rocky

I researched the 1911 before buying my SA. Champ. I found most of the problem guns were the micros. 3" barrelled 1911's seem to be finicky if they will be reliable or not. that said the only 3" 1911 I would consider buying is a Colt Defender due to its reliability. Never found any info on the 4" beign unreliable due to barrel length.

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Nemo Me Impune Lacesset

Link to my kydex builds:http://rocknloadkydex.blogspot.com/

R.E.Lee

How much would accuracy be affected when going with the 4" over the 5" in any particular 1911?

I dont know that I will carry any 1911 that I purchase, but I think the 4" would be easier to conceal if I chose to do so.

What makes a bull-barrel undesireable to some people? What are the pros and cons of it? (a bull barrel is bushingless, no?)

Thanks

Risasi

Think of it this way, going from 5" to 4" doesn't seem like much, but it is a slide action auto-loading pistol. This means it has to do it's "thing" in 20% shorter period of time instead of the original design John Moses made. That's significant.

Now having said that let me also say I have never had any jams in an SA commander I had. I did have a few jams in my double stack BUL in commander configuration. I traced this to the 230gr Winchester HP ammo I was using, this same ammunition functions fine in my other BUL, which is a full size government model. Tigher tolerances.

The other two 1911's I still have are both full size S.A. Gov models. I don't have any problems with them. One is fully loaded, one is just the standard mil-spec model. Out of all the 1911's I have and have had I prefer the single stack mil-spec, (I think it's now the G.I.), it shoots 3" groups at 25 yards, always goes bang. And I mean always. last year I had nearly 20,000 rounds through it.

Bud White

For Bull vs Bushing Barrel there problem not a difference in the world but personal preferance and i dont like the bull for some reason

Only differance i notice on the 4-5" barrel is if your a smaller guy or drive a car with really really comfy seats the 5" will hit the seats and push up and usually cause the 1911 to jab ya in the side 4-4 1/4 wont


That said ive carried both and prefer a 5" im a big guy so i dont have any problems hiding it good belt good holster anyone can hide a 5" 1911

Delta Force

I think the Commander size 1911 is just as good as the full size 1911.But I find the full size 1911 to carry better concealed than the 4 inch model.I carry IWB with a Milt Sparks VM2 and the 5 inch model is more comfortable than the 4 inch model.The 4 inch model digs me in the but and the 5 inch does not.I also carry a 3 and 1/2 inch model and that feels great.Hope this helps ya.

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gunwizard212360

i carry a stainless tle/pro 2 with the rail. by the way pro means 4 inches in kimber terminology. this gun comes with a match grade bull barrel.this gun is as accurate as it gets without gunsmith work done to it. i also have 5 inch 1911 with barrel bushing. both of these are accurate for self defense. i find no difference in reliability or accuracy with either of these guns. just that one is easier to conceal than the other because its an inch shorter

Zach S

The hard part for me to conceal is the grip, not the barrel. The champion has the government grip, just as Kimber Pro Carrys.

The plus side is that the full length grip means your springs last longer if you stick with seven round mags (compared to 7 round magazines for the officers model, and eight rounders for the government).

4" 1911s use the officer's model spring, Kimbers do anyway, I'm not sure about springers. If you keep a fresh spring handy, you wont be likely to have any issues. I change the spring in my 4" about every 500 rounds or so. It could probably last longer, but I want it to function even when I'm limp-wristing it, so 500 rounds is about I get out of it. The 4" isnt less reliable, just higher maintenance. It gets less reliable when not maintained properly.

If I were getting a 4" 1911, I'd go for the compact. Since the Pro Carrys and the Champions have the full-length grip, I go with a 5" instead, which is what I currently carry.

Delta Force

Zach, you change your springs very 500 rounds?If I did that I would be changing my springs every week.

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BlueLion

If you are in the market for a 1911 start with the full size because you will not be happy. Then later see if you can get yourself a good used 4 inch. I am currently in the market for 4inch myself. However, as most have said the grip is the only issue with concealing. I have concealed my 1911 under a polo shirt while shopping with the wife.

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Prospector

I alternate between my Kimber Eclipse Pro with 4" barrel and my full sized Nighthawk Predator. Frankly I can tell any difference as far as comfort goes. Each is easy enough to carry concealed, with the right holster, and both provide the accuracy I like, out to 25 yds. The recoil difference is unnoticeable. I have fired subcompact .45s with the 3" barrel, and quite honestly, I wouldn't have one of my own. I didn't like the recoil (makes that double tap difficult for me), and I prefer a gun that I can spend a day at the range with and not come home with a sore wrist. Just my two coppers !

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