Officer model 1911

Status
Not open for further replies.
I've been researching officers size 1911s the last couple of weeks. I've looked at both the ATI and RIA along with several others. The Iver Johnson Thrasher and American Classic Amigo also caught my eye. Has anyone got any experience with the Girsan officer sized pistols that I'm seeing everywhere? They have a lot of features at a decent price.
 
and now it has me a bit curious about officer sized guns.
With a commander, it pretty much "feels" like a "regular" 1911.

The Officer's needs a bit more slide velocity from the shorter length, so it can feel a bit "zippy" in the hand. Nothing uncomfortable, just different. So, they can seem a handful when you first shoot one. But, once you get used to it, it's not a problem, once you get used to focusing your grip in the two middle fingers.

Mind, that hand feel is the "secret" to the Lt. Commander--a Commander sized frame with an Officer's slide. They don't conceal as well, with the longer grip, but they shoot well.
 
Kimber 45_LI.jpg View attachment 857846 the older 1911s in any configuration weren't reliable in my hands because I have a high hold and the grip safety didn't always get pressed enough to disengage. today that is no longer and issue as it seems there were a lot of folks with that issue based on the palm hump most 1911s have with their grip safeties now.
 
Last edited:
With a commander, it pretty much "feels" like a "regular" 1911.

The Officer's needs a bit more slide velocity from the shorter length, so it can feel a bit "zippy" in the hand. Nothing uncomfortable, just different. So, they can seem a handful when you first shoot one. But, once you get used to it, it's not a problem, once you get used to focusing your grip in the two middle fingers.

Mind, that hand feel is the "secret" to the Lt. Commander--a Commander sized frame with an Officer's slide. They don't conceal as well, with the longer grip, but they shoot well.
I have been shooting a SA XDs-45 since they came out. I imagine the recoil to be somewhat sharper in the small gun but probably far more tolerable in the Officer’s vs the XDs.

Have you ever compared the two?
 
I have shot both and, IMO, the all steel Officer's models handle recoil very well.
If you don't mind the XDs, the Officer's will be a breeze.
 
Many moons ago I took the Ayoob LFI-1 class with a Colt Officer's Model.

I did pretty well with it (tied for second in class of 12 on final shoot) and started carrying it. A couple of weeks later I am RO ing on the City 100 yard rifle range and when it comes time to run folks off I trotted down to both check for trash and un recovered target stands and set up florida 8 for giggles. So the pistol side RO My wife and a few club members are standing around as I try to see what the gun can do at the other goal line.

I fired one shot and felt good about it, but something was wrong. My slide seemed locked back. I figured that sitting at a shooting table with my wrists over a bag and the gun in both hands I must have put some pressure on the slide stop and it did its thing. I thumbed my slide stop and nothing happened. One of the guys hollered for me to stop as when I fired he saw my recoil springs and the front of my pistol sail down range. We safed everything and went forward and there was my recoil spring assembly and barrel bushing laying in the sand.

Seems the early Colts used this gawd awful hard to remove Barrel Bushing and that in use the little stud that held them in was shearing off.

I called Colt Monday Morning and had not only a replacement bushing but recoil spring group in hand with Mondays mail.

No issues since with the little fella though he has become a bedside gun thanks to a bad back.

Before I had the OM I carried a Star PD. I had both the later model and the earlier with the flesh eating rear sights. They worked OK but they were not Colts and My Series 70 Mark IV would sneer at them and turn tits nose up at me for carrying them.

I know all about street numbers and gel tests and math, but I just feel safer with a .45 and small is convenient.

Oh and of course that one shot hit centered if a bit low but hit at 100 yards and was just a precurser for more such shots in the future

-kBob
 
larryh1108

I have shot both and, IMO, the all steel Officer's models handle recoil very well.
If you don't mind the XDs, the Officer's will be a breeze.

That's been my experience as well with my Colt Officer's Model ACP, though I typically run 185 gr. or 200 gr. ammo through it.

One of my friends described shooting it as having more bark than bite!

gOxzbYZ.jpg
 
larryh1108



That's been my experience as well with my Colt Officer's Model ACP, though I typically run 185 gr. or 200 gr. ammo through it.

One of my friends described shooting it as having more bark than bite!

View attachment 857907
I have those Colt medallion Pachmyrs in my drawer from when they were on my Officer's--good stuff out of the box, but I really like the finger-grooves on those Hogues.
 
CapnMac

I have those Colt medallion Pachmyrs in my drawer from when they were on my Officer's--good stuff out of the box, but I really like the finger-grooves on those Hogues.

I have tried the Hogue 1911 grips with the finger grooves but the main problem is I have a small hand and the finger grooves don't match up real well with my fingers. The full set of Pachmayrs (normally I cut off the connecting front strap section), for whatever reason, just feel right on the Officer's Model ACP.
 
so, with the S&W Shield, Glock 43, Sig 320 and all the other slim compact service caliber guns out there, who actually carries as their every day gun an officers model 1911?
 
so, with the S&W Shield, Glock 43, Sig 320 and all the other slim compact service caliber guns out there, who actually carries as their every day gun an officers model 1911?

Not me. I carry a Commander sized 1911.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top