[Pain]

Just interested in what kind of consensus you all have on the Defender model for concealed Carry?? Is this a good choice in a handgun. I figure that since it is a Colt it is a safe purchase.??

[Opie]

A Liar, Cheat and a Thief for saying anything bad about a 1911 BUT..........

I did have the chance to shoot a defender about a year ago and I could not get one magazine to go thru the gun without a malfunction.

I am not a good enough shooter to judge accuracy offhand so I cant help you out there.

If I were to go back to a 1911, I would look at the Kimber Ultra Carry. I had one a while back and after a couple of FTFs on the first range session it was 100% for about 500 rounds until I sold it.

I have had 9 1911 style guns and only 2/9 would not jam at least 1/20 rounds. Those being a Springfield TRP and the Kimber Ultra Carry

[Wildalaska]

I have a Defender, never had a failure either before or after customization. Its our fav platform for ultra small carriy guns.IMHO its far superior to the Kimbers...

WildloveDefendersAlaska

[Opie]

As you can see its hit and miss with all 1911s.

If you are considering a .45 to shoot and carry right out of the box you need to look at Glock, Sig and HK. Those are pretty much going to run for you right out of the box 99% of the time.

The 1911 can surely be made to run 100% but manufacturers today just are not taking the time to get them right in my experience.

Everyone here is going to have a different opinion on em. I have only been shooting about 4 years, but I have owned well over 40 pistols and shot a lot more and I figured out what works and what has not the hard way.

[vanfunk]

My new (but old-style) Defender has been trouble free for its first 250 rounds of mixed ball and hollowpoint ammo (well, okay, I had one stovepipe, easily cleared). I've replaced the grips with Ajax double diamond panels and they have improved the feel of the piece immensly. Accuracy is excellent, as is recoil control. I love being able to carry a 1911 .45 as small and light as this one is, and still be able to deliver 8 shots on target without pausing to reload.

The only thing I don't like is that the end of the slide of my pistol is about .5mm too short to mate properly with the frame, exposing the ejector and frame rails ever so slightly. Apparently the barrel lugs were cut a bit too vigorously. Oh well. I can either send it back to the factory to have the barrel replaced or refit, or I can keep carrying it and shooting it:D .

I can't speak from experience about the Kimber Ultra Carry (its closest rival), but I'd definitely recommend the Defender.

vanfunk