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I love shooting my friends Colt 1911....but I've never tried shooting the smaller Colt Commander. Any thoughts?
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When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."
"When good men do nothing, evil will prevail."
-Edmund Burke, 1770.
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I find it to be handier and easier to point in.
I don't know what you lose in muzzle velocity/energy by giving up barrel length but I imagine it isn't too muchsigpicNRA Benefactor Member -
I had a compact 380 auto carry gun cut my behemoth hand since the trigger guard was smaller than regular sized guns.
My 2 cents on this. Hope it helps.Comment
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I've owned my Combat Commander for 36 years, and I wouldn't trade it for any other handgun. Get a satin nickel one if you can. Very low maintanance-I changed out an ejector and a recoil spring in that time and I shoot it almost every weekend.Comment
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Hard to believe, but there was a time when the Commander was considered the lightweight concealable alternative to a Govt. model. Nowadays, it's considered a full-size service pistol.
Anywho, conventional wisdom says if it's for HD or open carry, then you go for the bigger, heavier, easier to shoot all steel Govt. model. I just like the way the Commander handles, around the domicile or whatever. And by "Commander" I mean the original configuration with an aluminum alloy frame now known as the "LIGHTWEIGHT COMMANDER MODEL".
It does has a tad higher recoil impulse, but it's inconsequential unless you're trying to shave a tenth off of some IPSC course. I've run a LW Officers ACP, a Star PD and the Commander, and the difference in controllability between the Cmdr. and Officers/PD size is dramatic. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go the CCO route, an Officers size frame with a Cmdr. slide.I meant, it is my opinion that...
I do believe that where there is a choice only between cowardice and violence
I would advise violence. - M. Gandhi
You're my kind of stupid. - M. ReynoldsComment
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Good info, I'll be able to try shooting a 3" kimber 1911 at a local shooting range this weekend. Any thoughts on the 3" kimber? Looks even smaller than the commander.When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."
"When good men do nothing, evil will prevail."
-Edmund Burke, 1770.
sigpic"Comment
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I CC a LW Commander in colder weather, it is too large for casual CC with a t-shirt or even a button up but it is a fine gun. It is however a little ammo picky but with the right ammo it shoots very well. Very accurate as well.
I would snatch up a Colt Commander in a heart beat if I didn't already have one. Good luck.Comment
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I have quite a few 1911's and my favorites are Commanders/Combat Commanders. I like their pointability and quick handling while still having a full size grip for recoil control. They tend to be more reliable than the shorter 3" and 3.5" 1911's but all can be reliable with good maintenance like regular recoil spring replacement and ensuring the extractor is tuned properly. Due to the longer slide cycling distance the 5" 1911's tend to be a tad more forgiving of maintenance.
Commanders do have their idosyncracies like loving to kick ejected brass back at your face unless you do some ejector/extractor tuning."You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
"What we get away with isn't usually the same as what's good for us"
"An extended slide stop is the second most useless part you can put on a 1911"
"While Ruger DA revolvers may be built like a tank, they have the aesthetics of one also,
although I suppose there are a few tanks which I owe an apology to for that remark"Comment
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The only difference between the full weight Commander and the Government model is 3/4 inch of slide....I prefer the slightly shorter Commander.3 day waiting period???? but I'm mad now!!!!!!Comment
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"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
"What we get away with isn't usually the same as what's good for us"
"An extended slide stop is the second most useless part you can put on a 1911"
"While Ruger DA revolvers may be built like a tank, they have the aesthetics of one also,
although I suppose there are a few tanks which I owe an apology to for that remark"Comment
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It's a moot point why most custom 1911 builders stick with the Govt configuration.
Among my fave range guns are my Colt Govt 45 and 9mm.
However, my all steel Colt Commander is 100% reliable with the ammo it's cocked and locked around.sigpicComment
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I have a 1991 Commander that I have done of bit of work on, and it's one of my favorites, it seems to balance a bit better than the Government Model,
with a magwell on the Government Model, they feel about the same balance-wise. Both are very pleasant to shoot.Comment
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I LOVE Commanders and LW Commanders. They are outstanding pistols.
They were first designed to shoot 9mm - if you really want to have some fun, shoot a 9mm Combat Commander. The recoil is almost nil.
All of the Colt Commanders, LW Commanders, Combat Commanders that I've ever shot have been fantastic. Also, they are not as finicky as some folks would have you believe, although like all firearms, they do need to be maintained.
One caveat of you're looking to get one: try to find one that hasn't had any permanent work done - many times folks have issues with these pistols only to find out someone has improperly cut, polished, ground, filed or otherwise screwed it up.
Good luck!Comment
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I have a commander and a Sig full size. Prefer the commander.
Wish I could find a 9mm version! Or even a defender 9.
Anyone?
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