Help me shop for the best 1911 Commander style .40 caliber

C

CassandraComplex

New member
Hello friends,

I am looking for a 1911 variant .40 caliber Commander size gun.
I don't know anything about the offered brands, I am just starting my search. I want it to be reliable of course, and accurate, and I am hoping that it holds more than the .45 version of the Commander (more than 8+1....mabye 9+1?).

I think this would make an excellent carry gun. It will be thin, with reasonable capacity, accurate and powerful. The .40 is better than the .45 out of a 4 inch barrel because it is designed out of a 4 inch barrel, and it has more capacity usually, so that is why I want a .40 instead of a .45.

Who are some good makers to look at? Price is not the object. I don't care if it is $700 or $1700 as long as it works well (reliable and accurate) and is well made with good customer service.

Give me any ideas for brands or custom makers, the more obscure the better (because I am sure that people here know of makers that I have never even heard of).
 
The list of factory produced Commander length 40's is short. I know Briley makes them and I think Kimber has announced one but I don't know if they have them out yet. Also, don't overlook the STI and SV guns in standard configuration and the polymer framed hi-cap versions.

I have built two 1911's in 40 S&W but they are both 5" guns. You will still be limited to 8 rounds in the mag for single stacks unless you use 10mm magazines - then you can get 9 rounders from metalform and they do work with my 40's but I can't say about others. The STI framed version I have is excellent in terms of "feel" and isn't any thicker than the single stack. It does feel a little more "square" in the frontstrap area and has a squared trigger guard which limits the choice of holsters. Mags are still available in pre-ban hi-cap configuration which hold 15 rounds in the carry length or 17 rounds in the standard length. The mags will run about $60-70 each.

If money is no object, my suggestion would be to contact a reputable 1911 pistolsmith and have one built to either your specifications or their recommendations. Full custom is the only way to go if you have the money and don't mind spending it (in my opinion, of course).

Brian Bilby seems to be the "man of the hour" in custom work and, from what I've seen, he's a good 'un. Dane Burns is also well spoken of but I haven't seen his stuff. Others to check would be Wayne Novak, Nowlin and Rob Barkman (ROBAR). I think Richard Heinie is about three years behind last I heard but when you're the best in the world... Wilson doesn't do 40's but Les Baer does.

Mikey :cool:

[This message has been edited by Mikey (edited February 20, 2000).]
 
Kimber and Para. STI seems to specialize in the .40. Check them out.

[This message has been edited by ak9 (edited February 21, 2000).]
 
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