Best 4-4.25" 1911 for carry

[possum]

been thinking about turning my carry gun to a 1911. i have the sa mc operator and love it so much but it is way to heavy to carry. so i have been looking at other options. i am a huge fan of sa and that is definetly a place for me to start, kimber has been having issues, but they have some models that would fit the bill perfectly. s&w has some great options too. and i even like the sig c3.

my main concerns above all else of course is reliability period, accuracy second, don't really care about looks but with a 1911 they are all sexy. .45 cal definetly.

in ya'lls experiences what is the most reliable 4-4.25" 1911? i know it is ofton said that anyhing less tha 5" has problems but i would like to find one that is 4-4.25" that is reliable an dependable if i should need to call on it.

thanks guys, and gals.

 

[Walkalong]

I have carried a LW Commander a great deal. It usually stays home now and I carry my Kimber CDP Pro instead, unless I carry a pocket gun, which is more often the case.

The 3" gun with the slightly shorter grip is a tad easier to carry and conceal. Some won't have a 3" 1911 and that's fine. The LW 4" & 4 1/4" guns are excellent for carry. I love my CDP, but if I purchase another 1911 it most likely will not be a Kimber.

If I had the money - Ed Brown or RRA or Les Baer

If not - Springfield or Colt

 

[possum]

thanks, i am suprised there has only been one reply.

 

[weisse52]

I started to answer then realized I was just bashing 3" 1911's so I backed out. I have had two and neither was dependable. (SA, Detonics)
That being said I had a LW Commander that was very dependable. It would be what I would look for if I was going down that road again.
A Colt is always the right answer. IF not that then a SA.

 

[Ditto_95]

4.25" 1911

I have a Les Baer Thunder ranch commanche that is very reliable.
I have had Colts in .45 and .38 super that were reliable too.
I prefer the LB because if feels very solid in my hand. It also is a very predictable shooter.
I have also had Ed Brown 5" guns that were 100% reliable. If I were going to purchase another Commander sized gun it would be an EB.

 

[PCRit]

I used to carry an SA Lwt Loaded Champion. A great 1911, light weight and accurate, easy to carry.

I have since replaced it with an XD45 Compact (same grip angle, accuracy and weight as the 1911 but the XD has the option of either 11 or 14rnds).

Nevertheless, the Lwt Loaded Champion is worth considering if you only want a 1911 model at a reasonable price.

 

[Beowolf1911]

I carry a norinco goverment model with a 5 inch barel and every one I have have handed it to has been ompressed with ho waccurate the gun is. I toyed around with getting a kimber and I decided it couldn't be that much more acutate then my norinco to justify the price. A few week back my brother in law got his first gun a kimber pro cary, with a 4 inch barrel. I was shooting bettter groups out of that 4 inch barrel then out of my own 5 inch barrel.

 

[10-Ring]

I'm normally a Colt guy but I picked up a DW CBOB last year that has proven itself to be a very very good little gun

 

[shooter1]

I have a Kimber Pro Carry Stainless that is my primary duty size carry. I have never had an issue with the gun. It is more accurate than some of my fullsize 1911s. I have a couple more 4" 1911s that are also reliable, but not nearly as accurate as the Pro Carry, and being all steel, they are much heavier. I would reccomend the Pro Carry to anyone.
str1

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I have a S&W 1911Sc Commander that has been reliable so far with 500 rnds through it. Not too heavy either, but I've never ccw'd it.

 

[DMK]

The 3" gun with the slightly shorter grip is a tad easier to carry and conceal. Some won't have a 3" 1911 and that's fine.

Even better... 4 1/4" barrel with the shorter grip. I'm no fan of 3" barrels myself.

Colt CCO - Carried much, shot often...

 

[DMK]

bad post

 

[robctwo]

I have the S&W1911PD Commander with CT grips. Lightweight frame. Very accurate and reliable. Great trigger out of the box. I want a Dan Wesson CBOB and Ed Brown Executive Carry. I don't need either and will probably not buy them, but I still want them.

 

[MICHAEL T]

Colt LW Commander if you want a 4/25" But like others I have went to a Colt Defender and Colt Agent. I like My 3" relieable and accurate Most defender and agent would agree Colt has the Compact 45 working

 

[possum]

I have the S&W1911PD Commander with CT grips.

this is definetly an option and one that i will continue to look out for.

thanks for all the replies and that gives me a few good hours of checking, calling and looking at various models. thanks guys.

 

[Hunter0924]

The Colt Commander is well worth looking at.

 

[possum]

The Colt Commander is well worth looking at.

yeah the ss model looks sexy.

 

[DHart]

I would recommend an all-steel Colt Commander - either 1991A1 or XSE, depending on your preference for traditional vs. contemporary features/styling. Lightweight is a good option if you really need to shave off weight, but the all steel will shoot a little nicer and be more durable. I have both, with the bobtail mod. Incredible, awesome, wonderful, never-get-rid of guns! Here's my 1991A1 Commander (it started life as a new in the box Old Rollmark, matte blue Commander - then I asked Ned Christiansen to transform it into my idea of a perfect carry 1911.)

EGW did the mods on my LW XSE Commander, which included a steel feed ramp insert (good for aggressive mouthed JHP bullets), bobtail, Novak night sights, etc.) No pics yet of the LW Commander, but I will be working on that soon!

 

[possum]

thanks for the pics, i will definetly go with the all steel guns, no light weight for me.