1911 for concealed carry

I think a lightweight Colt Commander is one of the best choices. I had one that was perfect but I don't know why I don't have one now, though I am going shopping in a few minutes. As another pointed out, they are not inexpensive. And a lightweight Commander model is sufficiently sturdy to stand up to as much shooting as most people can afford.

For a while, Colt made a full-size lightweight Government Model but I'm not sure I ever saw one (they didn't look any different). However, the regular full sized model will start feeling heavy after a while. But everything said about them a hundred years ago is still true. While they have a relatively long barrel and the grip is maybe a half-inch or so longer, they are flatter than most recently introduced pistols.
 
The 1911's really arent any flatter or fatter than most of the others, including many of the double stacks. In some cases, they are actually bigger. My Commander's and GM's measured grip thickness at their widest point, are actually thicker, than that of my Glocks.

I think a lot of it is perception, and a lack of experience with the different guns, to make realistic comparisons.

I used to get told all the time, that my P220, P226, and 229, were "large" guns, and a lot bigger than things like 1911's. Yet when you compare them side by side, you'll see that those SIG's are actually Commander sized guns, and not the giants youre often led to believe. Then again, if youre basing your thoughts on experiences with smaller guns, YMMV.
 
Carried a light weight commander in a leather pistol pocket IWB holster at a 5:00 position for more than a decade. Changed out holster daily (ya I bought 2 of the same just to do that in Az. in summer working outside), and wiped pistol every day and managed to avoid rust issues. She has a good bit of holster wear as you would expect and is as reliable now as it has always been.
Before anybody asks yes regular cleanings and p.m. has been done to keep it reliable.
 
I carry a full size steel frame 1911a1 as my EDC and have for years proper belt holster it has served me well, You have to try and then decide. one day is not a trail go for a week at least.
 
one day is not a trail go for a week at least.
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This is a something that I think many dont seem to realize or understand, and it applies to anything you try.

Trying it with less than optimal gear is also a problem, and just exacerbates things.

If youre serious about things, you understand this is more an on going journey than it is a quick decision. You also only really learn by trying, no matter how much you read or hear.
 
I have a good holster and a very good belt for my 5" Colt rail gun and it makes carrying it a breeze. I've carried Govt 1911s in good holsters, ok holsters, and terrible holsters, and with cheap flimsy department store belts and quality, purpose-built carry belts. From my experience what you carry matters significantly less than what you carry it in.
 
I agree with Tucker 1371 you really need a quality gun belt and a quality holster, this is true for what ever size handgun you plan on caring.
My choice in belts is a Rafters gun belt,holsters Comp-Tac and Garrett.;)
 
Thanks for all the advice. I got a really good stiff belt, that has some polymer stiffeners in between the thick leather. Should hold up a steel 1911 well. I also have ordered a Raven Concealment Phantom Kydex holster, with IWB soft loops. Can't wait to strap on.
 
I might stop by for a stiff belt on the way home tonight.

More to the point, however, I mentioned in another thread that I have been considering trading practically everything for a full-sized Colt Government Model. I'm leaning towards a .38 Super but I'm not hung up on the caliber. I've got leftover accessories for all the calibers it's made in. So, I've been doing a lot of looking, fondling and thinking about this for a few weeks and probably less thinking than looking and touching.

The place I patronize actually has a lightweight, full-sized model on hand. I don't know when Colt made them or how easy they are to find but that's an option. I still think a lightweight Commander is a good option, too, if that counts as full sized. I really don't think anyone is going to shoot it to pieces in just a few years but even so, it's still a good choice as long as it holds up.

The only gun I ever literally shot to pieces was a Star BKM. Very much like a Colt Commander, only smaller and with no grip safety. There was an all steel version called the BM, I think. They were all in 9mm. I was told that it was one of the last in stock at the old Interarms Corporation in Alexandria, Virginia. Anyway, the ejector, I think it was, came loose. Come to think of it, I've had several Star automatic pistols and something broke on all of them. But they all remained functional, that is, they could be fired safely.
 
Here are a few more comments on the subject. It's more about perception than anything else, I think.

I have a CZ 75 P-01. It weights only about 3 1/2 ounces more than my Walther P99, yet it is distinctly heavier--to me. A Beretta M9 weights about five ounces heavier, yet somehow manages to feel lighter, probably because an M9 is a fairly large handgun.

In comparison, my S&W Bodyguard .380 weighs almost exactly half of what a P99 weighs, yet in the hand, it seems to weigh "nothing," which of course is false. A new Walther CCP, which I've been thinking about, too, has nearly the same dimensions on paper as a P99. Yet to handle one, it feels much, much smaller. Part of it is perception but part of it is that "almost" is a vague word. Besides, there are other dimensions that you don't usually see listed anywhere, like grip circumference. Someone even makes a specially thin grip for the CZ P-01 that's supposed to make a big difference.

There are other factors, too, that are unrelated to dimensions. Some guns point better than others, for instance, and both revolvers and automatics frequently have slightly different operating controls. And so on.
 
I usually carry a J frame on my hip and a LCP in my hip pocket, but sometimes I will carry my Colt XSE Lightweight Commander, or, like today, my Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II.

Today I'm using a Galco Silhouette High Ride OWB holster. Other times I carry them in a Kingtuk IWB holster.

I also always wear suspenders, and my shirt untucked and unbuttoned, so the OWB works fine at work.
I don't notice any real difference in weight when I carry them all day, as opposed to the J frame and LCP.

I also carry a spare mag in a Buck knife holster on my right hip.
 
