645. I own one 1911 that I've not shot in several years . . .
Gee, I guess I'll go with 3rd Gens.
Bartman3562
Fallen Comrade
I carry a shortly 40. Like stated above, I have never had a 3rd gen fail with any ammo. I never really trusted, as I had problems with a few 1911's. Then I purchased my 1911sc E series. It has been as good as any of my 3rd gens, a I trust it completely. Now I have a choice.
I realize that I was asking for an apples and oranges comparison, but there have been helpful answers anyway. Why would you not carry a 1911 for serious purpose? Is it a safety issue or a reliability issue?
EDIT... Or might it be because carrying a 1911 would be similar to carrying [or using] a revolver in SA mode in a defensive situation?
Where do you find the 1911 can outperform the 3rd Gen, if at all?
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Different platforms and all that. To me anyway, the two designs handle differently and I do believe that platform matters to individual people. Otherwise, those scandium framed two inch 44 Magnums would be easy to shoot accurately.
I don't hear about the 3rd Gens having issues, ever. Our personal 1911/45's are proven and without issue.
I like both, but a 5906 has been at my side by choice most often, for about two decades, and is now.
Different 1911's have come and gone, but my 3rd Gens are still here. Lots of reasons, including how well they have performed in my hands. They are keepers.
I have been looking at the 3rd Gen 45's quite a bit.........
I don't hear about the 3rd Gens having issues, ever. Our personal 1911/45's are proven and without issue.
I like both, but a 5906 has been at my side by choice most often, for about two decades, and is now.
Different 1911's have come and gone, but my 3rd Gens are still here. Lots of reasons, including how well they have performed in my hands. They are keepers.
I have been looking at the 3rd Gen 45's quite a bit.........
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Wow, I guess I'll have to think that one over . . .
Let's see, I own five .45 3rd Gens plus a 645. I own one 1911 that I've not shot in several years . . .
Gee, I guess I'll go with 3rd Gens.
Do you know how a 5906 would compare to a 4506?
BLUEBELLYYANKEE
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For me reliability is the most important question when it comes to handguns and in my opinion the 3rd gen guns are unrivaled.
In my experience the 1911 guns I have shot over the years were finicky about ammo when clean and it got worse as the gun got dirty from shooting. I can honestly say that my 3rd gens have never showed a tendency to FTE or FTF when run for extended time between cleanings. The grip profile of the 3rd gens fits me better too.
In my experience the 1911 guns I have shot over the years were finicky about ammo when clean and it got worse as the gun got dirty from shooting. I can honestly say that my 3rd gens have never showed a tendency to FTE or FTF when run for extended time between cleanings. The grip profile of the 3rd gens fits me better too.
tom-tom
Member
A gun is certainly a tool, but the best ones are more. Decades ago, I thought nothing of slipping a Colt Combat Commander over my right hip, either in a Mexican carry or IWB holster. That gun, now nearly 40 years old, never failed to chamber, fire, and send a bullet where I wanted it to go. True, I never expected it to feed wide mouthed JHPs, but I had some hard cast 200 gr. SWC reloads that I'd trust as an accurate stopper just as much as any cartridge out there. And in thousands of those reloads, this Colt never bobbled. More recently I owned a Colt 1991, and while I never had extensive carry experience with it, it was as accurate and reliable as it's older brother.
In the interest of fairness, I admit I also had a Kimber UltraCarry that I wouldn't trust as a boat anchor.
Now, maybe wiser or maybe not, I'm certainly heavier and thicker and all that weight sure seems a drag on my long suffering body. A 908 or CS9 is a smaller and much easier to carry. Either is certainly a fine weapon, easy to shoot and a joy to carry, dependable as the Texas summer is long. Barring an unforeseen calamity, I plan on owning and keeping them close at hand (or one of their brethren) as long as I breathe. I wonder, though, if I live long enough to own them 40 years, they'll have given me as much pleasure as that old Colt.
