1911 LW commander which one

[Elwin]

Just recently it seems there are manufacturers making 9mm 1911s that really run well.

Question because I haven’t been around long enough to know; are the current crop of 4”, bull barrel, FLGR 9mm 1911s a relatively new thing? I ask because, for example, @CSW and I have 9mm 1911s that seem to be working well so far and our guns have that design in common, and because it seems a lot of reports regarding poor reliability or “sluggish/ragged edge” cycling are specifically about 5” guns.

I know we’ve done the metric 1911 discussion in the “The Art and Science” thread and elsewhere. And I know there’s already a general consensus that a shorter and/or lighter slide is better for the caliber. This is just something I’ve been curious about. For other examples, in addition to my EVO and CSW’s Champion, there’s the Wilson EDC9 and the Dan Wesson offerings like the ECP/TCP that also use this set of features and have good reputations.

[gtmtnbiker98]

Question because I haven’t been around long enough to know; are the current crop of 4”, bull barrel, FLGR 9mm 1911s a relatively new thing? I ask because, for example, @CSW and I have 9mm 1911s that seem to be working well so far and our guns have that design in common, and because it seems a lot of reports regarding poor reliability or “sluggish/ragged edge” cycling are specifically about 5” guns.

I know we’ve done the metric 1911 discussion in the “The Art and Science” thread and elsewhere. And I know there’s already a general consensus that a shorter and/or lighter slide is better for the caliber. This is just something I’ve been curious about. For other examples, in addition to my EVO and CSW’s Champion, there’s the Wilson EDC9 and the Dan Wesson offerings like the ECP/TCP that also use this set of features and have good reputations.

I own three well running 9mm 1911's, all Dan Wesson's (TCP, Valor CMDR, and a Specialist).

[Robinson]

Question because I haven’t been around long enough to know; are the current crop of 4”, bull barrel, FLGR 9mm 1911s a relatively new thing? I ask because, for example, @CSW and I have 9mm 1911s that seem to be working well so far and our guns have that design in common, and because it seems a lot of reports regarding poor reliability or “sluggish/ragged edge” cycling are specifically about 5” guns.

I know we’ve done the metric 1911 discussion in the “The Art and Science” thread and elsewhere. And I know there’s already a general consensus that a shorter and/or lighter slide is better for the caliber. This is just something I’ve been curious about. For other examples, in addition to my EVO and CSW’s Champion, there’s the Wilson EDC9 and the Dan Wesson offerings like the ECP/TCP that also use this set of features and have good reputations.

I think there are guns of 4", 4.25" (Commander) and 5" (Government) lengths that work well, but they tend to be the higher end guns. The 4 to 4.25 inch 9mm pistols with a bull or cone barrel seem to be especially good shooters and that is part of a winning formula, but that is not to say that bushing barrels don't work well.

I personally think the 4 to 4.25 inch length is more appropriate than a 5" for the 9mm cartridge, whereas I strongly prefer 5" guns for the 45ACP cartridge.

[CSW]

I own two S/A Champions [commander sized] in 9mm.
I carry the RO Elite everyday, but also have a like new RO champ that's the 'standard' park'd model.
My carry RO, has over 1500 rounds without an issue due to the gun;
The mags are a different issue.
But to be honest and up front, the S/A mags suck. Feed issues, seating issues, not able to load to capacity.

After testing several brands of mags, I've found that MY pistols run best with the Ed Brown mags.
I've got several Wilson/Vickers, but they don't work as well as the Brown's mags.

I run both guns VERY well lubed, Froglube, [ducks and covers]which I have never had issues with either. I realize that there are better lubes out there's, but this stuff works for me, and it seems this RO design likes to be run wet.

Both guns run 147 ball as practice ammo, and I carry 147 G2 as a carry ammo.
The parkerized RO has 850 thru it, and zero issues with that gun as well. YMMV, but that's what working in my experiences.

Years ago, I made a trade for a Para 40 cal double stack gun....talk about a 1911 pattern that would not run.

