3" 1911s

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tackleberry45

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Anyone have good experience with these?? I have tinkered with the Kimber RCP, Springer Micro and most recently the Kimber SIS in 3". I am looking for a compact 45. If not a 1911 maybe recommend another more coancealable than a commander size. This is for those hot summer days when I am in shorts and t-shirt.
 
I have had several 3" and 3.5" 1911's, as well as some others (Kahr PM45, etc), and have found them to be very reliable, IF -- and ONLY IF -- you keep your wrist locked and a very firm grip. I have bought three guns that were supposedly "jam prone" and found that they have no problems at all. Two were 3" 1911's (Kimber CDP Ultra and a Kimber Ultra Carry II), and one was a Kahr PM45. The Kahr is an excellent choice for your purpose, by the way. Hope this helps -- good luck!

Specialized
 
I have no experience with 3" 1911s but have you looked at a Glock 30? It's the subcompact and it holds 10 rounds of 45 acp too. You wouldn't have to worry about sweat/rust on those hot summer days as much either.
 
Yep...looked at the Glock - forgot to mention I did. I am not a fan of the grip ergos. I have been on 1911s, Springer XDs, and Smith M&Ps so the ergos are important. Thahks for suggestion anyway
 
I had an UltraCDP that wouldn't run with the type II parts installed (ran fine without). Most don't have issues from what I gather but if you're playing the odds the 3" probably doesn't help.
 
I had a Kimber Ultra Carry and never could shake my concerns about reliability. The recoil and muzzle blast bothered me, too. Maybe I didn't give it enough time to grow on me, but I sold it to a friend. He wasn't happy with it either and gladly got rid of it.
 
Colt Defender

I've had a good experience with my Colt Defender, a 1911 with a 3 inch barrel. I've had it close to 2 years and have fired about 600 rounds through it with no problems. I put thin Alumagrip panels on the gun and it conceals very easily. It weighs about 25 ounces empty and has a brisk recoil, but nothing unpleasant.

ColtDefender_35.jpg
 
I have a Kimber Ultra Carry (pre-Series II) that has almost 3,000 rounds (factory and reloads, FMJ, LSWC, LRN, JHP, etc.) without a single issue. It is surprisingly accurate despite the short sight radius and, I think, a pleasure to shoot. My wife likes shooting it also.

By the way, when it was fairly new I shot around 500 rounds through it without disassembling and cleaning - no problems.
 
I absolutely LOVE my Springer Micro. Looks great, feels great, shoots great. I have been sticking with only 230 gr. ball for carry because I was having issues with the wider-opening JHP's. I'm just about ready for JHP carry as it seems the more I shoot it with hollowpoints, the more reliable it gets. (For now, I will stick with a JHP in the tube and FMJ in the mags. One or two more range sessions with current positive results and I will be comfortable with all JHP.)
 
I have a Officer ,Defender and New Agent . all work like their suppose to never been any trouble. I have a old Detonics also it still plugging alone fine.
I use 185DPX for carry and 230 ball for play.
 
Colt Defender

carried mine for 10 years--#12xx. 5000+ rounds later ( i handload) i trust it. strong kick. not for everyone, but if you can work with a light 1911, get this one. still under 2" @ 50'.



 
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Para LDA

I have Para carry 6 LDA with meprolite night sights and a clipdraw love this gun as a carry gun have over 1000 rounds through it no problems at all LOVE the LDA set up::evil::evil::
 
If you will like to go with a .45 ACP pistol with a barrel shorter than 4'', and do not insist on 1911 platform, I advice you to choose a pistol with polygon profiled barrel to get minimum compromise in bullet performance and reliability.
 
Let me preface this by saying I am a rock solid 1911 lover and have more of them that I know what to do with, though I am not an advocate of the micro-1911's.

My current carry gun doesn't feel as svelt and sexy in the hand as a 1911, but when it comes to delivering caliber (.45), capacity (11 rounds), reliability (like, flawless), accuracy (remarkable), higher velocity (polygonal rifling minimizes velocity loss), and durability in a very compact and easily concealable gun... it's one of the worlds very finest carry guns: Glock 30. Back up mags with 13-round capacity is very nice too! Granted, these things take some getting used to, but once you're there, you can really appreciate the many significant advantages they offer as a no nonsense defense tool... and among the most significant of these is reliability and capacity!

G30_L0168.jpg
 
I love my Springer Micro. It's an all around good carry gun for me. It shares the CCW duty with my G36 which is a little thicker. I like the slim line and easy concealability of the 3" micro and I've no trouble with it. I thought about switching out the ambi safety and still might.
 
I have a Kimber Tactical Ultra II, owned for about 2 yrs now, zero problems with it, great gun
 
I recently purchased a Kimber Ultra Carry II in SS > love it it fits me and my S/O perfectly, she enjoys shooting it as much as my Sc framed 4" S&W 1911
 
it's one of the worlds very finest carry guns: Glock 30.
Click to expand...
Damn, I was enjoying this thread contemplating on how well my Officer's model behaves itself at all times, until this!!!:D
 
Mad Magyar... no worries... the Officer's model is really a great little gun. I like mine too! But it's my G30 that gets carried, particularly as I have come to greatly value higher capacity in a carry gun.

When I do carry a 1911, it is always a bobtailed Commander, which I think is THE perfect 1911 for carry. You get full capacity magazines, full frontal grip area, nice feel in the palm of the hand, long enough barrel to keep reliability and velocity up there. Those contemplating a 3" 1911 should give serious consideration to the Commanders, especially with the bobtail modification.
 
I've had my early (pre-Series II) Kimber Ultra CDP for about eight years or so now.

It has ALWAYS digested any and all types of .45ACP defensive ammo without a single burp. Needless to say, I can trust my life to this light little 1911.

THE DOWNSIDE . . . The tritium night sights are starting to dim, naturally, so I'll probably send the slide back to Kimber in a couple of months.

Yep . . . flawless shooting until the nightsights fail. That ain't too bad!!!

Here it is next to another of my CCW choices . . . same weight empty, and both just about the same size (though the J-frame works better in a pocket, of course)!

2256357CCW.jpg


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