Thinking of purchasing a 45 cal 1911. Right now leaning towards the SW1911sc. This handgun will be used mostly for plinking tho, but want it to be ideal also for carrying. I own only one other semi thats a XDM 9mm. I'm all ears you experienced handgunners.

Wait for Ruger to come out with their 1911 in a commander size gun

Do you plan on concealing a full-size 1911? If so, you have many options. A few gun makers specialize in 1911s for carry. Rounded or "dehorned" edges, bobtail frame, etc. These are usually more pricey but the added comfort of concealment may be worth it to you.

I handled a Springfield EMP recently that would be my choice if I ever decided to replace my Ultra Carry II. It is a small 9mm 1911 that feels great in the hands and would conceal much easier than a Government sized model.

Good luck with your search.

A Commander style 1911 (4.25") is easier to conceal than a 5" full sized version. The grip and capacity (8+1) are the same. I also have an SW1911PD with a scandium frame, which is easier to carry at 30 oz compared to the 39.5 oz steel 5". It's just as easy to shoot, however.

You start to get reliability problems with barrels shorter than 4", and most drop the bushing, making takedown harder. The new S&W "E" Commander is available in a bobtailed version, which also improves concealability.

An "Officer's" model is slightly smaller than a Commander, with a shorter grip, holding one less round.

If you are going to carry with any regularity, and aluminum frame model is worth the weight reduction. I don't have any experience with the S&W 1911's, but have owned quite a few others, and am really impressed with Kimbers, so much so, I own four of their 1911's.

My 3 inch Ultra Carry is 26 ounces, I believe, holds 7 plus 1, and has never malfunctioned in a little over 1K of factory and reloads. Its not so much the barrel length as grip length that makes a gun easier to conceal, and that little Ultra Carry hides well, and is more accurate then you would believe for a 3 inch gun. You hear a lot on the internet about the 3 inch 1911's jamming, but mine never has, and neither has the two my friends own.

Larry

Attached Images

DSC_0018.JPG (247.7 KB, 263 views)

get a glock 36. mines never failed to feed and fire

I shoot several 1911's in both bullseye psitol and the ususal pistol games and enjoy their crisp triggers. However for defensive purposes I want a pistol withouit any extenal grip or thumb safeties or external hammer - nothing to snag on clothing and always in a condition ready to fire. Thus I would opt for a S&W M&P, Glock or Kahr. I carried a Glock 36 and now a Kahr PM-9 in a pocket holster.

The 1911 Pro Series sub compact is a small sized carry pistol.

__________________
JR

I carry the S&W 1911ES. It is light and and very easy to carry. Officer size grip with the 4.25" barrel. Holds 7+1 rounds. I dont have a problem with capacity. Very accurate and reliable. When i picked it up at the gun shop, went straight to the range. Shot 250rds without a hiccup. I love it.

Attached Images

108310 - 1911ES.jpg (9.8 KB, 3643 views)

Try the S&W 1911PD. Sweet gun. Carry in a good IWB holster at about the 4:00 position.

Generally 1911's are pretty easy to carry because of their single stack, slimmer grip.

Since the gentleman asked which 1911 to carry, that is what I will respond to-not Glocks, solo's. Karh's, PPK's (which I don't care for anyway!) nor anything else. Generally, I tend to classify Hi-Powers as a 1911 type gun, but nothing else. Especially not polymer framed striker fired pistols!

I personally prefer 3rd gen S&W pistols like my 4014 slightly to 1911's and Hi-Powers for CCW, but those platforms are excellent guns.

Some good posts above with good choices. The Kimber Ultra Carry II is a good one- right now, here in Cleveland, Fin, Feather, and Fur has these on sale for $699.

I love the new S&W 1911 SC scandium model with the bobtail. That would be my first choice, with the Kimber Ultra Carry II and the Springfield EMP in .40 S&W right in there. I think the SIG 1911RCS is an often overlooked, great 1911 as well.

Like another poster above, I'd love to get the new Ruger in stainless in an officer size or compact, as well as the Remington.

My ultimate desire for a new CCW piece would be a Browning Hi-Power compact in .40 S&W. FNH - are you guys listening to this?

I carry a 3" Pro Series 1911 daily it is a great little pistol.

Everything depends on YOUR body shape, and your choice of holster. With a a belt holster, probably the aluminum-frame Commander size is best, and a bobbed mainspring housing might help, although I have not found it necessary. With IWB carry, results may be different. I have found a full-length Government Model in a Milt Sparks Summer Special to be MORE comfortable than a Commander, whose muzzle digs into my butt at about 4:00 o'clock. Bobbed housing still not necessary. With IWB, particularly with jeans, the weight of a steel (stainless steel, in my case) Gov't Model is inconsequential. The SS Gov't Model in the Summer Special is the one rig I know I can rely on to be comfortable all day, even if the day is long.

Your results may well vary. BTW, the fit, both to gun and body, of the Summer Special will not end up how it started out. After it has been used a while and sweated on a lot, it will fit the gun better. In my case, it fit the body better, also, and I wouldn't be surprised if that is true in all cases, since the leather is thick, and a 1911 doesn't have many protrusions, anyway.

Good luck!

Thank you for all the input. It's been very helpful.

I like the SW1911PD with the 4.25" barrel. For me it is a good size for carry, light enough to carry all day, easy to conceal, and has been incredibly reliable. I did replace the trigger with a short trigger and the full-length guide rod and plug with the standard/GI versions. My second choice would be the SW1911ES due to the shorter grip, which would make it easier to conceal if that were an issue (but since it isn't an issue for me, I don't have one).