[Ichiban]

Years ago, I made a trade for a Para 40 cal double stack gun....talk about a 1911 pattern that would not run.

I had one that I thought was a decent gun when you used ammo that it liked. A major jam-o-matic with the "wrong" ammo. Without a doubt the most ammo sensitive gun I had ever seem and life is too short to be dealing that nonsense.

[HeavyDuty]

Semi necro, but on point.

I’ve been thinking about picking up a second 1911 for some time. It’s not going to be my primary carry, just something I want - maybe even a BBQ gun. I thought I wanted an Officer’s or CCO sized gun, but I finally realized I would prefer a LW Commander in .45 ACP.

My must have features are .45 ACP, bull barrel (no bushing) and a bobtail. I would prefer a factory gun to a custom or semi custom, an Ed Brown would be nice but I can’t see spending that for something that’s not my primary. I think my ideal price range is under $2000, even better $1500. I’d prefer new for the factory warranty support. I have no issue with nontraditional features like slide profile since I would spring for quality custom leather and/or Kydex.

So far, this is the list of what I’m considering. Any other suggestions with my must-have features of .45, bull barrel and bobtail?

DW ECP - definitely in the lead right now
Kimber Aegis Elite Pro

[JTQ]

...I would prefer a LW Commander in .45 ACP.

Any other suggestions with my must-have features of .45, bull barrel and bobtail?

DW ECP - definitely in the lead right now
Kimber Aegis Elite Pro

A true "Commander" would have a 4.25" barrel and most of those would have a bushing and not a bull barrel. Most of the 4" guns have a bull barrel.

Kimber, and Springfield make 4" guns so they would have options. I thought Dan Wesson was only in 4.25", but your ECP comment made me look, and apparently they do offer at least one 4" gun.

I believe SIG, Colt, and S&W only offer 4.25" bushing guns.

[newyork]

I thought springer didn’t have the 4” bill bbl model anymore. Is that incorrect?

[vcdgrips]

2 ish max closer to 1500- Something by Dan Wesson

1000-1499- Something by Springfield

sub 1000 -Something by Ruger

All three brands, in broad strokes are reviewing well when the gun is mated to mags it likes (i.e. Wilson ETMs or Chip McCormick Power Mags or Tripp Mags), run well lubed in the right places (rails, bushing "area" and barrel hood) using quality brass case ammo with as close to an RNL/FMJ bullet profile as possible to include self defense loads.

All three brands punch above their weight in the intersection of quality/value/performance/ matrix.

All three brands have CS that will typically get the pistol running well in a timeframe measured by days/weeks not months/years if there is a problem.


Old school pro tip- should you decide to go leather IWB, many run a 4-4.25 inch gun in a 5 inch holster because:
A. They already own one
B. The "extra " leather at the bottom is more comfortable and can help the gun pull in a bit re concealment-YMMV

I have trained with a ton of folks who trained with a 5 inch 1911 all steel .45 a lot, carried a LWC nearly exclusively for years, shooting them just enough to insure reliability.

Many are still doing the same thing albeit having gone to 9mm as 100K of 6+g of 231 and 45+p has taken a toll on their wrists/elbows.


Ramble to follow:

For all the ya ya re polymer high cap "pistoldom" (myself included) I suspect there are many more than are typically acknowledged who are carrying a 9mm/45 LWC in a leather "Summer Special" style IWB, with one very flat mag in their support side pocket, who shoot a crazy elbow down Weaver since 1982.

They freed their minds of the "hardware " issues years ago and forever and have maintained and developed their "software" ever since.

[JTQ]

I thought springer didn’t have the 4” bill bbl model anymore. Is that incorrect?

You made me look. I know they started offering 4.25" guns fairly recently, but I thought they still had their 4" guns. I think you may be right, that their 4" guns are gone, and I see they have at least an Emissary with a 4.25" barrel and no bushing, so my previous info, is largely worthless.

https://www.springfield-armory.com/1...5-acp-handgun/