1911 Commander Carry Decision

[Jed Carter]

Only one reply for Para Ordnance? Of your choices I would ...Colt, just something about the extractor on the S&W I just cannot warm up to, it does work well though. If you want a Bobtail then I would lean toward a Dan Wesson, spending big $ on a "custom" pistol for carry is counter intuitive to me. Have you tried your choices? Which one handles the best, has better, faster follow up shots, one shot one kill, 3 assailants. With an IWB holster you may find the Bobtail unnecessary. You may also might want to look at a commander length slide on an officer size frame, like a Detonics Service Master.

 

[skoro]

Colt XSE Lightweight
Para LTC PXT
S&W 1911 PD Scandium frame

If it were me, I'd get the Colt. I have an XSE Commander (not LW) and it's a wonderful 1911.

 

[BullfrogKen]

The beaver-tails, ambi safety, FLGR, etc.

The "long", aluminum trigger and arched MSH (wheres the loop?) doesnt work for me either. I like the short steel ones.

I debated whether to reply to this here, or begin a new topic. I'll respond here.


The modifications on mine begin and stop at practicality. Many current production auto-loaders enjoy the same features as what are on my 1911s. I often find it interesting when a modern gun has such a feature, it's considered an asset, but on a 1911 it's seen as some frivolous fashion accessory.

Let's take a walk through history.



The "beavertail" grip safety

Nearly every modern production gun has incorporated this in one form or another. The upswept portion at the top of the backstrap allows the shooter to get the "high hand grip" without tearing up the web of his hand. With a Browning Hi-Power, the most common approach was to replace the hammer with a design that didn't pinch that web between the thumb and index finger.

Like so -

When Smith and Wesson got into the autoloader market in the 1950s, they paid attention to the complaint and designed that beavertail as an integral part of the frame on the Model 39.

That sure looks an awful lot like a beavertail grip safety, doesn't it?

Today's most popular selling handguns still employ the same concept in the design. Below are pictures of Springfield's XD, and Smith & Wesson's M&P. The design allows that high grip, which is necessary for control, without having the gun eat our hand doing it.

 

[BullfrogKen]

The ambidextrous safety

In the 1980's Smith & Wesson came out with their 3rd generation of auto-loaders, and it was a standard feature. By then Armand Swenson had been hand-making the ambi-safety for 1911s for close to 2 decades. The market for auto-loaders continued to grow, especially in domestic law enforcement agencies, and the need for an ambidextrous safety to satisfy the left-handed shooter became enough of a factor for manufacturers to put it into regular production. Also, enough concern of an injury to the right hand or arm during a fight caused the industry to respond. The gun needed to be quickly brought to bear solely with the left hand, and the ambi-safety permitted it.


Today, nearly every manufacturer that offers a handgun gun with a manually-operated safety will offer it with an ambi-safety. Once again, when these features are found on a Beretta, S&W, Ruger, or any other modern auto-loader with a manual safety, it's never considered frivolous fashion like some think they are on a 1911. On these guns, they're an asset.

 

[BullfrogKen]

The Full Length Guide Rod (FLGR)

That old 1950's era S&W Model 39 uses a full length guide rod.

So does the Sig-Sauer.

And the Springfield XD





The 1911 will function just fine without it, but in the 9x23 Jim specs it out because the recoil spring will last longer with a FLGR than without. Once again nearly every autoloader today uses one, and no one thinks it's frivolous.




Those other parts you referenced - the arched mainspring housing and the trigger - those are personal preferences. Just like your lanyard loop, which I can't imagine serves any practical purpose unless you're actually tethering the gun to you. The other nice thing about the 1911, besides a splendid trigger, is the ability to fit the gun right to the shooter's hand with parts like the shape of the mainspring housing, or the length of the trigger.

I don't have arched mainspring housings on my 1911s because I like the way they look.

 

[oldbear]

Before I outgrew my autoloader phase, come on that is a joke, I owned both styles of Commanders. The steel was somewhat easier to shoot, but the L/W was a whole lot easier for C/C. So if you want a pistol to carry a lot and shoot a little, I would suggest the L/W commander. Now if you want a pistol that is as rugged as the old Government model go with the all steel version.

 

[AK103K]

I never noticed the beavertail do anything for me, the stock grip safety is fine, and doesnt have the problems that some of the beavertails do as far as engaging the safety when you grip the gun.

I've had a couple 1911's that had FLGR's, and they they both had problems with them installed. Reliability improved when they were replaced with a standard plug and spring.

The MSH and trigger length, like you mentioned, are pretty much user preference, and for me, the standard "short trigger/arched MSH" are more comfortable and point more naturally.

As far as the lanyard loops. I have them on any gun I carry, as I lead a fairly active life, and I kayak and canoe a good bit. They are in fact, tethered to me when I'm on the river. They are also just handy to have in rough country as well. If youve spent any time in the woods, you know what "dummy cords" are for and why you use them.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Well, all those issues you just cited are personal.


I didn't build them for you.


I built them for me, my hands, and the way I shoot a 1911.

 

[slyfox]

Well I just made the switch to the Berretta m92fs. just bought it today.. shot a 100 rounds and am pretty excited about it.. I hope I still will enjoy my colt combat commander 9mm model. have a great day

 

[robctwo]

I really like my S&W 1911PD Commander with the CT grips. Very reliable and accurate. The scandium frame is great for carry, not so great for a long range session. That's why I have 4 other 1911s, all steel and 5" models. They get hundreds of rounds at the range, the S&W gets carried.

 

[bredda]

Like others here, I have over a dozen 1911's including all the makers the OP listed. My daily carry is the SW1911 as it fits me the best. You can't go wrong with the Colt or the Para either although some flak has been given to the Para yet I have no misgivings about mine.

As to the bobtail, you can expect to pay ~$175-200 for that work.

 

[bigbob76]

A lot of interesting opinions and some good info here. It also reminds me to be wary of people giving advice and pronouncing opinions as though they were proven facts.