1911 with a 4 inch barrel

Status
Not open for further replies.
TomJ

TomJ

Contributing Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
2,944
Location
SE Wisconsin
I'm looking at purchasing a .45 1911. Is there a difference in the reliability, durability or accuracy between ones with 4 inch or 5 inch barrels? Are there any other differences I should consider, other than the fact that the 4 inch is lighter and I'm assuming easier to conceal? If I go with the 5 inch, I decided on the SA Mil Spec Stainless Steel. No decisions have been made on the 4 inch model.
 
That would be at the top of my list. Do you know if the barrel being 4 inches affects it's reliability or durability?
 
I know it makes no difference in Glocks.....

I have had just one 5" 1911 and it was an RIA. I have had a Colt 45 Commander, Colt Lightweight 38 Super Commander, Para P13, and Para CCW LDA of which all are commander length and have had nary a hiccup. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
 
The only thing that wears out faster in a compact/sub compact 1911 is the recoil spring. By that I mean U probably will need to swap recoil springs every 2K rounds on a compact and every 1K on a sub-compact. Bullet velocity will be reduced by about 15%, but u won't even notice that.
I have several 1911s, including a compact Ruger and she is just as reliable as my 5 inchers at 15 and 25 yards.
In the springfield world, forged alloy will outlast you. I used to have a EMP 9mm that I traded after 5K and she still looked brand new. All I replaced was the recoil spring.
 
Yes, there is a big difference in reliability between 5 inch, and 4 inch 1911's. It requires finesse of matching recoil spring to slide mass, to extractor tension, barrel lug/bushing lock up etc. It's one of the reasons Ed Brown doesn't make a 4 inch. Even Wilson Combat acknowledges that their 4 inch guns are more sensitive to ammo.

If you want the most reliable 1911, get a standard gov't 5 inch. Or buy a compact from someone like Brown or Wilson, but don't mess around with cheaper compact 1911's if you want super reliability.

-Freq
 
I have a 5" Springfield Milspec and a Kimber 4" Pro Carry II. After break-in, both have been utterly reliable. The Pro Carry is a LOT easier to tote around and balances a lot better on the draw.
 
I've owned a few commander sized 1911's and I've always liked them. They are shorter in the slide, but with the same size grip as the Govt. model, I never did think they concealed too much better. Slightly yes, but to me grip length makes more of a deal when you want concealment than .75" of barrel.
 
Commander type 1911a1 .45s......

I'm partial to the CCW size 1911a1 SAO(single action only) models too.
I like the rounded or "bobtail" type frames-grip areas. :D
I'm a bit "large" & dislike the rough, sharp or pointy edges of some 1911s. :(

I agree with what author & tactics trainer; Massad Ayoob said(quoting gunsmith Ikey Sparks); "A carry gun should feel like a well used bar of soap." ;)

As for brands, Id check Kimber-USA, Para-USA, S&W, SIG Sauer, Ruger, Kahr Arms/Auto Ord, Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat, Colt.
The Smith and Wesson E series 1911 is nice. The Clapp Colt Commander .45acp is a sweet pistol. The SIG Commander sizes are well engineered.
A local gun shop near me is doing it's own SIG 1911a1 .45acp deal; buy a .45acp & get a free SIG Mosiquito .22LR semi auto pistol. :D
Custom shops like Ed Brown, Les Baer, Wilson Combat etc are not cheap but you get a high quality 1911a1 carry gun.

Another choice which isn't a 1911 but does fit the same size is a SIG Sauer P220 Carry .45acp SAO. It's a P220 but has a single action only design. ;)
 
Thanks for the responses. For now I'm going to go with the 5 Inch SA Mil Spec in Stainless. I don't have anything comparable to it, and there's some pretty good deals on them right now. As soon as my budget allows, I'll pick up the commander size for CC.
 
I was considering the Sig Nightmare Carry. 8 rounds, bobtail. There is also the Kimber Master Carry. But yea, the 4.0-4.25" is a good carry platform.
 
