XD 45 compact vs a 1911 light weight commander

[Whirlwind06]

Been agonizing over this for a while. Looking to get a new carry gun. Want a .45 or maybe a .357 revolver or... Anyway, I like the 1911 pattern pistol. Like the XD too. I had a 9mm that I sold a while ago. No problems I was just in a gun of the month phase and bought a sold a lot of pistols. (Wish I still had most of them)

Mag capacity aside what does the XD bring to the table that a light weight commander doesn't?

More durable?
More reliable?
Better out of the box accuracy?
I think after market support is good for both.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Cromlech]

Less sexiness? I'm not trying to be funny either.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Well there is that. The 1911 has a certain mystique about it that no other gun has.

 

[BozemanMT]

The 1911 has better ergo's and a better trigger.
the XD has more capacity.

 

[TG13]

i have an XD 45 Service (4" barrel), full frame..

the price is very good on XDs.. the accuracy is great out of the box.. i'm not too thrilled with the trigger, all the grief about it is basically true..

long over-travel, long reset, etc.. but, if you pay attention to it, it becomes less of an issue.. but the break on the trigger is very crisp, which is nice..

a trigger job is about 150.00 and reduces the overall travel to .25" (.35" on the .45ACP) and you can select a trigger weights as little as 2#..

you now can get the 45 ACP with a slide thumb safety, if you want that.. (i wish mine had one, because i like the Thumb Safety)

the size of the grip, as opposed to HiCap 1911s is actually very thin and is comfortable..

SA stands behind it with a great warranty, if you need to use it..


as for the 1911..

it IS a 1911..

parts, parts, parts.. mess with it until you get exactly what you want.. and as nice as that is, it can get very expensive very quickly.. so, if you want something that you can really customize for your needs/wants, get the 1911..


it all comes down to the trigger, capacity and costs.. the XD trigger will never be a 1911's trigger, period.. but that does not mean that the XDs trigger cannot be made to have a similar feel to the 1911..

i'll have about $900.00 total in my XD 45, with a trigger job, night sights and a PVD-type coating on all the metal parts.. which i'm comfortable with, i don't plan to get rid of it..

if i had a 1911, i'd just be getting started at that price..

 

[Pat-inCO]

if i had a 1911, i'd just be getting started at that price..

Not really.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/pistols/compactprocarry/procarry.php shows the latest price - with - Tritium night sights at $942. Many dealers have them for less.

Back to the initial question: The one item not mentioned so far is that the weight would be a little lower in your hand since the alloy frame is slightly heavier than the plastic.

 

[briang2ad]

I have an XD 45C.

I don't have a lightweight commander, but do have an accurate, reliable SA Milspec. It took a trip to SA to make it really reliable. Modern 1911s may be more finicky. They MAY be more accurate in a high end version. AS stated, the trigger is going to be better and they offer C/L carry.

Now the XD C:

- The feed angle is awesome. Some have noted trouble with SWC, but not hollowpoints. This gun rivals my Makarov in feed angle into the throat.

- Accuracy. Side by side at 8 yards, my Milspec (5") edged it out. At 15 yards, I saw no difference. My Milspec can do one hole at 8 yards off-hand fairly easily.

- It is really TWO guns in one: one is a 10 rounder the size of a G19 or CZ Compact. The other is a service size weapon with 13+1 capacity. There is a fairly high market support for it. Lights, mags, barrels, trigger stuff, and smiths.

- A word on the trigger. As a combat, draw and shoot gun, it is very good. There is no manual safety on the C (maybe to come). The takeup is longer than some, but that is GOOD with no manual safety. It cams like a CZ, and has a fairly consistent, and clean break. Not great - but very good. Reset is the only "complaint" for experts. Most will never realize the difference. Yes, you can get the think to break at 2.5 LBS, but only if you want a range toy. This would be a liability and a waste as a carry gun. The gun is meant to carry or be a service firearm. I hear so many guys want to immediately get a 2 LB trigger - I think it is a waste.

- It is a heck of a gun for $500.

 

[bannockburn]

Whirlwind06

If given the choice, I would always opt for the LW Commander. Nothing against the others, but for me, there is just something about the feel, balance, and inherent shootability of this gun, that makes it the right choice for CCW for me.

 

[techmike]

Both are terrific guns. I carried a LW commander or the springfield champion for many years. I currently carry a XD .45. You can't go wrong with either choice. If you like to tinker with it get the LW Commander if you want to take it out of the box and go get the XD.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

This is an Apples vs. Oranges question. If you're an old hand at pistol shooting, most folks will shoot faster/more accurately with the short, SA pull of the Commander. If you've cut-your-teeth on partially pre-cocked, striker-fired triggers (XD) then the opposet may be true for you.

Most folks will never shoot enough rounds out of either pistol for durability to ever become an issue (we're not talking Hi-Points here). Out-of-the-box reliability gives an (ever so slight) advantage to the XD. I, personally, LIKE a thumb safety & the grip size/angle of the 1911. But between these two VERY fine choices...it's a jump ball! Good Luck with your eventual choice.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Well just to update this thread...
I bought a Glock 19. After renting one I really liked the way it shot and I already have a few 9mm firearms which I already reload for.

Kind of a different direction then I was originally going but I'm happy with my purchase. But I kind of feel like I did when I bought my Toyota Corolla. Not real exciting but a solid, reliable and economical purchase.