[drs1321]

I have always carried a glock 23 in the winter and a 27 or J frame in the summer. I shoot them all well, but sometimes it's hard to fully conceal the 23 and 27 like I'd prefer. My favorite range gun is a 5" S&W 1911 .45, and I have fallen in love with the .45 round. Hell, the only reason I carry the 23 and 27 is because my department issues us a glock .40 and I wanted to stay consistent when carrying for off duty functions (which I'll still do. However, now I'm thinking I want a 4.25 inch 1911 to carry. Is there anyone who used to carry a double stack, glock 27 or xd sc...something along those lines and now carries a 4.25 1911 and finds it easier? Or harder to conceal/ carry?

 

[jfdavis58]

I carried a XD45 for several years (4 in variety) and now carry a SA 1911, (4 in variety). Not really much of a carry difference if your skill set includes significant trigger time with each firearm. As a concealed carry civilian I don't (cannot) depend on fire power to keep me out of trouble so the round count differential is also insignificant; I've always carried at least one reload, out walking with a jacket I carry enough to be balanced. What will make a great deal of carry difference is a carry melt/meld job on the 1911. Straight up, many 1911s are like carrying a small club wound with barbed wire. There is also a lot more metal to be heated by your body so that first touch in the morning is a bit of a hair raiser. I use a comp-tac IWB at 3-4 o'clock and their matching on the belt mag carrier.

 

[drs1321]

So obviously it's a lot heavier to carry, I'd assume anyway, as it's an all metal gun..but does the single stack thinness make it a bit easier?

 

[ichy_trigger]

I have carried the gun in my avatar picture for 6 years now. Its a SA LW Compact which is an officers aluminum frame with a commander length slide. Its been a great gun, not all that heavy, super accurate and thinner profile than the XD Sub I used to carry. In the next few weeks I plan to order a 3" gun in the same basic configuration (STI Escort) because I find that my shorter shirts and jackets dont cover the end of the barrel like I would like them to at times. I also dont like the extra inch of barrel digging into my hip when I carry IWB.

I suggest you check out the alloy/aluminum framed guns built on the officer sized frame unless you need the extra grip length of the full size. With after market mags, you still get 7 in the mag and 1 in the chamber. If you can deal with a 3' barrel, your down to 22.8 oz. Same gun with a steel frame comes in at 31.3 oz. Add another inch or so of barrel and your up a little more. You can also switch out to thin grips and shed a bit more weight and some more bulk.

Check out STI guns, they are truly a top notch choice with customer service that wont be beat.
STI International - Complete Gun Index

 

[ichy_trigger]

So obviously it's a lot heavier to carry, I'd assume anyway, as it's an all metal gun..but does the single stack thinness make it a bit easier?

I can carry my Compact 1911 OWB almost as easy as I was able to carry my XD sub IWB. Yes, the thiness of the 1911 is MUCH easier to conceal. With the right IWB holster, you can carry under a T-shirt very easily.

 

[BG_Atl]

I used to carry an XDm.40 3.8 in a CBST.... then decided that for
CC I wanted something a bit smaller (especially in the grip) and
got a Kimber Ultra Carry TLE II.

The Kimber has become of EDC and I carry it OC and CC (CC in a CBST again...) no complaints from me...

 

[Dirty Rod]

So obviously it's a lot heavier to carry, I'd assume anyway, as it's an all metal gun..but does the single stack thinness make it a bit easier?

Actually, if you look into an alloy gun it's about the same weight. I believe my LW Champion is 30oz empty, my Kimber is 28oz, and my XD Compact is 30. With the extra 2 rounds an alloy 1911 will probably be a little lighter especially if you throw in an extra mag. Steel isn't that much worse with a good holster and belt. My steel "Commander" length 1911s are 35-36 oz.

As to being thinner, if you measure the 1911 is not that much thinner. It FEELS a lot thinner because it's more rounded especially if you have the carry melt that JfDavis58 mentioned. With the slide down in the holster the top of the frame is about the same width although I have a SS Champion with an ambi that measures wider than the XD if you include the ambi.

I switched over to a Kimber about 3 years ago after 3 years with the XD Compact. Since the grip is generally the hardest part to conceal, I'd suggest taking a look at Compacts/CCOs if you are going to look at commanders. Same 4-4.25" slide but it has an officers frame so you lose 1/2-3/4" of grip and 1 round (7 round mag). I bought a LB Stinger and it will probably replace my Kimber as my primary carry. Worth a look.

