compact .45 1911

Do you like shooting lightweight 1911s in .45? I ask because I determined I do not, but lightweight 9mm 1911s are awesome.

Ruger makes (or at least did a few years ago) a steel officer frame that really interested me, still small but the little extra weight is nice for the recoil.

Else I'd probably look at the Colt Defender or something by S&W, maybe a DW ECO if you can find one for a reasonable price.

It's a complicated calculus.
.45acp has much to recommend it, but in smaller size you need/want some weight to tame it. Which then means it's heavy or inconvenient to carry.
Which tends to suggest a polymer frame, which is a different question.
Much under Commander size, there's a bit of an argument fr .40SW as the "in between."
The answer is, probably, "it depends."

Armored farmer said:

No,, actually I have not fired a ltwt 1911, now that you mention it,, lol!
I like the DW Eco, too

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It's certainly a different feel, once I eventually decided I didn't care for. Had a Kimber lightweight commander and officer frame over the years and ended up dumping both in favor of a steel commander.

Of course then my back decided that was too heavy for carry. Ended up preferring polymer for lightweight .45 options, especially my recently acquired HK45c.

I own and carried a Kimber Ultra (3") sub-Officers size 1911 in 45ACP. It was quite reliable, but in that size I'd recommend a 9mm, and likely a plastic striker-fired instead of a 1911.

Can’t speak to its relative weight - easily looked up and comprated - but the RIA Compact Lipsey’s Special in FDE Cerakote has been utterly reliable and remarkable in its digestion: every bullet profile and some fairly crappy out of spec COAL reloads that I fed it.

A vote here for the Springfield XDs Mod 2 with 3.3 inch barrel. Mine came with 2 mags, 5 rounder and 6 rounder. I also opted for the tritium night sights. It is a great shooting and handling gun. Way more accurate than it should be with a 3.3 inch barrel. Made in Croatia.

I’ve been work sweating on it for 2 years with no ill effects. I shoot a Mag through it every couple months. S&B 230 grain ball ammo, factory, when I carry. But it cycles and shoots truncated cones, Hornady action pistol, Hornady XTP and 215 grain hard cast coated semi-wad cutters I was messing around with last year. I’ve never had a fail to fire, chamber, eject, been 100% reliable.

In the picture the XDs 45 ACP is upper left, a S&W Bodyguard 380 ACP upper right, and a 1911 Govt 45 ACP bottom. With the 5 round Mag my pinky is in the breeze. The 6 round Mag has a pinky spot.

I have a steel 1911 officer in 45, love it but slightly heavy for concealed carry, I only open carry it when I can, but the weight is perfect for me on recoil...

Armored farmer said:

I had one and traded it off, but i liked the size. I disliked the weight (44oz loaded).
My lgs has a 9mm EMP. I have always liked the look of them, but i like .45acp for a carry gun. I reload, and have confidence in .45acp, but i am willing to live with 9mm if I don't find a .45 1911 that I like.
I like the Springfield V-10.
Are there any other compact 1911s in, 45acp that is reliable and lightweight?
Or should I settle for a 9mm like the EMP or Kimber micro?
Suggestions?

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Well...

When ditching the Colt Officer's ACP, chambered in .45 ACP, because it was too heavy and had a nasty recoil profile?

Went w/ the slimline Glock G36, in the same caliber and capacity, and never looked back.

~ 27.5 oz. (loaded 6+1), more compact, ~ an inch thick... and hammer reliable.




GR

I carry something else sometimes, but only if I'm carrying 2. This one is on my hip, IWB all day, every day. It carries lighter than the P228 I tried for a while, and isn't nearly as heavy as a full sized aluminum frame Kimber LW I had. Recoil isn't anything spectacular and accuracy is very acceptable. Price is pretty similar to the EMP's I've encountered.
ETA...It stays put in the holster despite the fact that my belt is a Mac Tools buckle-less type and not a gun belt.

This, however, would be an acceptable alternative...

P220 Legion Carry SAO




GR

The few 3" barreled .45 ACP 1911 pistols I've fired weren't reliable running machines, in my hands. I don't have the same issue with my Glock 36 in .45 ACP for whatever reason.

I will say that if I were in the market for a compact 1911, it would be a 9mm version. But that hasn't happened yet.

chicharrones said:

The few 3" barreled .45 ACP 1911 pistols I've fired weren't reliable running machines, in my hands. I don't have the same issue with my Glock 36 in .45 ACP for whatever reason.

I will say that if I were in the market for a compact 1911, it would be a 9mm version. But that hasn't happened yet.

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Maybe one w/o a grip safety...?






GR

Even in 9mm some of these small guns are not much fun. I recently shot a Kimber Ultra Carry in 9mm and didn't care for the recoil. I had a S&W Airweight in 38 special and I did not like shooting it either.

I carry as heavy as is comfortable for me which is about 30 OZ. I have two 1911 Commanders. A Kimber Tactical Pro ll (45 ACP) and Dan Wesson Vigil (9mm). I shoot the 9mm Dan Wesson better and am partial to it but the recoil on the 45 ACP Kimber Tactical Pro ll is very manageable and easy to shoot accurately.

I also had a friend that owned a Ruger LCP but sold it because the recoil was such that he couldn't shoot it well.

4" Commander sized 45 with Aluminum frame should do the job nicely.

I have a Kimber Ultra CDP .45, and it shoots and carries like a dream. And it’s recoil is surprisingly tolerable. Nice gun. But is the second such gun I have owned...the first was not reliable and was returned to the dealer.

I also have an EMP from the first production run (serial number 4XX), and it is a great gun for shooting and self-defense.

I think you could be happy with either. I am.

But there are so many nice options...


I personally carry (at the moment) a CZ Compact or a CZ RAMI 9mm with manual safeties and they are my (current) favorites.

Lots of options.

BOARHUNTER

George P said:

4" Commander sized 45 with Aluminum frame should do the job nicely.

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Mine has the 3.25" or whatever barrel length Sig uses. With the beveled magwell, the grip length is about the same as full size or commander so I'm not gaining in concealability really.

30 OZ aluminum framed Commander 9mm

This is me shooting my best friend's LW Commander 9mm, that his dad bought new shortly after getting married, spending a little time in the doghouse. but Dave always knew good guns when he saw them.



I'd buy it in an instant, and he knows I'd take good care of it, but it's going to his Grandson.

Grandsons trump even the best of friends every time. My grandson has already claimed my stainless 1911.

Shoot a 3" before buying one. See what you think.