The Lesser Evil of the 1911

[sprice]

After reading up on commander vs government 1911's (like hilton yam- http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=513775&page=2) I bought a government 1911, but it's to dang heavy to be packin around!

So what's a good alternate for this full steel bad boy? A full size aluminum frame or a commander model? I will go custom with this one, and I will put under 10K rounds through it in it's lifetime.

The .22 1911 and full size government one I all ready own will be for practice and beating up- I'm going to carry this new one a lot and treat it especially nice.

My holster and belt carry combo is a crossbreed with a regular rainier black web military style belt.

 

[9mmepiphany]

My very favorite carry would be something like the Dan Wesson CCO, which is the 4.25" slide/barrel of the Commander over an aluminum alloy Officer frame...The same pistol is available from Nighthawk Custom in both steel and alloy as their T3.

They do make alloy framed GMs and Commanders which would be lighter than what you are carrying. A steel framed Commander wouldn't save you much weight.

Just curious, I realize folks who are used to packing a polyframe gun find steel heavy, but I've found a good belt and holster amke all the different, which holster and belt combo are you using for carry?

 

[jfrey]

I agree with what 9mm said. Get a Commander with an aluminum frame. Wilson also makes a good one. Why relegate it to 10,000 rounds in a life time? They're made to shoot. If you're gonna spend that much money on something to "carry" why not get used to it in case you need it to save your life someday? I have several of those high priced 1911's and I shoot 'em more than the cheaper ones.

Get a good double thickness belt and a strong holster and you won't mind the weight nearly as much. Many times you will find some of the lesser known leather companies make better stuff than the big name, mass produced holsters. I recently found a company out of South America, Tagua Gunleather that makes some pretty good stuff and it isn't over priced. I just don't like putting a finely finished gun in a plastic holster. Leather is the better way to go.

 

[IlikeSA]

Have you tried a good belt and holster setup? With firearms as heavy as a full sized 1911, you have to have a decent belt and holster. I balance mine with a mag on the opposite side.

 

[Princi]

If you want to stick with a 1911 style gun, then I would recommend a Colt Defender with the 3" barrel. (I think there are other manufacturers that have the 3" as well, but it is late and I'm too lazy to look it up.)

My friend's lawyer did show me his government model in an inside the waistband holster. He said that he carries it all the time. Sorry, but I'm an ole fart and I don't remember the name of the holster.

 

[sprice]

My holster and belt carry combo is a crossbreed with a regular rainier black web military style belt.

 

[Kleanbore]

In my experience:

• ease of concealment is more a function of grip length than barrel length;
• the Commander length is ideal, easy for sitting; the Government model might work also; and (stating the obvious)
• the light alloy frame makes the firearm somewhat more convenient for carrying but harder to control in rapid fire.

From the knowledge base of some of the experts: a barrel length much shorter than 4.5 inches may prove problematical from the standpoint of reliability and will require fairly frequent replacement of recoil springs.

What I bought: the STI Guardian--steel frame, 3.9 inch barrel, Officer sized grip frame.

See 9mmepiphany's post for other recommendations.

 

[ghitch75]

get a Colt Defender....there in 45 or 9mm.....very light and easy to CC or OC...

 

[SIGLBER]

I've had several versions of the aluminum or scandium framed Commander sized 1911's and none have been any less reliable than my full sized guns I've owned. In fact I've got an Officers Sized SA Ultra Compact with over 1700 rounds through it without a problem. Full sized steel guns are better for long range sessions. The Commander sized guns are fine (once proven reliable of course) for carry.

 

[fastbolt]

Although I'm a long time owner and user of 1911-type pistols, I also find the all-steel models to be a bit heavy after 8-18 hours.

I've tried all manner of good quality holsters and belts over the years, but it eventually still comes back around to the overall weight involved.

Also, in my case, I've found that slide/barrel length does have an influence, with longer slides making it a bit more difficult to wear a 5" model when seated in vehicles (and especially when getting in & out of them all day). I can't change the length of my torso, and different holster designs have only been able to mitigate this issue for me to a certain extent.

Many years ago I made the mistake of trading off an excellent lightweight Commander in favor of a steel (Combat) Commander. The advantage of the slightly shorter slide was offset by the weight of the all-steel gun.

