Is there a reason to buy a fullsize 1911?

[LW McVay]

Originally Posted by James&thegiant1911

yeah full size 1911s are pointless really for concealed carry, much too big

That is far from truth. In fact, its ridiculous.

[royal barnes]

I carry a lightweight Colt GM most of the time. It is no harder to hide than a Commander. I will sometimes alternate with a steel 5" but my back can tell a little difference at the end of the day. I carry both in a Wild Bill's Contour belt slide. I just prefer the feel and the extended sight plane of a 5" gun and sold or traded all my commanders except one Series 70 NIB.

[chrysanthemum]

I see it the other way around.

There's no reason to accept a substitute for a full size 1911 other than some additional challenges in concealing/carrying a full size 1911.

In warmer weather -- and only in warmer weather -- I'll concede to carrying a compact 1911. For all other purposes, it's full size.

[schwartzint1]

I would not buy a 5" gun for concealed carry. But that's just me. I'm not the largest of people. Even if I was I still prefer 4.25 over 5 for carry. That being said if you have the dough buy the 5" and shoot the snot out of it at te range

[FLSlim]

My question is: Is there a reason not to buy a full sized 1911? Of course not, we all need at least one of everything!

Seriously, though. I will say that all steel 5" guns are more comfortable for long range sessions than LW Commanders. You can get a nice range gun (just my dime-a-dozen opinion, but my first choice would be the STI Spartan) for around $600 and give your LW a rest every now and then.

[QHhorseman]

Originally Posted by custom2

I also carry a full size 1911. I'm 5 foot 10, 170 pounds. I'm not a big guy.

I always wonder where this myth that the full size 1911 is too big to CCW originated. The gun is so thin. I carry it with a T shirt and shorts all summer long.

+1. 6' and 170 lbs. No problem concealing under a t-shirt either IWB or OWB.

[MPJMP]

Over the years I've carried various Commander and Officer-sized 1911s, as well as full-sized all steel 5" models. These were my discoveries:

1) I just plain shoot a full-sized steel 1911 better.

2) The smaller 1911s were more prone to malfunctions.

3) Despite the smaller size and reduced weight, I did not find them significantly easier to carry or conceal than a full-sized 1911, at least not so much as to consider it an adequate trade off considering 1 & 2 above. Having the right belt + IWB holster combo pretty much negated the weight/size differences.

So, after years of experimenting I made the decision to carry the gun that I performed the best with, was the most reliable and that was just as easy to tote around.

If I wanted something smaller and lighter than a 5" 1911 I would probably go with another type of handgun altogether. Possibly a Glock 19 or HK45C if I wanted to stay with .45ACP.

These are just my opinions based on my past experiences. YMMV.

[Vern Humphrey]

I've carried a full-size M1911 for nearly 50 years. My current carry gun is a Kimber Classic (MK I). I make my own holsters and have evolved a tuckable that makes the gun completely disappear.

[rrobertson]

Originally Posted by James&thegiant1911

yeah full size 1911s are pointless really for concealed carry, much too big

, where do you get this from. I have no problem CCing 5in 1911/varients with a proper belt/holster in a t-shirt and the t-shirt is not baggy or a size to big either.

Going by your name tho, im going to guess that it was a sarcastic statement. Hopefully.

[Dave Waits]

I've been carrying a five-inch 1911A1 for over five years now. In the Summer months I carry small of the back with a IWB Don Hume, the rest of the time it's in a Left-hand custom-made Askins' Avenger with the FBI forward cant. No problems whatsoever concealing. I'm 6' and 185.

A five-inch 1911 prints less than a 38Spl Snubbie.

[Vern Humphrey]

Originally Posted by Dave Waits

I've been carrying a five-inch 1911A1 for over five years now. In the Summer months I carry small of the back with a IWB Don Hume, the rest of the time it's in a Left-hand custom-made Askins' Avenger with the FBI forward cant. No problems whatsoever concealing. I'm 6' and 185.

A five-inch 1911 prints less than a 38Spl Snubbie.

That is absolutely true.

[GunBugBit]

Originally Posted by James&thegiant1911

yeah full size 1911s are pointless really for concealed carry, much too big

I didn't get the memo on this. I comfortably carry full-size 1911s on a regular basis.

[Shad Roe]

Originally Posted by GunBugBit

I didn't get the memo on this. I comfortably carry full-size 1911s on a regular basis.

Most people who say the 1911 is too big to carry concealed have actually never even tried carrying one in this manner.

