not4you2know Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 For about a year and a half I've been shooting a HP Edge since I wasn't real sure what I wanted in a 2011. Prior to that I was shooting a Glock 24 and a 35 prior to that. The HP edge has been really good to me, but now I'm ready to move into a full custom gun and I've got everything nailed down except the length. The only real advantage I can find for a 5.5" and 6" light slide gun vs a 5", is the sight radius. I do like the 6" sight radius, but I'm still not sure what advantage what the longer length guns will give me. I hear lighter felt recoil and a lighter overall gun, but my thoughts are that the same can be achieved in a 5" light slide. Any help, ideas, and thoughts would be appreciated. Also, just to add. Any real advantage to a metal grip on a limited gun. The only one I see if for those monster handed guys, so they don't crush the grip. I have fairly normal to small hands. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRush Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 In addition to sight radius the longer barrels generally take less powder to make major. 5.4 can fit the IPSC box with a few tweaks if that matters to you. I'm building a light 6 now. I sold a very light slide 5" to fund it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dang It Dan Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 You can beat yourself up trying to unlock the "what length" debate for the next year. Until you actually handle a few, you won't really know what's right for you. Beg, barrow and steal everything you can a put a few rounds down range. That will answer your question much better than listening to everyone else's opinion. Don't ask me how I know. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not4you2know Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) You can beat yourself up trying to unlock the "what length" debate for the next year. Until you actually handle a few, you won't really know what's right for you. Beg, barrow and steal everything you can a put a few rounds down range. That will answer your question much better than listening to everyone else's opinion. Don't ask me how I know. Regards. Well, that's part of the problem. I shoot three matches a month and only one person I know shots a 6" and he doesn't like people to play with his toys.. 5.5", well, I've only seen pictures. Everyone shots either a Glock or a 5" 2011. Edited June 26, 2014 by not4you2know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I have both a 5" 9mm 1911 and a 6" .40 1911. I don't see a big difference except that the long one feels nose heavy (unbalanced) and the 5 seems more perfectly balanced in my hand. Sight radius: a 5" 1911 is actually something like 7" long at the sights so going an inch longer only increases sight radius by maybe 14% which is not really much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2MoreChains Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I have a 5" SLDC 2011 and a 6" built on a 2011 Tactical frame. The 5" is nothing special being a stock Eagle, but the 6" was my first custom build. A local GS who also competes (or maybe he's a local competitor who also gunsmiths...) built it for me. There was definitely an adjustment period to get used to the extra length and weight of the slide when doing transitions with the 6" gun, but I love it for the accuracy of the longer sight radius (plus the GS did a really nice job fitting the barrel). We took a little weight off the slide so now the overall weight of the gun is 38.0 oz, and that helped a little but mainly it was just a matter of getting used to it (hey, by comparison my 5" 1911's weigh about 39 oz...). That said, the next 2011 I have built is probably going to be a 5.5" gun. Sorry, that probably doesn't help you at all... LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) I ran long dust cover 5" guns before going to a light 6" then a 5.5" which splits the difference between the two. The longer sight radius helped my scores on the tough stages at the various Area matches and Nationals I've shot. Bottom line is I'd suggest either a 6" or 5.5" over a 5". After I got my old LDC 5" back I found that it transitions faster than the 6 and 5.5 but I got a little better scores with the longer guns due to the sight radius. Camerons can create an ass kicking/custom how you want it build. Brazos makes great guns too Edited June 26, 2014 by blaster113 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 A little gun porn here.... Cameron's Custom 5.5" with short dust cover frame and STI bull barrel. The 5.5" is exactly what it sounds like; splitting the difference between a light 6" and heavy 5" with a little slide lightening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRobson Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I say split the difference and then some. 5.5" sight tracker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not4you2know Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 A little gun porn here.... Cameron's Custom 5.5" with short dust cover frame and STI bull barrel. The 5.5" is exactly what it sounds like; splitting the difference between a light 6" and heavy 5" with a little slide lightening Man, looks like he really took some chunks out of that slide. I don't think I've seen cuts that big on any of his other guns. Maybe its just how close up it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajg308 Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 6 inch for the win. I would never believe how much difference that it makes, but that extra inch of sight radius is huge. It really makes hitting difficult targets a lot easier. The key is to have it lightened to the weight of a five inch. if you do that, you will not notice it being nose heavy at all, and your transitions and splits won't suffer either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjb45 Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 I shot a friend's Dawson Custom 6 inch. It was quite nice but not enough for me to change from my 5 inch SV. I believe Roy Neal had a 5.5 SV at last year's National. It was even better than the Dawson. A 5.5 Sight Tracker SV provides your with a little extra sight radius, front end weight for muzzle flip and a lightened slide. Pretty awesome combination. If I was to build a new gun, it would be a SV 5.