[Mark Tyson]

Hello, 1911 owners and fans. Please tell me what, in your opinion, is the best 1911 style .45 caliber pistol suitable for concealed carry? How would you customize it once you bought it? Please tell me why, too. Assume that money is no object.

[Sean Smith]

Something like the Colt CCO... 4-4.25" slide on an "officer's model" shortened grip frame. Either that, or an Ed Brown "bobtail"-style frame. If money is no object, have a pistolsmith make it for you from scratch, or get an Ed Brown Kobra Carry.

[Double Naught Spy]

I would think one of the best choices would be a Wilson Combat Stealth SDS. It is sized like a CCO, having an officer's frame and almost a commander length barrel and slide (at 4" instead of 4.25"). It has a heavy barrel and recoil is supposed to be quite moderate.

I have the CQB Compact from Wilson with the tapered cone barrel. It is about the same size, but only 2/3 the cost. There is no promised accuracy improvement for the Stealth over the CQB Compact and Wilson backs both guns equally. If money were no object, I would get the Stealth. For me, money was an object and so I got the CQB Compact and have been pleased with it.

[John Forsyth]

The Commander slide on an Officer's frame is hard to beat. Making the frame Al would also lower the weight, making it more ideal for all day carry.

The bobtail mod is neat as well. The hardest thing to conceal on a 1911 is the frame. So anything to reduce it, i.e., shortened Officer's or bobtail, helps out.

I just went for a LW Colt Commander in .45. Had all the sharp edges removed, good sights added, and I was ready to go. In the winter, very is easy to conceal a full size all steel 1911 in a good outside the waistband holster.

[Smoke]

I'd vote for a commander slide on a Fullsize frame. A true Commander.

I have a Kimber PRo Carry I'm very fond of. I have a Springfield Champion I like also (.25" shorter) and a Para Ordnance P13 that is a dream.

The full size grip is an advantage to me but I have large hands. Concealability doesn't differ much from the officers frame.

Lots of good makers out there. Find one you like and shoot it.

[45auto]

For carry, I like the idea of a trigger activated firing pin safety, so I'd go with either the Colt Commander style or the CCO.

I'd have an Ed Brown beavertail installed that "released" if you blew on it.
Ed Brown extended single safety.
Heine sights just because I prefer that sight picture.

Gunsmithed checked for smooth and reliable operation, trigger pull, extractor, etc.
Polished ramp and maximum sized chamber for feeding reliabilty.

Lighter recoil springs to reduce the possibilty of "limp wristing", etc.

Mild dehorning.

It's a Colt, so a new plunger tube installed that doesn't come loose and the grip bushings checked. ;)

[El Tejon]

Mark, "concealed carry" is a function of support gear and technique.

Since big guns stop fights and save lives, I carry a full sized 1911, a gummit sized Les Baer.

"The gun's too heavy." No, it's not and I like the weight. Gives me comfort. Get a good holster AND a good belt and you'll be fine.

[Tamara]

Well, my absolute favorite CCW 1911 is a Springfield Professional.

One day I decided that I would henceforth tote full-size all-steel 1911's. I started doing so and haven't looked back.

[JStordahl]

Mark: Go with the full size 1911 instead of the chopped versions. It was designed to be a 5 inch gun, and the full size platforms tend to be more reliable. I prefer Colts, and Novaks offers what is termed a "Carry Package" at a reasonable price. There are other excellent smiths, but many have a long waiting list. In a new gun, I'd get a Colt 70 series and go from there.

[omega5]

Colt Defender like mine. Why, it's light, more accurate than you'll ever be and as reliable as the sun rising in the am. The only modification I made is the grips.

[TarpleyG]

Pretty much anything with a 4" or 4 1/4" bbl, full length grip, dehorned, with slim grips does me just fine. Aluminum or steel frame, I don't have a preference.

I carry a Kimber Pro Carry.

GT

[Sean Smith]

BTW, my 1911 is a big'un too. :D

[FB3]

Money is not a consideration? Get a full size or commander size pistol built to your specs by one of the well known pistolsmiths such as Victor Tibbets, Ted Yost, Richard Heinie, or numerous other good smiths. If time is a factor, Ed Brown can build you a custom gun in less than 90 days. Off the shelf guns that are very good include Ed Brown, Wilson, and Baer.