In the interest of fairness, I admit I also had a Kimber UltraCarry that I wouldn't trust as a boat anchor.
Now, maybe wiser or maybe not, I'm certainly heavier and thicker and all that weight sure seems a drag on my long suffering body. A 908 or CS9 is a smaller and much easier to carry. Either is certainly a fine weapon, easy to shoot and a joy to carry, dependable as the Texas summer is long. Barring an unforeseen calamity, I plan on owning and keeping them close at hand (or one of their brethren) as long as I breathe. I wonder, though, if I live long enough to own them 40 years, they'll have given me as much pleasure as that old Colt.
OP I won't carry 1911's for serious purpose due to their lack of reliability. The ones I see that seem to run reliably (Wilson Combat / Les Baer / Colt) are overpriced for what they are, to me.
I still own an original Colt Combat Elite. Nice pistol that runs fairly well. I carried it some back in the day due to sorry circumstances. That was prior to getting a S&W 645 and before I got a 3rd gen 45. 1911's are fun range guns, to me. Nothing more.
As to what a 1911 can do better than a 3rd gen pistol.........other than keeping gunsmiths employed........I can't think of one thing. Regards 18DAI
I still own an original Colt Combat Elite. Nice pistol that runs fairly well. I carried it some back in the day due to sorry circumstances. That was prior to getting a S&W 645 and before I got a 3rd gen 45. 1911's are fun range guns, to me. Nothing more.
As to what a 1911 can do better than a 3rd gen pistol.........other than keeping gunsmiths employed........I can't think of one thing. Regards 18DAI
poorbroker
US Veteran
If I can only keep one of my .45s, it would be my 4506.
Kadonny
Member
In terms of what?
Reliability does relate to quality too. Quality 1911s seem to run reliably, the question is what everyone considers quality.
I mostly carry my 6946 just due to size and weight (and will carry a 3953/54 when I find one), but I'm not afraid to carry my Dan Wesson 1911 either, it has proven to be very reliable and pretty easy to carry due to the alloy frame. It's all about perception of reliability based on actual experience and experience of others.
I'm apart from the herd when it comes to my feelings on the reliability (or lack thereof) of the 1911's.
With the high end "tuned" ones, that process of "accurizing" destabilizes the 1911's inherent reliability.
The difference between a Series '70 Colt Government model and a Gold Cup illustrates that... I've never had the sights shoot loose or fly off of a Government model... and even that is more so a product of Colt's poor implementation of adding on adjustable sights, than an inherent 1911 flaw.
Remember, the standard Government model has been and still is, in many countries, the "go to" side arm issued to the military. It has an admirable track record.
The biggest bugaboo about using a 1911 as a carry gun is in order for it to be "readied", it needs to be carried with a round in the chamber with the thumb safety engaged... the venerable "cocked & locked" carry. Once you fire the 1st round, there's nothing really different between it and a 4506 for the following shots.
Miles of print has been devoted to the debate on the safety of carrying "Cocked & Locked". It is less of an issue when the safety lever is the smaller standard sized one, but most modern 1911's now have the oversized "combat" safety levers, which I don't trust for carrying cocked & locked.
With a 3rd gen... I don't need to waste any of my remaining functional brain cells worrying about it and can devote them instead to remembering where in the heck I laid my glasses down last night.
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Off on a tangent my carry .45s are Sigs......W Ger. 220 or newer 245s. My first 245 replaced my original 4516....... due to the fact
my Smiths are all steel and their weight is the issue.....for all day carry!!!!
1911 pattern .45s ....... only one; a Sig with alloy Officers frame and Commander length slide...... got it anib/used..... at a really good price and always thought this was the "ideal size carry 1911" pattern... but it never gets carried!!! LOL
my Smiths are all steel and their weight is the issue.....for all day carry!!!!
1911 pattern .45s ....... only one; a Sig with alloy Officers frame and Commander length slide...... got it anib/used..... at a really good price and always thought this was the "ideal size carry 1911" pattern... but it never gets carried!!! LOL
