3" 1911

[angus08]

I've been looking to buy a 3 inch 1911 for carry. I just need help choosing which brand is the best. I've been leaning toward the colt defender but i would be open to other brands.
Thanks!

 

[MICHAEL T]

I vote Colt Defender Mine has given me several years of good reliable service . I also have the Colt new Agent But Defender get most carry.

Just replace those horrible factory grips with something nice like wood

 

[brandon_mcg]

i came very close to buying the colt defender over my springer 3.5 inch ultra compact. the only thing that i didnt like about the defender were the grips.

also looked at a colt new agent but did not like the fact that it has a groove for a sight.

 

[DasFriek]

The Colts are nice, But ditch the Defenders Hogue grips they look awful on that gun.
The New Agent is my kind of gun.
STI makes several reliable 3" models.
A cheap option at $400-$450 is the Philippine RIA and ATI Titan, I know the RIA CS Officer is a 3.5" and well known to be reliable. Thats usually not found until you hit guns like that Colts at $1k each.

 

[critter]

I have a Colt New Agent. NEVER have I had a failure of ANY kind. My most carried 'friend'.

 

[clown714]

i have had good luck with the Kimber Ultra Carrys'.

my EDC.

clown

 

[samurai]

Another vote for the Defender

 

[45Fan]

Are you looking at .45 exclsively? Springfield Armory makes the EMP in 40 and 9mm. In shorter barrels, the 9 mm is just about on the same level as a .45 acp in the same barrel length.

 

[KenW.]

Yet ANOTHER Defender guy here. I used one as an off-duty and backup gun for many years. It never let me down even once.

 

[Ala Dan]

I would have to agree with clown 714's comments~!

 

[DCB]

SRI Escort....love mine.


Peace

 

[G27RR]

I carry an STI Shadow daily. Highly recommend it.

For $200-$300 less, I would recommend the STI Escort. I used to recommend the Defender, but it costs the same and doesn't have the same features as the Escort.

 

[angus08]

Where is the best place to buy the STI 1911s.

 

[harmon rabb]

Are you looking at .45 exclsively? Springfield Armory makes the EMP in 40 and 9mm. In shorter barrels, the 9 mm is just about on the same level as a .45 acp in the same barrel length.

+1 for the EMP. I have an EMP and love it. Fits the hand perfectly, great trigger, a joy to shoot, and pretty easy to conceal.

 

[G27RR]

I get mine through a local dealer usually, although I did buy one from an out of state dealer on gunbroker once.

Here's a dealer list.
http://stiguns.com/DealersUS.php

 

[brandon_mcg]

angus,

there is a NIB colt defender listed in the for sale forum if you are interested....

 

[pabst_20]

My Vote is for the Kimber Ultra's

 

[M2 Carbine]

My carry choice is the 3 inch Kimber (Ultras).

 

[PabloJ]

I've been looking to buy a 3 inch 1911 for carry. I just need help choosing which brand is the best. I've been leaning toward the colt defender but i would be open to other brands.
Thanks!

I'm pretty sure that in one of the Personal Firearm Defense DVD series Rob Pincus stated that of all compact firearms used by his pupils the 3" 1911 type pistols were about the most stoppage prone guns he has seen. No specific manufacturers were mentioned.

 

[Deanimator]

Springfield GI MicroCompact. A friend has one. It's fed everything from 117gr. Aguila IQ to factory 230gr. ball without a problem. It's also extremely accurate, and pleasant to shoot, even with ball.

Were I to buy a 3" M1911 it would be my choice.

 

[JoelSteinbach]

A Kimber Ultra, has, has been with me for many years, befor that a springfield v10 with a 3.5" barrel.

 

[CZ223]

I have two Ultras, one blued, one stainless

One is still on layaway and I have not owned the other that long. That said, I have shot the blued one about 200 times without a hitch. I fired the other, at the shop where I bought it, about 50 times, also without a hitch. At this point I would recomend them, but that may change. I also have an RIA Comp Tac. While it was not out of the box reliable, with everything, it has been very reliable with Hollow points, go figure. At about half the price of the Kimber it is a real bargain. The downside is that it is all steel and quite heavy compared to the Ultras.

As an aside, I would like to mention something about holsters. I have 3 Kimber pros, 4" guns, and not a single Commander length gun, 4 1/4". Both my HBE and my new Milt Sparks VM-2 are made for the commander length guns. You can put a 4" gun into a 4 1/4" holster, but not vice versa. Should I buy a commander, I will not have to shell out another $135 for a holster. i also carry the RIA in the same holster, occasionaly. I wouldn't want o carry the Ultras in these regularly as I feel that the bottom of the holster may start to collapse over time. What I will do is buy a 3.5 holster for all 3 guns.

 

[Topgun121]

I have a couple of Kimber Ultras. I recently got a CDP Ultra 9mm. I had problems with it feeding correctly during the first 100-200 rounds. After I took it home and cleaned it, it ran flawlessly after that. Kimber has tight tolerances and needs a break in. I love them.

 

[CDW4ME]

The Kimber Ultra can be had with night sights and front strap checkering as factory options, but the barrel is left "in the white".

The Colt Defender doesn't have night sights or front strap checkering as factory options, but has a stainless barrel.

 

[Jed Carter]

Two places to get STI pistols online http://dawsonprecision.com and http://shootersconnectionstore.com