1911 for carry option

[larry1096]

On 5/26/2025 at 6:18 PM, deerslayer said:

I’ve carried a Springfield EMP 4” off and on for years.  The EMP action is 1/8” shorter than a standard 1911 because it was designed from the ground up for 9mm and .40 length cartridges.  If you want to carry a 9mm 1911, there’s nothing better IMO.  

Yep. Also helps those of us with short fingers!

Larry

[Fast Jimmy]

Since March of 2019 one of my warmer weather carry guns has been a Dan Wesson Valkyrie Commander in 9mm.

Years ago I had a Colt Stainless Lightweight Commander XS (NOT XSE) and I had Mitch Rosen make a 5JR for it.
The Colt got too valuable to carry so I sold it but kept the 5JR and that's what the Dan Wesson rides in.

I've owned several 1911s and the Dan Wesson is the finest I've ever owned.
Fit and finish are superb and it's a very pleasant gun to shoot.

In February of this year I bought a 3.6" S&W CSX E-Series  and put a SIG Romeo-X 6MOA on it.
The Dan Wesson has actually been put in the safe.

Cheers
James

[HailDarkAle]

A 1911 is not drop safe. It was a great side-piece for years but modern handguns have surpassed the 1911 in all categories when it comes to carry arms. This is all coming from a guy who LOVES his 1911s...

[leroy]

2 minutes ago, HailDarkAle said:

A 1911 is not drop safe. It was a great side-piece for years but modern handguns have surpassed the 1911 in all categories when it comes to carry arms. This is all coming from a guy who LOVES his 1911s...

Can't buy this one.   My SR1911 has a titanium firing pin.  Drop, no kaboom.  The 1911 has a rebounding firing pin.  It takes a heavy strike ( like the hammer falling ) to set em off.   Eighty series..... Firing pin block.  A solution for a miniscule problem. 

I think the " drop safe " thing is a a once in a blue moon thing. It panders to the novice gun handlers.  The first rule of using firearms other than not pointing em at anything ya don't want ta shoot is to keep em in your firm possession at all times at all costs.  Remember; the 1911 was designed as a calvary pistol.  Troopers used the 1911 effectively astride galloping horses--- one handed no less...

No " modern " pistol has surpassed the trigger on the 1911.   Your mileage may vary.

leroy.

[HailDarkAle]

6 minutes ago, leroy said:

Can't buy this one.   My SR1911 has a titanium firing pin.  Drop, no kaboom.  The 1911 has a rebounding firing pin.  It takes a heavy strike ( like the hammer falling ) to set em off.   Eighty series..... Firing pin block.  A solution for a miniscule problem. 

I think the " drop safe " thing is a a once in a blue moon thing. It panders to the novice gun handlers.  The first rule of using firearms other than not pointing em at anything ya don't want ta shoot is to keep em in your firm possession at all times at all costs.  Remember; the 1911 was designed as a calvary pistol.  Troopers used the 1911 effectively astride galloping horses--- one handed no less...

No " modern " pistol has surpassed the trigger on the 1911.   Your mileage may vary.

leroy.

I don't consider the trigger to be a threshold when it comes to a deciding factor when it comes to an EDC between a 1911 and a striker-fired pistol. The 1911 will ALWAYS have a better trigger; however, the trade-off is having a hammer which can get caught on clothing in a quick-draw scenario.

1911s are definitely not drop-safe. An accidental drop is perfectly possible even with someone who is staunch about keeping their firearm secured: hence the term "accidental". Garand Thumb did a drop test with handguns including the 1911 and even the 2011. A free firing pin in the 1911 has enough inertia to ingnite a .45ACP primer upon a drop. That's all there is to it.

[leroy]

8 minutes ago, HailDarkAle said:

I don't consider the trigger to be a threshold when it comes to a deciding factor when it comes to an EDC between a 1911 and a striker-fired pistol. ...

1911s are definitely not drop-safe. An accidental drop is perfectly possible ....

As I said... " Your mileage may vary "...

Carry what ya like.  Believe what ya like. Give advice as ya like, but don't expect everyone to agree with ya.

