4 inch vs. 5 inch barrel in 1911?

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Shane333

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Hello everyone. Just musing about getting a 1911 for practical/ccw use, and I'm wondering about the difference between the 5'' barrels and the 4'' barrels. Other than the overall length of the gun, is there any real difference in performance?

Sure, I imagine there will be a difference in velocity, but how much effect can that have at pistol ranges?

I guess the main question I'm asking is whether or not there is a reason to go with the 4'' over the 5'', or vice versa.

Of course, it may depend on what just feels best for me. Darn it, I don't know anyone who owns one to let me try it out. I may have to rent one or two at the local range.
 
If you only own one 1911 it should be a 5" just because. But seriously, I don't think you're going to be giving up anything by getting a 4" model for CCW. It will be easier to carry and a good one will still outshoot you. Go try out a full sized one though and see if you like it.
 
Longer sight radius is nice, but I like the overall size of the 4" commander more than a full size.

It really depends on your purpose... for hunting, target shooting, or competition, 5" is likely the way to go -- more options, longer sight radius, perhaps marginally better velocities.
For carry, 4" is probably better.

Bah. I don't know.
Just find a pistol you like, and buy it.
 
5"= more velocity (no "perhaps" about it), longer sight radius, more weight, less recoil.

4", on the other hand, is shorter than 5". :)

Also, true Commander size guns (4.25") just "feel" really good in the hand. Funny how much 3/4" can change the subjective feel of the gun.
 
I don't know what advantage a 4" barrel gets you. It is certainly no easier to conceal, plus you get less favorable ballistics and possible function problems. The pistol was designed with a 5" bbl., and any deviation from that may increase the likelyhood for problems.
 
I prefer the full-size, five-inch, 1911A1, because:
a) Longer sight radius creates greater practical accuracy.
b) Longer barrel allows greater muzzle velocity/energy; significantly, the .45 ACP is an inherently low pressure, low velocity round.
c) In my experience, the greater mass and longer cycle-time of the full-sized 1911A1 means fewer jams/failures-to-fire and faster target reacquisition.
d) I find the four-inch 1911A1 no easier to conceal than the five-inch.
If John Browning invested his name and his genius-credibility on the five-inch 1911A1, who am I to differ?
 
RileyMC,

So what you're saying is I shouldn't violate the gospel according to John Moses Browning. I should leave it as it was originally designed to be.;)

There's no way around it, I'll just have to experience which feels right for me.
 
So what you're saying is I shouldn't violate the gospel according to John Moses Browning. I should leave it as it was originally designed to be.
Click to expand...

"and the congregation said 'AMEN'......":)
 
For the sake of a free press, I should note that my commander is in 9x19, so the full package with a 5" barrel seemed too big for the diminutive cartridge; however, the 4" commander length made the gun comparable in overall size to (and thinner than!) all the Wonder-9's out there.

I've heard others say many times that the 5" is no harder to carry than 4".
 
That one inch will make a difference in velocity. That one inch is also one more inch you have to conceal.
I much prefer the balance of the 4" or 4.25" barreled pistols. I've shot and owned many over the years with no unusual trouble from them.
It becomes a matter of which one tickles your fancy.

BTW....if you go with the shorter barrel then don't use shock buffs. They can sometimes cause problems in them.
 
I've got several 5 inch, one 4 inch Kimber and several 3 inch Kimbers.

Bottom line, my 3 inch Kimbers will do everything the 4 and 5 inch pistols will do and do it in a much lighter easier to carry gun.

I carried the 4 inch for a while but the the 3 inch is so much more comfortable to carry.

So the 4 inch (with a Crimson Trace laser) is a "night stand" gun now.

But if it's between the 4 and 5 inch barrel for carry, I'd go 4 inch.
 
The extra quarter inch seems to make a difference in some loads in whether the 230gr.'s will expand or not. I also agree that the 5" is no more difficult to conceal and will in general have more headroom in the reliability department. However Commanders don't seem to be too problematic, it's just when you get into the really short 3" 1911's where most folks seem to run into reliability problems. But then those folks also tend to shoot lighter faster ammo to compensate for the loss in velocity/barrel length which I think is half of the problem. Not enough back pressure and slide mass to keep them running in time with the magazine....
 
I just checked the velocity spread on the chronograph.

You can decide for yourself if the 41fps difference between a 4 and 5 inch barrel is important to you.

