BerettaNut92
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What are the pro's and con's of an aluminum framed 1911 vs a traditional steel frame?
Aluminum Framed 1911s?
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critter
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Pro: lighter weight-easier to carry for long periods.
Con: lighter weight-harder fast follow-up shots due to increased muzzle flip.
Con: Possible erosion of feed ramp by sharp edged hollow point bullets.
Con: Possible shorter life under heavy use.
Light weights last almost forever though.
Your choice. I like the steel frames.
Con: lighter weight-harder fast follow-up shots due to increased muzzle flip.
Con: Possible erosion of feed ramp by sharp edged hollow point bullets.
Con: Possible shorter life under heavy use.
Light weights last almost forever though.
Your choice. I like the steel frames.
Skunk: I've got a Kimber Compact and a Kimber Compact Aluminum. The ONLY thing I like about the aluminum frame is that it is easier to carry. It also has noticeably more recoil and muzzle flip. The steel frame gun is fun to shoot. The AL frame gun is a bit punishing.
John Forsyth
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I have a XSE LW Colt Commander. I bought with one purpose in mind, to carry. I didn't get it to be a range shooter, safe queen, or anything else. To make sure it would do the job, I shot a couple of high round count IDPA matches out of the holster I carry daily. It runs great.
The main reason I wanted it was to save weight. You wouldn't think that 8 oz. less would make a big difference, but it does. Much more comfortable than a steel framed 1911. The presentation is quick because of the shorter slide and less weight, and yes it does rise a little more than a standard model, but not enough to be really noticeable.
The main reason I wanted it was to save weight. You wouldn't think that 8 oz. less would make a big difference, but it does. Much more comfortable than a steel framed 1911. The presentation is quick because of the shorter slide and less weight, and yes it does rise a little more than a standard model, but not enough to be really noticeable.
10-Ring
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IMHO, the aluminum frame is best for carry; for shooting, the best is to stick w/ steel.
Sean Smith
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Some aluminum alloys can have comparable yield strengths to steel. But aluminum has two problems that steel doesn't:
1. Its ultimate tenstile strength is much lower, meaning that a stress that would only flex or deform a steel structure could easily break a comparable aluminum one.
2. Fatigue failure is much, much more of a factor with aluminum than steel.
You can make an aluminum structure just as strong as steel, and still ligher overall, but it will wind up buliker. So a gun designed from the ground up for an aluminum frame might be just as durable as any given steel framed gun, but a frame designed to be made of steel made in aluminum instead (like a lightweight 1911) will be considerably weaker when fatigue and ultimate tenstile strength are taken into account.
1. Its ultimate tenstile strength is much lower, meaning that a stress that would only flex or deform a steel structure could easily break a comparable aluminum one.
2. Fatigue failure is much, much more of a factor with aluminum than steel.
You can make an aluminum structure just as strong as steel, and still ligher overall, but it will wind up buliker. So a gun designed from the ground up for an aluminum frame might be just as durable as any given steel framed gun, but a frame designed to be made of steel made in aluminum instead (like a lightweight 1911) will be considerably weaker when fatigue and ultimate tenstile strength are taken into account.
Johnny Guest
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John Forsyth wrote - - -
Standard Commander is 27 oz empty. I make that as twelve oz difference. Anyway, significant enough to where my daily sidearm is the Commander. I have a couple of full weight guns, for matches and such, but they sure drag on the waistband.
Best,
Johnny
Humm--I've never had an XSE model Commander. Standard Govt Model weighs 39 oz. empty.
Standard Commander is 27 oz empty. I make that as twelve oz difference. Anyway, significant enough to where my daily sidearm is the Commander. I have a couple of full weight guns, for matches and such, but they sure drag on the waistband.
Best,
Johnny
Wildalaska
member
Care to share your source for that?
Aluminum frames will last as long as steel in normal use..they will not in heavy use...
I have a Colf Defender...excel;lent carry pistol....
yankytrash
Member
Always wondered, while we're on the subject, is there any noticeable wear on the rail fit on the aluminum framed 1911's? Always seemed like a nice compromise to me (lighter weight for a gun that you may not want to shoot as often as your steel framed gun), but internet heresay kept me from purchasing one.
