I don't own a XDs, but I've shot 'em...and I'll take the compact 1911 every time.

That better trigger that you mention? It'll also make it better for carry. It's one of the things that make 1911's as accurate as they are...and better accuracy is just as important on the street as it is on the range.

As for reliability..the XDS isn't proving itself to be a fantastically reliable platform either, and the latest generation of mini 1911's are more reliable than when they first came out.

Personally, with the exception of it not liking a couple of JHP's, my New Agent has been 100% reliable. It's only 2oz heavier than the XDs, and carries two more rounds on board.

Pocket carry...well, I don't pocket carry; I see no advantages. I can slip my holster into my waistband just as easily as I can slip a holster in my pocket. And I'll have a faster draw, should I need it.

 

I own a Colt Defender .45, an XD-s, and a Glock 27. The Glock, by far is the most reliable. The Colt, I would stake my life on, and the XD-s?, well the jury is still out on that. The XD-s is the best to carry, next is the Glock. The Defender is the least concealable gun of the 3. Each gun rides in a Cross Breed IWB.

 

I'm with Cuda on this.

I dont own either. But I will take a compact 1911 over the XDS any day. I own an XD and have shot 1911s. The trigger and lower bore axis make it easy to shoot and more accurate. Especially on rapid fire follow up shots as long ad you do your part.

I am seriously considering selling my XD 9 Service for a 1911. Had my eye on a 3" STI Spartan the other day.

 

Dont own a compact 1911 except for the Sig P238, you could call that a mini, I would take the SR1911 full 5" with my Mitch Rosen IWB before the XDs but it requires proper attire. The XDs is getting easier to carry, but I will change to the full size 1911 for the couple of months of winter we have. The SR is awesome and acually pretty easy to carry with the right IWB.

Back to topic: The XDs might be a little more comfy due to the slim lines and no safety etc. poking you like the 1911.

 

1911 for me. I have owned a XDS and sold it. I guess I am just to spoiled on the 1911 trigger. I like having 6/7 rounds with a standard mag.

 

I own a Colt Defender .45, an XD-s, and a Glock 27. The Glock, by far is the most reliable. The Colt, I would stake my life on, and the XD-s?, well the jury is still out on that. The XD-s is the best to carry, next is the Glock. The Defender is the least concealable gun of the 3. Each gun rides in a Cross Breed IWB.

This is almost word-for-word what I was going to type lol. Only I have a Kahr PM40 as well. My FAVORITE gun is my Colt Defender, most reliable (so far) G27, coolest is the Kahr PM40 and currently carrying my new XDS.

It really is an apples and oranges comparison. Striker fire vs. hammer fire. My Colt is in bad need of a tune up, it was my dads gun so have a lot value to me. The Kahr is an overpriced POS, I love that gun but have had many problems. The Glock I'd bet my life on and so far the XDS has really proven itself with 300 rounds and zero failure.

You will never replace the Colt, Kimber 1911 style pistol. By far my over all favorite ... but for day-to-day carry I like my XDS (so far) .. if only the trigger were as crisp as my Colt

 

I have both.
I really like my SIG 1911 Ultra Compact. 3.3" barrel, 7 rd mag.
I like my XDS also.
The XDS carries better in my mini-tuck.
The 1911 shoots better, but I prefer an OWB holster when I carry it.
For now the XDS is summer carry, the SIG is winter carry.
I'll keep both for a long time.

 

The most compact 1911 I own is an Officer's model, bought it 30 years ago and had to send it to Wilson Combat to make it reliable enough to carry. It was a jam fest. My new XDS has gone 300 rounds now without a problem and it's definately lighter, as well as smaller. I'm carrying the XDS personally.

 

Cuda,
You know when I finally get my hands on that New Agent, I will be telling my wife it's all your fault :twisted:.

Maybe I'm strange, but I am really diggin' the trench site concept :twisted:

 

Cuda,
You know when I finally get my hands on that New Agent, I will be telling my wife it's all your fault :twisted:.

Maybe I'm strange, but I am really diggin' the trench site concept :twisted:

I'll wear that crown...other friends have called me their "gun enabler" more than once...

And once you get used to the trench, it's pretty sweet. Although, right now, I am actually giving a fair test to a set of CT grips that I picked up ubercheap...I may actually have to admit that they may have a place on a carry pistol...but the jury is still out.

But enough on that, and back on topic....

Went to the local range again today; about a week or two ago, someone had their new XDs, and let me shoot it while I let them run my New Agent...his response at the time was "I like that a LOT more!(than his XDs)".

He was there today...with a Kimber 3" (UC II, maybe?). Nice pistol. Said that after running the Colt, he just didn't like his XDs nearly as much...

150 rounds of ball through it, and a couple mags of Golden Sabers...ran great.

I suspect that this might be a common occurrence if XDs owners shoot a good micro 1911...

 

Now that I (99% sure I'm hired) got a job , I must say an EMP .40 may be a nice reward to myself after a few weeks of work !

