zipper046 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Hey all! Long time shooter here and current LE. Issued a G22, carried a G27 for awhile for off-duty. Being very familiar with 1911's (shoot a Para P16.40, Kimber Classic Gold Match .45acp, Springer Loaded 1911 in .40....), I switched to a Kimber Tactical Ultra due to it's slimmer profile, but unfortunately had alot of issues. Traded it away for a Sig P938. GREAT little gun, accurate, easy to conceal...but too little for my hands. So, looking to go back to the 1911. I've decided on a "CCO" platform (~4" upper on Officer's frame). Looking for some experienced input on the following selections I've made (3.96" - 4" barrels): 1) Sig Sauer RCS 2) STI Tactical SS 3.0 3) Springfield RO Compact 4) Kimber CDP II Compact 5) DW CCO I'm leaning towards the Sig RCS due to positive reviews I've read, checkering, lightweight, night sights. I would only need ambi-safeties (I'm lefty). I do like Kimber (have a Classic Gold Match that shoots lights out)...but have read mixed reviews and had a bad experience with the Tactical Ultra I had (loved the gun, fit & pointed well, just unreliable...a "NO GO" in my world)..perhaps the CDP Compact is fine?? DW is just a bit above my price point.... Other alternatives are the following (3.25" barrels): 1) STI Lawman 3.0 2) Springer Loaded Ultra 3) Sig Ultra I know this has been hashed out many times, but I love this forum and the vast experience of the shooters on it, so looking for some true input from shooters with experience on any of the above platforms... Thanks! Z- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OPENB Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Though not on your list, I have a Springfield EMP in 9mm that is just a fantastic little gun. Night sights, ambi safety. Frame is not checkered, but I like skateboard tape better. I replaced the locking steel mainspring housing with a polymer STI to shave a little more weight. They make it in 40 also to match your duty ammo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowsSon683 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Have you thought about carrying a full sized 1911. That's what I do, but of course I'm a full frame kind of guy as you can see from my pic, and you may not be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper046 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Though not on your list, I have a Springfield EMP in 9mm that is just a fantastic little gun. Night sights, ambi safety. Frame is not checkered, but I like skateboard tape better. I replaced the locking steel mainspring housing with a polymer STI to shave a little more weight. They make it in 40 also to match your duty ammo. OPENB...yes, forgot to put it on the list! I am exploring the EMP in .40....would match duty ammo and I reload .40 for competition. Only issue I have....is the EMP same size as a P938? If it's only marginally larger, may still have to go with a 1911 (i have large hands)...if the EMP is similar in size to a 3" 1911 then that may be the ticket! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper046 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Have you thought about carrying a full sized 1911. That's what I do, but of course I'm a full frame kind of guy as you can see from my pic, and you may not be. Hi WidowsSon683...I tried it when I first began CCW...I'm 6'2", 215lbs....with no BUTT! LOL!...longer 5" barrel gave me some fits IWB at 7:00 - 8:00 position (I'm lefty)...would hit the seat when I sat down and push the gun up into my ribs....when I leaned forward it printed horribly through my jeans/pants (again...no butt...) My G27 (with +1 extension) is great...just too thick. I did carry a G23 for awhile so a CCO seems for me the route to go.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
co-exprs Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Of the guns on your list the STI Lawman and DW CCO are the only two with forged frames, real match barrels, tool steel internals and no firing pin block. The STI is probably the better value and best customer service. The Dan Wesson will be hand fit and the best shooting pistol of the group. This is really important as small 1911s are known to be less reliable than full sized ones. Springfield gets an honorable mention too, because it really only lacks decent trigger parts to be on par with the STI ($250 trigger job). Sorry, but Kimber is in my opinion the worst 1911 brand on the market. Way over priced and pretty sorry parts and build quality. Kimber customer service is lacking too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WidowsSon683 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I carry mine at about the 3 oclock position. Only problem I have is I have to carry almost vertical. If I cant it the grip prints pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper046 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Of the guns on your list the STI Lawman and DW CCO are the only two with forged frames, real match barrels, tool steel internals and no firing pin block. The STI is probably the better value and best customer service. The Dan Wesson will be hand fit and the best shooting pistol of the group. This is really important as small 1911s are known to be less reliable than full sized ones. Springfield gets an honorable mention too, because it really only lacks decent trigger parts to be on par with the STI ($250 trigger job). Sorry, but Kimber is in my opinion the worst 1911 brand on the market. Way over priced and pretty sorry parts and build quality. Kimber customer service is lacking too. Thanks co-exprs! I agree about Kimber...bad experience with the Tactical Ultra I had from them...my older Classic Gold Match is good, but that was back in the Kimber hey-day when their quality was good and they were building brand recognition.... The STI Lawman is one of the smaller 1911's I'm considering.....3.25" barrel is right in between the 3" 1911's (of which there is debate about reliability) and the 4" 1911's (of which there seems to be less issues w/ reliability). The 3.25" barrel will give greater concealability when I carry OWB.....I usually carry IWB (of course until I pack on a few holiday pounds! LOL) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p7fl Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Why not one of Gunsite's Colt CCOs? I have two that are my EDC. Changed the slide stops and had Trijicon add inserts. Mags are from Tripp. Guns are Series 70. Easy to conceal, light to carry and reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper046 Posted December 18, 2014 Author Share Posted December 18, 2014 Why not one of Gunsite's Colt CCOs? I have two that are my EDC. Changed the slide stops and had Trijicon add inserts. Mags are from Tripp. Guns are Series 70. Easy to conceal, light to carry and reliable. These are great too....just very hard to find...there is one on GB, but listing around $1700....too steep for this humble civil servant... