best commander sized 1911?
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Lone_Gunman
Member
S&W 1911s are my favorite, including commander sized guns. I have a Gunsite Model S&W 1911 PD, which is commander sized. It is a very nice pistol.
Colt 1911's are my second favorite. The LW commander I have is very good also.
As for Kimbers, I have had uniformly bad experience with them. I think Kimber customer service is the worst in the industry. Some people claim to have reliable Kimbers, but much like the Yeti or his North American cousin Saskwatch, until I see one, I cannot believe they exist.
Colt 1911's are my second favorite. The LW commander I have is very good also.
As for Kimbers, I have had uniformly bad experience with them. I think Kimber customer service is the worst in the industry. Some people claim to have reliable Kimbers, but much like the Yeti or his North American cousin Saskwatch, until I see one, I cannot believe they exist.
earlthegoat2
Member
As a rule I really dont like 4" barrels as opposed to 4 1/4." It really makes a difference. That narrows it down a little to mostly Colt, Para Ordinance, and SW. I love the SW1911PD. That is a sweet pistol from the one that I handled but did not shoot. The best one I have shot was a LW Colt in 38 Super. I have never owned any 1911 except a Commander length and probably never will. They were all Paras so my nod goes to them. I am still looking for that Colt LW Commander in 38 Super though.
I forgot to mention Dan Wesson. The Commander Bobtail (CBOB maybe) feels absolutely awesome in the hand. They make a few others too.
I forgot to mention Dan Wesson. The Commander Bobtail (CBOB maybe) feels absolutely awesome in the hand. They make a few others too.
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modifiedbrowning
Member
I have a SW 1911Sc Commander that has been great so far. I have a Colt LW Commander on layaway as well, but have not shot it yet obviously.
i was thinking of the scandium smith, but the gun shop i shoot at told me they stopped selling them due to problems.
they said customers were brinqing them back with broken parts, and the range rental one developed a crack in the scandium fame.
i hear pretty good reviews online, and was supprised to hear all this. i like smith's customer serv and quality, wish i could know for sure who's right lol
i hear the same bad things about kimbers from every gun shop i go to, they tell me to avoid them, and i believe them, as 99% of the used 1911's i see for sale are kimber
they said customers were brinqing them back with broken parts, and the range rental one developed a crack in the scandium fame.
i hear pretty good reviews online, and was supprised to hear all this. i like smith's customer serv and quality, wish i could know for sure who's right lol
i hear the same bad things about kimbers from every gun shop i go to, they tell me to avoid them, and i believe them, as 99% of the used 1911's i see for sale are kimber
BCCL
Member
I have a Dan Wesson Patriot Commander that has been a very good pistol.
kentucky_smith
Member
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- Oct 6, 2005
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At this moment my money would go toward a Dan Wesson cbob or Fusion build.
weisse52
Member
Based on what I have owned and shot I say Colt Commaner or Combat Commander.
(Now did anyone think I woud say different)
Solid pistol with great support. I love the finish of the older ones better, but the new ones are still excellent.
The next 1911 I buy will be a 80 series Colt Commander.
(Now did anyone think I woud say different)
Solid pistol with great support. I love the finish of the older ones better, but the new ones are still excellent.
The next 1911 I buy will be a 80 series Colt Commander.
SCKimberFan
Member
STI Guardian.
Colt series 70 Combat Commander in matte stainless.
You trade the weight of steel for aluminum, but it's a little more robust. .45 cal of course. I don't need front serrations or a memory bump on a 1911.
You trade the weight of steel for aluminum, but it's a little more robust. .45 cal of course. I don't need front serrations or a memory bump on a 1911.
I like my Nighthawk Talon IIs and my Ed Brown Kobra Carry.
Maj Dad
Member
Colt
I have an 80 series Combat Commander I bought in the 80s, that has had a world-class action and trigger job and Heine front & rear sights by Alex Hamilton at Ten-Ring Precision in San Antonio (former American Pistolsmiths' Guild president; none better - as good, sure, but none better). I installed a Wilson stainless beavertail safety, Pachmayr Signature Wraparound grips and Wolff Springs all around. It is the benchmark for Combat Commanders as far as I'm concerned. It shoots everything I feed it and groups are in the 2" or less range at 25 yds in Weaver stance. I use Tetra lube and grease exclusively and function and performance are flawless and superb, respectively and totally. I know there are machines out there that are its equal, but this one is mine - and it rocks.
Semper 45!
Maj Dad
I have an 80 series Combat Commander I bought in the 80s, that has had a world-class action and trigger job and Heine front & rear sights by Alex Hamilton at Ten-Ring Precision in San Antonio (former American Pistolsmiths' Guild president; none better - as good, sure, but none better). I installed a Wilson stainless beavertail safety, Pachmayr Signature Wraparound grips and Wolff Springs all around. It is the benchmark for Combat Commanders as far as I'm concerned. It shoots everything I feed it and groups are in the 2" or less range at 25 yds in Weaver stance. I use Tetra lube and grease exclusively and function and performance are flawless and superb, respectively and totally. I know there are machines out there that are its equal, but this one is mine - and it rocks.
Semper 45!
Maj Dad
ed brown is some serious stuff, wish i could afford one lol. i should've mentioned i'm not looking to spend more than $950. i really like the dan wesson cbob, hand fit from the ground up, it's just awsome, can't find one for sale though
as for colt, i've seen tighter slide to frame fits on cheaper 1911's, like my para gi expert (great gun for the money). colt's are certainly nice, and they're built to generous tolerances like john browning designed it. but i've seen the colt xse commanders in 2 different gun shops, and did not think they are worth $900.
it almost seemed of as if they were from 2 different manufacturers: 1 had a much nicer slide to frame fit and a noticeably lighter trigger pull than the other, and one (brand new) even had the ambi safety really loose and coming off the gun! this does not speak well for colt's quality control!
as for colt, i've seen tighter slide to frame fits on cheaper 1911's, like my para gi expert (great gun for the money). colt's are certainly nice, and they're built to generous tolerances like john browning designed it. but i've seen the colt xse commanders in 2 different gun shops, and did not think they are worth $900.
it almost seemed of as if they were from 2 different manufacturers: 1 had a much nicer slide to frame fit and a noticeably lighter trigger pull than the other, and one (brand new) even had the ambi safety really loose and coming off the gun! this does not speak well for colt's quality control!
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Quack
Member
i love my Kobra Carry, but for your budget a CBOB would be my pick. try budsgunshop, they get them in regularly, but sell out the same day.
i think the best buys in that size are the Dan Wesson CBOB or S&W 1911Sc.
i would always choose a 4.25" barrel over the 4"...just for that extra timing reliability margin
i would always choose a 4.25" barrel over the 4"...just for that extra timing reliability margin
the gun shop/shooting range i go to says their rental s&w 1911sc had a cracked frame and a bunch of other probs. they also said they stopped selling smith 1911's because cust's kept bringing them back with probs. i wonder whats up with that, because i read nothing but good stuff about them online, and was thinking of getting one
These are my favorite Commander 1911's. One is S&W 1911sc Bobtailed by Jess at Ontarget Custom Gun works, the other is a Ti Caspian frame, stainless slide with lots of goodies inside. For the money it's hard to beat a S&W 1911.
S&Wsc
Caspian Ti
S&Wsc
Caspian Ti
bestseller92
Member
I hear good things about the Springfield Champion series.
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