 

My EDC is a Kimber Ultra II. Like others said I don't pocket carry and if I did I'd have a Sig P238 not a XDs its too big for that job. I'm very confident my small 1911 it runs great, over 1500 trouble free rounds down range, its got a GREAT trigger and I can get all my fingers on the grip so I'll have faster follow up shots with greater accuracy and I have two more rounds in the magazine. As a nice bonus its a really nice looking gun in stainless steel with rosewood grips.

w/ all that said I'm seriously considering moving to a glock 9mm for EDC, either a 26 or a 19...

 

Now that I (99% sure I'm hired) got a job , I must say an EMP .40 may be a nice reward to myself after a few weeks of work !

If you can swing it, an EMP is an awesome weapon!

I have an XDS and an 9mm EMP. I find myself carrying the XDS 9 out of 10 times vs. the EMP. For me, the EMP is a little difficult to conceal due to a longer grip. It prints badly unless I hike my shorts up higher than I typically like.

But I'm in Houston; clothing is minimal with just a thin t-shirt and cargo shorts. If I wear a button up (or any patterned shirt) I can conceal the EMP much easier. Even just a darker colored shirt helps. In the winter I'm sure things will change once I start wearing a jacket or hoodie. I plan on getting the log man mag mods and having the butt of the grip rounded or bobbed.

I can't say I like one over the other. I love both guns and they both hold a specific role.

 

From what I can gather:

1. The people who do not own both (or even one of the topic items) say they would prefer the small 1911.

2. Those that actually have both seem to carry the XDS more, but like both platforms.

Just an observation, take it for what it's worth...

 

Here are three things I considered when pondering which .45 frame to purchase.

1. Maintenance. I like how the the striker fired guns break down and clean up.
2. Tolerence. Although the XDS has the XD badge, it seems slighlty less Xtreme Duty than my XD9. Those 1911's seem to be pretty tight guns and need regular TLC.
3. Price. I have looked at many small frame .45 pistols. I dont recall seeing a new compact .45 1911 frame for 529.95. But, its been a while. The ones I considered seemed near $800.00 and up.

 

I have been rolling these same questions around in my head now for a couple of weeks, and thinking of a new compact .45 over the XDS.

The RIA compact has got my attention, and is $100+ dolla less. If it was me, I'd go 1911 too.

 

I have been rolling these same questions around in my head now for a couple of weeks, and thinking of a new compact .45 over the XDS.

The RIA compact has got my attention, and is $100+ dolla less. If it was me, I'd go 1911 too.

Damn ! Buds has them $402.

And besides the short barrel seems its pretty standard milspec. Which means it has looser tolerances than high end 1911s.

 

I own a 1911, and it has been my go to firearm for years. Recently I rented a XDs at a local range here in las vegas, I have to admit the XDs surprised me with the smooth trigger, low recoil and the accuracy, the guy at the range state that over 5k rounds have been fired throught the xds. when I got the xds it was filthy, the first mag I had 2 fte, I sprayed it with wd40 and it worked like a clock.. all in all, I think the XDS will be a great carry firearm, but here in vegas they are going for $675 plus, for black, biotone are $750... untill then I well be on the waiting list... I like the XDs

 

I own both and prefer the XDS. Mine has been 100% reliable. It is a soft shooting small gun as well. But what really sold me on it is the accuracy! At 25 yards I am knocking the orange bullseye out of tje target. It is more accurate than my Colt Rail Gun!

 

I had an officers 1911 and loved it as a range gun. However as a carry weapon I wasn't too fond of the weapon. It was heavy and cumbersome and I'm only 5'9 160 so concealing it was pretty hard unless I wanted to look gangsta

 

I know this is a very old topic, and maybe there's not a lot of interest, but a few months ago I was looking for information on the same topic, and after buying my XDs (I have the 4" model), I wanted to share my experience and opinions.

Most of what I found were comparisons of holding the guns in hand and range shooting, but not actually carrying, and there are a few things that I've not seen anyone mention

In the hand:
I don't have a lot to say here...both guns feel great in my hands. The 1911 fits my hand better than the XDs without the grip extension, but with it, there's little difference in feel to me aside from polymer vs aluminum/wood. I don't have a strong preference here, but if I had to choose, the 1911 would win.

Shooting:
For me, both guns shoot equally well. The 1911 is more comfortable/fun to shoot, so if I were going to hit the range for a few hours I'd choose it, but I have range guns that serve that purpose. I make a point to run 2 mags through my carry guns each time I go to the range just so I stay familiar with them and I know they still function, but I don't put 100's of rounds through at a time. I have to concentrate a bit more to shoot as well with the XDs as I do with the 1911, but the difference is only slight, and I'm still more that proficient enough with the XDs for defensive purposes. I like the trigger on the 1911 better for the range, but I actually prefer the trigger on the XDs for carry. Again, I don't have a large preference, but if I had to choose, the 1911 would win again.