 

[ichy_trigger]

Actually, if you look into an alloy gun it's about the same weight. I believe my LW Champion is 30oz empty, my Kimber is 28oz, and my XD Compact is 30. With the extra 2 rounds an alloy 1911 will probably be a little lighter especially if you throw in an extra mag. Steel isn't that much worse with a good holster and belt. My steel "Commander" length 1911s are 35-36 oz.

As to being thinner, if you measure the 1911 is not that much thinner. It FEELS a lot thinner because it's more rounded especially if you have the carry melt that JfDavis58 mentioned. With the slide down in the holster the top of the frame is about the same width although I have a SS Champion with an ambi that measures wider than the XD if you include the ambi.

I switched over to a Kimber about 3 years ago after 3 years with the XD Compact. Since the grip is generally the hardest part to conceal, I'd suggest taking a look at Compacts/CCOs if you are going to look at commanders. Same 4-4.25" slide but it has an officers frame so you lose 1/2-3/4" of grip and 1 round (7 round mag). I bought a LB Stinger and it will probably replace my Kimber as my primary carry. Worth a look.

See my comparison above between the 3" steel and the Alloy frame. The alloy frame (from STI) sheds 8.5 oz. Thats half a pound.

 

[Dirty Rod]

See my comparison above between the 3" steel and the Alloy frame. The alloy frame (from STI) sheds 8.5 oz. Thats half a pound.

I didn't go there since he was talking about 4-4.25" guns and XDs but 22.5oz is pretty light. My wifes EMP is 26oz.

 

[Cuda66]

I used to (and still occasioanlly do) carry doublestack Glock .45's...a 1911 is a breeze compared to them.

And I carry a 5" gov't model.

Good holster, good belt...makes all the difference when it comes to carry.

 

[msc4570]

A 1911 is the only pistol that I find really comfortable to carry IWB, which for the way that I carry and dress allows me the best concealment yet accessibility of my pistol. I carry a full size steel 1911 but the weight and size are more unnoticed by me than my other pistols carried OWB. I believe the good sturdy belt and quality holster aid in this.

 

[primeduck]

Is there anyone who used to carry a double stack, glock 27 or xd sc...something along those lines and now carries a 4.25 1911 and finds it easier? Or harder to conceal/ carry?

I have a XD45 Compact and a Kimber Stainless Pro Carry II (4"). I find that the 1911 platform is thinner/lighter than the XD and conceals/carries better. If I didn't like my XD as much as I do, I'd carry the Kimber 100% of the time.

That being said, I carry the 1911 during the summer months & the XD in Winter months. I love both guns!

 

[jfdavis58]

So obviously it's a lot heavier to carry, I'd assume anyway, as it's an all metal gun..but does the single stack thinness make it a bit easier?

Alloy frames have already been mentioned and I got called away before your response so others have probably hashed the weight difference enough to give you the info you need. Heavy on the hip is offset by a good belt/holster. I get a new gun belt every two to three years and that really does make the difference.

What I've found that really helps is 'smooth'. Smooth is comfort. Snug against the body and smooth. While this is mostly the gun it applies to clothing and belts and anything that comes close to the body. I spent a whole afternoon knocking sharp edges off the kydex holster and it was already a well made item. I take (sneak) the gun with me into dressing rooms when I buy clothes, I check for rough stitches on belts and hard sharp edges on any belt tool or holder/ holster.

The gun is heavy; no way around that. Heavier still when loaded but then...

Maybe it's a mental thing with me, but I carry what I like to shoot. 1911's are among my favorites-they make me happiest. Sometimes I carry an old beat up gun, worn by the holster and obviously shot enough to be completely seasoned. Other times I grab a bi-tone with fancy grip panels and other extras. If I ever need to stop some miscreant, it will be with a smile on my face.

 

[yocan]

techincally the width isn't that big but only at the safety, and the safety is at the point where its the tightest to yor body/has the best concealment due to your belt, the muzzle and grip are both drastically narrower/flatter/softer lines so much much easier to conceal.

I've found 4"/4.25" and bobbed is the way to go. I'm getting a S&W E series cause it was the heaviest commander (4.25) I could find that I really liked. If weight bothers you I would go 4.00 bobbed. I would not trust my life to something shorter, or my ability to shoot after getting hit to something shorter (as in thrown into a wall not shot)

For mental and physical comfort I like break over holsters. only issue is technically it does make it wider but it covers the outside safety on an ambi (a plus to me) I did like my cross breed but once in a blue moon I've knocked the safety off. I'm going with one of these I think when I get home Andrews Custom Leather mcdaniels II.

