1911 for concealed carry

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Oldjarhead

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I have been thinking about going to my 1991A1 Colt Commander .45 acp for concealed carry on a daily basis. I would like to know from those folks that carry a 1911 as their EDC gun, why they chose the 1911? What advantages or pitfalls you may have encountered. Thanks.:confused:
 
I find my steel framed commander bobtail to be a little heavy for edc unless im wearing jeans, and even then, I prefer my much lighter defender. the defender sacrifices one round for being so much lighter that I forget its there, even with shorts. an lightweight commander might be a good compromise. I am seriously considering changing my cbob for an alloy guardian for this reason.
 
1911 as EDC:
I don't carry any one of my handguns as an EDC. I'll carry whichever suits my mood at that moment. Usually, it's either one of several Glocks or one of three 1911 pistols I own.

Regarding a 1911, in no particular order,
-perhaps I'm a bit more accurate from drawing;
-for me, relatively easy to maintain;
-nice, flat profile as I typically carry inside-the-waistband;
-I'm very comfortable with the ergonomics, manipulation, and function after getting my 1st 1911 ~27 years ago.

-it's heavy. I carry steel-framed, 45ACP, 5" models. With a spare mag, I'm at ~4 lbs. of hardware, added onto another 10 lbs. of clothing and stuff I'm normally carrying;
-relatively low capacity. With one spare mag I've only got 8+(8+1)=17 rounds.
-more bullet set-back should I end up chambering and unchambering the loaded round a few times compared to not-much set-back with my Glocks;
-if shot a lot, more things seem to break or need adjustment compared to my Glocks;
-higher cost for initial purchase, mags, and parts vs. my Glocks. My least expensive 1911 started at ~$1200, my most expensive 1911 at ~$2800. My Glocks are ~$500 each (at my "blue label" pricing).
-a broken slide stop for my 1911 =~$50; my Glock's slide-stop ~$8; I'll wear out extractor and recoil springs more often with my 1911's too, but I shoot a lot.
-any particular gun can have problems when new, out of the box. I never plan on a new 1911 to be perfect and plan on the chance it may even need to be sent back to the factory for warranty work. I usually don't feel comfortable until I've shot ~1,000 rounds through a 1911 (add the cost of ammo) to ensure 100% reliability of at least 100 rounds in a row (even though the most I'd likely to be carrying is 25 rounds (3mags x 8 +1). As I said earlier, I'm usually carrying one spare mag, but I do have a two mag carrier which I'll sometimes use. There are four mag carriers, but I don't own one.

Once you decide (& buy), let us know what you decide.
 
A good belt/holster is the key to carrying a 1911 I think. I"m a fairly skinny guy but carry a full size ruger in a N82 tactical holster and a 5.11 belt and I know its there but its never uncomfortable to me. I also just wear a t shirt and never have anyone (including gun store employees) pick up on the fact that I have a full sized 1911, two mags, and a ontario rat 3 knife.

I carry it just because I like the platform and I don't like the drawbacks of little guns. If I'm going to get into a defensive shooting or god forbid an all out gunfight/active shooter situation Id rather have the extra weight, sight radius etc of my 1911 that I shoot very well to begin with.

Weight is about the only pitfall I can think of but like i said a good holster/belt combo will help mitigate that.
 
I carry mainly a LTW Commander in 45 or 9mm . Or A Defender . I sometimes switch to my DW Bobtail. But I can tell by end of day the difference. Need a good holster (I carry IWB) and belt.

I have other pistols I carry but this my main carry . My dress Jeans and tee shirts . Been in a suit one time in last 30 years.
 
A good belt/holster is the key to carrying a 1911 I think.
Click to expand...
It is, and its true for anything really.

I carried either a Colt GM, or a Combat Commander, with a double reload, IWB daily for over 25 years. Mostly it was a Commander, as I prefer them, but the GM carries just the same. With a good belt and holster, you dont know the gun is even there.

The 1911's arent any easier or harder to carry than anything else. Once I stopped carrying a 1911, I carried a number of SIG's (P220, P226, P229), and Glock 17's, all with the same ease. All are very similar in size, and all conceal easily.

The only real problem I had with my Colts, was rust. Carrying IWB, working outdoors in all weather, sweating like a pig, and constantly wet leather holsters, are not a good environment for most guns/finishes. Hard chrome and kydex solved most of that problem.


I preferred Blade Tech IWB holsters the most, with Milt Sparks VMII's a distant second. I still have the first BT holster I bought, and even after 10+ years of daily use before retirement, its a serviceable today, as it was the day I bought it.

This is it here, belt is a 1.75", "5 stitch" Wilderness Instructors Belt....

ry%3D480
 
Awesome...a bit bulky...effective with a second magazine...stop power, hard to conceal unless the carrier is also bulky.
 
Old Jarhead;
First, thank you for your service to our country.
I carry an aluminum framed Springfield Armory 9mm 1911 pistol.
The 9mm is due to arthritis in my hands making the .45acp uncomfortable.
The pistol is the shorter Officers frame with a Commander 4" barrel. It is easily concealed and a good bit lighter than an standard 1911 or most other 1911 designs, save the Officers model.
1911, excellent trigger, good accuracy and so far total reliability (as in NO failures) with over 1000 rds down range.
You can find the same pistol in .45 acp if you choose. It works for me.
 