Carry:
I've carried a Springfield RO Compact .45 model 1911 for around 2 years. I love the gun...it shoots great, has a beautiful trigger, is pretty lightweight for a 1911, is more accurate than an Officer's model, and is an all around beautiful firearm. But for me, carrying a 1911 isn't without it's drawbacks. Although fairly lightweight for a 1911 (there are some that are a few oz's lighter, but not much), it's still on the heavy side for a carry gun, but that doesn't really bother me, because I typically enjoy the increased weight when shooting larger calibers. I don't love carrying with a thumb safety. Not only do I have to remember to disengage it if I ever have to use the firearm in a defensive situation, but it does make the gun wider, even if only at that one point. I usually carry with the thumb safety off, as you still have to activate the grip safety and trigger before it'll fire, but I just don't love it being there. The RO Compact has a very nice match trigger...probably the best trigger of any handgun I own, but I don't love it for carry. I figure in a high stress situation, that crisp 3-ish lb trigger with almost 0 travel could easily be stress fired. However, my biggest problem with carrying a 1911 is the beavertail. I'm not a...skinny guy, and my job requires me to be seated for about half of the work day. I carry in a Sticky Holster, which allows me to carry in whatever position I want, but there is nothing that I can do to keep the beavertail from digging into me and becoming uncomfortable after a few hours of sitting. When I'm standing it's fine, but in the car and at work, I can constantly feel it digging into my side. It's not bad enough to prevent me from carrying, but it's bad enough to be annoying. Enter the XDs. The XDs does everything for me that the 1911 does in a carry sense. It's chambered in 45 ACP, it's slim, it's accurate, it's reliable, and it has a good sight radius for a carry gun. It's about 4oz lighter, but that isn't a big deal to me, although I do notice the difference. However, it does 2 things for me that the 1911 cannot. First, I can choose to carry without the extended magazine. This is important for me when it's really hot out, because I tend to wear thinner tshirts, and my 1911 always printed in those, though not badly. My XDs however, doesn't print at all unless I pull the shirt tight around it if carrying with the flush magazine. More importantly, I don't have the issues with the thumb safety or trigger that I do with the 1911. There is no thumb safety, and the trigger is mushier, though still nice and crisp once you get through the "take up." Again, not as desirable at the range, but more desirable for carry. Most of all, I don't have that huge beavertail to worry about digging into my side, making the XDs far more comfortable to carry over the course of the day. The 1911 does have a round-count advantage, but if I can't do the job with 6-7 rounds, the additional 1-2 that the 1911 can handle probably wouldn't have made a difference. While I won't hesitate to carry my 1911, the XDs is the clear winner in this category for me.

Other thoughts:
Versatility:
One thing that I've not noticed anyone mention is versatility. While this specific example isn't really a big deal to me, and probably won't be to most people, the XDs does come with a rail from the factory. To my knowledge, there are no small-frame (officer's size) 1911's that come with a rail. The XDs, whether 3.3" or 4" does. This allows you to attach a flashlight and stick the gun on your nightstand, or a laser for the range (to be fair, you can get laser grips for the 1911). The XDs wins in versatility, if only by a small margin.

Customization:
If customizing is your thing, the 1911 is the clear winner. There are far more options to customize your 1911 than your XDs.

Reliability:
The XDs didn't have a great launch. There was at least 1 recall that I'm aware of and it had a few issues. However, those have since been worked out, and were never an issue in the .45 model if my understanding is correct. Small 1911's don't have the greatest reputation either, especially 3" Officer's models. I think that has improved greatly over the years, but I know several people who've had enough bad experiences that they avoid them. That being said, my personal experience with both is great, so I don't have a clear winner. Both of mine have been 100% reliable, as was my Kimber Ultra Carry II (I traded that for the RO Compact when I got it).

Overall, I prefer my 1911 for pretty much everything except for carrying, where the XDs wins out for comfort. I'm keeping the RO Compact because it is probably my favorite pistol, but the XDs is my new go-to for EDC.

 

Very nice comparison review, @Mr_Springer_1911
Well done.

 

I have a Para Expert Carry and the XDS. My experience and thoughts echo those of Mr. Springer 1911 above.
I can shoot the Para better and quicker than the XDS. The XDS conceals and carries better than the 1911 but only by a slight margin. As for reliability both have been outstanding with well over 1k rounds through the Para and about half that through the XDS with only a few hiccups with magazines in the Para and no issues as of yet with the XDS.

I find myself reaching for the 1911 for well over 90% of the time and grabbing the XDS for the hottest of summer days when a t-shirt and shorts are the dress of the day. I trust both guns to defend myself and my family and wouldn't hesitate to use either one.

 

I just haven't ever been a fan of the 1911.... (I know.. I know.... heresy..... let the flames begin)..... but Not much of a fan of the XDS either, as much as I love my two XDM's... the S didn't excite me much. I do like the Shield better. However, the Kahr CW line has been better for me than any of the above.

Based on the OP question, I would have to lean towards the 1911, even though I don't like 'em much, they are great shooters, and even the small 1911 model I shot ran really well.