Kahr carrier
Member
I have a Springfield lightweight with an Aluminum frame and I can have fired probably thousands of rounds thru it .No problems with the frame at all . I think aluminum frames will last as long as they are not abused and maintained properly.
Lone_Gunman
Member
Everyone always worries about aluminum framed 1911s.
But I think Beretta and Sig also use aluminum frames for their semi autos, including 45s, and no one ever seems to have problems with that.
I doubt an aluminum frame is as strong as steel, and will probably wear out sooner, but if it takes years to do it, whats the worry?
But I think Beretta and Sig also use aluminum frames for their semi autos, including 45s, and no one ever seems to have problems with that.
I doubt an aluminum frame is as strong as steel, and will probably wear out sooner, but if it takes years to do it, whats the worry?
stans
Member
Aluminum frames are great for carry guns. Steel frames are for guns that will be shot a lot. I think most Colt Commanders go at least 15,000 to 30,000 rounds before frame wear becomes excessive. That is not a lot of shooting for someone like Todd Jarret, but it is a lot for the average Joe who puts no more than 50 to 100 rounds through a gun in a month. Think about it, 15,000 round life expectancy divided by 100 rounds per month equals 12 years and 6 months. Now if you are going to put 100 rounds a week through the gun that equals only 2 years and 10 months. Big difference!
Sean Smith
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See my post above. Beretta 9x and SigSauer P-series guns were designed from the ground up for their aluminum frames. The 1911s are steel frame designs executed in aluminum. Big difference. If you design it for aluminum, you can make a frame as strong or stronger than steel. But if you take a frame designed for steel, and just change the material used to aluminum, it will be alot weaker than the steel version.
I picked up an alloy framed Colt at a gun show several years ago. It was well used by the time I got it. Lasted maybe 500 mid-range target rounds before the fame cracked.
I repaired the broken section and retired the frame to use with my .22 conversion only.
YMMV...
Joe
I repaired the broken section and retired the frame to use with my .22 conversion only.
YMMV...
Joe
Time to get out the ole calculator:
If you look at a gun as a bidness asset, it would have a useful life of who knows how long?
Some of you threw out the figure of 50,000 rounds. At the minimum price of $0.10 a round ($5.00 a box of 50) you would have $0.10 x 50,000 = $5,000 worth of ammunition expended in a maximum $1,000 invested in the delivery device. How is this considered bad or uneconomical?
If you are talking factory loads you could at least double the price to $10,000 worth of ammo.
An automobile will wear out long before you expend 5X the purchase price in gasoline - yes even your fine German models.
If you look at a gun as a bidness asset, it would have a useful life of who knows how long?
Some of you threw out the figure of 50,000 rounds. At the minimum price of $0.10 a round ($5.00 a box of 50) you would have $0.10 x 50,000 = $5,000 worth of ammunition expended in a maximum $1,000 invested in the delivery device. How is this considered bad or uneconomical?
If you are talking factory loads you could at least double the price to $10,000 worth of ammo.
An automobile will wear out long before you expend 5X the purchase price in gasoline - yes even your fine German models.
Quote: "I have a Springfield lightweight with an Aluminum frame and I can have fired probably thousands of rounds thru it .No problems with the frame at all . I think aluminum frames will last as long as they are not abused and maintained properly."
I don't doubt that an aluminum framed pistol can last a long time, but there is no way it will hold up to heavy use the way a good steel gun will. Steel 1911's have been known to last for many hundreds of thousands of rounds. If you don't shoot the aluminum gun excessively, it will last a long time though.
I don't doubt that an aluminum framed pistol can last a long time, but there is no way it will hold up to heavy use the way a good steel gun will. Steel 1911's have been known to last for many hundreds of thousands of rounds. If you don't shoot the aluminum gun excessively, it will last a long time though.
Search TFL for Colt AND Commander AND
any of the following: longevity, durability, or cracking.
Seems that most start at the slide stop pin.
Some are in the dustcover, which, of course, is not a critical area.
It does seem that more folks have good luck than bad.
I didn't even search for Kimber over there, but they came up in several of my searches.
I know I'm not keen on shooting anything but 9mm in an Al frame gun.
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