On the hunt for another 1911

[StillCrazy]

Looking for a second nice 1911 Commander, but this time in 9mm. My current pistol is an SW1911PD .45 cal. It's a very good gun and a true keeper. Unfortunately, my aging wrists pay the price for putting a hundred rounds through it. I wouldn't mind a new SW, but they seem to have discontinued all 1911s except for the Performance Center Pro series. Besides being a full-size, it's price new is way above that of a used Dan Wesson Guardian or Valor, which I think I would rather have. I have no interest in lower tier or full-on custom guns. Just looking for suggestions from those who have experience with good quality, non-custom pieces.

SW1911PD photos

 

[SAFireman]

I bought a Les Baer in 38 Super. With a quick barrel change it shoots cheap 9mm.

The Baer was bought used and far less than what they get for the new ones.

I have put the 9mm conversion barrel in my Colt Commander as well as the 22lr conversion slide. Cheap to shoot & fun!

 

[326MOD10]

I have a SA Garrison in 9mm but it is full size. You might take a look at their Ronin series. I hear they are nice.

I have a Ruger SR1911 Commander in .45ACP. I really like it and have seen nothing but good things about the 9mm version.

However if you have the extra to step up to DW, clearly the way to go.

If you want to spend a little more look at Ed Brown.

 

[StillCrazy]

I have a SA Garrison in 9mm but it is full size. You might take a look at their Ronin series. I hear they are nice.

Seems I read somewhere that SA has begun to use plastic triggers and/or mainspring housings. Are you aware of anything like that?

 

[Walkin Horse]

I recently bought this Kimber LW Commander in 9mm. I haven't carried it any but it does shoot well.

 

[Abbynormal]

The price on used Kimbers is dropping and you can get a high quality 1911 for a reasonable amount. I recently picked up a lightly used LE Custom for $450.

 

[Greyman50]

May take a while but look at shows for an OLDER Colt Commander. All mine are older Colts, have 3 LW Commanders in 45 ACP and several full size 1911s in 45 ACP and 10 mm.

 

[Mister Coffee]

A Commander in 9mm sounds sweet as a second Commander. Now you've got me thinking.

 

[45Smashemflat]

I don't have a Dan Wesson in 9mm, but I'm very pleased with the 10mm I have.

 

[huntsman22]

my wrists are still good with .45......

 

[StillCrazy]

Oooo . . . Nice!

 

[s&wchad]

I think you'd enjoy a DW Valor. Mine has been flawless with everything except Winchester white box.



It was my favorite 9mm for range use, until I got a Sig P210.

 

[Rimfire Fanatic]

The price on used Kimbers is dropping and you can get a high quality 1911 for a reasonable amount. I recently picked up a lightly used LE Custom for $450.

I just picked up a new Kimber LW full size for $542.00. I also have a mid tier Kimber Eclipse Pro in 45ACP that was just $956.00.

The Springfield Garrison Commander comes in 9MM and isn;t too expensive. Stainless for like 800 bucks. It;s all steel.

 

[hardluk1]

My wife has carried a kimber ultra 9mm for some years before moving on to a lighter p365xl . That gave me a chance to get to know her old kimber better and for a small single stack pistol it is one hail of a shooter with a 9 shot groups at 15 yards are right around 2" and I wear tri focal glasses . . If I wanted a single stack today as I have retired my lw commander in 45 It would be ether her old kimber or a new kimber pro with the alloy frame . Ethe the stainless steel or two tone as both come with alloy frames .
I forgot to mention her kimber 9mm has right at 9600 rounds thew it , mostly my reload 125gr coated swc for practice along with a couple hundred underwood 124gr hp ammo over the years . Zeo issues too .

 

[Greyman50]

Thank God after all my finger hand and arm surgeries 45 ACP is safe and good for me. Have BHPs for 9 mm but will keep my eyes open for an old Colt Commander in 9 mm. Used to reload 9 mm but think sold off the moulds and dies years ago, have to look.. For me it's 45 ACP or 10 mm in semi autos.

 

[Sebago Son]

Recently I added a TISAS "Tanker" (Commander lenght) in 9 x 19 to my range gun rotation. Cheap to feed and inexpensive to buy... Once the sights were upgraded with Novacs it's become a frequent flyer in my range bag. The trigger isn't bad and the finish is very tough. I have alot less than half of what a new Colt would cost in this gun. It's growing on me....

 

[jaguargolf]

I bought one of the new generation of Colt Lightweight Commanders a few years ago.
I'm very happy with.
When I do buy a 9mm 1911 it will probably be a newly made Colt Lightweight Commander.

