Commander vs Government 1911

^^I can't tell you how bad I wish I could do this!!

But yes, as mavracer said, I really am asking which one is better first. I love the 1911 platform and will own a few in my lifetime at least.

If the LW commander feels as good to me as some have stated on here, I may look into it more as an option.
 
IMO, the undercut trigger guard and G10 grips on the LW Commander Colt is now producing are more than just sales gimmicks.

The pistol feels really good in MY hand. Some don't like the abrasive nature of the G10 grip panels and the fact that they are synthetic, but I really like them.

Couple these with the other well known characteristics of the 1911 and you have a hard to beat carry pistol in the LW Commander.

But as is mentioned any time 1911s are discussed, your going to end up with both of them anyway sooner or later, so might as well get it over with and buy one of each :).
 
Oh man. I love both the Government models and the Commander models. Obviously, it's easier to carry the commander-sized 1911.

I have the "sacrilegious" Smith and Wesson 1911PD Commander and 1911SC E-Series Commander. Love them both. That said, they're both Scandium / Alloy framed and I do prefer all steel. Also, the Bobtail on the E-Series is absolutely heavenly. Going to that Bobtail and then feeling a standard 1911 feels funny.

I will get another government model eventually. More than likely a Colt. So they both have a place and both can be carried comfortably. Just get a good holster and especially a good belt for that weight.

These days I carry a Smith and Wesson M&P 9L with the Surefire X300U. So, it's all possible.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Surprised how many people have mentioned that the Commander size feels more balanced in the hand. Thought I was alone on that score.

Whichever one you buy, you'll be happy with. Then, you'll just go buy the other one six months later, anyway. Fire away.
 
I've never found any difference in reliability between 1911's of Commander or the full length (5" bbl.) model. I do think that when you go shorter than 4" or so in bbl. length, there is the potential for problems. Spring strength becomes more critical for reliable functioning, as does feed ramp angle, and ejection port size and shape. Too, the stiffer recoil spring makes racking the slide more difficult.

Accuracy is virtually the same in the examples that I've owned. Truth be told, I shoot the shorter Commander models better than the full length ones; which I attribute to its better balance in my hands.

And, as has been previously stated, the lighter weight of the alloy framed Commanders as originally made by Colt, are a lot easier to tote around all day...this last from my personal experience. As to the oft heard comment regarding additional recoil from the alloy framed models, I've found it just barely noticeable.

Lastly, if concealment is the goal, as well as range use, the shorter bbl. is an asset, but in reality, it's the length of the grip that makes the biggest impact. It's just as easy to 'hide' a full length 1911, as a 'Commander' length model. Either will require a fairly long shirt tail to conceal if you carry OWB at the 4 o'clock position, as I do.

Experience wise: I've carried a 1911 since 1969, in peace, on the street, and in war. It's always met my expectations...short bbb.'d one now in my dotage, but the 5" model rode well when I had 20/15 eyes and big shoulders. A dozen Colts have come and a few have gone, as well as a pair of Rugers, a Remington-Rand WWll model, and most recently, a superb Sig 1911 RCS...all in .45 ACP of course...well there's still a 5" 9mm Series 70 in the safe that seldom gets out to the range.

Hope this helps, Rod
 
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Order of acquisition?

Sounds as if you're already decided on getting both full-size and Commander-length. As always, it is your money and your subjective choice. Here are my thoughts on the matter- -

I've been owning and shooting various 1911-pattern .45 pistols for over 50 years. They've been almost exclusively Colts, just from personal preference.

If I were starting from scratch, I'd want to begin with a full size- and -weight commercial Government model, or GM. The full, 39-ounce weight allows for maximum steadiness and recoil attenuation. The five-inch barrel gives maximum practical sight radius. Leave the entire pistol totally box-stock for the first several hundred rounds. I strongly urge you to use factory standard stock panels. If you learn to shoot with these, you can pick up almost any variation and do a decent job.

If you contemplate carrying the pistol, either afield or for personal defense, owning it is but the first step. You need at least three additional high quality magazines, IN ADDITION TO the one in the pistol. A good, stiff belt, a high quality holster. and a magazine pouch - - - These are part and parcel of the entire system.

Once comfortable with handling and shooting the GM, you may choose to move on to the Commander.

Please note: The Commander is a shorter, lighter weight version of the GM. Some shooters use the term, "Commander size" or "all steel Commander" but properly, the 4-1/4-inch barreled, 26.5 to 27 ounce pistol is the one termed by Colt's as the COMMANDER, or CLW. The all steel version was dubbed the Combat Commander by the folks at Hartford. Many speak of the good "feel" of the short, heavy pistol. The problem is that the particular piece is only an ounce or so lighter than the full scale GM. The sight radius is very notably shorter. The weight drags the pants waistband down about as much as the GM does. In other words, the Combat Commander has the drawbacks of the GM but none of the advantages of the CLW.

For my first five years service as a peace officer, I was required to carry a revolver on duty. I subsequently became a plainclothes investigator with another agency. I carried my .45 National Match -- "Gold Cup" -- until I could find a CLW, and was content with that until well past retirement. I still carried a GM on special occasions, such as when actual hostilities seemed less unlikely.

Best of luck on your choice.
JPG
 
Johnny Guest wrote:
Many speak of the good "feel" of the short, heavy pistol. The problem is that the particular piece is only an ounce or so lighter than the full scale GM. The sight radius is very notably shorter. The weight drags the pants waistband down about as much as the GM does. In other words, the Combat Commander has the drawbacks of the GM but none of the advantages of the CLW.
Click to expand...

Are you saying the short barrel length in NOT an advantage in terms of carriability but rather a disadvantage that both the Combat Commander and CLW share?
 
WHY PICK JUST ONE??

Buy RIA and you can have them both for less than the price
of one Colt. And frankly, as a beginner, you'll never notice
any difference. Those PI guys build and QC better than
the average US company these days...

By the time you get good enough with 'em to start making
serious mods, you'll be making enough money to afford
a top end pistol...if you even bother. Usually a little tweaking
and a lot of trigger time make for a better shot than a $2000
pistol ever will.


Which brings me to the next point...RELOAD YOUR OWN AMMO.
Why? If you are shooting .45acp, it's going to cost a bunch
to keep buying factory ammo...even if you buy Perfecta, still
looking at a serious ammo bill. So get a basic press, set it up
for .45acp, and you'll quickly start seeing a good savings.
Which is important, because whatever you save on ammo, you
can spend on better sights, trigger, springs, bobbed hammers/etc.
 
As Col. Cooper said, "If I have full weight, I want full length, too".
Click to expand...

Uhhh...have you ever actually concealed carried a Commander and then carried a full size? That 0.75" makes all the difference between convenient and damned annoying.
 
I am glad others posted facts about the differences between full size and the commander. I was working off "this seems right". At about 830-850 FPS, 50 FPS may or may not makes a difference but percentage ways that seems a lot. I would not discard the commander size over that. You mentioned the SR 1911, love mine and it is in my carry rotation. I will say I had to send my SR 1911 back when I first got it, but Ruger made it right.
 
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