Compact 1911s

[18DAI]

Years ago when I was looking for a compact 45 I tried all the popular brands. Many were 1911 pattern pistols.

The only sub 4 inch 1911 to run well was my partners Colt Defender. BUT - when it got exceedingly dirty it would FTF.

Mr Bruce Gray of Grayguns has written about why sub 4 inch 1911's are usually problematic. A good read worth searching out.

I gave up on 1911's for serious use almost two decades ago. I use 3rd gen compact 45's - currently the 4513TSW - and have not looked back. Regards 18DAI

 

[Cpo1944]

Another vote for Kimber UDP ,but with Crimson Trace laser grips.

 

[smokey04]

Plus 1 for eveled [# 16 above]. I have 2 Defenders both flawless and great for shoulder holster carry[Miami Classic] but my favorite is the Concealed Carry Officer Mod.I thought I invented it before Colt by mating a Commander top end to an Officers Receiver[ The Lightweight Officers is my preference] However, years ago I first mated a Commander top to an Ultimate Bright Stainless bottom[now my BBQ gun with Mammoth ivory grips].It is a little heavy for shoulder carry but great for belt carry ,in or outside.I never could afford an outright CCO so I have made my own.
Wilsons makes an adapter to use full size[ 8 rd.] mags. in an Officers mod. So my usual carry rig is either the Defender or CCO with a flush fit mag. and a double pouch with the converted full size mags on the off side. With the Miami Classic that makes for a very balanced rig obviating the need for the "tie downs".
I've been retired from the "mean streets" for 27 years so most of my travelling is with the shoulder rig,I would still rather carry inside the belt if I were still on the job. JM not so HO, Nick

 

[jlrhiner]

Yes for Kimber. Mine is Tactical Ultra CDP. Like it a lot!

 

[rog8732]

I notice no mention of the Springfield Armory "Micro-compact" which is 3". When It first came out it had bragging rights to being the lightest weight of any .45 A C P semi-auto. I no longer remember the bragging ounces, but it felt to weigh less than a full mag side by side.

It was a brutal little bitty to shoot, and no real pleasure, but with a couple thousand rounds down range between my son and I we never have yet, had ANY malfunction. A little suprising to me, given the rep of the mini 45s.

 

[safearm]

I have a Colt Defender that started life as a 9mm, but with the addition of a Bar Sto barrel, now lives on as a .38 Super. I've never had any FTF/FTE with either the 9mm or .38 Super barrels. I use Colt magazines for 9mm and Wilson/Metalform magazines for .38 Super.



I also have a custom CCO pistol with a Colt enhanced Combat Commander slide and Storm Lake barrel on a Fusion alloy frame. It too is in .38 Super and uses the same magazines as the Defender.



Of the two, I carry the CCO most often. It's just as easy to conceal, the weight is so close as to be negligible, and I like the extra barrel length/sight radius.

 

[KevinCH]

I have a Colt Defender that started life as a 9mm, but with the addition of a Bar Sto barrel, now lives on as a .38 Super. I've never had any FTF/FTE with either the 9mm or .38 Super barrels. I use Colt magazines for 9mm and Wilson/Metalform magazines for .38 Super.

I also have a custom CCO pistol with a Colt enhanced Combat Commander slide and Storm Lake barrel on a Fusion alloy frame. It too is in .38 Super and uses the same magazines as the Defender.


Of the two, I carry the CCO most often. It's just as easy to conceal, the weight is so close as to be negligible, and I like the extra barrel length/sight radius.

+1 for nice pistols in 38 Super - another of my "bucket list" guns! I have to acquire a 1911 in the caliber, & that one has to have a pony on the slide because.....well, just because it has to!

 

[LedFowl]

Springfield Armory GI Champion. I believe it's a 4-inch.

Edit: Sorry. Not a compact. My bad.

Sent from my rotary phone.

 

[Lou_NC]

I'm sorry, I just don't understand the appeal of a compact 1911. The barrel is easy to hide, it is the grip that prints. Add in the lost energy from the shorter barrel and the greater potential for malfunctions, makes them even less appealing.

In an all steel gun, I want the government size 5inch barrel.

For CCW the lightweight Commander is the perfect size.

If anything I would go with a commander barrel, and a officer sized frame.

To each his own, and I am not trying to bash anybody, just my opinion. Ed.

I agree completely with the above sentiments. I'll emphasize that I am a HUGE fan of the 1911 and own several variants, including a 9mm Springfield Armory Range Officer that I just picked up and am having a ball with!

Years ago, when I wanted an "officer" or "commander" size 1911 for concealed carry, I couldn't afford to spend $1000 to "maybe" get a reliable "shrunken" 1911. So, I resigned myself to buying what for me turned out to be an excellent choice - a Glock 23. The .40 S&W is no slouch, the Glock 23 holds 15 rounds, and reliability is legendary.

Now I have the means to afford ANY 1911 I want. And I have no intention of spinning the wheel and gambling $1000 plus that I'll get a shrunken 1911 that I'd actually trust my life with.

For me, I'll stick with full-size 1911's, the size they were "originally designed" to be made in. I'll use them for "range play" and pistol games where concealment is not a requirement.

For concealed applications, I'll stick with my Glocks.

Just my $0.02, and you got exactly what you paid for!