[James&thegiant1911]

I wore a shoulder holster and a back IWB holster and they would imprint like no other, I just do not feel as comfortable carrying them as I do an XDM, SW 3rd gens, BHPs or others of the kind. I like 1911s do not get me wrong and think commander styles and smaller Kimber coverts for example make excellent concealment weapons. I do not have enough body mass to overtly cover 5 inches of 1911 comfortably. If you all can then great but I have decided to have my full size 1911s as competition/ range guns and go for smaller carrying guns. If you can conceal one comfortably then great you have one up on me.

[pekosROB]

5" is sooooo much more fun to shoot than the 3". It just feels a lot smoother and way less recoil. I only practice what I need to with my carry and do most of my shooting with the full size.

The only justification you need is this: it's a 1911. So go get one!!

[LW McVay]

Originally Posted by James&thegiant1911

I wore a shoulder holster and a back IWB holster and they would imprint like no other, I just do not feel as comfortable carrying them as I do an XDM, SW 3rd gens, BHPs or others of the kind. I like 1911s do not get me wrong and think commander styles and smaller Kimber coverts for example make excellent concealment weapons. I do not have enough body mass to overtly cover 5 inches of 1911 comfortably. If you all can then great but I have decided to have my full size 1911s as competition/ range guns and go for smaller carrying guns. If you can conceal one comfortably then great you have one up on me.

So it was your choice in holsters to blame, not the gun.

[samvswild]

I plan on carrying a full 5'' 1911 IWB when I get my CCW license. I carry OWB at home for now, if I were to go for a smaller IWB carry gun I wouldn't get a smaller 1911. I would go polymer, because they're lighter and hold more rounds. Luckily for me though I will be carrying a full size and not have to worry about it.

[James&thegiant1911]

Originally Posted by LW McVay

So it was your choice in holsters to blame, not the gun.

if you call Galco rigs and Milt Sparks poor choices in holsters. Plus I like the idea of having a 10mm as a carry gun.

[Dave Waits]

Originally Posted by James&thegiant1911

if you call Galco rigs and Milt Sparks poor choices in holsters. Plus I like the idea of having a 10mm as a carry gun.

what he's trying to say is that some holsters print more than others. I wear a right-hand Don Hume IWB as a small of the back, Left-hand and it doesn't print at all. Most of the time the Askins' I wear strongside doesn't either. Like I stated, both with a five-inch 1911.

[DArBad]

Originally Posted by AWMP

I carry a LWT Commander (several LWT Commanders) but I have been looking at buying a full size 1911 and just have trouble justifying the purchase.
Ideas ?

Then you have answered your question already. It is not what we think, but more of what YOU think is the best for you.

I for one think the fullsize 1911s are the best for me and all the 1911s I've bought so far are fullsize. I have no use/desire for a chopped-down 1911.

But that is me. Your needs and wants are different.

[Hellsing76]

Nothing wrong with having at least one, good news is you won't regret it. It took me a WHILE to get into full size 1911's now I am "semi-heavy" with about 14-15 or so, can't remember, lol! Now, I do know that I have NO sub 5" 1911's, and I EDC a stainless TRP Tactical. After shooting my wife's Kimber Pro Carry II in 9mm, now I want one of them shorty's again in 9mm....I don't think it ends, even when I sleep, I am dreaming of my 5" 1911's and 4"-5" 1911's I want, Geesh!

Good luck on your decision, partner!

[Kodadek]

I'm 6' 4", 182 pounds, in army boot I was known as stretch and during infantry training a sergeant suggested that I could stand sideways and confuse a bullet. I can easily carry a fullsize 1911, it takes a wardrobe adjustment. I find Carhartt warkshirts untucked and unbuttoned work quite well.

[HarryO45]

Sight radius (potential for accuracy), control (potential for faster follow up shot), reliabilty (design), I guess you could argue energy (of bullet) and do not forget a bigger club when all else fails.

[James&thegiant1911]

Originally Posted by HarryO45

Sight radius (potential for accuracy), control (potential for faster follow up shot), reliabilty (design), I guess you could argue energy (of bullet) and do not forget a bigger club when all else fails.

I agree with you on the accuracy part or potential there of but if you think you can pull a 1911 SA faster than a striker poly gun then you would be wrong.

[runnoah28]

Originally Posted by custom2

I also carry a full size 1911. I'm 5 foot 10, 170 pounds. I'm not a big guy.

I always wonder where this myth that the full size 1911 is too big to CCW originated. The gun is so thin. I carry it with a T shirt and shorts all summer long.

+1

All steel 5" in a summer special II, everyday.