[BigG]

I would concur with my fellow members' recommendation of the Colt CCO (Concealed Carry Model). A write up is available here (http://www.epinions.com/otdr-review-3C7D-18199E0C-39872175-prod2)

Good luck, whatever you choose! :)

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I drove myself carzy trying to find a CCW .45. I have big hands, and all these "perty little 1911s" were exactly that, perty but did not fit my hand. There is only about 6 or 8 ounces difference to stay full-sized. So, the PO P14-45 goes where I go.

[LeonCarr]

Glock 26

Oops, sorry wrong thread :).

Any of the Kimber Compacts are nice. I have a buddy with one and it outshoots his full-size Kimber Custom Classic at 25 yards.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[Mil Novecientos Once]

Assume that money is no object.

SA Professional (http://www.springfield-armory.com/prod-pstl-1911-pro.shtml)

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

How about this? 14 rounds, feeds anything, gnats butt accuracy

http://www.paraord.com/pages/ltdhighcap.html

[TheFrontRange]

"The gun's too heavy." No, it's not and I like the weight. Gives me comfort. Get a good holster AND a good belt and you'll be fine.

Ditto what El Tejon said! :)

[Erik]

Another "tote a steel gov't model in a quality holster attached to a quality gun belt" comment.

As for which gov't model: Which ever you have determined is reasonably accurate and utterly reliable subsequant to a minimum of 200 rounds of range time.

[sm]

Personally I only buy, use and CCW full size 1911's.

[Browns Fan]

I not only carry my Kimber Ultra Carry, I shoot IDPA with it, too. I just shot a match with it last saturday. Did pretty well, too. :cool:

[dude]

P7


(I dig 1911s though!)

[Sean Smith]

If you think a factory Para-Ord has "gnat's butt accuracy," you need to practice more. Then get a quality gun. :neener:

[DMK]

My perfect carry 1911 would be a full size government slide with a shorter grip. Basically a 1911 version of the Kahr P9/40 Covert. Unfortunately, I don't think there is such an animal.

I don't know why manufacturers always just shorten the gun for carry models. Usually, they never even list height of the gun in their brochure specifications. It's always the butt of the gun that seems to stick out. The barrel just lays flat against the body.

[TarpleyG]

The butt of a single stack doesn't stick out that much if you use a good holster/belt setup...in fact, the only time it sticks out is when bending at the waist.

GT

[Dr.Rob]

Stainless Colt Commander Lightweight, Wilson beavertail, novak sights. Skateboard tape over the front strap, skinny checkered grips over that.

[12-34hom]

Series 70 - goverment model - 10mm - DW firearms.

[Jeff OTMG]

Since money is not an object go with the hand built gun. Back around 1983 I had a Randall General Curtis LeMay frame fitted with a blue Colt Commander slide as a carry gun. Then in 1997 I did the same thing using a Para-Ordnance P-12 stainless frame and an enhanced blue Colt Commander slide. You get to pick and use all the best internals and barrels. It is all hand fitted and they have proven to be quite accurate. Today I would use a Caspian titanitum frame cut down to Officer length, add an Accu-Rail system, and a Commander length slide, maybe a Caspian damascus. Add a Bar-Sto or Kart barrel and some good internals, you would have a beautiful pistol.

[Zach S]

I agree with Jeff (Owner of Too Many Guns?), have one built. I like the commander slide on an officers frame.

[C.R.Sam]

1911 Style ?

Genuine ex U.S. military 1911-A1.
Stone stock.
Inspected and brought up to spec if necessary.

Easy to shoot, not hard to shoot well and extremely reliable if left alone.

Sam

[Vern Humphrey]

A full-size M1911 -- mine is a Kimber Custom Classic (basic model). You might put typewriter correction fluid on the front sight for low-light level work, or go with a tritium sight.

For a holster, go to http://paul.desertskyone.com/gunstuff.html, and scroll about 2/3s down the page to find the link to instructions on making my IWB holster.

[Vern Humphrey]

DANG!

The thing incorporated the comma into the URL.

http://paul.desertskyone.com/gunstuff.html

[Jeff OTMG]

Yes Zach, that is EXACTLY what OTMG stands for. Just added three more last month (CZ97, Seecamp 32, and S&W 342PD) and have two for sure (maybe three if the deal comes through) delivering this month (SIGs P229 Sport in .40 S&W, P210-5, and hopefully a S&W 945).

[americanbulldog]

New Caspian Ti frame and slide with a Commander length slide mated to an officer frame that has all areas deburred.

[Sean Smith]

Caspian doesn't make a Ti slide. As far as I know, nobody does, because they are too light for reliable function.