BTW, the Aguila I.Q. makes the standard 45 load sound like a 38 target load. :)



45ACP velocity spread between 3, 4 and 5 inch barrels

Rock Island Armory 5 inch barrel
Aguila 230 gr FMJ 827 fps
Aguila 117 gr I.Q. 1407fps

Kimber Compact 4 inch barrel
Aguila 230 gr FMJ 786fps 41fps less than 5 inch barrel
Aguila 117 gr I.Q. 1287fps 120fps less than 5 inch barrel

Kimber Tactical Ultra 3 inch barrel
Aguila 230 gr FMJ 748fps 79fps less than 5 inch barrel
38fps less than 4 inch barrel
Aguila 117 gr I.Q. 1235fps 172fps less than 5 inch barrel
52fps less than 4 inch barrel
 
I find the 5 inch 1911's to be nice for target shooting, but that is all. If I were carrying a 1911, I would opt for a shorter length. Strange, but to me the Colt Commander seems to be more of an ideal combat sidearm than the Government model. The best concealment 1911 would be a Commander top end on an Officers ACP receiver. The butt of the pistol is the hardest part to conceal. 4-1/4 inch Commander top ends are usually just as reliable as 5 inch slides. The short slides sometimes have reliability issues. These can usually be overcome if you have the time and patience to fine tune them.
 
Quote
"stans
The short slides sometimes have reliability issues. These can usually be overcome if you have the time and patience to fine tune them."
__________________________________________________________

Or you could just buy a Kimber 3 or 4 inch. :D


Seriously though, I hear about the problems with the short barrels, but
with the 4 Kimbers I have and the 7 or 8 short barrel Kimbers friends have I haven't seen any problems. (granted 12 guns isn't that big a sample)

They shoot everything from SWC target loads to every +P load we have tried and are a lot more accurate than most 1911's I've seen at 50 yards.

Maybe I was lucky enough to buy a 3 inch barrel brand that works or I might be talking about how unreliable the short barrel 45's are.
 
Colt CCO or Kimber Compact.....

...are some of the best guns reated for CCW. You get the abbreviated Officer's frame for less print IWB and the 4 to 4.25 inch barrel/slide.
I have carried the Government(and still do on occasion), the Commander(nice!), the steel and LW Officer's; but the CCO I recently purchased is my fave for CCW...I even carry it on duty each night(and day) whilst I am prowlin' and growlin' about the hotel. Even had it at Lake Mohave yesterday while baking in the sun and frolicking in the water(unloaded to be legal, but several loaded mags within easy reach).
For general duties, Competition, and range use; tis hard to beat the full size and every gunny should have one of the original sized 1911 for when life get's interesting.
But for daily carry the smaller package and lighter weight is worth the price you pay. 95% of the time, the deal will be 'up close and very personal', and a four inch will do fine, if you do fine.
Only an opinion, but it works for me!
Jercamp45
 
My Commander seems to be the ideal carry piece for me. It sits inside the waistband comfortably, and balances nicely in the hand.
I'm satisfied with it.
 
WonderNine

M2 Carbine, do you ever shoot the light stuff like 165-185gr.?
__________________

When I first got the Compact Custom (4 inch) I tried a number of different carry loads with different weight bullets with no problems.
Then I bought three 3 inch Kimbers , the Ultra Carry, Ultra Eclipse and Tactical Ultra and had to try different loads in them to for the heck of it.

I tried some 165 grain loads with no problems but not enough to say that I'm sure there couldn't be a problem with a bullet that light.

I favor a 200+ grain defense bullet.
Except, mostly I carry Aguila 117 grain I.Q. in the Tactical.

I use a light 200 grain SWC reload for plinking.
I tried a thousand 185 grain SWC. The powder charge had to be increased but still not a "full load". The 185's functioned fine but hit a couple inches low at 15 yards so I shot up the 185's and went back to 200. Which are very accurate out to 50 yards in the Tactical and other 45's.

One time in the Ultra Carry, I got some surplus 1940's 45 military ball that would sometimes not run the slide back far enough.
This ammo did function in the 4 and 5 inch 1911's.
 
I agree 100% with Riley. What do you stand to gain by the slightly shorter barrel. For me the grip is what you have to worry about for added concealability so the 5" makes more sense.

Rinspeed
 
I have a 5" and a 4" if I had to get rid of one it would be the 5" Balance,feel and wieght just seem right for me with the 4". I also prefer the officers size frame.
 
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