View Full Version : Advice on compact 1911
Just can't decide, I'm looking at Kimber Ultra II, Colt Defender and the Springfield Micro. This will be a CCW. All three in the same price range ~$900 in a 45acp
Any comments on ease of cleaning, cycling the round, picky appetite, smooth actions?
Thanks for your imput
I've had bad luck with sub 4.25" 1911's. Surely somebody will chime in with "my officer eats everything I feed it" but to me that's like saying you had a pinto that didn't have an exploding gas tank - big deal.
Yep, unfortunately most everything I read is coming from somebody that already has one and they love it. Maybe buyers remorse maybe not but, I was hoping to here what is not good about them. I'm sure i can get one and have it worked on but, shouldn't need to do that on a $1000 gun.
Just can't get used to the polymers
ChunkyMonkey
04-20-2010, 19:30
that's like saying you had a pinto that didn't have an exploding gas tank - big deal.
Pinto has an exploding gas tank!?
Colorado Osprey
04-21-2010, 05:10
I've had bad luck with sub 4.25" 1911's. Surely somebody will chime in with "my officer eats everything I feed it" but to me that's like saying you had a pinto that didn't have an exploding gas tank - big deal.
Over the years I have had a couple of micro/compact 1911's in 45ACP. All of them needed work to be more reliable, and none... NONE I would trust my life on to carry as a CCW. That is the reason I ended up getting a few over the years trying to get a reliable one. It just doesn't happen.
To get the most reliable 1911 platform I am convinced it must be a full size slide now.
I did get a SA Champion (4") to be reliable almost 99% of the time after about $500 worth of smithing. It would sometimes fail to feed with COLT or SA mags. Wilson Combat mags were the most reliable in it.
cowboykjohnson
04-21-2010, 13:36
I've had bad luck with sub 4.25" 1911's. Surely somebody will chime in with "my officer eats everything I feed it" but to me that's like saying you had a pinto that didn't have an exploding gas tank - big deal.
I do have an officer that isn't picky now that it's broken in, a Kimber Ultra CDP II, works great for me.
I've had 2 Pintos that didn't have exploding gas tanks, both were wagons.... one was a 73 the other was a 78, sadly I had to sell one and the other got totalled... some day I'll buy another!
Pinto has an exploding gas tank!?
Just for the post count I assume
Sheesh, never thought I'd find somebody happy with both. Although since you've (cbkjohnson)only been legal to own a handgun for the past year or so, I'd take your recommendation with a grain of salt. JM man [Muaha]
Just for the post count I assume
Knowing Ken, he probably really wants to know lol. But yeah, they weren't the best car to get rear ended in.
cowboykjohnson
04-22-2010, 13:10
Sheesh, never thought I'd find somebody happy with both. Although since you've (cbkjohnson)only been legal to own a handgun for the past year or so, I'd take your recommendation with a grain of salt. JM man [Muaha]
Knowing Ken, he probably really wants to know lol. But yeah, they weren't the best car to get rear ended in.
I'd put my life on my Kimber, but I wouldn't have before it was broken in.
Legal to own since 18, just not able to purchase from a dealer... thats 4 years of legal knowledge....... [Tooth]
But I "owned" them before it was legal......... [Peep] shhh... don't tell.
As far as Pintos, I think they're pretty cool, and I want another wagon for an awesome drag car project!
Zundfolge
04-22-2010, 14:00
If you jump up from the Kimber Ultra to the Compact you'll not be adding much bulk but you'll be adding a lot of reliability. I still think the CCO is about the perfect configuration for a carry 1911.
I've had 2 Pintos that didn't have exploding gas tanks, both were wagons.... one was a 73 the other was a 78, sadly I had to sell one and the other got totalled... some day I'll buy another!
Did you get rear ended in either of them?
cowboykjohnson
04-22-2010, 15:51
The wagons didn't have the exploding gas tanks, only the coupes.
If you jump up from the Kimber Ultra to the Compact you'll not be adding much bulk but you'll be adding a lot of reliability. I still think the CCO is about the perfect configuration for a carry 1911.
What'sa CCO ?
What'sa CCO ?
It's a commander slide on an officer frame. Many of the popular brands have one or more in their line up.
Zundfolge
04-26-2010, 21:42
We get a lot of the nomenclature for 1911s from Colt.
Officer, Commander, Government Model ... all Colt model names.
The CCO is the "Conceal Carry Officer" ... like Graves said a commander slide on an officer frame.
Kimber refers to this configuration as a "Compact" (and they don't make too many models in Compact).
The Kimber "Pro" size is a Commander slide on a full size frame (Springfield calls this a Champion). The Kimber "Ultra" is actually an Officer length frame with a shorter than Officer length slide.
