What is the purpose of a bob tail 1911?
- Thread starter SureThing
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farscott
Member
The Bob Tail was created to make the 1911 less likely to print, especially when carried IWB. If carried in the stock configuration, a cover garment can be caught on the lower corner of the MSH. The Bob Tail eliminates this possible source of snagging, allowing the cover garment to drape naturally. This is a Bob Tail.
Another way to deal with the issue is to "round butt" the 1911. This is a round butt. I have both and prefer the round butt.
Another way to deal with the issue is to "round butt" the 1911. This is a round butt. I have both and prefer the round butt.
krs
Member
I thought about bobtailling my carry gun but decided to try eounding the butt first. It worked so nice that I didn't buy the bobtail jig.
Some people like the look of a bobtail but everyone does it for the purpose described by Scott, and both make a big difference in how a gun hangs up anytime you carry with a forward (FBI?) slant.
Careful grinding, more careful filing, and the magic of beadblasting.
Some people like the look of a bobtail but everyone does it for the purpose described by Scott, and both make a big difference in how a gun hangs up anytime you carry with a forward (FBI?) slant.
Careful grinding, more careful filing, and the magic of beadblasting.
Babalouie
Member
I had my S&W 1911PD bobtailed about two months ago. I did it so it would not print but what I discovered is that it makes it much more comfortable to carry. The corner of the MSH its high up on the ribcage and would at times dig into my side. That never happens now with the Bobtail. I'm extremely happy with it.
Frog48
Member
I've seen lots of bobtail commanders, but has anybody bobtailed a compact 1911?
I think a bobtailed 3" 1911 would be a perfect concealed carry gun.
I think a bobtailed 3" 1911 would be a perfect concealed carry gun.
MICHAEL T
Member
can't bobtail a 3" They conceal fine as is.
I have a carry both The bobtail makes a difference on a full frame . Ive considered doing my Govt.
I have a carry both The bobtail makes a difference on a full frame . Ive considered doing my Govt.
you start running into reliability issues when you take the barrel or the 1911 platform shorter than 4.25". spring tension becomes more critical
Mickstix
Member
Id like to see a "before and after" of a bobtail or rounding job.. I take it this is usually done by a specialist/smith?? Is bobtailing so specific that you can buy aftermarket grips already "bobtailed", that will fit, or once you have your gun done you have to have any grips custom made there after?? Just a few questions from a noob.. Thanks!!
IMO just because some gun smith could. People can say all they want about printing and ccw and everything else but ultimately thats because they could. I think it makes the gun look silly. again its just IMO. After all it worked fine for almost 100 years with out bobtails right?
Well now there is an idea in fact after you bobtail it then you can shorten the barrel down to 1" then make a 3 round magazine oh and re engineer it out of light weight alloy and put ultra thin grips on it too, then finish the gun off with a nice melt down
Disclaimer: at 3:30am at work been up for 25+ hours this responce seemed funny to me it was ment to be funny if its not just send me a pm and I will fix it after I get some sleep
Babalouie
Member
A gunsmith installed the bobtail on mine and modified the grips. I wanted thin grips and made the ones for the bobtail. I think you can find grips but stock grips only require sanding to shape with a little finish touch up...anyone can do it quite easily. I've never had a gun modified before but the bobtail really intrigued me. I have to say, again, that I am quite surprised with how much difference it makes when carrying. Here's before and after.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
Just because JMB didn't do it doesn't make it a bad idea. JMB wasn't particularly concerned with building a handgun to wear under a Tommy Bahama shirt......
Actually Browning did (sort of) think of it. Look at his early .38 Automatics and the 1903/08 Pocket Model. So far as the 1911 is concerned you're right. It was intended to be a military sidearm, and nothing else was given any consideration.
2TransAms
Member
It's primary function is concealment,and it helps tremendously,at least for a skinny guy like me.
Does it look better? Well I'm pretty impartial about that. I wouldn't spend the money to bobtail a range gun,but any and all carry 1911's will definitely have a bob job.
Does it look better? Well I'm pretty impartial about that. I wouldn't spend the money to bobtail a range gun,but any and all carry 1911's will definitely have a bob job.
kcshooter
Member
Your opinion is incorrect. It wasn't just so a gunsmith could, it was specifically designed to drop the harsh corner off, and if you had any experience carrying one against the other you would notice a HUGE difference in concealability. It's not a matter of opinion, it's a solid fact. I'm much less concerned about the appearance of my carry gun than its function, but hey, we all have our own priorities. As far as working for 100 years, the bobtail has been around a while, has proven to cause 0 issues and it is a simple fact that they conceal better.
False. While there are more concerns with critical tolerances and tensions, you do not automatically run into issues with 3-3.5" 1911s. They can be more finicky, but my 3" Kimber with a round count over 7k has never had a failure of any kind.
The reason this can't be done is that the bobtail is actually based on the officer's MSH. All the bobtail internals are officers parts.
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how about: you are more likely to have issues as they are more finicky as to tolerences and tensions
this isn't internet lore, it comes from a gunsmith, with 30+ years experience, who worked at Devel and developed the Gammon which was used by Chip McCommick in IPSC competition
kcshooter
Member
I was simply pointing out that just because it's a compact you don't automatically run into reliability issues. Almost all compact run just fine. Those that have issues can be tuned into reliability and yes, you are correct, there is more chance in having a critical tolerance slightly off causing an issue than with a gov't length ones. But the unreliability of compacts is greatly overstated.
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kcshooter
Member
Hehehe.
Prove it!
Wes Janson
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Anyone have any idea whether there's any appreciable difficulties involved in bobtailing an aluminum or titanium frame?
2TransAms
Member
I know it's been done to a few Kimber Tacticals and CDP's,and I haven't heard of any problems. Obviously you'll lose the anodizing where you cut but that's about it.
Sniper X
Member
KCshooter, you said Officers model did you mean Commander? All Bobtails I have ever seen done are Commander length. The officers model is a compact so won't lend itself to a bobtail job.....also, I can tell you non beleivers 
neener that I own 11 1911's now and one of them is a bobtail I got Friday, from now on it'll be my CCW gun as soon as I get it to the range and it prooves itself as a reliable shooter which it should being a Dan Wesson Bobtail Commander Classic........
neener that I own 11 1911's now and one of them is a bobtail I got Friday, from now on it'll be my CCW gun as soon as I get it to the range and it prooves itself as a reliable shooter which it should being a Dan Wesson Bobtail Commander Classic........Sniper X
Member
posted by EricF IMO just because some gun smith could. People can say all they want about printing and ccw and everything else but ultimately thats because they could. I think it makes the gun look silly. again its just IMO. After all it worked fine for almost 100 years with out bobtails right?
If that were a valid argument for everything we would be in a hell of a fix there Eric! Just because someone does something, doesn't mean it was done just because it could be done. Plus, the Bobtail IS and was done for practicality of stated reasons, not just because it simply could be done......it does work as specified, and to that I can attest 1000% as a 1911 owner, shooter, and carrier for over 30 years.
If that were a valid argument for everything we would be in a hell of a fix there Eric! Just because someone does something, doesn't mean it was done just because it could be done. Plus, the Bobtail IS and was done for practicality of stated reasons, not just because it simply could be done......it does work as specified, and to that I can attest 1000% as a 1911 owner, shooter, and carrier for over 30 years.
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