Should My first 1911 be a full size 5'' or a commander?
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Frog48
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Fullsize.
koja48
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Started short & regretted it (several 1911s ago). Ain't bought a short one since (though I still have them all). I like the heft.
Not so. The stabalization (which is what rifling does) of the .45acp should not be effected by the extra .75 inches of barrel. The advantage of a longer barrel is actually the additional velocity reached by the bullet. The ballistics of the .45acp are such that, between 4.25 inches and 5, the difference is not worth considering.
I was faced with this very decision last October. For me it was deciding between a full sized 1911 all the way down to a 3” Colt Defender. I was fortunate in that at the time I had access to a full size and a compact Defender to shoot as much as I wanted.
I purchased a Model 1991, 80 series all steel Commander and I’m very happy with it. For me the all stainless steel Commander sized pistol seemed to just fit every requirement that I based my decision to buy it on. I wanted an extremely reliable pistol that would run just about any off the shelf 230gr RN ammo (cheap) that I loaded in it. So far, 1000 rounds later it hasn’t disappointed me, not one single failure to do anything. I wanted a weekly shooter that I could just enjoy taking to the range and poking holes in targets. I also wanted a personal defense pistol I could carry in the boat or car and keep handy in the house. At the time I purchased it I had no intension carrying it concealed but found that it fits nicely in the holster in my wife’s Roma medium sized fanny pack and to this would be no problem to carry it concealed between the house, boat, car or whatever easily. The full sized 1911 wouldn’t have fit in the medium sized pack and in my opinion the large pack is huge.
After firing it about 600 rounds I decided to return it to Colt last December for some custom work. Actually, they did do quite a bit of work on it for me. The slide was machined to accept Novak 3 dot night sights. This also moved the rear sight back by about ¾” and the front site blade is now quite a bit longer extending all the way to the front of the slide. The difference between he new site picture vs. the original one is unbelievable. To my old eyes it’s now crystal clear with sharp definition on both sides of the front blade. The trigger was replaced with an aluminum, adjustable, skelitized target type trigger and then a complete trigger job set it to a crisp 4.5 lbs. They noticeably tightened up the whole gun not that there was really anything wrong with the way it was. They then hand fitted the double diamond rosewood handgrips and also function tested it. It also appears that they completely refinished the brushed and sand blasted surfaces because the whole thing just looks incredible. I now have exactly the pistol I wanted.
I personally can’t detect much difference in recoil or accuracy when shooting at an indoor range between the full sized 1911 and my customized 1991 Commander at up to 50’. I’m sure there might be but for me it would be negligible. My best 5 shot groups with the Commander at 30’was 1 ½ inch and I routinely can keep everything (100 + rounds) in less than 4 inches.
This is kind of a long-winded answer to your question. Hope it helps a bit. Yours, as was mine, is a highly personalized choice base on your specific requirements and expectations. Either way you go I feel confident you won’t have any regrets, I don’t.
I purchased a Model 1991, 80 series all steel Commander and I’m very happy with it. For me the all stainless steel Commander sized pistol seemed to just fit every requirement that I based my decision to buy it on. I wanted an extremely reliable pistol that would run just about any off the shelf 230gr RN ammo (cheap) that I loaded in it. So far, 1000 rounds later it hasn’t disappointed me, not one single failure to do anything. I wanted a weekly shooter that I could just enjoy taking to the range and poking holes in targets. I also wanted a personal defense pistol I could carry in the boat or car and keep handy in the house. At the time I purchased it I had no intension carrying it concealed but found that it fits nicely in the holster in my wife’s Roma medium sized fanny pack and to this would be no problem to carry it concealed between the house, boat, car or whatever easily. The full sized 1911 wouldn’t have fit in the medium sized pack and in my opinion the large pack is huge.
After firing it about 600 rounds I decided to return it to Colt last December for some custom work. Actually, they did do quite a bit of work on it for me. The slide was machined to accept Novak 3 dot night sights. This also moved the rear sight back by about ¾” and the front site blade is now quite a bit longer extending all the way to the front of the slide. The difference between he new site picture vs. the original one is unbelievable. To my old eyes it’s now crystal clear with sharp definition on both sides of the front blade. The trigger was replaced with an aluminum, adjustable, skelitized target type trigger and then a complete trigger job set it to a crisp 4.5 lbs. They noticeably tightened up the whole gun not that there was really anything wrong with the way it was. They then hand fitted the double diamond rosewood handgrips and also function tested it. It also appears that they completely refinished the brushed and sand blasted surfaces because the whole thing just looks incredible. I now have exactly the pistol I wanted.
I personally can’t detect much difference in recoil or accuracy when shooting at an indoor range between the full sized 1911 and my customized 1991 Commander at up to 50’. I’m sure there might be but for me it would be negligible. My best 5 shot groups with the Commander at 30’was 1 ½ inch and I routinely can keep everything (100 + rounds) in less than 4 inches.
This is kind of a long-winded answer to your question. Hope it helps a bit. Yours, as was mine, is a highly personalized choice base on your specific requirements and expectations. Either way you go I feel confident you won’t have any regrets, I don’t.
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Lonestar.45
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Since you're not going to carry, get the 5" and call it good. I do believe they shoot the best and are the most reliable.
That said, I picked up a 4" GI Champion as my first 1911 and could not be happier. It shoots great, carries a little easier, and to me just looks more proportionate.
That said, I picked up a 4" GI Champion as my first 1911 and could not be happier. It shoots great, carries a little easier, and to me just looks more proportionate.
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