I carry 1911s, mostly in the CCO size (command length barrel and officer length grip frame). I have carried all-steel 1911s but prefer the aluminum framed guns. 1911s are very concealable because they are thin. You do need to make sure you practice enough with one that muscle memory takes over and you almost automatically swipe off the safety after it clears the holster.
 
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If you are thinking about a full size all steel 1911 in 45acp,I would advise trying to carry one all day before buying one.
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He said Colt COMMANDER.
 
I chose it because I know the 1911, and the manual of arms remains the same regardless of size.

Two possible drawbacks:

  1. Weight. An all steel 1911 is heavy. I don't mind, but some folks would prefer the lighter weight of an alloy receiver.
  2. Ammo capacity. 7 rounds max in a compact, and the Colt Officers ACP was designed for 6. When I feel the need for more boolits, I carry a Para-Ordnance compact with 12+1 rounds.
FWIW, I consider the Commander size to be the optimum form factor for the 1911 platform.
 
I like the Commander size for concealed carry also. At the beginning of my LE career (1975) I worked for an agency where we had to carry .38 revolvers as a duty gun, but we could carry anything for an off duty gun. So it was a Series '70 Colt Commander .45 that I packed pretty much every day, IWB carry, while off duty. I found it both comfortable to carry, and accurate, reliable and comfortable to shoot. In later years, I worked for a Dept that limited what we could carry off duty, so I got used to my off-duty-authorized S&W 9mm, and it is my Model 6906 that has been my EDC gun for many many years now. But I'd still be comfortable carrying a Colt Commander .45, if it was a Dept authorized off duty gun (sadly, for me, it's not).
 
I carry a RIA 1911 government A2 TCM model. That's 5" barrel and double stack magazine. Price wasn't a problem at $650 for the gun NIB. Capacity isn't a problem at 17+1 of FHP 9mm+P(I hope to #$!! that'd be enough). Weight isn't a problem, at least for me. I can feel it there but nothing digs in, sitting and driving isn't a problem. The holster I'm using is a Galco King Tuk IWB holster. Concealment isn't an issue either, just a t-shirt over it does the trick and I'm only 5'6" and 150lbs. The gun is pretty accurate and has para/clark style ramped barrels. I haven't had a single feeding issue with either the 9mm barrel or the 22TCM barrel.

Disclaimer: What works for me probably won't work for you, results may vary :D
 
I was raised on a 1911 and have carried them for years as a concealed carry piece and also as a duty gun and compete with them. I'm very comfortable and confident with them. In fact, except for one Hi Power, all the autos I own are 1911s.:)
Advantages: ergonomics, thin profile, trigger, accuracy
Pitfalls: none

l usually carry a full size ORM Colt 1991A1, though I have several others and occasionally carry a Commander or 1991A1 Compact. I'll echo the other posters, it's all about the gear, a quality belt and holster make all the difference. I only carry OWB and use Garret's Silent Thunder STX 2.0 and their double mag pouch. My belt is either a leather 1.75" 5.11 with a stiffener or a Wilderness Instructor 5 stitch with a stiffener. This set up is all day comfortable and I use the same gear and guns for IDPA and USPSA.

20150227_131325.jpg
 
Nice setup WC145! I need to get an OWB holster for wintertime. I also need to get a mag pouch to carry my second mag. Not that I should need 35 rounds but most failures are magazine related and it's easier and faster to swap mags than to clear a snag and hope it doesn't happen twice. :rolleyes:
 
I too carry a 1911. For me, it was about getting the right one. You need a gun that inspires confidence and carries well all day long.

I shoot all guns, except DA/SA, well enough. I could be happy with a Kahr, XD, Glock or S&W revolver on my hip. I chose the 1911 because it is a full size gun, thinner than most(at the slide) and has confidence inspiring trigger/sights/safeties.

My CCW is a Dan Wesson CCO in a custom Overland Gunleather rig. The gun literally disappears under a polo shirt. I am much happier to CCW something substantial in 45 than my 380 in the pocket.

I started with an all steel 5" 1911. It was ok, but IMO, it needs a rough out holster on your skin side to help your belt hold it in place. Actually, they all could use this.
 
Not my EDC, but I sometimes carry a RIA Tactical, mostly in the wintertime when I wear heavier clothing. As many have already said, it's all just a matter of finding the right belt and holster for you.
 
I admire anyone who can carry a 1911 as EDC . . and say "more power to you"! :)

Myself . . . I'd need a good stout pair of "suspenders"! As you get "older" . . "lighter" = "easier". :D:eek:
 
^^^ Yup.
With one exception, all I've ever used for matches and training sessions has always been a 1911.
And most of the time a pair of suspenders was needed to keep everything waist high.
Nothing worse than finding your rig inching downward all day.
For most of us svelte and trim fellows, 1911s might be a bit much to carry around all day.
 
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