A question on mini/micro 45 1911's

[george burns]

It's been asked over the years in many ways, but I still have been going back and forth with it for years now.
Unfortunately you can't just buy every gun and try it out to see if you like the way it carries for a week.
Having carried for several decades now I am stuck on the 45 caliber round for self protection. What is the best, 1911, under 4 inches that you can buy for under 1,500 dollars. I don't want a commander as they are still too large and heavy for daily carry at my age.
I was reading Chris Kyle carried a Springfield Micro, but the only stock part was the frame. That is out of my league.
Kimber is the logical answer, but I hear so many horror stories I can't afford to throw away money. Any really good ideas? Try to keep it around 25 ounces and 8 rounds, if I have to go to 6+1 I will. Also I will probably be just using NS, so rails are optional. I have looked at many but they are either unproven or I don't have enough info, or anyone to ask who had one.
I have an XDS, and Glock 30 S, so please 1911's only
Thanks

 

[wally]

Much as I love 1911s, IMHO if you go below 4" barrel with .45ACP I worry about adequate penetration because of the velocity loss with the short barrel -- check some 3-3.5" barrel chrono results of your preferred load first.

IMHO this is where .40S&W shines -- 180gr .40 has the same sectional density as .230gr .4 and about 100-150 fps more velocity in the same barrel length.

My experience with several sub-compact 1911s (Kimber, Colt, Springfield) is they never will be as reliable as a 4-5" or most .40S&W sub-compacts.

For a 1911-like sub-compact take a look at the Springfield EMP-40, they run about $1100 so are well within your budget.

 

[Normandy]

Para makes a "Warthog" that should fill your bill. Awesome accuracy in a short barrel.

 

[Steve H]

I changed my carry gun in 2008 to a Kimber Ultra CDP II...really like it. I did change two things, put slim grips on it and changed the safety to strong side only. I do switch carry guns once in a while and carry and carry the XDs.

 

[moxie]

Check out the Colt Defender or New Agent. They have 3" barrels, 7 round mags, and weigh in at or under 25 oz. MSRP is below your budget.

See:

http://www.colt.com/Catalog/Pistols/Defender™Series.aspx

 

[Zerodefect]

Dan Wesson CCO or ECO.

I think the CCO I saw was only $1300. The ECO was $1800 IIRC.

I've had terrible luck with small 1911's. But the two above have worked flawlessly for me with Tripp mags and Federal or Blazer ammo. I wouldn't recommend Kimber or Springy for what they charge lately. Colt might be worth looking at, but many LGS's mark those up to DW prices.

 

[Hanshi]

I picked up a Kimber Ultra Carry .45acp back in the late 1990s and have never needed anything else. That little pistol is phenomenally accurate and has never jammed. My chronograph shows it doesn't lose as much velocity as some would have you believe; especially with 230 grain ball. In fact there's not much difference between my KUC and my Colt Commander. While mine has been a complete satisfaction; others mileage may vary.

 

[dogmush]

I'm not a fan of <4" 1911's, I really like the commander size. But for what you want, one of these is the best choice.

Dan Wesson ECO, ~$1400.

STI Lawman 3.0

Or STI Escort

Those are about the best 1911's you can get in budget.

 

[agtman]

Colt's New Agent. All steel, no MIM. Love mine.



You do have to get used to the trench sight, which many traditional shooters find off-putting. But once you do, and that comes with some practice, accurate COM hits at the "street combat" distance you'd likely use it are easy and quick.

Plus this 3" 1911 is snag-free. I've put just under $500-rds thru mine and haven't had one bobble. The two 7-rd factory mags have run fine, as have the additional 7-rd WC mags I got for it. Great little gun.

What is the best 1911, under 4 inches, that you can buy for under 1,500 dollars.

Well, the NA won't rip the wallet off your kiester either. $843 from Bud's:

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...828/Colt+O7810D+New+Agent+Series+7+1+45ACP+3"

 

[WC145]

If I had $1500 to spend I'd go for a Dan Wesson ECO, it's Officers size (3.5"), DW is builds a great gun, well fitted, with quality components, tough to beat in the price range. Personally I like the 3.5" guns better than either the 3" or the 4.25" CCOs, they carry and balance better for me.

I have a custom Colt 1991A1 Compact and a Springfield LW 9mm Ultra Compact 1911 (both 3.5") and don't have any trouble with either of them.

 

[DJW]

Recently found an ATI LW Titan..........made in the phillipines. Novak style rear sight. Ambi-safety. Light and reliable. $432 OTD at a gunshow in Cedar Park, Tx. Google it.

