I prefer steel framed 1911s for carry
I prefer alloy framed 1911s for carry
No preference/Other
Ok, I think there's a clue here, and it points towards getting a lightweight 9mm whenever I'm adding to the 1911 collection.
I also just realized I'm about to complete my own accidental experiment on this that would answer my question. I've been carrying a Gov. .45 backup gun the past week, which will continue through next week, while my 9mm Commander is down due to both a FUBAR grip screw bushing and needing a range outing to fully vet a new trigger install before carrying it again. I think I can say the ~6oz difference between the guns is noticeable, and I should be able to confirm that when I switch back.
The comments regarding carry position are helpful. My body shape allows me to use a 5" holster for AIWB regardless of how long the gun is, and that helps to keep the gun from tilting out, but I can see how a lighter frame would be more helpful still.
I'm a big apologist for the RRA poly framed 1911. I wore one regularly when I still carried 1911s I wanted a .45 that I didn't have to worry about getting banged up. At the time I had the gun that I built and kinda have an attachment to, so that wasn't gonna happen, and that was it. Bonus points that it was light and easy to shoot, even with my preferred defense ammo (which is HST +P 230gr)
That it was about the same price as a Kimber or Springfield was interesting, because the thing shoots circles around most guns. I'd venture to say it is the most accurate .45 I have...and that's saying a great deal.
I think it's probably bullseye level accuracy for entry level money, which I was amazed by.
It did need tweaking for me as well (sight regulation, brutally stiff thumb safety, extractor tension that I adjusted before even firing a round through it) but if you expect a 800/900 dollar 1911 to be perfectly set up for you, you're probably gonna be disappointed. I have had to tweak every 1911 I own. Most things I can easily fix. I can't easily fix a poorly done barrel fit that won't produce accuracy.
And buy a steel bushing wrench. I'm not kidding.
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I've carried a 5 inch steel frame 1911 almost everyday for 30 years and with a good belt and holster the weight doesn't bother me. It is more comfortable to carry for me than my Glock 17, especially IWB.
A shooting buddy bought a 5 inch .45acp Dan Wesson Vigil recently and it piqued my interest in a lightweight full size 1911 but the gun was not reliable with 8rd magazines, it would only run with 7 round mags. A sample of one I know but I have seen other lightweight .45acp 1911s with ramped barrels not run as reliably as ones with the traditional 2 piece feed ramp. A ramped barrel works great in 9mm, .38 Super, .40SW and 10mm but not so well in .45acp.
@45dotACP What setup does the RRA poly frame use?
Last edited by Amp; 11-14-2021 at 05:23 PM.
For some reason I feel like we have more people voting than people who actually carry 1911s.
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