Need suggestions for Ultra compact 1911 for carry use.

I'm partial to the STI Shadow. See review in my signature.

Unless you want to step up to the super grade guns, like the Wilsons Fusions and 5 thousand dollar toys that are hand crafted.

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Wilson's smallest gun is a 3.6", not sure about Fusion, but the other semi-custom makers dont go below 4"..


My shortest barreled 1911 is 4" (Gov, sized grip).
My newest one is a 4.25" on a (Officers Frame) I dont recall the common term for that
particular term that DW coined.. Although its not a DW.

4" is low as I would personally go.

crash32 said:

I have 5 handguns and my smallest one is a Glock 23 and the biggest one being a S&W 500 mag lol. Although my Glock 23 is technically a compact, it is too big for me to fit into my hunting pack when I go hunting so I am looking for a ultra compact.
I could not bring myself to buy a cheap gun so I have decided to go up to the 1911 platform for this. My price range is around $1,000 (900 to 1,300ish).
While I do not want to spend the coin associated for a Wilson Combat Ultra Compact ($3,000+) as I am waiting to spend that kind of money for a full size 1911 I still want to get something nice hence me going with a 1911 as opposed to a Kel-Tec etc.

Thanks guys

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I would not trust subcompact 1911. When I needed ultra compact defensive pistol used R9 "fell" into my pocket.

tarosean said:

Wilson's smallest gun is a 3.6", not sure about Fusion, but the other semi-custom makers dont go below 4"..


My shortest barreled 1911 is 4" (Gov, sized grip).
My newest one is a 4.25" on a (Officers Frame) I dont recall the common term for that
particular term that DW coined.. Although its not a DW.

4" is low as I would personally go.

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CCO is the term you're looking for, and it was actually Colt that created the name.

I still think that sticking with the guys who make the specialty 3" guns, "Kimber" gives you a better chance of a gun that will be reliable. Mainly because they specialize in those Ultra's. The EMP I had was a good gun, but I did have a Recoil spring assembly and sight failure. I replaced the front Night sight, "it blew out" I think the stiff recoil may have been responsible from the 40. and that little gun forever left a pain in my left hand from re assembling it, without the tool.
It still is not a true 1911 in the 9 and 40. cal, I always think of 1911's as a 45. The new Rock Island guns with the blank slide are nice guns to mess around with for 4-700, leaving you money for upgrades down the road. Why not try that compact tactical? it's a sharp looking gun with good reviews. Look at Buds, everyone seems to like it, you can get some nice grips, a good polishing of the internals, and a night sight put on it and have a nice little gun. Even get the frame bead blasted, for the two tone look.

Colt Officers,Defender,Agent. I still take out my old Colt LWOM in a Milt Sparks SS from time to time. After some much needed after market support it is a reliable gun.These short 1911 type guns are spring killers. I switch out my recoil spring every 300-500 rounds,firing pin spring 1k,and Wolff extra power mag springs in my Colt factory mag bodies when they show signs of not being able to keep up with slide velocity.

CCO is the term you're looking for, and it was actually Colt that created the name.

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That's it.... Cannot says as I've ever heard it referring to a Colt though.. Course I'm not as "plugged in" as most..

That's it.... Cannot says as I've ever heard it referring to a Colt though.. Course I'm not as "plugged in" as most..

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For reference

http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/23/m...concealed-carry-officers-and-its-niche-mates/

Springs a relatively inexpensive, changing them once or twice a year is not an Imposition.

Of the nearly 25 1911s I have owned, a number of them have been 3"ers, and all but one of those alloy framed.

My best experiences have been with Kimbers--two Stainless Ultra Carry IIs, one ultra CDP (pre-series II) and one Ultra CDP II (wife's current handgun).

As regards the EMP, my exploits have been posted previously, but the Cliff's Notes version is this: First one went back to Geneseo, stayed there for a while and was replaced by a second (different frame number), which also went back...twice for me and once more for the subsequent owner, who bought it with full disclosure and at a significant discount. And a whole bunch of spare mags, since Springfield sent me a spare mag every time I returned the pistol. Nice touch.

He actually offered to sell it back to me about two years ago (finally working correctly) and I actually met him at the range, tried it out and considered it.

But sanity prevailed. My Ultra Carry II (and the wife's Ultra CDP II) weigh the same as the EMP, fit the same holsters as the EMP, and shoot any type of .45acp ammo ...reliably.

The EMP is exquisitely designed, imperfectly executed and significantly overpriced for what it is. IMHO.

YMMV...and I hope it does.

But when people say that you cannot buy or own a 3" 1911 in .45acp, I call BS. I have owned at least four so far, and currently own two. Mine shoot my 200gr SWC handloads like candy...and any type of JHP equally easily.

I like 1911s but smallest I'd go is a CCO variation(commander length slide and officers grip length).

I have a Kahr CM9 for CCW and love it. I shoot it better than my 4.25 1911. I like it so much I'm pretty sure I'll buy a CW9 to match it and remain in my car. The CW9 holds 7+1 and you might really like it.