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster113 Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 If I had the cash Id have SV build me a 5.4" sight tracker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cslafrain Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I have a 5.4 sight tracker and love it. Perfect combination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not4you2know Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 I have a 5.4 sight tracker and love it. Perfect combination. IMG_20140514_194325_090.jpgIMG_20140514_194424_118.jpg Who built it? Out of curiosity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not4you2know Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 SOOOO, as a personal update. The last couple of days I have managed to beg and borrow. This morning I took 4 guns out to the range, one being my 5" Brazos HP edge, to do a comparison. I'll list the guns and my a short and sweet synopsis of my findings below. My findings are solely based on my personal perception of each gun and my skill level. I also can't account for trigger differences with each gun. Mine is a 2.5lbs. The others seemed at 2lbs. All with 180 gn BBI at 170PF (through my 5"). The 5.5 still remains a mystery as I couldn't find anyone that owns one in the area. 1. Brazos 5" HP edge. LDC, tungsten guide rod, no slide lightning. 2. Unknown builder 5", LDC, tungsten guide rod, major slide lightning. 3. Unknown builder 6", SDC, Bushing barrel, light slide 4. Unknown builder 6", SDC, Bull barrel (no fluting), light slide, metal grip. The short and sweet is, the 6" guns are accurate as hell or should I say, I'm more accurate with one. With the light 5", I had better transitions and faster transition, reloads, and draw times, but not for the reason I thought. With the light 5" I was able to find and track the sights better during transitions, reloads and draws. This might be due to not enough time behind a 6" and I'm sure I could pick them up better given more time. I was able to get faster splits with the 6"s and my Accuracy was off the charts past 12 yards. Transitions appeared to be just as fast if not faster than the 5", but not tracking the sights well kinda blew this. I had no issues adjusting to the difference "feel" in recoil. The 6" Bushing gun, I felt, bounced a ton more than the other guns, but it was not unmanageable, I cant explain why, but the heavy bull barrel 6" shot flatter for me more than the 5"s guns. All of my logic would say the opposite. I expected a differences from the 5"s, but not the bushing 6". Maybe due to the heavier metal grip, but I didn't think it would make much difference if any. The metal grip felt really good in my hands although I did have a couple problems with reloads possibly from less grip give. If a 5.5" is truly what people say it is (the difference between a 6 and a 5) then I honestly might try one with a steel grip. I honestly now also believe that there is nothing a 5" can do, that a 6" cant do better. With practice. It's all about practice now isn't it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not4you2know Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 I have a 5.4 sight tracker and love it. Perfect combination. IMG_20140514_194325_090.jpgIMG_20140514_194424_118.jpg Wish I had one to try. The sight tracker is just as much a mystery to me as the 5.5. I can see where it would slow down the front sight during recoil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cslafrain Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) My 5.4 was built by Tim Calhoun of Calhoun Customs in Kingston Springs, TN. It is a STI long frame and an SV Barrel/Slide. Weight without mag is 39.2 ounces. Tim does all my work and will continue that way. I have 2 single stacks and 2 lim guns - both have run 100%. We are getting ready to change the grip to an SV Signature Ergonomics Aluminum Grip. The gun is the flattest running limited gun I have ever shot. Running 4.85gr of WST at 1.185 behind Black Bullets International 40-180 and Fiocchi primers with Brazos Tuned mags. Power factor at the last major match was 173,200. Edited June 29, 2014 by cslafrain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not4you2know Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 I don't think I've seen a 5.4 with a short dust cover yet. I figured the barrel would be enough front end weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z40acp Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I have a 5.4 sight tracker and love it. Perfect combination. IMG_20140514_194325_090.jpgIMG_20140514_194424_118.jpg Who makes the slide lock/ *thumb rest [generic]*? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cslafrain Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Nathan Carter at shootingsportsinnovations.com It's works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning40 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Six inch has noticeable less recoil than 5. I've not seen any advantage to metal grips. Get a good aluminum oxide grip texture and you'll never look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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