I have several 1911's and I choose to go out and about with my .45 ACP Colt Lightweight Commander on most days.

Best of Luck to You.

 

[Imissedagain]

The all steel Officer sized 1911s are nice, especially with the full size frame.
8+1, with modern mags.

Went on the hunt for one, but wound up with a stainless Ruger in 45, and some creative improvising.
For range use only and might make the adaptor a bit more proud up front, then make it black.
Handles +P Golden Sabers, hardly any difference compared to factory Ball.

 

[Waynewash]

I have 2 Commandee length Kimbers in 45 and a series 70 Commander in 9 mm. I have owned the 9mm for 30 years and it is one of my favorite shooters. If you can find a used Colt
series 70 buy it, t, it will only appreciate in value and will serve you well.

 

[sousana]

A while back I picked up a Tisas Raider 1911a1 FDE, bnib on sale at PSA. Best $349 I've spent in a while. To date, shehad 8,693 rounds of winch brown box and 2,167 rounds 115gr jhp. I have yet to have any issues, PERIOD.

 

[Cal. Det. 1989]

About ten years ago I picked up a Ruger, SR 1911, in 9x19. It is the commander length with a ramped barrel, Novak sites, along with a slightly extended thumb safety and alloy frame. It is perhaps the most pleasant to shoot 9mm pistol I have (and, since I teach, I "may" have a lot of different pistols in 9mm). Several new shooters I have instructed, and friends who have shot this design (I refuse to use the word "platform", as that is something one would stand on) have liked it so much that they have made the same purchase! Though the SA Ronin is pretty sweet, too, I can find nothing wrong with the Ruger. Enjoy the day to all who read this!

 

[max]

Back in the spring, I bought a Ruger LW Commander in 9mm and have been very pleased with it.

 

[jakerudy]

I have a Guardian in 45 acp. Dead nuts reliable and a nice trigger. For production 1911 guns I don't think you can do better than a DW. Of course in the 1911 world the sky is the limit what you can spend.

 

[StillCrazy]

Of course in the 1911 world the sky is the limit what you can spend.

Since I'm not a high flyer, I have my limits I'm a frequent carrier but an infrequent shooter, which puts me in a cost / benefit quandary. As much as I covet DW's, it's difficult for me to justify the price of even a used one. I'm beginning to lean toward the SA Ronin, or even Garrison, only because nice used Colt's seem to be rare as hen's teeth. All that said, my PD is looking better all the time. Maybe I should just put on my big boy pants and deal with the .45 recoil (and the ammo price).

 

[sousana]

Since I'm not a high flyer, I have my limits I'm a frequent carrier but an infrequent shooter, which puts me in a cost / benefit quandary. As much as I covet DW's, it's difficult for me to justify the price of even a used one. I'm beginning to lean toward the SA Ronin, or even Garrison, only because nice used Colt's seem to be rare as hen's teeth. All that considered, my PD is looking better all the time. Maybe I should just put on my big boy pants and deal with the .45 recoil (and the ammo price).

View attachment 795828

Keep an eye out with PSA. Not long ago they had CCI Lawman 45 230gr fmj brass case for 15.99 a box. I picked up 9 cases along with 10 cases of the same brand in 9mm.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I recently bought this Kimber LW Commander in 9mm. I haven't carried it any but it does shoot well.

It's called a Pro Carry.

 

[bigggbbruce]

The price on used Kimbers is dropping and you can get a high quality 1911 for a reasonable amount. I recently picked up a lightly used LE Custom for $450.

My 1911s are all Kimbers. Well fit guns for the price.

 

[StillCrazy]

Keep an eye out with PSA. Not long ago they had CCI Lawman 45 230gr fmj brass case for 15.99 a box. I picked up 9 cases along with 10 cases of the same brand in 9mm.

What was the round count? Cheapest I could find at PSA was regular Winchester white box of 100 230gr, brass FMJ for $45. The comparable CCI Blazers are out of stock, so no price quoted. 50 cents +/- is the best I can find so far, and Winch WB is typically the lowest price.

 

[StillCrazy]

Thanks to all who said they were pleased with their Kimbers. I've considered them for a while, but I always fall back to another maker. Problem I have (and it's totally mental and probably irrational) is the Kimber Commander's 4-inch barrel. 1/4 inch isn't much, but I have a mental block about going below the nearly universal 4.25 inch barrels used on almost every other Commander. Input is always welcome.