fastbolt
Member
I'd like to say that I've seldom observed folks have problems with 1911's that have less than 4 1/4" barrels, but I can't.
Small 1911's seem much more sensitive to shooter, magazine & ammunition issues than larger models. Faster slide velocities and shorter slide travel can take their toll when it comes to "timing".
I own and use very reliable 1911's with barrel lengths of 3 1/2", 4 1/4" & 5". I have other .45's with barrel lengths of 3 1/4", 3 3/4" and 4 1/2". All of my .45 pistols are very reliable (or I wouldn't own them).
I'm anticipating my next .45 will be a M&P 45c, to complement my full size M&P 45 w/thumb safeties, which has been an outstanding .45 pistol.
I've resisted the urge to pick up a SW1911 Pro Series 3" subcompact, but I might indulge myself and order a Performance Center 5" SW1911 next year.
A lightweight aluminum alloy 1911 with a 4 1/4" or 5" barrel is light enough to carry for hours on end and not too bad when it comes to controllability and recoil management for a skilled shooter, but some of the lighter plastic .45's do offer some further weight advantages.
I actually enjoy shooting my M&P 45 more than my various 1911's, and the M&P 45c seems as though it was made for my hand. I liked the one I handled and tried out on the range better than my 4513TSW (which surprised me).
I do feel some sympathy for the younger shooters I've seen who have spent their money on the smaller Kimbers and have experienced various feeding & functioning issues during the first couple of hundred rounds. I never considered it normal to expect and experience feeding issues during a "break in period" until I started seeing a couple of brands of pistols come through the range.
I remember one shooter who enjoyed competition with a couple of Kimbers who came through the range a few years ago. The large Kimber worked fine during the course of fire, but the small one experienced some feeding issues. What was interesting is that the shooter told me the small Kimber had just been returned from having been worked on by the shooter's personal gunsmith, to try and resolve feeding issues, and the shooter was a bit frustrated that the little gun still wouldn't run as well as the larger one. Oh well.
I've seen a number of owners of the smaller Kimbers come through the range. Some were happy with the functioning they experienced, and some weren't. I handled and fired at least a couple of them and didn't experience any issues when I was shooting the guns, using the same ammunition, but watched the owners experience problems. Dunno what to say.
Nowadays, even though I'm a Colt armorer, I simply recommend that Kimber owners read their respective owner manuals and discuss any concerns they might have with Kimber. If a Kimber won't run well after the "break in period" I tell them to call Kimber.
The last couple of Colt Defenders I saw come through the range ran without problems. It seems Colt engineers have apparently finally figured out how to make the smallest guns run.
I'm hoping that S&W has done their homework and testing well enough with their newest 3" SW1911 so that it runs well, too. Time will tell.
Luck to you.
Small 1911's seem much more sensitive to shooter, magazine & ammunition issues than larger models. Faster slide velocities and shorter slide travel can take their toll when it comes to "timing".
I own and use very reliable 1911's with barrel lengths of 3 1/2", 4 1/4" & 5". I have other .45's with barrel lengths of 3 1/4", 3 3/4" and 4 1/2". All of my .45 pistols are very reliable (or I wouldn't own them).
I'm anticipating my next .45 will be a M&P 45c, to complement my full size M&P 45 w/thumb safeties, which has been an outstanding .45 pistol.
I've resisted the urge to pick up a SW1911 Pro Series 3" subcompact, but I might indulge myself and order a Performance Center 5" SW1911 next year.
A lightweight aluminum alloy 1911 with a 4 1/4" or 5" barrel is light enough to carry for hours on end and not too bad when it comes to controllability and recoil management for a skilled shooter, but some of the lighter plastic .45's do offer some further weight advantages.
I actually enjoy shooting my M&P 45 more than my various 1911's, and the M&P 45c seems as though it was made for my hand. I liked the one I handled and tried out on the range better than my 4513TSW (which surprised me).
I do feel some sympathy for the younger shooters I've seen who have spent their money on the smaller Kimbers and have experienced various feeding & functioning issues during the first couple of hundred rounds. I never considered it normal to expect and experience feeding issues during a "break in period" until I started seeing a couple of brands of pistols come through the range.
I remember one shooter who enjoyed competition with a couple of Kimbers who came through the range a few years ago. The large Kimber worked fine during the course of fire, but the small one experienced some feeding issues. What was interesting is that the shooter told me the small Kimber had just been returned from having been worked on by the shooter's personal gunsmith, to try and resolve feeding issues, and the shooter was a bit frustrated that the little gun still wouldn't run as well as the larger one. Oh well.
I've seen a number of owners of the smaller Kimbers come through the range. Some were happy with the functioning they experienced, and some weren't. I handled and fired at least a couple of them and didn't experience any issues when I was shooting the guns, using the same ammunition, but watched the owners experience problems. Dunno what to say.
Nowadays, even though I'm a Colt armorer, I simply recommend that Kimber owners read their respective owner manuals and discuss any concerns they might have with Kimber. If a Kimber won't run well after the "break in period" I tell them to call Kimber.
The last couple of Colt Defenders I saw come through the range ran without problems. It seems Colt engineers have apparently finally figured out how to make the smallest guns run.
I'm hoping that S&W has done their homework and testing well enough with their newest 3" SW1911 so that it runs well, too. Time will tell.
Luck to you.
