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michaelp

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I have been looking for a 3.5 or 4 in 1911. I am going to look at two tomorrow. One is a Colt. It was made in 2000, according to the seriel #. It is a 3.5 in called a compact. The other is a Springfield. About 6-7 yrs old. It is a 4 in. Not sure of the name. It could be a compact or a champion.

Both are supposed to be in good shape. Both are about 400.00.

Any info available would be appreciated. What to look for. Are these good guns. Value, etc.

Thanks
 
If this is your first 1911 I would steer you away from these and towards a full size Government model or Colt Commander, much better chances of a reliable pistol out of the box.

If you really need a pocket 1911, the prices you quoted seem to be good, depending upon the condition of the firearms. I am not sure about a Colt with the name "Compact", but that is certainly Springfield's name for their small 1911's. Colt has had two 1911 pattern guns with 3-1/2 inch barrels. The Officer's ACP and a version of the CCO. The Officer's ACP has a shortened grip frame and a six round mag, the version of the CCO with the 3-1/2 inch barrel had the Government model size grip (bad combo if you ask me, the grip is the hardest part to conceal). Colt no longer makes the Officer's ACP, at least as far as I know, but did bring out a 3 inch version of the Officer's ACP called the Defender. They also made the Defender plus, which was the 3 inch top with a Government model size grip and magazine.

At any rate, the 1911 is most reliable with a barrel of 4 inches or more. 4-1/4 inches if using the traditional barrel bushing. You can search this board and find that most compact 1911's are pretty reliable, the unreliable can usually be made reliable if you take the time and have the patience. The compact 1911's do eat recoil and magazine springs quickly, so plan on changing them every 1000 rounds or less, frequently it is more like every 500 to 700 rounds.
 
As I recall, the Colt "Compact" was the 1991-A1 version of the Officer's ACP.

The 1991-A1 pistols were just Colt's versions of the Government, Commander, and Officer's Model pistols, in a less polished finish.

Based on value alone, the Colt is by far the better buy since these Officer's type pistols bring high prices.

So, based on that, and on Colt's quality and name recognition, I'd buy the Colt.
 
COLT


I went to the range on one of my outing from "The Home" last month and watched a fellow THR member shoot his newly aquired Colt Compact.

Several of us (screw these doctors I shot a few magazines anyway) shot 150 rounds of Wolf, 100 rounds of Blazer and even 7 rounds of CCI shot shels with ZERO problems. This was using 3 officers magazines all of different manufacturer and 3 assorted full size magazines.

You should have seen the looks on peoples face when I brought the silhouette target in after 8 rounds rapid fire CCI Flying ashtrays, 7 rounds Remington Golden Sabres and
7 rounds rapid fire CCI shotshells. :evil:


I have another goodfriend with a 1991 Compact. Last I knew he was around 2500 rounds without any sort of a non-magazine related problem.
 
Thanks for your input.

I did buy the colt. The trigger just felt so much better, and it was a comfortable gun to hold. I may try to get some thinner grips though. It has the original black rubber grips-- kind of thick compared to the thinner Springfield. I want to keep it stock, so I may look for some thinner Colt grips-- if they even exist. I am anxious to shoot this gun, but will not have the opportunity until next week.

Again, thank you.
 
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