1911 Commander

Pros - Smaller size without compromising accuracy or sight radius.
- In either 9mm or .45 acp is a very potent cartridge and very capable in a self defense situation.
- The 1911 platform offers plenty of options in the way of sights and other aftermarket parts.
- The Commander size is available in either a steel frame or an aluminum alloy frame.
- The Commander is also available in a single stack or a double stack for extra capacity.


Cons - Weight, weight can be an issue, fully loaded even a commander size is considerably heavier than a polymer frame handgun of comparable size.
- Capacity, double stack 1911's are hard to find and pretty spendy, so most likely you will be limited to 8 rnds without a reload.
- Concealability - Some people find 1911's hard to conceal due to the sharp corners and size. Make sure you invest in a quality holster and belt and find the most comfortable way to carry.


Overall I chose the Commander in an alloy frame .45 because it felt the best for me. I build holsters so i was able to build an OWB that was really comfortable for me. I trust in 8 rnds to get the job done if I need it, but I also carry a reload. Hope this helps but the biggest part is if its comfortable to shoot and carry for multiple days.
 
Gus90 said:
- Capacity, double stack 1911's are hard to find and pretty spendy, so most likely you will be limited to 8 rnds without a reload.
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I respectfully disagree.

Although Remington has halted production of ParaUSA double stack 1911s (temporarily, they say and I hope), the P13.45 was a fairly popular model and there should be lots of them on the used market. I picked one up (used) in a gun shop not known for being inexpensive a few years ago for $600. The P13.45 is the Commander size Para, and it was available with either a steel or aluminum receiver.

I hope Remington brings it back ... and doesn't screw it up.
 
Another vote for a CCO. I have a Sig C3 and think it is the ideal carry gun. I plan on building one with traditional lines in the future, but the Sig is a keeper. My brother carries a Kimber Commander, but I just feel that a full size frame is a bit big to carry. With the officer frame, it's a no brainer. Much more comfortable for me.
 
Double stack 1911s are super easy to find at great prices. RIA has a whole line of them in different sizes and several calibers and their pricing is pretty fantastic. I got a 9mm/22TCM combo gun(single frame, slide and magazine with 2 barrels and recoil springs), 5" barrel, double stack magazine(17+1) for $650. It has para/clark style ramped barrels and runs like a champ. It's actually my current EDC. :cool:
 
Ah heck, I'll chime in. I only have one 1911 and it's been modified so I won't carry it (I'm in California - you don't carry modified guns here). But if I had a stock full sized 1911, I'd consider carrying it. I do carry my L-frame 357 Mag, and it's far heavier and bulkier than a 1911.

I do plan on getting a new Kimber soon. And I would consider adding it to my permit, but the process is a bit arduous. Here in Ca, you can only put three specific guns on your carry permit. If I were to add a 1911, not only would I have to go certify with it, but I would also have to remove one of the three guns currently on my permit. And that would be a tough choice.

All that said, point is, outside the bureaucracy of living in Ca, yes, I'd carry a full size 1911 without hesitation. And I'd feel darn secure doing so.
 
As said, a proper holster belt is necessary... I carry a full size Colt or Springfield often and it seems to be as comfortable as any FS pistol regardless of weight.

I always carry in a Don Hume 721 open top or the same holster with a thumb break. The 1911 has a flat profile compared to most full size pistols and with these holsters it "hugs tight" to the hip and the weight is a lot less noticeable.
 
I've had only one 1911. An interesting platform with quite a bit of history to it. I can certainly appreciate it for what it is. But I'm a bit baffled sometimes regarding using a 1911 for a concealed carry gun.

There are two primary issues for me. One, even though it packs the almighty .45 ACP (shootem in the little finger and they die) cartridge, the capacity is still WAY low for a modern defensive handgun. While you'd be fumbling for a mag change, the other guy is only halfway through his and still firing.

I'm also not a big fan of cocked and locked. I completely understand that most 1911's have the grip safety as a backup if the safety lever were to inadvertently get flipped off. But having a hammer back on a pistol, to me, is just inviting disaster. I live by the adage, "hope for the best but plan for the worst." A cocked and locked pistol opens up a possibility that I just don't have to worry about with other pistol designs.

There are plenty of SA/DA defensive pistols on the market that offer high capacity, lighter weight, and great reliability. As an example, my Beretta PX4 Compact isn't much bigger than a Springfield EMP, but holds 15+1 rounds of 9mm vs. the EMP's 9+1 9mm capacity. They both weigh 27 ounces.

For a concealed carry pistol, I think carrying one you're confident with and shoot accurately is very important. But in my mind, capacity is next in line. I don't even carry a spare mag. But if I did, I'd have 31 rounds with me. With a 1911, you'd have to carry a spare mag in every pocket to have the same round count, plus you'd have all those mag changes to deal with.
 
The cocked and locked doesn't bother me personally. I do a function check to make sure both safeties are working every time before I load up. Trigger safeties bother me more than the hammer being back. Accidentally get a bit of shirt in the trigger guard while holstering and it may ventilate a leg or foot. There's pros and cons of each, boils down to personal preference. I have an A2 1911 that holds 17+1 9mm+P for EDC. I'm looking at a second A2 1911 in 10mm to carry deer hunting this winter. That holds 16+1 :D They're a bit on the heavy side but nothing a quality IWB holster and sturdy leather belt can't distribute around enough to make comfortable. Looking to get a leg drop holster for the 10mm. Going tactical on those whitetail :D lol
 
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