Compact 1911's reliable or only in full size??

[SRFL]

I own a Kimber Combat Carry which I purchased used over on Auction Arms. It's supposedly the predecessor of the Compact CDP series. I understand from the seller that this gun was only made in 1999.

It has all of the bells and whistles of the Compact CDP (alloy Officer's ACP frame, steel slide; night sights and checkered front strap); it's a Series I gun so it has an internal extractor.

My gun is reliable...the only bobbles I've ever had with it were due to a defective Wilson Combat mag....the gun will ocassionally fling an empty cartridge case on top of my noggin though.

The gun is sweet....so I would recommend the Compact CDP as a CCW.

 

[bigmike45]

When I first bought my Para Ordnance Carry 12 LDA I was concerned after reading all the negative reports on any 1911 with a barrel shorter than 4". This gun has not missed a lick in over 2000 rounds. I have shot rapid fire, slow and methodical, multiple clip sessions, single clip sessions and double tapps.

Then my next acquisition was a Springfield Ultra Compact. As much as I love the Carry 12, this little hand cannon is rapidly becoming my choice of carry. I have made some modifications to my preference and I realy like the outcome. This gun has had about 750-800 rounds through it and not one malfunction. I was concerned when a friend gave me a couple of brand new Colt Officers mags but they too have functioned as well as the rest of the package.

Both of these guns new in box cost about the same as the $1200.00 you plan to spend on yours.

 

[Bobby Lee]

I see no reason to buy sub compact 1911 for a carry gun. Why carry something you know can have problems because of it's design?

There are too many other 100% reliable sub compact guns you can buy that you KNOW will work without so much maintainence and all the other BS.

I would hate to trust my life to a carry gun that had to have a new spring every 300 rounds or had to have a certain amount of lube or any other kind of very regular maintainence.

If you want a 1911 buy the full size or the commander.

 

[TrapK80]

Since the topic was brought up, here's my personal experiences. First, I have three different sized barrel 1911's: SA full size (5"), Colt Commander (4.25"), and a Colt Officers (3.5"). Presently, all three function flawlessly. But, that was not always the case. Of the three the Commander was the most reliable "out of the box". The SA had some mag issues and extractor issues. The Officers had some extractor problems that were easily fixed by installing a steel spring extractor. Now all three are reliable and see various carry duties. I don't know if this has been addressed but...anyone pruchasing a semi-auto needs to realize that there are several variables in the reliability equation. If you are not willing, nor have the time to invest regarding ammo, magazine, and other compatability issues then the best choice would be a revolver. Now the other side of the coin is if you buy a semi-auto and pay good $$$ it should work right out of the box. Not an unreasonable expectation. But in the modern manufacturing processes do not alway achieve these expectations.

 

[Bobby Lee]

anyone pruchasing a semi-auto needs to realize that there are several variables in the reliability equation. If you are not willing, nor have the time to invest regarding ammo, magazine, and other compatability issues then the best choice would be a revolver.

That is exactly right EXCEPT you said semi auto you should have said 1911.

Good modern designs do not have ammo magazine and other compatability issues.

If you buy a Glock, Sig, CZ, Ruger, H&K or a few others you can use the mags that come with the gun and almost any good factory ammo and they will work.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

If you buy a Glock, Sig, CZ, Ruger, H&K or a few others you can use the mags that come with the gun and almost any good factory ammo and they will work.

Now that is a bold statement!

Unfortunately, it is just as false as it is bold.

Are you an Earthling?

 

[Charlie]

I've had good luck with my Defender (like ulflyer said earlier). I shoot hardball, Speer Gold Dots, and cast semi-wad cutters through it with no problems. If you can find them, you can usually get them for $800 or less out the door. Great gun as far as I'm concerned. And of course, it's a Colt.

 

[Bobby Lee]

"Now that is a bold statement!

Unfortunately, it is just as false as it is bold"

It is not "bold" or false.

If I buy a new Glock or Sig I don't have to shop around trying to find some aftermarket mag to get it to feed. The mags that came with the gun will work.

I also can go in any decent gun shop and buy a box of ammo and not worry about it feeding.

 

[ulflyer]

Bobby Lee......Me too! My Defender, bought used on GA for $650, feeds them all with its Colt issued mag or the extra McCormicks that came with it. Don't understand your insistance on trying to convince everyone that 1911's are faulty. You're beating a dead horse. If they weren't liked so well, and selling so well, there wouldn't be so many manufacturers making them. Not gonna knock your Glock or Sigs or whatever; more different types the better. If you like yours, and I like mine, thats all that matters. I've had a pretty wide variety of semi-auto's in my day and most of them were pretty darn good right out of the box. Still have a S&W 457 compact that I'm right fond of. All others (except several 1911's) have come and gone merely to fund my quest to try something new.

But little guns with big bores....I especially like em!

 

[larry starling]

Quote:
Note to Larry Starling: have you found a good source for springs for the Defender other than from Colt? I find them for the Officers in Brownells but havent' seen any for the Defender. Don't know how many times my used one has been shot so i'd like to have a spare on hand.

Ulflyer I dont know of any where to get defender springs other than from colt.I have read some where that you can snip a couple of coils off of a officers spring but im not sure of all the details, I'm also scared I might mess somthing up.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

So Bobby Lee are you saying you have never had a Sig or Glock jam?

 

[Otherguy Overby]

3 to 1

I've 3 1911s and a Glock 34.

The G34 is subject to limp wristing. It tends to smokestack jam when limp wristed..

If held properly, it's just as reliable as the 1911s I have.

My 1911s are not subject to limp wristing. I can hand any of them to a newbie and it will run just fine.

 

[1911.45]

I have a Wilson CQB Compact with a 4.1 inch barrel and a Colt Combat Commander with a 4.25 inch barrel, and both have performed flawlessly. I also have a full-size Colt Government model and a full-size Baer Police Special, which have performed equally as well. However, I would not purchase nor rely on any 1911 with a barrel/slide shorter than the Wilson. I know that many members have had great success with subcompact 1911s, but I do not see the need. If one was carrying IWB, the shorter barrel does not make any difference in concealability, and the weight difference is negligible. A shorter barrel also results in lower velocity, decreased accuracy, a shorter sight radius, and possibly increased recoil. The detriments hardly seem worth the benefits, if any. Subcompact 1911s seem to be a solution, IMO, for a need or problem that doesn't exist.