4 inch vs 5 inch 1911

I have both

My 4 inch gun is a Kimber Tactical Pro II with a full sized frame. My full sized gun is a 5 inch Taurus PT 1911. I have tried to carry the Taurus concealed and have done it succesfully but the Kimber is a lot more comfortable to carry. The frame of the Kimber is aluminum and weighs 9 ounces less than the Taurus and that has a lot to do with comfortability. The shorter barrel does make a big difference in my opinion.

the grip is harder to conceal than the barrel. i think something with an officers frame on a commander barrel is the best option. if i had a commander id have the grip bobtailed. that being said ive successfully concealed a full size 1911 with little problem

To me, the grip size makes more difference than the barrel size. But neither of them were enough to make me carry cdr size. I had a Para P-12 for a while, and I went back to full-size and I don't miss it at all.

For me, 4.25" seems to be quicker on the draw. Barely.

I find the 3/4" difference between the full size and the commander significant in ease of carry. I gave up carrying a full size about 15 years ago, but still do the Commander sometimes.

The grip frame is not so big an issue to me - plus the "bob" just isn't to everyone's tastes or hand. But if it suits you, try it. If concealment is foremost on your concerns, consider a round-butted short barrel .357. Now that's a great cc piece...

My Dan Wesson CBOB conceals as well or better than my sub compact Glocks. It's thinner but the bobtail helps too.

The officers grip made all the difference in the world for me while sitting. I traded a very nice S&W commander away for this reason. The officers grip with a 4.25" barrel, is the perfect match. Sig makes one and Kimber, maybe others that I'm not aware of. A set of thin carry grips, and it all but disappears

The 3" Kimber is even easier to conceal...

Can someone please give me examples of this, an Officer frame on a commander barrel?

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I'm sure there are more, but the ones I'm aware of...

Colt CCO, I believe the original. Out of production for a few years, but can be found on the used market.

Les Baer Stinger
http://www.lesbaer.com/mono.html

SigSauer C3
http://www.sigsauer.com/Products/ShowCatalogProductDetails.aspx?categoryid=25&productid=165

S&W 1911 ES
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...ted=over&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=15709

STI Guardian (not exactly Commander length barrel, but close)
http://www.stiguns.com/

I started CCing with a 4" Kimber. I now carry a full size. Both pistols are steel, so the weight difference isn't very noticeable.

The 1911 is so thin that it didn't make a difference in concealment with my attire or method of carry. I'm a T shirt and jeans kinda guy, and carry IWB.

One thing I hated about the 4" Kimber is that it would pinch my butt if I sat down wrong. That's not a problem with the 5" Kimber.

Oh, I'm a pretty skinny dude too. 6ft tall, 150 lbs.

I don't have a 4in, but I have a 5in and a commander (4.25) I much prefer the commander as I carry at 12:30- that 3/4 of inch of extra clearance really makes sitting much easier. also, my commander is a lightweight, so shaving a few more ounces is always nice as well.

pretty sure the Springfield Armory "Champion" is a commander slide w/ officers frame, same with the Dan Wesson CCO

ah then it just has a shorter barrel

LancerMW said:

pretty sure the Springfield Armory "Champion" is a commander slide w/ officers frame, same with the Dan Wesson CCO

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You'd be wrong then. I had a Springfield Champion, my first 1911. Its a 4" barrel on a full size frame.

To answer the OP's question, I've had the above mentioned Springer, a Kimber Pro Carry II, a 5" Kimber Royal, and now have a Commander size (4.25) Nighthawk bobtail and a 3" Colt on a lightweight Officer's frame. So I've run the gamut of size and frame material.

Yes, the Commander size is more comfortable, though not necessarily easier to conceal than the 5" 1911. The 5" will tend to move around more when seated and using an IWB holster. Because of their thin frame and slide, the 1911 is a very easy pistol to conceal, regardless of barrel length if you're using an IWB holster. Obviously with an OWB, the 5" is more likely to protrude below a cover garment. The 5" is the least comfortable to carry of the 1911s.

Of course the secret to carrying a steel frame 1911 all day comfortably, is really no secret at all, you need a good holster and good, sturdy gun belt. They make all the difference in the world.

4

inch

jwalker497 said:

" the grip is harder to conceal than the barrel. i think something with an officers frame on a commander barrel is the best option. if i had a commander id have the grip bobtailed. that being said ive successfully concealed a full size 1911 with little problem "

Can someone please give me examples of this, an Officer frame on a commander barrel?

Click to expand...

My favorites are the Dan Wesson CCO and the Kimber Compacts with their lightweight Officer sized frames and 4" Slides.

Wesson CCO
http://cz-usa.com/products/view/dan-wesson-cco-bobtail/

Kimber Compact
http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/pistols/cdp/compact_cdp_II/

It depends if you're concerned about carry weight. The Commander size
SW1911PD weighs a lot less that the standard size 1911 and most other commander models.

4 1/4"

I guess I'm going to be one of the few who go against the grain on this thread, but I prefer to carry a 5" gun and I do every day all day when I'm not at work.

In my experience having a good belt and holster makes all the difference. I've owned over a dozen 1911's of all shapes and sizes. I've carried all of them in a Milt Sparks VM-2. I honestly can't tell a difference between a Commander sized gun and a 5" when carrying in that rig. I can tell a little difference in weight when carrying a compact but as long as you're wearing a good belt the extra weight of a 5" is no big deal.

All things being equal a 5" gun is going to be more reliable than either a 4-1/4" or 3" gun. I've owned 3 different compacts and none of them were completely reliable unless you changed the recoil springs frequently.

The smaller gun will always conceal better, and be more comfortable. I have a 4" Compact. Good belt and the right holster make all the difference. No way I carry my 5" 1911 unless I seriously dress around it. Even then, the thing is HEAVY.