A few years ago I picked up one of the SW1911SC 5" guns with the scandium aluminum alloy frames. Noticeably lighter to wear. Very slight increase in felt recoil. Nicely balanced compromise ... for me.

Of course, now that the company has revised their design and has released the new Enhanced Models (some of the changes being no firing pin safety, titanium firing pin & over-size extractors), I find I'm seriously considering ordering one of the scandium aluminum Commander length models ... which will sort of take me back to where I was in the early 70s when I owned that lightweight Commander. Go figure.

I really like shooting my all steel Colts (5", 4 14" & 3 1/2" models), but after years of having to carry a gun for hours at a time, I really like carrying the alloy framed guns for daily activities. Almost as much as carrying the even lighter plastic framed guns.

I suppose I could also offer that I've watched more folks have feeding & functioning issues with the smaller 1911-style guns than with the larger ones (4 1/4" - 5"). It's not uncommon to hear it said that the smaller models in the 1911 platform are probably less tolerant of shooter and ammunition issues.

I have, however, seen a handful of more recent production Colt Defenders offer their owners good functioning, and most of these folks weren't what you might call "frequent shooters", either. Maybe the instructor in my Colt Model O Pistol armorer class was right when he said that the Colt engineers had finally gotten their little guns running right. (I still don't care for the folded leaf/spring follower used in newer Colt provided magazines, myself, though, but that's just me.)

 

[PoserHoser]

full size with an aluminum frame kimber cdp II custom 31 ounces

 

[Cop Bob]

There is not that much difference in weight between the standard 1911, and the Commander... But the Commander is much better suited for off duty or CCW, just t size differential alone..

Alloy frame Commanders are out there, but not many around..

I bought a Commander in the early 70's. It is one of my first (of many) loves in a pistol..

Mine got brought home, immediately did a trigger job, breaks at a nice crisp 5 lbs.. I replaced the main spring housing with a flat one, just fits me better for instinctive shooting. The ejection port got opened up to match the dimensions of the Gold Cup port.
I shortened the ejector just a tad, to where it drops brass at my feet.. the throat was opened up to where it still gives good support to the case web, but feeds empties.. I loosened the rails up to where it will rattle just a bit (the sound of dependability), but the #13 Link and the bushings are snug enough to give me a solid lock up.. prints pretty good off the ransom rest.. I changed the sights to give me a good solid square profile in a ramp sight, but rounded in the right places where she wont hang up on clothing.. ambidextrous safety.. it also has been de-burred or smoothed to not hang up...

"Old Blood" as I call her, has a lot of miles on her, in both CCW and in uniform, it is not the lightest gun I have ever carried, but she is one of the best.. She as more that a few battle scars, but still a handsome piece.. Most all of the changes were made not to pretty her up, but to make her run... and run she will... This gun has lived it's whole life in a loaded, cocked and locked state.. I have never experienced a weak spring, I have changed a few, but more as a precaution as anything else.. I have yet to experience a misfire, jam, stove pipe, or any type of feed failure with it.. but I am meticulous in maintenance of her, and her magazines.. She is the one that taught me how to shoot a 45.. she has saved my life more than once... ( I used to work some wild districts in some turbulent times)

Commanders are the perfect length for comfortable seating, even in big old cushy chairs..

Would I recommend a Colt Commander... in a heartbeat...

 

[Jed Carter]

I holster carry a SIG RCS 1911, it has a commander length slide with an aluminum officer size frame. It also comes with Novak Tritium night sights, a definite plus, here is a link to a review of the RCS http://averagejoeshandgunreviews.blogspot.com/2010/04/sig-1911-rcs.html It comes in an all nitron finish or a two-tone stainless over nitron.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

A GOOD belt is essential for carrying a full size 1911. I've got a nice wide, thick gunbelt that just about makes the weight disappear using a Bianchi OWB holster.

Next choice would be the CCO that 9mmepiphany suggested. Officers frame + Commander slide keeps the good proportions of the Gov't model while shrinking the size for easy carry. Great idea, whoever thought this up!

 

[9mmepiphany]

Great idea, whoever thought this up!

I remember when guys used to pay big bucks to have that combo put together back in the day when there were only Colts and Springfields in the game.

It became popular when they found that the OACP just wasn't as reliable...blame it on the marketing guys at Colt who thought that needed to maintain the .75" different between the sizes. The recommendation from engineering was not to go under 3.75"