Compact/commander sized 1911 for CCW

I don't care to go smaller than a Commander, but I have a Colt Combat Commander (steel frame) and a Ruger Lightweight Commander (alloy frame) that I enjoy. I've found 1911s, even steel Government Models, to be the easiest big guns to carry.

EA,

I've got a Springer Govt. model, a Springer 3.5" Ultracompact and a Sig C-3 (an officer sized alloy frame and a commander slide and barrel).

For me the Govt. model has too long a grip to conceal. The Ultracompact, while easy to conceal continues to have reliability problems after 3,000 rounds and multiple fixes. This seems to be common on sub-4" 1911's which can be hit or miss. One reliable sub-4" 1911 which keeps coming up on the forums is the Colt Defender.

Which brings me to the Sig C-3. It holds 7+1 rounds and has been both reliable and accurate through its first 200 rounds. Price was $803 from www.sportingarms.com. So far I'm quite pleased.

good luck- oldandslow

Dan Wesson and Colts both make a pistol they refer to as the CCO. It combines the Commander slide and barrel with the Officers Model frame. This gives you the 4.25 inch barrel and a six shot grip frame. Easy to conceal and yet has what many consider the absolute minimum barrel length for dependable functioning.

Other may have something similar but I am aware of those two.

Kevin

I have Springer GI Micro Compact that I carried for a long time and still do sometime. I really like it, have fired a lot of rounds through it with no problems...EXCEPT, it will not feed HP's. I mean none of them. With FMJ, shoots all day long. Personally, now, I would not go shorter than the Commander length. I have read about too many problems with some of the shorter ones.

I have a Dan Wesson Guardian.

4.25" Barrel, Full sized grip, with a bobtail to help concealment. After a couple of years now shooting and carrying it, I think that form factor is about the perfect CCW 1911.

Other makers offer that form factor as well. Smith and Wesson and Sig I know for sure do.

StrawHat said:

Dan Wesson and Colts both make a pistol they refer to as the CCO. It combines the Commander slide and barrel with the Officers Model frame. This gives you the 4.25 inch barrel and a six shot grip frame. Easy to conceal and yet has what many consider the absolute minimum barrel length for dependable functioning.

Other may have something similar but I am aware of those two.

Kevin

Click to expand...

Also the Les Baer "Stinger" CCO 7+1:



Mine fed everything I put in it, and being a Baer showed some great accuracy. It used to be my EDC before I discovered polymer.

Chuck

Does anybody have a preference among the various Philippine made Commanders?

I've got a 3.5" Citadel, which I really like. I've been thinking about a Commander size gun, but I don't have the money to spend $1,000+ on an M1911.

I had a Kimber Compact that ran great, as long as the recoil spring was fresh. After 500 rounds or so, it started getting real picky about a firm wrist. Swapping in a short guide rod made spring changes much easier.

I carry at 4 o'clock IWB, and a 5" gun isn't any harder to conceal, so I started carrying a full size. A Kahr K9 replaced my 4" Kimber for my small carry gun.

I have a Full Size 5" Bbl. S&W 1911
Weight EMpty approx. 39 oz

My Carry 1911 Variants

A. Springfield Armory Range Officer Compact
4" Bbl./SLide on Officers Alloy Frame with a 7 rd
Wilson Combat mag w/lo profile base pad.
Weight EMpty approx. 28.5 oz

B. Colt Commander 1991 Series
4.25" Bbl./Slide w/Wilson Combat 8 Rd mag
with low-profile base pad.
Weight Empty approx. 33 oz

I plan to get the Commander Bobtailed and other mods.

R-

Colt Wiley Clapp CCO
Colt CCO
Dan Wesson CCO
Dan Wesson ECO
Dan Wesson Valkyrie
Guncrafter no name CCO

Look each of those up.

you have a full size kimber you like.. you shot a commander size kimber you like.. so which brand to go with... maybe kimber? why switch brands if you already like them and have no issues?