I have had full size, Commander size, and Officers Model size 1911s and all of them have been reliable and durable with decent accuracy. Go with the one that feels best to you in terms of handling, balance, and comfort, both in shooting and carrying.
 
I had over 6,000 rounds through a Kimber Compact sst 45 acp with no problems. I don't think I would go with any shorter barrel as I had a Colt Officer's 45 acp when they first came out and it was problem after another. I didn't keep it very long
 
steveno

I had a stainless Officers Model like that; a slide that wouldn't fully go into battery, wavy grind lines, misaligned sights, and just an overall poor finish. This was during Colt's labor problems period and I have no doubt that a lot of clunkers left the factory at that time. But even back then they still turned out a good one every now and then as my blued Officers Model has been totally reliable and will feed just about anything I load it up with.
 
.
If you're thinking of a bull-barreled, concealable 1911, might as well get down to an even-easier concealable size: something like the 3" Ultra CDP II from Kimber. The grip length is shorter too, yet the Kimber magazines hold 7 rds. Mine has been reliable, and two-handed offhand shooting results in 25 yrd hits within a 12-inch circle.

In the Truth About Guns review linked in the second post, the author mentioned the sharp edges; the Kimber has been "de-horned" (although not on the small parts such as the hammer). They call it a "carry bevel" treatment, or "melt".

For now as you've said, enjoy shooting your full-sized 1911! and give some thought to a 3" bull-barreled version. You might have a slightly higher initial investment, but as they say, "buy once, cry once".


Pictured below are my SA "Loaded" parkerized and my Kimber Ultra CDP II:

20140707_154308_zpsf4553da6.jpg
 
200Apples,

The Kimber you have is on my short list. I agree that it or any other quality gun may be a little more expensive, but not more expensive than buying something you're not happy with and then going back to purchase what you should have bought in the first place.
 
I currently EDC a Ruger stainless commander w/4.25" barrel. Just that much shorter that it doesn't dig into the bottom of my car seat. Utterly reliable also.
 
My old Kimber Eclipse Pro II has had a LOT of rounds through her with nary an issue. Picked it up used very cheap and it has been a great reliable gun...

IMG_KEP-X.gif
 
One of my favorite carry guns for a number of years has been this 4" Springfield CCO.

Basically its a Commander upper (a bit shorter at 4") on an officer's lower. It has never failed in any way.

My45ACPSpringfieldArmory1911CCO7_zpsc8a7852f.jpg
My45ACPSpringfieldArmory1911CCO9_zps4609913b.jpg
My45ACPSpringfieldArmory1911CCO13_zpsd784ba77.jpg
 
Furncliff said:
TomJ This video will show you the differences in size for the colt made 1911's, other makes will be very close. Note that the 4 in barrel and 5 inch barrel models have the same grip length and this tends to be the part that is most difficult to conceal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxXjFyaDHsE
Click to expand...
Thanks. CC is new in Illinois and many of us who never carried concealed weapons or have not done so in a while are trying to find the best combination of reliability, ease of carrying/concealing and accuracy. This is a fantastic forum.
 
Had a 4" kimber compact (officers grip) that ran like a swiss watch, if I changed the recoil spring every 500 rounds or so. After 500 rounds I couldn't shoot it left handed (limp wrist) and it would get picky right handed. It used straight officers model springs, 22lb IIRC.

The full length guide rod make spring changes, interesting, so I either cut the stocker down to GI length, or replaced it with a GM short guide rod. Can't remember which. The recoil spring stayed (loosely) captive when field stripped, which didnt require a bent paperclip, that might shear off, launching the spring plug through a closed window...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

O
  • Locked
Hey 1911 guys, A quick question, please impart your wisdom
Replies
9
Views
695
Technosavant
T
D
  • Locked
1911 Mil Spec accuracy
Replies
12
Views
743
RH45
R
S
  • Locked
New 1911 for CCW - size questions
Replies
12
Views
611
shotgunkevin
S
C
  • Locked
springfield 1911 sights
Replies
10
Views
747
craig
C
S
  • Locked
4"-4.25" 1911 Quest: My List-o-Specifics
Replies
19
Views
1K
Samgotit
S
Back
Top