If you aren't using an ambi and you don't worry about people trying to pull it out on you, supertucks a great way to go.

 

[nateroach]

Same here as several of the other guys. I have a 5" Kimber Eclipse, and 4" XD9 that I carry. Typically I carry the Kimber in the winter and the XD in the summer. the 1911 is actually quite comfortable to carry (I use a Crossbreed Super tuck for both guns) it is just a little long and tends to dig in at my hip if I am going to be sitting much. the thinner profile of the 1911 makes it pretty easy to conceal, and the grip tucks up nice and tight to your body which makes it easier.

That being said, I am in the market for a 4-4.25" 1911 that I can CC in place of the 5" Kimber. I would love to go with a bobbed frame like a V-bob, or Super Carry, but we will have to see if funds allow for the additional cost. I think the Bobbed frame would be perfect for me, as I don't want to sacrifice grip length (I have big hands) but is still more concealable than a standard gov frame.

 

[ArmyGuy45]

Good holster, good belt...makes all the difference when it comes to carry.

This!!!

 

[drs1321]

techincally the width isn't that big but only at the safety, and the safety is at the point where its the tightest to yor body/has the best concealment due to your belt, the muzzle and grip are both drastically narrower/flatter/softer lines so much much easier to conceal.

I've found 4"/4.25" and bobbed is the way to go. I'm getting a S&W E series cause it was the heaviest commander (4.25) I could find that I really liked. If weight bothers you I would go 4.00 bobbed. I would not trust my life to something shorter, or my ability to shoot after getting hit to something shorter (as in thrown into a wall not shot)

For mental and physical comfort I like break over holsters. only issue is technically it does make it wider but it covers the outside safety on an ambi (a plus to me) I did like my cross breed but once in a blue moon I've knocked the safety off. I'm going with one of these I think when I get home Andrews Custom Leather mcdaniels II.

If you aren't using an ambi and you don't worry about people trying to pull it out on you, supertucks a great way to go.

The e-series is also the gun im looking at purchasing. I dig it.

 

[drs1321]

Alloy frames have already been mentioned and I got called away before your response so others have probably hashed the weight difference enough to give you the info you need. Heavy on the hip is offset by a good belt/holster. I get a new gun belt every two to three years and that really does make the difference.

What I've found that really helps is 'smooth'. Smooth is comfort. Snug against the body and smooth. While this is mostly the gun it applies to clothing and belts and anything that comes close to the body. I spent a whole afternoon knocking sharp edges off the kydex holster and it was already a well made item. I take (sneak) the gun with me into dressing rooms when I buy clothes, I check for rough stitches on belts and hard sharp edges on any belt tool or holder/ holster.

The gun is heavy; no way around that. Heavier still when loaded but then...

Maybe it's a mental thing with me, but I carry what I like to shoot. 1911's are among my favorites-they make me happiest. Sometimes I carry an old beat up gun, worn by the holster and obviously shot enough to be completely seasoned. Other times I grab a bi-tone with fancy grip panels and other extras. If I ever need to stop some miscreant, it will be with a smile on my face.

I think you hit the nail on the head as to why i want a 1911 carry piece in the first place. When I go to the range, my 5" is the one I'm itching to shoot. And when shooting, I think to myself "damn! I wish my carry gun was this smooth and fun". You can be glad to know there will be another guy out there willing to stop a miscreant with a smile on his face and a beautiful gun in his hand!!

 

[ichy_trigger]

I think you hit the nail on the head as to why i want a 1911 carry piece in the first place. When I go to the range, my 5" is the one I'm itching to shoot. And when shooting, I think to myself "damn! I wish my carry gun was this smooth and fun". You can be glad to know there will be another guy out there willing to stop a miscreant with a smile on his face and a beautiful gun in his hand!!

1911's can be a work of art as much as a tool/weapon. It's hard to look at a plastic gun and see any personality in it.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

A perspective on weight. I've lost nearly 50lb in the last year. That was like carrying around the Costco bag of rice with me wherever I went. A couple of ounces on the firearm makes little difference to me. Smooth and comfortable. Find a setup that stays put, and doesn't print blatantly. May take a little experimentation, and it can cost some money, because everybody is shaped differently, and advice from other people may not fit you well. It may well be worth it, to find a way to carry what you like to fire.