Officer Frame 1911 Suggestions

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MikeNice

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I ran across an RIA officer frame 1911 at a gun show earlier this month. Ever since that happened I have been haunted by a desire for one of these smaller framed beautys. Can anybody recomend another 1911 in the officer frame size for less than $500.

I honestly never knew these small(er) 1911s existed untill this month. I had seen the EMP and some Para Ordance small frames. I just thought those were more of a novelty thing. Now that I know that it isn't some novelty trick I'm nearly obsessed.

I've even got a few cosmetic changes in mind that I am excited about. It'll be a long term project, but I can't afford a large initial outlay of cash.

Any help is appreciated.
 
I'm sorry that I can't offer anything within your budget, but I'll point you toward what might be the ultimate example in a high end production 1911 in that size range to give you an idea of what is being offered. The Nighthawk Custom T3 is a very nice example of a Commander length slide on an Officer frame.
http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/detail.aspx?ID=135

BTW: The Springfield EMP isn't a novelty gun. It is a 1911 style platform optimized for the 9mm length cartridge
 
The only ones I've seen appear to be made by the same manufacturer (Armscor of the Philippines), just with different brand names
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Like Citadel, for instance.

I've got a Citadel that runs like a top with good mags (I like Wilson), the RIA offering looks pretty much the same with different grips and obviously a different rollmark.
 
I've found the RIA Officer runs between $360 and $395 NIB. Would it be worth the extra money to spend $559 on a Springfield G.I Mil Spec officer framed 1911?

Is there a clear and well defined quality difference that makes the Springfield $200 better. I know the Springfield has a forged slide, frame, and barell. Is that a significant improvement over the RIA parts?
 
The quality of the fit and finish or the Springfield Mil Spec is worth the extra cost to me...however I should add that I was unaware that they offered it with an Officer's length frame
 
The quality of the fit and finish or the Springfield Mil Spec is worth the extra cost to me...however I should add that I was unaware that they offered it with an Officer's length frame
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they don't. only the GI is available in micro size. they go for around $550, and are often incorrectly referred to as "mil spec" by the gunshop.
 
Just save your money and step up to a Colt Defender I have 2 officers Colts and they weigh almost as much as a steel commander . Might as well get a Commander. Now the Defender is same frame as officer only in alloy and a 3" barrel. Easy to carry and mine have been reliable as can be.

.
 
BTW: The Springfield EMP isn't a novelty gun. It is a 1911 style platform optimized for the 9mm length cartridge
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Yep. Mine runs like a Swiss watch. Awesome little gun. Fit and finish are very, very, good.

An "Officers" size gun is a 3 1/2" barrel with the short grip. (One less round). I believe RIA or one of the imports makes one, although it may be 3". That is the only way, short of stumbling on a deal, that you will find one under $500.
 

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Officer frame from SA is Ultra compact, or micro compact, the micro being a defender size. Officer models can be had reasonable used, and if weight is an issue, there have been alloy framed versions as well. Short framed 1911s are a bit easier to CC, and just a little lighter, just not as common in the gun shops. I personally love the Officer model, the defender is just a bit too short to me, and the commander is more difficult to conceal. If there wasnt a 3.5" version made, I think I would carry a comander or full size though, and deal with the added dificulty concealing, as the defenders I have shot just didnt balance right for me.
 
I've found the RIA Officer runs between $360 and $395 NIB. Would it be worth the extra money to spend $559 on a Springfield G.I Mil Spec officer framed 1911?

Is there a clear and well defined quality difference that makes the Springfield $200 better. I know the Springfield has a forged slide, frame, and barell. Is that a significant improvement over the RIA parts?
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In a word. YES.

Not detracting from the RIA gun. It's a good entry level 1911. It's a matter of - "Is the forged frame and slide worth the extra $200 to me".
Will
 
Sorry for getting the Springfield info wrong. The place I saw it had the information all wrong. According to Springfield's website it is a 3" "micro" GI.

I appreciate the suggestions for the commander, but I really want an officer model. I have shot my Uncle's full size 5" Colt 1911. It just didn't feel right in my hand. The officer's model feels better in height and weight. The RIA's slim profile also helped me to get a comfortable grip.

Whatever I get will probably end up with a custom engraved slide, new grips, a black chrome barell, and a black chrome grip safety. It might even end up with a dark cerakote on the slide and frame.

My aim is to get something I can carry but, I can turn in to a "commemorative" piece over time. I want to turn it into a tribute to my grandpa that died in 2002. He served in vietnam and I want to salute him as well as the veterans of that war. So, there will be a bit of customizing over time. Yet, I want it to stay true to the spirit of what he carried in the first cavalry. So there will not be a bunch of garish colors or skeletonized parts.

So, all of that plus it has to be durable enough to carry daily.

Would any of the vets on the board feel that a 3" Micro Springfield "commemorative" gun would be inapropriate?
 
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The officer's model feels better in height and weight
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Same here, I just like compact grips and don't mind having no place for my smallest finger.


Whatever I get will probably end up with a custom engraved slide, new grips, a black chrome barell, and a black chrome grip safety. It might even end up with a dark cerakote on the slide and frame.
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With that much planned for future work, dies it even matter what you start with?
 
Citadel (Phillipines) makes a fine officer's 1911. Accurate and priced very reasonable. I duracoated mine and added night sights. It's a great carry weapon.

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Mike

I have the Rock Island Compact Tactical. It has the the officers sized frame with 3.5" barrel. I bought mine lightly used and I am having a couple of minor problems with it but, for the price I paid, I can deal with it.:evil: The slide won't lock back on an empty mag reliably with any of the mags I have tried. The other problem is related to my handloads. The good news is that it will shoot factory JHPs without a hitch. All in all, avery good pistol for the money. The tactical model has better sights and and a few other bells and whistles. Checkout Bellshire guns on Gunbroker. They have them for $450.:)
 
Josh, That is the Springfield Micro. It is actually a little smaller, but I think it might be the way I go. I know it isn't one of the "true" 1911 styles, but it is still a 1911.

The Officer model 1911 is actually a little bit bigger. It has a 1/2" longer barell and weighs about 12ozs more. I think what is hanging me up about the Springfield is the barell length. I've heard over and over again that short barell .45s aren't as reliable. I've also been told they negate the advantage of the larger bullet by sapping too much speed.

I like the quality of the forged construction, but I'm worried about the super short barell. The other issue is the recoil. Genitron reports the recoil factor of the Armscor Officer model at 7.38ft-lb. The Springfield comes in at 10.59ft-lb. That is quite a jump in recoil.

The Armscor is like shooting a Springfield XD(M) in .40S&W or any other mide size .40. The Springfield micro .45 is like shooting a compact M&P in .357 sig or a Glock 32.
 
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I bought the RIA Compact last summer. It's been dead-nuts reliable. Boringly so. And anything I shoot - JHPs, ball, cast lead SWCs - it feeds and shoots well. For $450, it's a great deal. Plus, I'm only $450 in a carry gun that gets beat around and scuffed.

Springfield makes a great gun and it's arguably better than the RIA. But I had a positive experience with a RIA Tactical and felt comfortable with their Compact. Glad I did it.

Oh, the RIA Compact is my day-off carry gun when it's cooler weather. Yeah, I trust it completely.

Q
 
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