Colt Officer or Commander

[Mac Attack]

I have recently become a reborn again 1911 fan and have been carrying my full size Government around for the past several months. I am a small frame guy 5'7" 170 lbs and do not have a problem concealing my 1911 using my Milt Sparks belt and VMII.

I was thinking of adding a new Colt to my collection and was thinking of either a Commander or Officer as a CCW. How reliable are the two and is one more reliable out of the box than the other? Also, is the size difference between a Commander and a Officer all that much and is the recoil on an Officer comfortable to shoot?

Mac

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I'd probably go with the Commander, but I've had some issues with my Officers.....well, until 1911Tuner tweaked it.

My Officers is a 1981 model that had some issues, but it is now quite reliable and shoots quite accurately. It is matte black with a Hogue rubber wrap-around grip and I carry it at 3:30-4:00 with an OWB holster, usually in cooler weather. To prevent hammer-bite, I also installed a drop-in Wilson Combat grip safety, and I can shoot it all day long, if I had to. I've shot 200+ rounds in a session without any issues of design or comfort.

My Commander is a 2005 XSE Lightweight Commander and it is considerably lighter than my all-steel Officers. There is MORE recoil than the Officer's model, too, which makes it a little less controllable for follow-up shots. It is just as accurate as the Officers....if not moreso. The XSE model already has the beavertail grip-safety and an ambi-safety, which I view a plus. The additional size is not really noticeable when carrying. I use the same OWB holster as the Officers (it has an open end on it so that the barrel length of the gun is not an issue with it). The additional recoil isn't too much of an issue for a session at the range, but I catch myself developing a flinch from it, sometimes.

I really like my LW Commander, and even with the significantly lower number of rounds fired through it, I trust it more than my Officers. Recoil is a bit more than the Officers, but the lighter weight makes it less noticeable when carrying. I hope this helps.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I love my commanders. To me the balance is better than the 5" I also find sitting the 3/4" makes a difference. So I vote Commander. Mine have always been trouble free. I had a couple of brand X's compact 3" and could never get a full 100% relieable.

 

[Jim Watson]

Colt does not make the OACP any more.
They make the Defender which is even shorter. It is CLAIMED to correct the deficiencies of the OACP but adds complication in the recoil spring column. I don't know anybody who uses one but my FLG doesn't like working on them.

There is the CCO which is a 4.25" Commander upper on an OACP lower. Rather expensive because it is now a Gunsite model.

I think the LW Commander is the best bet if the length of the butt is not a problem in your carry.

 

[critter]

I have a Colt Officers Model that I carry a lot. It is very reliable and quite accurate. I find it a LITTLE easier to conceal than the commander but that is really not much of an issue. Mine is all steel and also very comfortable to shoot.

I had the back of the trigger guard undercut a little to help it ride a little lower in the hand and had it matte hard chromed. My favorite carry piece of all the 1911's.

Good luck in finding JUST what works for you and what you want.

 

[10-Ring]

I'd go w/ the Commander. Me, I'm not a fan of pistols w/ short grips so they're not normally my 1st choice

 

[Cocked & Locked]

my preference...

I've never owned an Officers. I do like the Commander and that is my preference obviously since I carry one.

This one to be exact...

Colt Lightweight Commander & Don Hume Holster (or a shoulder holster)

 

[Flame Red]

Most will say that the commander is the better carry. I have been told that if you get one Bobtailed, it makes concealment much better. I am looking for such a beast currently.

 

[prescobd]

Why not a Colt CCO, if you can find one

A Colt CCO combines the two, a Commander slide on a Officer's frame. The best of both.

Sorry Jim Watson, I didn't entirely read your post.

 

[panzermk2]

Commander

 

[HSMITH]

Commander all the way. The short guns are finicky and problematic in a lot of cases. The officer sized guns need to be PERFECTLY set up to run well, while there are quite a few out there that run good there are just as many that don't. The Commander is a lot more forgiving and a lot less finicky, only slightly more finicky than a Government model.

I bought a couple recent Colt Commanders and they are VERY nicely built. Accurate and dead solid reliable.

 

[KenW.]

I gotta tell ya, I carry a Defender every day for 6 years (+/-) and I 've had only a malfunction. It was entirely my fault; put the smaller of the two recoil springs in backwards.

Love it love it love it

 

[ulflyer]

Defender

Ken: Me too. My Defender feeds reloads like it loves them. Zero problems, and pretty darn accurate.