For Those Who Carry A 1911, Does Size Matter?

[S&Wfan]

I carried a 5" Colt Combat Elite for several years in my Bianchi 105 "Minimalist" holsters. A nice, solid, full-size and weight 1911. It carried like a dream.

Today my current Bianchi 105 holster is occupied by my aluminum-framed Kimber (1st generation) Ultra CDP, a 3" barrelled auto.

BOTH are accurate .45s. Both have been rock-solid dependable. However, the little Kimber is so much more comfortable to tote due to the reduced size AND weight.

Frankly, I feel just as competent shooting the little Kimber as I did with my highly customized and tricked-out Combat Elite.

Small size + light weight + great caliber ammo + accurate results equal one heck of a great CCW firearm!

T.

PS: Yes . . . I'm left-handed. Yes . . . as you can see, mine gets carried a lot. Great little gun

 

[possum]

the barrel lengh isn't what is hard to conceal, the pistol grip is typicaly. the big facor for me is the weight more than aythng else, that is the reaso i like polymer guns so much for concealed carry.

 

[chieftain]

All my 1911's are 5" Government type for reliability and the fact that the 45acp needs all the velocity that a 5" barrel can give it to be effective.

My holster of choice is the Milt Sparks VMII. My load of choice is the Remington 230gr golden Saber, if that is not available I use Speer Gold dot 230gr standard velocity.

My primary carry pistol for CCW is my Colt Gunsite Pistol, blue government model of course (70 series).

Go figure.

Fred

 

[1911 guy]

Five inch guns.

I own several 1911's, all are five inch guns. The only other autopistol in the house is my wife's Sig, so I don't get to carry it, either.

The grip length is what makes a pistol hard or easy to conceal, and you're not really saving that much by going to an officer's model. You can make up a half inch by adjusting your holster position.

Five inch guns are still ahead in the poll!

 

[DogBonz]

Wow

80 replies and the full size is still at 55%

 

[M1 Shooter]

I like the Commander, and here's why.
1. I like the balance, both in feel and in looks, of it better than the Gov't Model. The Commander just balances better for me, and to my eye it just looks "right". Obviously this is a personal thing and very subjective. I still like a 5" 1911 for recreational/sporting use though, and the Gov't is a fine looking pistol as well.

2. The slightly shorter slide/barrel do conceal a bit better for me, especially when carrying OWB with just an untucked shirt or short jacket.

3. When carrying IWB the Commander is more comfortable to carry than the Gov't Model, at least for me it is. The Gov't Model always seemed to pinch me when carried IWB.

4. The Commander is also a bit faster out of the holster for me. I think that is also because of its shorter slide/barrel.

5. Most importantly, the Commander doesn't seem to give up anything in reliability or accuracy compared to the Gov't Model, IME.

Of course this is just my opinion, my experience, and my preferance. Use what you like and what works for you.

 

[Polish_Pounder]

5" Sig GSR SS (no rail), HBE Com 3 IWB Holster, 4:30 on the right hip. I am carrying it now under an untucked button-down shirt, no problem. My only problem is that my belt digs into my bony hips, but that is also a problem with a Kimber subcompact, to a lesser extent. I also get sick of being told that I don't really carry a full-size 1911 all day. Yes... I do.

 

[mainmech48]

I'm another one who voted "other" as I will be carrying a Springfield 'Loaded' GM, 'Loaded' Champion, or Para C7.45 LDA depending on what is most likely to be the most comfortable, convenient, and discretely concealable that day.

The only things they have in common are that they're all stainless and they're all .45s.

In the worst of a midwestern winter I've been known to put my AMT Back-up DAO .45 in the pocket of my parka or Carharts, too.

 

[TomN]

I prefer the full-sized government model. All the shorter ones I've fired have had problems. The first pistol I ever fired was a Colt Officer's Model that stovepiped every other round. For that reason alone I stayed away from the 1911 for years.

 

[DMK]

Colt CCO

Commander Slide / Alloy Officer Frame

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

I'm reminded of a Clint Smith quote:

"Guns are supposed to be comforting, not comfortable.

 

[IZinterrogator]

Usually a CCO, but during winter I will occasionally pack a 5" Government Model. I picked up a 4.25" Commander today, that may replace the 5" for occasional winter carry.

 

[Old Dog]

Full-size, four-incher or the trusty four and a quarter-incher ... Although I do have a couple three-inchers (SA Micros), which get carried occasionally, and don't know that they're not supposed to be accurate and reliable ...

 

[Roswell 1847]

I prefer a five inch barrel because the longer barrel guns ride more securely in an inside the waistband holster, at least for me.
I use a holster of my own manufacter, its similar in appearance to the Milt Sparks summer special but of thinner materials. More like an extra pocket than a holster. I've made a few of these for professionals years ago and still have one for my own use.
The holster is made for the 1911 but works fine for the P35 and S&W 59, though theres extra material at the toe with the last two.

Years ago I just stuck the 1911 in my waistband without any holster at all, it rides well that way, but extended carry might cause rust from sweat.

Short barreled heavy gripped handguns don't ride well in a holster thats thin and loose fitting, or in the waist band. Too top heavy.


PS
I shot a custom extra short slide 1911 a couple of months ago. It gave tight groups and operated well for me, but it jammed several times for the guy that owned it. Perhaps he wasn't holding it properly or something.

 

[M1 Shooter]

I'm reminded of a Clint Smith quote:

"Guns are supposed to be comforting, not comfortable.

True, but if a gun is uncomfortable to carry, then it won't get carried.
That's just a simple fact of life. Even Clint Smith would acknowledge that.

 

[bigmike45]

I'm reminded of a Clint Smith quote:

"Guns are supposed to be comforting, not comfortable.

Though I respect Mr. Smiths comments, I prefer both. I have a 5" CQB that I carried IWB for about a year, before the stainless Professional came out. I have been carrying the 4" Professional exclusively. It is much more comfortable with the 4" barrel and just as comforting as the 5" CQB. Though the "Accuracy Guarantees" that come from Wilson, for the two guns are .5" differences, I shoot them both equally accurate. In my case, size does matter.

 

[1911 guy]

Hey, BigMike,

Who made that IWB holster? I've been looking (sorta) for another and I like the look of that one. Loops fore and aft of the gun.

 

[Hank Dodge]

I carry a 5" Combat Elite that has served me well over the years. It is quite comfortable inside the waistband behind the right hip and it conceals well. It has always functioned great and I am confident in that pistol.

I will add that I'm currently considering purchasing a 4" gun. I like the Kimber CDP from what I've seen. I'm looking for a lighter weapon for more options of concealed carry (belt rig under light cover, concealment vest, etc.). It appears that these guns have a good reputation for reliability. The one that I had a chance to shoot was accurate and functioned well.

 

[Owens]

Prefer the 5". Seems to fit my biscuit grabbers.

 

[DogBonz]

It's amazing

For the last 60-70 votes the percentages haven't changed more that 1 or 2 points.... Hummm.

 

[10-Ring]

As w/ the snubbie wheelguns, the lighter & smaller the better -- easier to conceal & very easy to deploy, however, I prefer the concealability & the shootability of the commander sized 1911 for CCW duty

 

[Chuck R.]

I'm an "other", Baer Stinger. I find the shorter grip aids in concealment and the 4.25" slide in a VM2 comes right to the top of my wallet instead of behind it. Being an all steel gun it handles recoil well and shoots just about as well as my 5".

Chuck

 

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

those are some very nice pistols, Chuck.



Also, do you all think that the rounded butt makes a difference when concealing a 1911?

Does anyone own such a 1911?