I have a full sized RIA that's an excellent pistol for the money. I assume the Commander sized would be an equal value, although I have no direct experience. Were I in the market for a down-sized 1911, I would take a serious look at the Ruger Lightweight Commander. I like that it has a titanium (I think) insert in the feed ramp to prevent wear on the aluminum frame. I've shot a full-sized Ruger that had an excellent trigger out of the box and a steel frame Commander size that was a very nice pistol.

I think the Dan Wesson CCO is the nicest offering in this type of gun. I prefer an aluminium frame to steel for a gun that will be carried a lot and shot a little. I prefer the CCO size to the commander size because the frame is what prints. I prefer chain link front and rear strap treatments to checkering because checkering eats clothes (or you, if no undershirt) when concealed.

The Colt Wiley Clapp CCO would be an option too, but I have no experience with them. I generally trust colts.

I don't really see what the expensive customs (Guncrafter, Nighthawk, Wilson, etc.) offer in this particular space. They're nice, but don't actually do anything better that I can see.

I don't trust Kimber very much personally. Had some bad experiences...

ExAgoradzo

I have both Commander and Officers Model size guns. Never a problem with either gun though the Commander has seen more use than the Officers Model. Both are easy to conceal with the right holster and are very comfortable to shoot. If I had to choose between the two the Commander would probably get the nod though if the Officers Model had an alloy frame, it might be a different story.

Since '03 I have carried a Kimber Compact CDP and never a problem. Might look into them or the Pro series which has a larger grip. I have big hands but shoot the Compact very well.

Check out the colt lightweight commander or any competitive equivalent.

I have an officers and its still approaching 3 pounds loaded. Come on!

If you just want the smallest .45 platform take a look at the XDS. Also one of the lightest and still shoots great. Not a 1911 platform but the most modern variant of the .45 platform and they did great with it.

Check out the STI SPARTAN III.
Good bang for the buck.
My normal EDC is a pocket revolver. But when I head to the big city, I add the STI.

.
Kimber Ultra CDP II here.



Very fine little gun that launches a very big bullet. Of course, this is why we all like the 1911 design.

I too was nearly astonished at what I could hit with it, being a 3" barrel and a shorter grip.

Among my 1911s, I have a couple of Kimbers; a Gov't. size Custom II TLE (.45 ACP) and a Commander size Tactical Pro II (9mm). The former was purchased when I still lived in the PRK like the OP; the latter was acquired soon after I became a TX resident.



If the OP can find a .45 or 9mm Tactical Pro II for sale in CA (bought by a CA resident using the now defunct Single Shot Exemption or brought into CA by a new resident), I'd highly recommend it. As for Kimber's recommendation to change the recoil spring in this pistol after 800 rds (YIKES), I took care of this by installing this Wilson Combat Flat Wire Spring Kit in mine: http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Flat-Wire-Recoil-Spring-Kit-Compact-38-Super/productinfo/655/

Colt Officers Enhanced. 3.5", night sights, 7+1. Coltdriver is right about heavy.

I have a springfield that has been with me for a lot of years. About the same size as the Colt Defender, alloy frame, super thin grips. It has never let me down so far with both size and weight making it a nice carry piece.

I picked up a pro series 3" SW 1911 and used to have a RIA officer sized. Shoot both surprisingly well for such small pistols. Just prefer the lighter frame of the smith and the nicer novak sights.

I'm a bit hesitant on 3" 1911's, they certainly require more care, maintenance and break in to run at the level I would consider acceptable for carry. I carried a Kimber Pro (4") CDP for years, and after switching the springs out to Wulff Xtra powers it ran 100% reliable and it was a tac-driver. I carried mine with a Milt Sparks Versa Max II and with a good belt it was a comfortable as any CPL carry I've had. I've had a CPL since 85 so I've been thru more than a few.

If I wouldn't have switched to 9mm it will still be my first choice. I personally like the extra capacity with a 9mm, and I shoot my Glock 19 as good as I shoot a 1911. But I do get the 1911 thing. They are easy guns to naturally shoot good and fast, especially in .45