Tcotter2629 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 I am looking to buy my first open gun and i am wondering if anyone can shed some light on the differences between the lengths performance wise. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver_Surfer Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 If you already have a smith/builder selected I'd ask him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aircooled6racer Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Hello: Do a search and you will get lots of answers. I like a full size 5.5", no barrel holes and 9mm. A good used STI TruBor 9mm will take you to GM if you have it in you. Thanks, Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geraldskip Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Tcotter2629 said: I am looking to buy my first open gun and i am wondering if anyone can shed some light on the differences between the lengths performance wise. Thanks A lot of it is weight preferences and feeling how the recoil cycle is. But a lot of that can be adjusted with springs. Personally I think it is mostly cosmetic, with a slight lean towards the shorties for weight savings. But like all 1911s, the shorter you get, the reliability is more difficult to get perfect. If your smith knows what he is doing, it shouldn’t be a problem, but just FYI. My suggestion is to buy cheap for your first gun and find out what you like, then go custom for second or third gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Posted March 4, 2019 Buy what you like the looks of, you WILL get used to whatever it is, once you shoot it enough. Local master shot a shorty to master years ago, then all the other masters had 5.5 guns built so he did also. Last year he had a shorty built again! Guess what out of the same 3-4 guys, whoever shoots better that day wins. Don't think the gun length made or makes a bit of difference. FWIW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianATL Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 Get one that works reliably you will get used to the timing of it. All of them work I have tried all 3 lengths personally prefer the mid length Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDAHOAASHOOTER Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 (edited) Try to find a used one locally, something you have seen run alot. Shoot the hell out of it, figure what you really like and wanna have. Then build your new one the season after. Just my 2cents You might love or hate different lengths. It's all personal preference. Edited March 6, 2019 by IDAHOAASHOOTER Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_striker Posted March 6, 2019 Share Posted March 6, 2019 It's not often this happens, but every single post in this thread is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanm Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 I agree, buy which one you like the looks of and learn to shoot it. I have had atleast one in each length. I prefer a middy with steel grip because I like the balance, but I can shoot them all about the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posvar Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 On 3/5/2019 at 2:45 PM, BrianATL said: Get one that works reliably you will get used to the timing of it. All of them work I have tried all 3 lengths personally prefer the mid length This! Everyone always told me to shoot an open gun at least 5k rounds and then decide what you think you prefer and like. It takes a bit to get used to the specific gun as far as impulse and cycle speed etc. Once you are in tune with that it’s a beautiful thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcotter2629 Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 On 3/6/2019 at 12:15 AM, IDAHOAASHOOTER said: Try to find a used one locally, something you have seen run alot. Shoot the hell out of it, figure what you really like and wanna have. Then build your new one the season after. Just my 2cents You might love or hate different lengths. It's all personal preference. I agree lol this has had some awesome info. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiroshi Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 I think you should look into Atlas Gunworks Chaos or you can have them make you a custom open gun, but off course the price will increase depending how much custom work you wanted done. https://atlasgunworks.com/product/atlas-gunworks-chaos-uspsa-open-pistol/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 29, 2019 Share Posted March 29, 2019 On 3/4/2019 at 6:12 PM, geraldskip said: My suggestion is to buy cheap for your first gun and find out what you like, then go custom for second or third gun ^^^^ True Dat ^^^^^^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzt Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I took the advice you have been given and bought a good, used, fully custom 2011 Open gun. I shot it for one season and bought a less expensive, used 2011 Open gun as a backup. After two seasons I pretty much knew what I wanted and how I wanted the gun to handle. So I started ordering parts for a custom build. That build is now complete and it came out exactly as I had hoped. I like it so much I'm going to sell the other two and build an identical copy of the new one as a backup. I could never have done that if I had not shot the other guns, and friends, to decide what I liked and didn't. It would be extremely unlikely you get the perfect custom gun, for you, on your very first try. You are new to Open, and you don't know what you don't know. There is a lot to learn and some of it is eye opening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximis228 Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 Stay in the game long enough and you will see all 3 being shot by the top guys. Each has their own merits and they seem to cycle in popularity if you look far enough back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted April 2, 2019 Share Posted April 2, 2019 I had all FOUR sizes: short, medium, long and VERY long, and eventually settled on medium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenAlpha Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 10 hours ago, Foxbat said: I had all FOUR sizes: short, medium, long and VERY long, and eventually settled on medium. What do you consider medium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 SVI IMM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lastcat Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 18 hours ago, BenAlpha said: What do you consider medium? I'm with Ben on this one. What does one consider Medium in inches? Short, Long and extra Long? It is about the barrel length, correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echotango Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 4.5", 5", 5.4". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lastcat Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 34 minutes ago, echotango said: 4.5", 5", 5.4". Thanks! Shorty = 4.5" Middy = 5." Long = 5.4" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Furrly Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 13 minutes ago, Lastcat said: Thanks! Shorty = 4.5" Middy = 5." Long = 5.4" Is this the length of the slide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echotango Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 2 minutes ago, Furrly said: Is this the length of the slide Barrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posvar Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 ^^^Barrel length minus the comp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posvar Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Comp is usually 2 more inches. My new Limcat is a mid length gun at 7” total Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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