 

[JDR]

I know the DW ECO will work for you out of the box

 

[Zerodefect]

The Valkyrie is an option as well. Same as the ECO, with a longer slide/barrel. I wish they had a steel framed version of the ECO and Valk.

 

[agtman]

Recently found an ATI LW Titan..........made in the philippines. Novak style rear sight. Ambi-safety. Light and reliable. $432 OTD at a gunshow in Cedar Park, Tx. Google it.

More rough Filipino junk. Yeah, not Chi-Com crap, but it gets close.
Dude, the internals on these foreign roscoes are rougher than 20-miles of road going up into Moab, Utah.

Even with an alleged price-point of $432, the OP dude is half-way to a problem-free Colt NA. That said, he's already indicated that he's got a wife-approved spending range of "under $1500."

There are many makes of quality 1911s that fall within that range. Why should the OP buy something from the bargain-basement if he doesn't have to?

 

[2wheels]

Best? I wouldn't know. But I'll give another recommendation for the Colt New Agent. I've been pretty happy with mine, and it's well under your budget. The Colt Defender is a similar option with traditional sights.

 

[JeffDG]

Springfield Range Officer Compact
4" Bull barrel
Aluminum officers frame

 

[Rembrandt]

The Boberg XR-45S isn't a 1911, but it fits many of the other specs you're looking for.
Extremely accurate and very pleasant to shoot, 3.75" barrel.

http://www.bobergarms.com/

 

[sauer1911]

Sig Ultra II, 3.3" about $1100.

AND its a SIG.

be safe

 

[Antrome]

I recently picked up a Colt Defender. So far I have put about 500 trouble free rounds down range. 230 gr ball, WWB, reloads. As well as 100 rounds of 185 gr Hornady critical defense. I am very pleased with it. It has become my edc pistol.

 

[herrwalther]

I was reading Chris Kyle carried a Springfield Micro, but the only stock part was the frame. That is out of my league.

To be correct. He carried a Springfield TRP for most of his overseas work. Full 5" barrel.

4-4.25" barrels in 1911s are much more common now than they were just a few years ago. More companies are also using aluminum frames to cut 9-10oz off the weight. Ruger's new lightweight commander tips the scale at 29oz and accepts 8 round magazines.

 

[Zach S]

More rough Filipino junk. Yeah, not Chi-Com crap, but it gets close.
Dude, the internals on these foreign roscoes are rougher than 20-miles of road going up into Moab, Utah.

Even with an alleged price-point of $432, the OP dude is half-way to a problem-free Colt NA. That said, he's already indicated that he's got a wife-approved spending range of "under $1500."

There are many makes of quality 1911s that fall within that range. Why should the OP buy something from the bargain-basement if he doesn't have to?

I think the Filipino junk is a great bang for the buck purchase, and despite the tooling marks, the ChiCom crap was well made out of good steal...

I will agree with your other point though. With a $1500 budget, there's really no point in looking at Filipino pistols.

But back to the thread, I personally dont care for the short 1911s. I have been down that road twice, and to keep them boring reliable like my 5" guns, I changed the recoil spring every 500 rounds or so.

 

[george burns]

DW is one I haven't really given thought to, but will now, thanks. Kyles in theatre gun sometimes was a TRP, but his carry was a springer micro, "look it up" but as he said it was not stock, highly modified. Only the frame was left. I obviously don't want to go that far. and have other 1911's just want a small one for carry instead of all the Glocks, Kahrs and other plastic guns.

 

[MICHAEL T]

COLT DEFENDER Mine is several years old and still running strong I use 185 gr +P for carry

 

[Teachu2]

DW is one I haven't really given thought to, but will now, thanks. Kyles in theatre gun sometimes was a TRP, but his carry was a springer micro, "look it up" but as he said it was not stock, highly modified. Only the frame was left. I obviously don't want to go that far. and have other 1911's just want a small one for carry instead of all the Glocks, Kahrs and other plastic guns.

Good luck in your hunt. I carried 5" 1911s for decades, but I'm pretty tall. I got weary of the weight much more than the size, and ended up with a G30, a G30SF, and a G36. The 36 is easy enough to make 7+1 with an extension. I just shoot them better than the chopped 1911s, and have yet to have a failure of any kind with them.

The G36 is WAY under your budget, though. Even with night sites, laser rod, mags with extensions, and a couple cases of ammo.

 

[bannockburn]

I have a Colt Officers Model that has been 100% reliable from Day 1. Same with a Colt New Agent that I had. In downsized 1911s I have found that 185 gr. and 200 gr. loads perform very well and offer slightly less recoil than 230 gr. ball ammo.