Geneseo, IL – -(Ammoland.com)- There are plenty factors that play into the decision of what pistol to use as an everyday carry gun.
After carrying a pistol in one form or another for the last 17+ years, one thing I can conclude is that a full-size 1911 is one of the easiest pistols to carry in a concealed format… at least for me.
With all the various options, formats, and configurations available, people still ask me why I continue to choose a full-sized 1911 over other popular sizes.
For me, it’s a pretty easy answer that can be broken down into three basic parts: carryability, reliability and shootability.
(This blog first appeared on the Springfield Armory Blog)
Carryability Of A Full Size 1911
While some might consider a full size 1911 to be large and heavy, there are two significant advantages to carrying one; it’s flat and balanced.
The “flat” part is easy to figure out. The 1911 has always had exceptional ergonomics due to the location of the controls and its single stack configuration.
It’s thin, flat profile helps make the gun disappear under most garments, which for us in Arizona, is often a light t-shirt.
When carried in a proper holster mounted on a quality belt, the entire package is remarkably well balanced with the loaded magazine being offset by the length and weight of the steel slide and frame.
My preference is carrying in an inside the waistband holster because the flat profile of the gun / holster against your body further enhances this balance making the gun all-day comfortable.
Reliability Of A Full Size 1911
Size plays a huge role in the overall reliability of any gun.
A full-size 1911 has a cycle length that produces a generous amount of slide travel (stroke) resulting in a longer dwell time when compared to 1911s with shorter slides.
Shortening the cycle length of a 1911 directly affects how much time the gun has to eject the spent casing as well as the amount of time the magazine has to feed the next round to the top of the feed-lips.
This may be one of the reasons some shorter 1911s have not worked as well (or at all) in the past. The slides were simply outrunning the rest of the gun.
A pistol with a shorter cycle length will typically be less forgiving of faulty, fatigued, worn out magazines or magazine springs.
That’s not to say they can’t work, but over a long period of time, a full-size 1911 will typically be more forgiving and reliable.
Shootability Of A Full Size 1911
The size and weight of the full-size 1911 results in largely unparalleled handling characteristics.
The long, slow recoil impulse of the .45ACP round combined with the slide weight and full-length grip frame helps the gun remain flat during recoil to allow for a true full-firing grip on the pistol.
This full-length grip not only makes the pistol easier to handle but also helps to eliminate the potential pinching of your fingers during a magazine exchange or reload; something that lots of shooters experience with pistols that have a shorter grip frame.
The slide on a full-size 1911 allows for a generous sight radius and does not require a special configuration for the recoil spring / recoil assembly.
When you combine the full weight and grip length of the steel frame with the slide travel of a full-size 1911, the resulting product is best summed up by what a wise man once said…
“It’s a big gun when you carry it and it’s a big gun when you pull it out to shoot.”
Now It’s Your Turn
Tell us what your carry method of choice is and why on Facebook or Twitter using the hastag #WhyICarry.
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Please no bashing,but my ccw weapon is a Taurus PT 1911 SS. Today I put #1200, 230 gr FMJ through it. Now some of you won’t believe this, but I have not had the first FTF, or FTE, in my Taurus. I’d say thats pretty damn reliable. Oh by the way, it behaves the same way when fed JHP’s also.
I have owned and carried various pistols in the 1911 format for close to 40 years, 20 of those years as a law enforcement officer. They are always “cocked and locked ” and Not Once in all those years has any of them gone BANG unless I pulled the trigger. John Browning designed it to be carried “cocked and unlocked ” but the powers that were in the military at that time objected. If you’re not comfortable carrying the pistol this way, find a different format or practice to get some experience. Fumbling to rack the slide or pulling the… Read more »
Don: My experience has been the opposite. The 1911 does not point or feel right for me. Plus I am a fan of a ‘yank and crank’ handgun (read: revolver or semi auto with a Glock type trigger with no manual safety/decocker). Under a stressful situation the KISS principle is paramount. And you won’t find a more stressful situation than defending yourself with a handgun.
I carry a J Frame in 38 Special +P. I used to carry a full size S&W M&P.40, but I switched to a revolver for the dependability. While some may criticize the lack of capacity, I go with the theory of most shootings are three shots, inside three yards, in three seconds. I don’t personally imagine I will be getting in any protracted, long range firefights, and I feel like the ability to stick the gun in a baddies gut and pull the trigger without worrying about cycling issues is more important then having a magazine with 12 extra rounds… Read more »
I carry a Taurus 840C. .40 S&W. I know the .40 is what the LEOs carry, so I got it as my EDC. It is light and comfortable. I know the purists won’t touch a Taurus but with the price and lifetime warranty I don’t think I could go wrong. I’ve put 1000+ rounds through it without no malfunctions whatsoever. I have now purchased the TCP738 as a backup and I like shooting that as much as my .40.
Nothing has the knock down performance of a 1911 , 9mm and they are still coming for you.
A full size 1911 is the best for accuracy .
I live in New York on Long Island and that Fascist Governor Evil eyes Couomo has tried to enforce his illegal Safe Act.
Nothing stops a bad guy with a gun ,like a good guy with a gun.
Off-duty, I prefer my Springfield XDs, with Cor-Bon DPX 185-grain loads. Light, and has the perceived recoil of a G26. What I like about it is 1) grip safety; 2) loaded chamber indicator; 3) very light and unobtrusive.
I carry a Taurus ragin judge magnum and am very happy with the stopping power also.
I am 74yrs. old & my body went South 30yrs. ago. My back is the worst of the problems & the weight of a full size 1911 will have me walking sideways within an hour. There are a large number of older gun carrying folks down here in South Eastern North Carolina, & NONE of them carry a full sized 1911. I have gone through quite a few 9mm pistols, looking for that magic fit. No such luck. KEL-TEC came out with the PMR-30, this pistol is a 22WMR . The 22 Mag. is a devastating round with over 2,000ft.… Read more »
I carry a AMT 1911 redone by Wilson, except when its hot out or my clothing is limited and I will switch to something plastic and smaller.