Commander vs Government 1911

Jacket67 said:
Kenny, while I see your point about liking the original design, is there a major ballistic difference between the two lengths?
Click to expand...
The web project, Ballistics by the Inch, doesn't have anything for a 4-1/4" barrel (true to their name, they increment in full inches), but they do have results for .45 ACP for a 5" barrel and for a 4" barrel.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45auto.html

The difference varies depending on the ammunition but, in general, it seems to be less than a 50 fps variance -- and that's for lopping a full inch off the barrel, not 3/4 of an inch.
 
I haven't gotten to handle a commander, but out of the Colt models, it is the only one that comes exactly the way I want it, minus an ambi safety (I'm lefty).
Click to expand...

Then it sounds like the commander it is. The difference between the two is not so great that the features I wanted wouldn't be a priority in the selection. I prefer a full size, but the difference is not huge between the two.
 
I may be the oddball here, but here's my 2 cents worth.

If at the range and shooting one handed Conventional Pistol style- I prefer the 5". However, if I'm just goofing off and having a fun range day and shooting 2 handed- then the Commander tickles my fancy more betterer.
 
i have had both and full size works better for me. the commander size was a custom build by great smith trained at pachmayr and it had cracked frame from full house loads with frame cracked at slide stop hole.
 
I have owned both and prefer to shoot the full size. The extra length/weight reduces recoil some, and the extra weight out front feels better once accustomed to it.
 
I have two full size & one Commander (plus a S&W Shield).

I prefer the Commander - - but,,,
Carry the shield, one full sized is here next to me at the computer desk & the Commander is in the safe....go figure....

Honestly I doubt you could go wrong either way.
 
Honestly, it is hard to go wrong with either. I have a full size Colt and a Colt Lightweight Commander. I enjoy shooting both, but if I could keep only one, it would be the Commander. That pistol balances well, and just feels right in my hand.

If it is a steel framed Government vs steel framed Commander, I would lean toward the full size. I had a steel framed commander style for a short while, but it also had the bobtail feature and I found that I much prefer the standard frame.
 
I have three government model size 1911's and three commander size 1911's. I enjoy all of them but the one hanging in the holster ready for action is an old Chuck Daly 1911 Commander which has been solid since the day I bought it. Before the Chuck Daly I carried an original 70's Colt Light Weight Commander, it is now a safe queen although my wife enjoys shooting it. I like the commander size, personal preference.
 
For carry, I strongly suggest the LW Commander. For strictly a range gun, I would go with full size and weight, but for EDC, those extra ounces and extra inch get pretty old pretty quick. (Actually, I carry an S&W Chiefs Special 3", but the OP limited discussion to the 1911 auto platform.)

And practice with the carry gun; even the slight change from full size to Commander can be disruptive.

Jim
 
Have shot and carried concealed full size 5" 1911s for years and just recently acquired a Colt LW Commander. I did it mostly to have a 1911 that was more carry friendly and I didn't really expect the LW to measure up as a shooter compared to my FS 1911s, I was wrong:).

When shooting these pistols the difference in accuracy out to 25 yards, sight picture and perceived recoil is so small as to be inconsequential. This is my experience.

Carry these pistols concealed all day and you will likely favor the LW for this purpose.
 
No issues on my LWCommander thus far. But then again I am not putting 500 rds a week through it either. The only complaint I would have is I have the original stock sights which are not that great.
 
I've got steel frame commander and government length 1911's and have carried both.
I carry at 3:00 IWB, the extra barrel length of full size put the end of the muzzle past my hip rather than stopping on it; this distributes the contact area on the slide more and tends to hold the grip tighter to my side (holster is open muzzle which I prefer and slide sticks out either way).
One may be more comfortable than the other based on where it contacts your body, or not.

Glock 35 is more comfortable than 23 at 3:00 IWB for same reason, shorter model 23 stops on my hip, whereas 35 extends past slightly, open muzzle holster.
 
I own exactly the two you are describing (albeit in 9mm) -- the new-ish Competition model with the blue grips and the latest-issue Lightweight Commander. You'll probably hate me for this, but I got both, specifically because I had the same questions you had.

First, let's agree on the differences other than barrel length and sight radius (and make note, again, that I have the Lightweight Commander, not the Combat):

• Weight. Big difference here, but the significance can go either way. The full-size is more stable, arguably, but it feels heavy to me after a hundred rounds or so. On the other hand, the Lightweight Commander isn't especially light compared to, say, a Glock 17, and I think its weight is perfectly reasonable.

• Sights. The Competition pistol has fiber-optic sights that I love (I use the red), and it's a big advantage (for my eyes, anyway). The white three-dots on the Commander are fine, but I want to upgrade them.

• Frame. Most people seem to overlook this, but the aluminum-alloy Lightweight Commander has serrations on the "front strap" while the steel Competition model has a smooth surface on the front of the grip. Take your pick. I like the serrations. (I don't know if the Combat Commander has serrations, but, being steel, I suspect it does not.)

• Barrel. The Competition model has the "National Match" barrel, but, I dunno ... both guns are more accurate than I am.

As you probably know already, everything else that makes these 1911s "modern" is the same: Series 80 firing mechanism, skeletonized trigger, undercut trigger guard, plastic mainspring housing, palm-swell grip safety, extended thumb safety, extended beavertail. These are pretty damn cool guns, and they are fun to shoot. (Especially in 9mm ... I'm tellin' ya, crazy fun.)

RECOMMENDATION 1: If I had to pick one and only one, it would be a Lightweight Commander with a fiber-optic sight upgrade.

RECOMMENDATION 2: A Competition model in .45 and Lightweight Commander in 9mm with upgraded sights.

Have fun. You're gonna like those things.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top