Grip length is much more important to concealment than slide length.
I still think a 10mm 1911 CCO would make about the perfect CCW piece.
Thanks Guys, learning alot. Didn't realize they mixed and matched frames and slides.
Think I have narrowed this down to Colt Defender or New Agent. Don't really like the groove for the sight on the New Agent but sure makes it smooth on top. Probably end up with the 9mm due to weight.
Hope it shoots as smooth as my Springfield Trophy Match.
Nice conversation, thanks again!
SideShow Bob
04-28-2010, 19:09
I have a S.A. Champion and an S.A. EMP in .40 S&W, both function very reliably. The EMP is my Daily carry. Other than custom work being done, I haven't had to put any $$$ into it to make it reliable. ( other than a couple hundred break in rounds. )
I'll second the EMP. I've carried one off duty daily for the last year. 1,000+ rounds in that time with no malfs I didn't cause.
I love my 9mm EMP.
Why are you married to .45? Or are you?
My EMP 9mm has been flawless and I'm nearing the 1k mark myself. Light n purdy!! I am however thinking about some 30lpi on the front strap, a matte black slide, and a crowned barrel just to add a little more character.
I have a CCO that Gary Kimball built for me in the 90s before there was a CCO. It is a steel frame and a 45. Might be the last 45 semi auto I own.
My carry gun is either a J-Frame 38 Special or a STI Commander high cap in 38 Super. The STI holds 17 rounds of +P and weighs loaded what my CCO weighs empty. So no, I dont carry my CCO much.
Best advice I can give you; avoid anything smaller than a Commander, avoid Paras, use good mags, get good sights, replace the factory extractor with an AFTEC and have a gunsmith give it the once over after you have 500-1000 rounds through it.
husky390
07-18-2010, 17:21
Hard to go wrong with a new Kimber Ultra Carry. I think Kimber did their homework when they came out with it and the one I had never gave me so much as a hiccup. It could hit gallon milk jugs at 100 yards. I have a Colt combat commander now but would rather have an Ultra Carry instead.
BPTactical
07-19-2010, 17:29
I have the Springfield V-10 Ultra Compact. Solid stainless so it is a touch heavy but it is accurate and reliable.
Having worked on quite a few of both brands I will favor the Springfield any day over the Kimber.
I like the 1911 platform but it does have limitations. It was designed for a 5" barrel. Shortening the barrel introduces other problems/considerations. Proper cycling would be the most important. Bullet performance can also be diminished in barrels under 4".
Below is a link with some good info. DocGKR is holding court on m4carbine.net these days.
http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=000349#000000
http://www.tacticalforums.com/cgi-bin/tacticalubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=78;t=001334#000013
10-8 has good info but you have to have a Micky Mouse card to join.
http://www.10-8forums.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=0&C=4
Hard to go wrong with a new Kimber Ultra Carry. I think Kimber did their homework when they came out with it and the one I had never gave me so much as a hiccup. It could hit gallon milk jugs at 100 yards. I have a Colt combat commander now but would rather have an Ultra Carry instead.
+1 for the kimber ultra carry
SA Friday
07-27-2010, 20:10
YMMV, but for me, the size difference between the officer and std frames for carry was almost zero. They both concealed the same. So, I sold my fully functional Kimber Ultra Carry. It took a bit of playing, but after break in and some ammo tests, it ran like a champ.
Aw hell, just get a Kahr PM9 and be comfortable when you carry.
rkfulgor1
11-12-2012, 10:43
[MOD: Same post in 3 places on the site? Yeah, I don't think so. I'll leave 1 of the posts, the others get deleted!]
I had a Kimber Ultra (3") for years. It functioned perfectly and was plenty accurate. (3" groups at 25 yards over the hood of my truck) It did break from time to time. Over the years I lost an extractor, magazine catch, and something else. Can't remember now. Kimber fixed it every time. To be fair, the round count was on the order of 10,000 rounds when stuff started breaking.
I've since switched to a 4", still with an aluminum frame like it, but I wouldn't mind having another 3" for those times when I really want to travel light.
It wasn't much fun, but I was able to ankle carry that Kimber. I had to have a holster made for that, but it worked and was reasonably comfortable as long as I didn't have to walk too much. I mostly used it to carry in church or other social situations where an un-tucked shirt was not appropriate.
SideShow Bob
11-12-2012, 11:42
[MOD: Same post in 3 places on the site? Yeah, I don't think so. I'll leave 1 of the posts, the others get deleted!]
This is the third thread you have posted this in, and this one belongs in the zombie pile.Check the date of the last post.
Your original thread you started is giving you the answers, or would if you answered the questions the other members are asking you......
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