Compact 1911 For Carry Options

[MisterG]

I'm a big 1911 fan but I've always owned Full size gov't models. I'm wanting to start carrying a 1911 but I want something smaller than a Commander. Are the compact/officer models reliable. What are the better options out there? Para, Springfrield? Feedback is apprecaited. Thanks.

 

[Tigerseye]

Personally, I carry a Colt Officer's ACP Lightweight. It has a 3 1/2" bbl and it is boringly reliable.

Several people I know have some of the 3" bbl Springfields and Kimbers, and the reliability reports are inconsistant.

Of course, since this is only hearsay, I don't know if it is ammo preferences, poor grip/hold, or some other problem.

 

[knockonit]

carry

I have a couple a bul 5, inported by Charles Daly and made in Israel, and a para SLim hawg, both nice small and reasonablly accurate, and occasionally I carry a full size 1911, have a couple others that i use but primariily the 45 is the one of choice.
good luck with your selection
rj

 

[NDGeek]

I've got a full size SIG 1911 and a Colt 1991A1 Government Model.

The Colt is my carry gun. I have nothing but good things to day about that Colt for it's purpose. Never once has it jammed. It isn't very accurate but w/ carry who needs accuracy out to 50 yards. My $.02

 

[Old Dog]

Really, we've covered this so often over the past few years, including quite recently in these two specific threads (easily found during a quick search, one titled, "How reliable is the 1911 platform?" and the other, "Compact (officer's) 1911s?"):

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=293913
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=293248

Some of us like the shorties, others are unequivocal in their hatred of 'em due to the widely-held perception that any 1911 with a barrel shorter than 4.25 inches cannot, due to inherent design characteristics of JMB's 1911 and current production capabilities, be made that will function with 100% reliability.

Me, I own two excellent little Springfield Armory (Loaded) Lightweight bi-tone Micro-Compacts (3" barrel), beautiful little pistols, both surprisingly accurate and totally reliable. Yes, there was a break-in period of about 210 rounds with one of these Micros while the other smoothed out with less than one box through it ... after these initial teething problems (some FTFs and FTRBs), both since reliably feed all the major factory JHPs and all ball ammo. My old Colt's Officer's Model (3.5" barrel) was somewhat finicky about what ammo and what magazines it liked, but I considered it 100% reliable with certain loads and mags.

 

[dogngun]

The tripple wammy of handgun hatred:
I own a Compact 3 1/2" 1911, a Charles Daly (Made by Armscor), and use Mecgar magazines.
The pistol is very well made, accurate, functions perfectly with all 4 mags, and even looks great.
It has required NO modifications, tuning or tweeking to be reliable. I cleaned and lubed it, took it to the range and it worked fine ever since. It will be my full time carry pistol for my retirement. Check here:
http://forum.m1911.org/index.php?
and look at the Armscor/Rock Island owners section-you will be impressed.

I have been shooting various brands of 1911 pistols for over 30 years, and I recommend the Armscor-made pistols (Rock Island and Charles Daly) to anyone who doesn't mine paying less money for a very good, reliable pistol.

Mark

 

[bigmike45]

My personal choice for carry for several years now,

Wilson Combat Professional...a 4" 1911 with the full length grip. I am 6'6" and 300+ lbs and have never had a problem concealing this gun. I like the functional reliability of the 4" gun. Though I had a sub 4" that never gave me any problems before I sold it, there are unlimited threads about such functional un-reliability. Here is my CCW.

 

[D-Man]

I'm thinking about one of these as well.......a lot of people seem to have good luck with the Colt Defender which is a 3" barrel model.

I think right now my preference would be a Commander length with a bobbed grip - say a Dan Wesson CBOB (or along those lines). Maybe even something custom - buy a S&W PD and get it bobbed later on.