1911PD.jpg

__________________
Ban lunatics and criminals

For quite a few years, I carried a Kimber Compact -- that has a ~4" barrel with an Officer's frame. Then I replaced that with an aluminum-framed Kimber Compact.

Since then, I've gone full circle and now carry a full-sized Kimber 1911. With a good belt and good IWB holster, it isn't hard to conceal or carry. The extra length isn't a problem for concealment, since it is inside your pants. And that extra length adds reliability and sight radius.

There are lots of good 1911 makers. The new E-series from S&W looks quite good, but I wish S&W would use a different sight cut. The new Ruger looks quite good. I don't have faith in the Series II Kimbers. I've got a Wilson and that is a great gun, but pricey. Ed Brown looks good, but I don't have any experience.

I'll put my vote for the Dan Wesson CCO. Aluminum frame, 4.25" commander size barrel with and officers size frame. Get a good belt and a Milt Sparks VMII style IWB holster (I use C5 leather Big Jim makes a good holster) and this is a great all weather carry gun.
A full size 1911 is no different to conceal compared to a commander sized 1911 IWB as the frame is the same length. There is more weight with a full size, but with a good belt its definitely doable. The CCO definitely gets my vote though.

It's the one with the wood grips shadowed by a Dan Wesson Valor.

I just came home yesterday with a lightly used S&W SW1911 Pro Series sub-compact 45acp in the 3" bull barrel. I have been looking around for awhile, for a 3" 1911, such as a Kimber, Colt, or Springfield. Then I picked up the S&W Pro Series 45 and that was it! I searched til I found one in my price range and snagged it. Shot it today and was pleased with the recoil and overall performance of the gun. I will be using it in my stable of concealed handguns. I just would like to get 1 or 2 more magazines, probably get better night sites, work on the trigger and get a IWB holster and I am set.
Good luck on your search.
Dee

I carried a SW1911PD (4.25") for a while. Very reliable gun. I've owned a half dozen or so 1911's over the years and it was the best of them all.

__________________
Centennial Every Day

Judging from your post, you possibly have other handguns, but only one semi-automatic, and it is not a 1911... ? In that case, conventional wisdom would say you probably should have a full-size, steel-frame gun. But, that is a big, heavy gun to carry. I am one of those odd ducks who has always had a very strong fondness for the Commander. If you plan to wear the gun on your belt and shoot it informally (not competitively), it's a great choice.

I have had my eye on the model Siggarreth mentions in his post above. It's a nice combination for a gun worn under a jacket and the like. But if it would be your only 1911, it might not be my first choice. I think I would go with the regular frame size of the Commander, in that case.

It may be an unpopular view but I think Commanders strictly should be Commanders. A steel gun might as well be a full-length gun too, so I would either buy a true Commander (4.25" barrel, not 4", with alloy frame) or a full-length, steel-frame 1911. Since you will probably want both guns sooner or later, which one you buy first probably is not critical.

I have two carry 1911s. The one usually carried is a Colt stainess Officer's ACP. I put a long trigger in it and nice wood grips. The Holster is a belt type by Milt Sparks and is quite comfortable, but I need some cool weather to cover it. It has always been a good shooter.
A friend passed and left me a Colt Commander, the LW Enhanced version. I liked it but it jammed. A talk with some experts indicated that such is a common problem on older aluminum frame 1911s and is fixable. I sent it to Cylinder & Slide and they made it work, so now I sometimes carry it. Just be aware that an older LW gun could have this issue, although I doubt it would be a problem with the newer S&W guns.
I prefer Wilson or Shooting Star magazines.

i have a Kimber procarry II. 4", mag well, trigger job, wilson combat commander hammer, grips from nineteen11.com(waspnest), and an IWB from dwightsgunleather.com., some chip mc cormac 8 rd. mags in a double mag pouch. alot of punch, and makes me feel warm and fuzzy with all that .45acp around...

My current carry is a customized Colt XSE Commander. I've carried Governemnt model 1911's as well.


CCO sized 1911's are the perfect combo for CCW, IMO. the reliability and sight radius of a commander with the concealability of the officer sized frame. S&W's ES is an example of this configuration. Kimber and Sig also make 1911's in this configuration. Les Baer makes a CCO as well but your getting into a pretty pricey semi-custom gun there.

For me, I would pick different guns for plinking and for carry. In the 1911 category, I think a 5" all steel gun with good sights, possibly adjustable, would be the way to go. For carry, I would go with a Commander size gun with an alloy frame. Personally I am not a big fan of the .45 ACP in a 3" barrel.

I suppose a steel commander-sized gun would be a compromise between the two?

If you are willing to spend more than you would for a "basic" gun, the new scandium-framed E series 1911 looks like it could be a good carry choice, and I like the looks of the new E series 5" stainless model.

I've carried a full 5" stainless steel SW1911 every day for about a year and a half now, and I love it. Might be on the heavy side for some folks, but I don't mind it at all, and I can conceal it easily in an IWB holster. One thing you mentioned in the original post is that it will also be a plinking gun. Keep in mind that the lighter the gun, the more recoil will be felt in your hand.

Smoothed out Para P-13 - capacity, reliability, but a little heavy (13+1 and 2 13 round mags)

__________________
TOMBECK