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickb45 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I've been carrying a commander size 1911 for a while. It feels great as far as balance, I can share mags with my other 1911s and it's not a bad shooter. I bobtailed and it helps a lot with concealing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al503 Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 I have the DW CCO (which has a 4.25" bbl). Its my EDC. The only issues I had were the front strap stippling and the grip panels. No issues if my hands were completely clean and dry but not so much if my hands had any sweat on them. I switched out the panels to something more aggressive and put a strip of the Talon rubber grip tape on the front strap. Its perfect now. Accuracy is less than an inch at 10 yards and I've only tried 2 different types of ammo in it. DW is coming out with a new model that has 25 LPI checkering on front strap and mainspring housing but its expected to be more expensive. I got the CCO from Bud's for less than $1300 shipped a few months ago. Seems like their price changes almost everyday from slightly below to slightly above $1300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bountyhunter Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 Hey all! Long time shooter here and current LE. Might want to consider a couple of things, since this gun will be used to defend your life: 1) The cycling reliability of the 1911 is inversely proportional to barrel length. My 5" 1911's have fired so many rounds without a hangup I could not even estimate. But (in general) shorter 1911's do not cycle as well. Even very good ones like STI have this effect, although you can get them to work well if tuned up right. 2) Short barrels do not give enough velocity for many of th "defense rounds" to attain sufficient velocity to get the hollow point heads to expand which significantly reduces stopping power. There was a robbery attempt at our range some year back and a store worker (who packed a compact 1911) put two .45's in the guys chest and neither wound was fatal becaue neither bullet expanded. They were both through and through and the guy ran away and got a block before dropping. He lived. I love 1911' and in fact shoot one every week, but I would not choose a compact version as a defense gun. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesterno Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 i've been thinking about one of these CCO sizes for CCW myself. I tried a SA lightweight operator, but the full size grips dig into my full size ass. I really love DW stuff and had a valor, but I can't justify the price. 1300 is almost double what the new RO compact seems to be going for. I'm going to check into it more and be following these threads for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) Hello: I have used a STI VIP in 40. Lightweight and small size. Maybe I should go back to carrying it again since it is just sitting in the safe. The Kimber Solo is a good carry also. I don't own one but have shot a couple of them. Damn, now I want another carry gun. Thanks, Eric Edited December 18, 2014 by Aircooled6racer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirpy Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 You might try to find a Colt Officers ACP LW. Love mine and it is one of my primary CCW. Shoot it in the other competition just to keep my hand in with it. FWIW Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper046 Posted December 19, 2014 Author Share Posted December 19, 2014 Hello: I have used a STI VIP in 40. Lightweight and small size. Maybe I should go back to carrying it again since it is just sitting in the safe. The Kimber Solo is a good carry also. I don't own one but have shot a couple of them. Damn, now I want another carry gun. Thanks, Eric Eric, How did you like carrying the VIP? How does it compare in size to a Glock 27 or 23? (the two I have carried in the past)....I like the VIP, shot one a long time ago, but I'm looking for something thinner than the current "Blocks" I carry.... LOL... Z- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted December 19, 2014 Share Posted December 19, 2014 The EMP 9mm is the answer. Too bad they don't make it in a commander size. The shortened action works great with 9mm ammo, unlike other 9mm 1911s which I would not trust for carry. I would not consider the .40 because it has a steel frame, but other than that I'd imagine it's the same as the 9mm with regard to reliability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotrodder Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 For me it is the STI Escort. I am 5-7" and 168# so it makes it easy to conceal. I have the 9mm version. It has been great to shoot and still holds 8 plus 1 with the shorter grip. It is very accurate with Hornady ammo and I feel the 9mm makes for quicker and more accurate follow up shots for me. Good luck on your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GSonnen Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 (edited) I've carried a. Colt New Agent as a CCW for the past 2 years. Its been 100% reliable and carries very nicely due to the lite weight. The trench sights take some training. I trust this pistol. Edited December 20, 2014 by GSonnen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aglifter Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I'm very fond of my VIP in 38 Super. About the same size as a G23 though, if not a little larger. Of that list, I'd go w STI. I'm not familiar with Dan Wessons, I am familiar enough with current Kimber's to suggest staying far, far away - frankly, their guns are so bad, someone should probably bring a class-action suit against them for deceptive trade practices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I just bought a commander S&W 1911sc for carry as I am moving away from the Glock platform. I have found it to be absolutely perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bjay Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I just posted on what back up ccw to get..what about Dw eco 3.5" comes in 9mm or 45..its lightweight and much cheaper than sti's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhittin Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Re: bountyhunter - When you go below 4.25" I think it is a significant factor. I am comfortable carrying a fully custom 4" cmdr but that is only because I know the weapon is dependable AND the ammo is selected for adequate muzzle velocity. IMHO you can't go wrong with a DW commander. Great value, high quality. For a less expensive option, also consider the Sig RCS or similar model. You can't beat the price/feature combination. Whatever direction you go, I highly recommend LOTS of defensive pistol practice with it (dry fire and significant live fire). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steviesterno Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 I just posted on what back up ccw to get..what about Dw eco 3.5" comes in 9mm or 45..its lightweight and much cheaper than sti's where are you seeing DW for less than the little STIs? those single stacks seem to be about a grand and DW 1300-1500 depending on what day of the week I look. it's only when you get to STI double stacks that they jump in price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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