Sidearms & Scatterguns 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

[5RWill]

For those of you who carry 1911s what's your preference commander or officer size?

 

[Gunny305]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I carry my commander over my government. More comfortable and an inch shorter so a little quicker on draw i think. My opinion anyway.

 

[doc76251]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I've been carrying an Officer's model for 23 years. I think the biggest factor is that the barrel/slide doesn't get behind my wallet when sitting down. No need to "adjust" prior to taking a seat. I use the Bianchi S3 IWB holster and have never wanted more or less since I got it.

The shorter sight radius is easily fixed via Novak's or in my case a Millet MK 2 which overhangs the rear of the slide. I also have fairly large hands and I added the S&A integral magwell and mainspring housing which gives me 5/16" more grip w/o a "full size" grip.

Cheers,

Doc

 

[Arbiter]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Get both.

Officer's for the pocket. Commander for strong-side IWB.

 

[Tactical22]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Neither

I have carried a 5" IWB 1911 all day every day since I was legally aloud to carry. I know plenty of people who do the same. The hardest part of a gun to conceal is the butt, so the barrel length is really irrelevant for me. You need to train constantly with a carry gun, and 3" 1911 are not fun to train with. There are frequently reliability issues when you stray from 5" bushing and GI guide rod 1911s. You get better velocity, accuracy, and shootability, and the weight is really not bad with a good belt and holster.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1155316168?bctid=33510888001

 

[Drifter]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I have carried a 3" springfield micro compact, a 4" ss Springfield Champ, a 4" Kimber super carry pro, as well as a full size ss framed Springfield. IWB , both the 3" micro and 4" Kimber are alloy frames so reduced weight. Both the full size and champ were SS frames/slides so both were heavy guns.
I really prefer the 4" kimber, and the rounded butt makes it even better. It comes down to the range, I shoot the hell out of a carry gun, and I really prefer the 4" 1911s all around. I had the Springfield Champ for a short while, but I replaced it with the Kimber. Its just a nicer gun and the alloy frame is my preference for carry.

My vote 4" all the way, in a milt sparks VMII. Excellent combo.

 

[WhiteCliffsOfDover]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I carry the commander bobtail.

 

[JonnyHawes]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I have the S&W E Series Bobtail Commander to carry. Love it, I didn't like the officers because the grip was smaller than I care for. The Commander has the small grip as the full size, but a bit lighter and smaller.

Drifter - I used a VMII for a while and I was not a huge fan of it. I couldn't find a comfortable place for it on my belt. It seemed top heavy and the gun always printed on my clothes. I ended up with a Alessi PCH (suggested from the 1911 Forum) and I have been much happier with it. It just seems to hug my belt more than the VMII.

But, these are just my experiences, YMMV

 

[cmh2007]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

definately a commander size or a government size...but i am 6-05 so i don't notice it there

 

[Sgt. 0811]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I'm 5'6" with an athletic frame... I can do both but Officers works much better. The best thing I've found is either an officer or commander with a bobbed frame and mainspring housing.

 

[oldrifleman]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

For me it is my Dan Wesson CBOB. But in reality my Valor carries just as well. I carry in MS VM IIs. Steven

 

[kimberseries1]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical .22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Neither

You need to train constantly with a carry gun, and 3" 1911 are not fun to train with. There are frequently reliability issues when you stray from 5" bushing and GI guide rod 1911s. You get better velocity, accuracy, and shootability, and the weight is really not bad with a good belt and holster. </div></div>

Just not true about reliability issues. I've had 2 4" officers, 1 steel & 1 stainless. Neither had ANY malfs(stainless had to replace extractor w/W.C. extractor, usual maintenance though). I've shot a 3" Colt Defender that was a range rental: had to use their mag(probably wore out) and ammo = jam-o-matic. Are there some w/3" bbl that are 100%? I bet so.