Lou

 

[Eaglestroker]

My almost brother in law has a Sig C3 I believe. Before shooting the gun I disliked anything shorter than a commander length in 45ACP. That one really impressed me! Sure we could arrange for you to shoot it if you'd like?

 

[Cyrano]

The daughter of a friend showed up one day at the range with a Rock Island Compact, 3 1/2 inch barrel. I shot it and liked it so much I got one of my own. Very well made, shorter in the butt than a standard 1911, very reliable, even shoots SWCs. What's not to like. I've had it about six months and shot it a lot; now to get it fitted with adjustable night sights and the kind of stippling that Clark puts on the forestrap (Clark won't work on customer's 45s; they want to sell you their own pistol, so I'll have to find someone else who does that kind of stippling. Does anyone know a gunsmith that stipples like Clark?).

 

[kozmic]

I'll plus 1 on the 3" Kimbers. I have a stainless Ultra Raptor II. I ran several initial boxes thru it and had a couple FTEs. From that point on it has been great and flawless. It's seen many types of ammo and digests them all. I like the size and balance for shooting and for carry. It points very naturally. I certainly trust my family's and my life with it.

OK, now the "but"....A Springfield Armory XDs 45 has been my primary carry for almost a year now and I love it. Not a 1911, but one helava carry gun.

I'm certainly no expert, but I believe it to be among the better big bore conceal carry guns out there. I'm not taking anything away from the Kimber or 1911 compacts, etc., but The XDs is a real contender.

Sorry for the drift!

 

[Dennis The B]

I own a Kimber Ultra Shadow, a Kimber Pro Carry II, Colt LWT Commander (.38 Super), and a S&W E Series Commander-size. They're all completely reliable, and I haven't had a minute's trouble with any of them.

If you want a gun which conceals well, yet has a longer barrel, try the Kimber Compacts. They have officer-height frames, Commander-length barrels.

 

[thomasinaz]

I like the Officers frame/Commander slide configuration 1911s. My Colt CCO and Sig RCS Sport shoot great and carry/conceal easily in IWB holsters. I had a Kimber Tactical Ultra that was a good pistol and gave no problems. I sold it last year when I needed some $ for another project. Wish I still had it.....

The 3 to 3 1/2" 1911s need a firm grip to function well. While instructing at our range I've seen several compact 1911 shooters having problems with reliability because of a not so solid grip. After working with them, some get it and some don't. Which is why I really like the compact frame Commander length 1911s, they are a little more forgiving.

 

[Mike Grasso]

Here's a couple of my Commander's.
I do have a small Kimber that I've completely rebuilt to work consistently, but as many have stated, the smallest I'd normally go is 4.25"

Mike

The 45 Commander is built on a Government frame and has both slides.

The 9mm is one I did up for my wife.

 

[wildenout]

+1 for the Colt Defender, I have shot about a half dozen of the compact/conceal carry size 1911's in recent months and it by far feels the best (in both 9 and .45). A close second in my book is the EMP, I was very impressed with it. Once things pick up for me on the job front (a.k.a my last final is Wednesday morning, and then once I get a real job) I'll be picking up the Defender for Winter carry.

 

[goldspurs09]

My Colt 1991 compact was my very first handgun and carry gun...have made some modifications to it over the 20+ years I have had it....still love it as a carry gun...slim, hides well, and hits the target!

most recently shot it with some duracoat since 20+ years were wearing on it.

 

[M29since14]

...I believe that the Colt Lightweight Commander is the ideal 1911 carry gun.

You're right - it is!

...But for some reason I have a hankering to add one of the Compacts to my collection. I guess its just because I don't have one.

Anyway, I'm going to another gun show in two weeks. So I'm looking for the members of this forum to either talk me into or out of buying one.

Think of Nancy Reagan and, "Just say no." (It was Nancy, wasn't it?)

I've had a Lightweight Officer's ACP since they were first introduced. It is OK. I've never had any problems with it. On the other hand, for some reason, the gun just doesn't interest me like I had hoped it would. There seems to be a sort of invisible line that forms right beneath the Commander. When you dip below it, it just doesn't feel like "1911 territory" any more. JMHO.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[H Richard]

I am also a fan of the compact 1911. I found the RIA compact (3 1/2") in 45 ACP about 8 years ago, and like it very much. Back then it came pretty standard 1911 so I installed a beavertail grip safety, and Millet taller sights. Last fall I found one of the newer 1911 Compacts in 9mm, I believe referred to as the Tactical model. This now comes with beavertail and enhanced sights. I am really getting to like the 9mm. It came with the trigger at 4 1/2 lbs, and I have not touched it. It now has about 500 rounds through it and has been 100% reliable. The most recent (9mm) was about half the price of a Kimber, and the only difference is the RIA is all steel and of course heavier. A good holster (From Lobo) carries it easily.
The 9mm.


The .45.

 

[David R]

I have had an officers model for a long time. It's not easy to shoot as a 5" but carries better. There is no limp wristing. Because I think it would jump out of my hand if I don't hang on tight. I was shooting it today with 200 grain swc from laser cast loaded with 7.o grains unique. About 900 fps. I could shoot a 10 shot 3" -4" group at 25 yards offhand or off the bench. I let a guy at the range shoot it, you should have seen him flinch when it was empty. I hit 7 clay birds on the 25 yard berm with 11 shots offhand. Great gun. No feeding problems if I keep it clean. No room fro a shock buff.

David

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