The original poster asked what we thought RE: 1911 carry.  He has a wide spectrum of replies.

leroy 

 

[deerslayer]

Non-FPS 1911s are definitely not drop safe, but I’m not too worried about it.  They may fire if dropped on the muzzle.  This is not nearly as worrisome as some makes that may fire if dropped on the hammer, on the side, etc.  I would (and do) carry one with no concerns.  

[HailDarkAle]

39 minutes ago, deerslayer said:

Non-FPS 1911s are definitely not drop safe, but I’m not too worried about it.  They may fire if dropped on the muzzle.  This is not nearly as worrisome as some makes that may fire if dropped on the hammer, on the side, etc.  I would (and do) carry one with no concerns.  

A drop is a drop. I don't care what end of the firearm contacts the ground.

[BHunted]

[leroy]

1 hour ago, BHunted said:

YESSS..!!!  Thank you .. Thank you...

thankful leroy...

[aknifemaker]

How do you like the S&W CSX E ?

[pop pop]

Who don't like a 1911, great pistols, but it is like carrying a brick, IMO. I am an MP 9C 2.0 fantastic plastic fan strictly for the weight difference and 16 rounds on board. Carry it in a Comp Tac Minotaur IWB holster. Very comfortable. Crossbreed holsters are good also but a tad bit larger. 

If the 1911 fits your fancy, by all means, carry it. Great pistols if reliable. 

[deerslayer]

12 hours ago, HailDarkAle said:

A drop is a drop. I don't care what end of the firearm contacts the ground.

Well, not exactly.  Have you ever heard of a 1911 being dropped and shooting somebody?  I haven’t, but it’s happened with other designs.  

Edited 3 hours ago by deerslayer

[Sleep profit]

1911 most are large and not very fun to carry around all day but I found a small 1911 I can carry around a Sig 938 love it for a summer gun 

[Grayfox54]

12 hours ago, HailDarkAle said:

A drop is a drop. I don't care what end of the firearm contacts the ground.

New guy trying to stir the pot. 

I've carried 1911s for about 40 years. Ain't dropped one yet. 

[jhc77]

I picked up an Sig 1911 last year some time. I did finally get a leather owb for it. It’s hefty with a pair of khaki shorts on. Need to find a IWB for it and I will carry it when it’s warmer out. Definitely a winter carry for me. Jeans and my belt do well for it. Flimsy cotton shorts and no matter the belt I feel that dude holding on. 

[JustEd]

Just my two cents worth:

Never heard of a "free firing pin"  Have heard of inertial firing pins on 1911's, and most modern guns.  To my understanding these are to prevent contact with the rear of the firing pin by a foreign object setting off the round.  Something that could possibly happen on a weapon with an exposed hammer. There is a thing called a grip safety on the actual 1911 design which should keep it from firing unless it is gripped in the hand.  A few modern interpretations of the platform unfortunately eliminate that feature.  And finally, a 1911 can be made unsafe to carry because untrained persons try to improve the trigger with a file and no brains.

Back to the OP's topic.  Just find one you like and practice with it.  It is a proven platform.

 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by JustEd

[leroy]

Ed . 

Rebounding, inertial, " floating " ... All the same thing.  The pin is shorter than the channel it's in between the hammer surface and the cartridge.  When the hammer hits the pin, it drives it forward thru the channel and " kaboom " ALA the good ole 1911 and Lotsa old double barrel shotguns.  I'ma thinkin the " floating " monaker is from the shotgun guys.

leroy.

[BHunted]

3 hours ago, pop pop said:

Who don't like a 1911, great pistols, but it is like carrying a brick, IMO. I am an MP 9C 2.0 fantastic plastic fan strictly for the weight difference and 16 rounds on board. Carry it in a Comp Tac Minotaur IWB holster. Very comfortable. Crossbreed holsters are good also but a tad bit larger. 

If the 1911 fits your fancy, by all means, carry it. Great pistols if reliable. 

Carrying a brick? Yea, when I carried back in early 80's, there were no fancy holsters for 1911's like today. Still have it somewhere, but a leather pancake holster worked. But with everything else I carried; it still sucked getting in and out of the car.

For the OP. - here is an idea for you? Kimber Covert II.... 1911 in a smaller package. Love mine even though I don't carry it anymore. Great lil pistol. (They don't have that color anymore but....)

 

Edited 1 hour ago by BHunted