To the OP, even with a good belt & holster, I would recommend an Aluminum frame Officer in 4" if possible. 8-10 hours with stainless or steel does get old. Why lean to one side if you don't have to? J/K. I know it can be done, but I was never comfortable with that much weight all day, and that's a major sticking point for me. With aluminum just remember:

-Never use CMC mags(or CMC type followers) with aluminum frames
-Aluminum frames are usually only good to 10,000 rounds or so before they stress.

 

[kimberseries1]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tactical .22</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You need to train constantly with a carry gun, and 3" 1911 are not fun to train with. </div></div>

So why does Ruger make an LCP or LC9? Or a huge list of other guns that are NOT fun to train with?

<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">Edit:</span></span> Some say they are just as accurate with their 3" Kimber at 25 yards than they are at same distance/ammo with 5" govt. I haven't shot a 3" Kimber, but every Kimber I've shot was way easier on my hands than any Colt I've shot. Not just recoil, but frame bottom, thumb safety, and even grip ergos. If you can, rent or shoot someone else's 3" alum. Kimber


Don't take any of this the wrong way Tactical .22, just constructive debating.

 

[mnhntr]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Government model here

 

[5RWill]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Oldrifleman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For me it is my Dan Wesson CBOB. But in reality my Valor carries just as well. I carry in MS VM IIs. Steven</div></div>

Picking up a DW this summer and was set on the valor but if i didn't quite have 1500$ to spare i was thinking about the guardian.

 

[aloreman]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Commander with a 7 round magazine and you will never have an issue.
Ive found most feeding and reliability issue are cased by a loose nut slightly to the rear of the grip

 

[ggmanning]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Have carried both but settled on a bobtail Springfield lightweight commander. I love my 3" micro but it is just not ultra reliable. Very good, but I demand total reliability from my carry gun and a hiccup even once in awhile does not breed confidence. The nature of the micro or any officer requires more attention to the extractor and mainspring more often. I may send it off for a good work over in the future and have the lightweight officer frame mated to a commander slide but frankly have found the lightweight commander very easy to carry and conceal.

 

[Jeffvn]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Either government or commander.

Jeffvn

 

[mrhog]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I carry both. Most of the time I carry a full sized 1911. It just fills right. Here in Fl. I also carry a Kimber Pro carry Two. It just feels better with less clothes. I wear shorts and tees most of the time. I wish Florida would have passed the open carry law. It's just too damn hot most of the time to worry about a cover garment.

 

[IronMaidenFan]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kimberseries1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
-Never use CMC mags(or CMC type followers) with aluminum frames
</div></div>

CMC now claims that their new follower design is "100% Aluminum Safe"

http://www.cmcmags.com/Powerplus.html

Any reason to doubt this?

 

[CrazyDonkey]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

Always carried a 3" 1911. Had a Kimberly Ultra Carry II from 2004 that I trained with all the time and never thought "man, this thing is no fun to shoot" and now I carry a 3.5" RIA Tact CC and never thought it was no fun to shoot.

 

[kimberseries1]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: IronMaidenFan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kimberseries1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
-Never use CMC mags(or CMC type followers) with aluminum frames
</div></div>

CMC now claims that their new follower design is "100% Aluminum Safe"

http://www.cmcmags.com/Powerplus.html

Any reason to doubt this? </div></div>


Haven't heard/seen that before. Although, they now have a new PRICE as well.....Creeping into Tripp Research level.....At that price, I'd just as soon buy Tripp mags....CMC are $25 locally.

Looks great though, CMC has a new website and everything. FWIW I love their mags....at $25....

 

[kimberseries1]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CrazyDonkey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Always carried a 3" 1911. Had a Kimberly Ultra Carry II from 2004 that I trained with all the time and never thought "man, this thing is no fun to shoot" and now I carry a 3.5" RIA Tact CC and never thought it was no fun to shoot. </div></div>


This seems to be all I hear from EVERYONE I've seen/heard with a 3" Kimber......

 

[RoosterShooter]

Re: 1911 carry Preference: Commander or officer size?

I vote for the Government sized 5" barrels for two reasons.

Longer site radius and faster shot recovery.