New 1911 for CCW - size questions

[shotgunkevin]

I'm looking to purchase a new 1911 for primary CCW. I'm a little bewildered as to all the various sizes available. I definitely want an Officer's Model size frame for it's greater concealment. However, I'd like either a 3.5 or 4 inch barrel. I'm not too keen on a 3 inch barrel, as I've heard reliability can suffer. And, I'm accustomed to a 3.5 inch barrel anyway. I'm definitely looking hard at the Springfield Armory Ultra Compact. What are my other options?

 

[shotgunkevin]

Is there a Para along those same lines too? A little help here please...

 

[NGIB]

I just picked up a Para LTC. It's a true Commander sized 1911 (4.25 inch barrel, regular length grip) and it's great. I also had a Rock Island Compact (Officer's grip & 3.5 inch barrel) and it was a sweet shooter. Traded the RIA when I got the Para. I'd be careful of the double-stack Para's as there is a lot of negative comments floating around on them...

 

[1911 guy]

I know what you're looking for.

I'm not normally a schill for Colt, but they happen to have exactly what you want. It's called the CCO, an officer sized frame with a commander length slide.

Here's where everybody is going to tell me to get out of the stone-age and I'll keep insisting I'm right. But that's only because I am. You don't want to go any shorter than a 4 1/4" barrel, and there's a very good reason for this. Too short, there's not enough mass in the slide to ensure proper function a majority of the time. Too light (short) and you've got to run springs so tough it's almost uncomfortable to rack the slide.

Another thing you might consider is a bobtail commander. It's got a standard length grip frame, but the mainspring housing and coresponding corner of the frame have been cut down a bit to reduce the "print" of the gun under a cover garment. Best of both worlds, 7+1 capacity with a 4.25" barrel. Or just get a bobbed fullsize, the grip wil be the same as the bobbed commander, but with another .75" of launch tube.

 

[mnw42]

+1 on the CCO (Concealed Carry Officers). You see them in the used cases every once and a while for around $500-600. The Bobtails conceal nicely, but the ones I have seen are all steel. Not that steel is a bad thing, I just want a little less weight for a carry piece. I'm waiting on my LW Commander to show up and I plan on carrying it form time to time (it will be a range gun mostly). I might get it bobed later.

The super compacts aren't that bad, but when you have a problem they are significantly harder to fix and seem to be more maintenances sensitive - especially the springs. If you were willing to go with a 3.5" or smaller tube tube I'd look at the Colts first (Defender/New Agent). They seem to have the fewest problems out of the box in my experience (your mileage my vary)

 

[MICHAEL T]

I have a Detonics,New Agent ,Defender,and OCAP. Only compact I ever had that didn't run right was a Para. Will never buy another Para. So 4 out of 5 work perfect and 3 of them made by Colt. Think maybe Colt has it figured out.

 

[Car Knocker]

Too short, there's not enough mass in the slide to ensure proper function a majority of the time.

After almost 3,000 rounds, I have not found this to be the least bit true.

Too light (short) and you've got to run springs so tough it's almost uncomfortable to rack the slide.

Guess I'll have to tell my wife she should be having more trouble racking the slide!

 

[Tom Fury]

+1 Car Knocker; Colt OM is 3.5; have owned several no trouble; keep Kimber Custom Aluminum Stainless; and have owned all steel version (4") no trouble at all. Have owned Detonics Mk VII: ditto (shorter than
3"). I want to know what gun we're talking about thats' so unreliable and difficult to operate. Specifics please.
Cheers, TF

 

[rellascout]

I think the Sig C3 is a nice carry package. No MIM. The kinks seem to have been worked
out.

 

[riceboy72]

Kimber Compact is another variant in the Officer frame / 4" slide category.

Good link to do some quick reading on it:

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=197587

 

[dairycreek]

I can only share my own experience. I have used a S&WSC as my EDC for about three years and can recommend it without reservation.

This gun has a 4.25" barrel and, because it is a scandium alloy it is substantially lighter than a regular size or an all steel 1911. It makes for an enjoyable CCW. I have fired the Sc nearly 1K rounds with absolutely no problem at all - reliability has been perfect! Even though it is a lighter gun the recoil has been easily manageable - for me. Great CCW in a light 1911 frame.

 

[1911 guy]

Rolling the dice on a short 1911.

For every person such as Car KNocker who gets a good one, there are lots of people, both complaining on boards and dumping them in gunshops, who got bad ones. You may get a good one and be a fan of stubby .45s' for life, or you may get a bad one and swear off them for good. Too often, buyers don't realize there is a functional difference and leave the 1911 platform altogether because of a dysfunctional execution of a solid design.

 

[shotgunkevin]

How on earth did I miss the Compact tab on Kimber's website?!?!?! I really don't want a full size frame, as I've been carrying my XD Service model for a couple of months now, bumping the butt every doorway, wall, and child's head I come across. I need a new midsize pistol.

1911 Guy, I'm thinking the same way about barrel length, hence my stipulation of a barrel length no less than 3.5 inches, though you say 4.25. What do you think of Kimber's 4 inch barrel? I don't mind the barrel length at all on my XD, just the width and especially the butt length.

I'll have to pass on the Colt CCO, though it's no fault of the gun. I'm not enamored with the thought of a used carry pistol. And, G.W.'s economic stimulus check combined with my tax refund will allow me to splurge a bit. It's been a while since I was able to do that.