Compact (officer's) 1911's?

[ulflyer]

OKIE: You didn't "start anything". To say the shorties are
as reliable as the 4 or 5 inchers, is like saying Kahr guns never give any problems. Fact is, some little ones function as intended and other don't. If you lived close I'd invite you over to give my Colt Defender a good try out. Guarantee you'd want to take it home. Seems to me, based on what I read, that the Defenders are much less prone to problems than the Officers model. Maybe you can find someone with one that will let you test it out before buying. That would be my suggestion.

PS: Before the Kahr folks jump me...I have a P45 that ran perfect out of the box and I carry it regularly. Nevertheless, I don't believe theres a gun maker out there with as many new ones sent back to factory for repairs.

 

[Richard]

My Kimber Compact Custom will shoot with the big boys all day long and it is totally reliable. Regards, Richard

 

[brickeyee]

I have a pair of 1991 compacts that work all the time, every time.
Any of the shorter guns have to be set up correctly.
The 'slop' present in a full size is not there to allow putting one together with any group of parts from the barrel armory style.
Both required a decent amount of work to get running correctly.
No guessing at link lengths or other 'quick' methods.

 

[Mad Magyar]

There certainly has been a lot of "blanket generalizations" concerning using an arbitrary barrel-size like 4 1/2 as the main variable for jamomatics as if it is "slam-dunk". Not that simple...
I realize that gun writers/reviewers have a problem of maintaining objectivity & being a salesman for a particular pistol. However, Garry James, Massad Ayoob, & Jan Libourel have written various glowing reports on the compact 1911's...I keep all the "oldies but goodies" gun rags from the past.
In my case, having acquired recently a n.i.b. Colt Officer's model, not the lightweight; it's still in the break-in stage with 5 boxes of FMJ. I have encountered one malfunction when the slide stop locked the slide open with ammo still in the magazine. It's possible my thumb hit the slide stop under recoil and accidentally engaged it. I have not used any other ammo as yet....
What I really like about it's size is that using a horizontal shoulder rig which I prefer in cooler weather; its short butt makes it less likely to bulge my sports jacket...
After firing a few more boxes, I will decide if I want to stake my life on it....

 

[Old Fuff]

Don't get mad, Mad...

There certainly has been a lot of "blanket generalizations" concerning using an arbitrary barrel-size like 4 1/2 as the main variable for jamomatics as if it is "slam-dunk". Not that simple...

You're right, it isn't all that simple, but the 4 1/4" (not 4 1/2") length isn't arbitrary. Back starting in the late 1930's Colt started experimenting with a "shorter" Government Model. Prototypes showed that the larger pistol could be shortened .750” without seriously upsetting things like the recoil spring tunnel, slide velocity and slide run-up. After World War Two they developed the Lightweight Commander, first as a military project, and later as a commercial model. The 9mm version passed a lot of military environmental tests that other contenders didn’t. That of course included reliability under all circumstances.

Decades later they introduced the Officers Model ACP. It was built on a modified Commander frame, but was further shortened another .750”. It was an instant hit, but did not earn a sterling reputation for reliability that the Commander and Government Model had enjoyed. Colt learned, and the later Defender seems by most accounts to be better, but still not equal to the Commander or Government Model.

These days a lot of manufacturers sell guns to make money, without having too much concern about how well they work, or how practical they are. I’m sure some may come to your mind. I think the purpose of this thread is to show both sides of the sub-compact 1911 style pistol, and it seems to be doing that pretty well.

 

[saltydog452]

I have an OM. It was sent free by Coilt to replace another that flat did not work. The replacement was just as cantankerous. It made trips back and forth to various 'name' 'smiths and still did not work reliabily.

I stumbled on the Higfh Road, met 1911Tuner and he fixed it. About ten years or so had lapsed by this time and I was just about fed up with Coiltis Series 80. Thanks to Johnny it works just dandy but I still do not have faith in it.

All the series 80 parts are safely in a baggie buried in the back yard under the dark of the moon and have been replaced.

I'd sell the dang thing but do not know anyone that I dislike that much.

salty.

 

[shepsan]

Okiecruffler, I think the Officer’s ACP is an excellent summer carry pistol. Its small size allows for a much easier all day carry in Arizona’s hot summer climate than a commander or government size 1911.

As with all 1911’s the Officer’s ACP must be properly maintained to perform in a reliable and accurate manner. I have found that the recoil spring in my Officer’s pistol require more frequent changes than with my larger size 1911 pistols.

Regarding accuracy, the short sight radius of this small pistol only comes into question when I shoot at targets beyond fifteen yards. Up to fifteen yards my accuracy is the same as with larger 1911’s. Beyond fifteen yards, my accuracy falls to match my commander and government pistols with their longer sight radius.

The Officer’s ACP is a fine choice for summer CCW. Just keep it maintained properly and it should remain as reliable as any other 1911.

 

[Duncan223]

I have a Kimber Ultra Carry II that has performed without any problems for about a year and a half. It served as my night/weekend carry until I bought the Rohrbaugh R9, which has become my EDC due to size/weight/concealibility.

 

[bannockburn]

One thing that I have found with my Commander and Officer Models is that using lighter bullets, like 185 and 200 gr., seems to help with long term durability, accuracy, and controlability. Two factory loads that have been superb in my guns are Winchester 185 Silvertips and PMC 185 JHP's, as well as several handloads from the Hornady manual. Just some different options to consider when you're working with the smaller 1911's.

 

[Sistema1927]

YMMV, but my SA Ultra Compact has been reliable AFTER:

1) installation of a full length guide rod (FLGR), and
2) installation of a Wilson Bulletproof extractor, and
3) replacing the factory mags with Wilson Combat, and
4) running about 500 rounds through it.

(In other words, if you are expecting the shorter models to run right out of the box you might be in for a shock. My full size Sistema and pre-Series 80 Colt Commander didn't need this type of tweaking.)