Subcompact 1911s, educate me

[JuglansRegia]

See if you can find a Detonics, the one l had ran good but was kind of heavy and the sights were almost useless but it was a compact 45

 

[bigbearbear]

I have Colt Lightweight Officer in .45acp, bought it years ago and I would say that it is not as reliable as a modern polymer semi-auto like a Glock or Beretta etc. It does feel great in the hands but due to its smaller size, the felt recoil in much greater in your hands compared to a full sized 1911. You will not be wanting to use this as a range toy.

I've kept it because it is a cool gun but for carry/self-defense and range shooting, there are much better guns out there that are cheaper, more reliable, has greater ammo capacity and lighter than a Lightweight Officer 1911.

 

[nammac]

Wow, I'd love to see photos of the 70 series Officer's. They didn't come out until late 84/early 85 and I have never seen or heard of one that isn't an 80 series. That would be my dream.

Had me a polished blue Colt Officers ACP, series 70 back about that timeframe '85-'88, carried in a Bianchi Askins Avenger holster. Stupidly, I let it slip through my fingers…. Ah, the stupidly of youth!

 

[nammac]

See if you can find a Detonics, the one l had ran good but was kind of heavy and the sights were almost useless but it was a compact 45

Then we'll have to start calling OldTengu "Crockett"….

 

[fxdc]

EMP 3 inch
Fits the offers tier 1
Enuff said!!!

 

[OldTengu]

EMP 3 inch
Fits the offers tier 1
Enuff said!!!

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What do you like about it? Dislike about it? What was the price range? Is it in 9, 40, or 45?
There's plenty more to be said.

 

[Aero Denezol]

EMP 3 inch
Fits the offers tier 1
Enuff said!!!

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+1

I had a Springfield EMP for a few years, designed from the ground up to be a compact 1911. And it is 100% reliable.

 

[fxdc]

+1

I had a Springfield EMP for a few years, designed from the ground up to be a compact 1911. And it is 100% reliable.

I also never to this day had any issues with it.... Just my aging eyes needed a RDS like my race gun.

 

[titsonritz]

I have a limited edition Smith & Wesson Performance Center "Shorty 45" pistol that's mint in box that I've never shot.
The original owner ran one magazine through it and then packed it away. It's touted as an exceptionally accurate .45 pistol with a unique titanium Brily barrel bushing and all the fine tuning that the Performance Center could think of.
This limited run of 662 pistols were sold through Lew Horton.



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Sunday Smith #68: PC Model 4513 Shorty .45, 1996

When Smith & Wesson got back into the centerfire autoloader game about a decade after WWII, they only offered the pistol in one chambering. ...

cosmolineandrust.blogspot.com

That is unique, Smiths did not have 1911 style barrel bushings.

 

[jbett98]

The Brily barrel collar is tightly ensconced inside the bushing, rotates as the barrel tilts, which allows the barrel to bushing to have very tight tolerances.

 

[Ura-Ki]

The Brily barrel collar is tightly ensconced inside the bushing, rotates as the barrel tilts, which allows the barrel to bushing to have very tight tolerances.


View attachment 1004363

I have run these in a few of my 2011 builds, VERY nice and tight, and the best part is. you can simply change the inserts as the barrel wears! Highly Recommended!

 

[DirectDrive]

I don't think I'd do 45ACP in a mouse gun.
P938 is well lked.

 

[po18guy]

Detonics Combat Master .45 and be cool "just because"

 

[Dirty Cary]

What do you like about it? Dislike about it? What was the price range? Is it in 9, 40, or 45?
There's plenty more to be said.

I believe you can get them in 9mm and 40.

 

[Bajablast]

I used to have a Springfield Ultra Compact 3" .45.acp. All stainless steel. 100% reliable. Regretted selling it every day since the sale

I now have a Rock Island 3.5" 'Officer' in .45acp. All steel, and no worse to shoot than my Springfield LTWT Operator Commander 4".

On the Rock Island, I did replace the original guide rod and spring with an EGW solid stainless one piece guide rod and flat wire spring set. Been 100% reliable.

The Springfield LTWT Operator also has the EGW guide rod and flat wire spring set up in it. 100% reliable and less felt recoil.

Just my experience.

In the pic below are from left to right:

Springfield Range Officer Elite 9mm (Commander), Springfield Lightweight Operator .45ACP (Commander), Rock Island .45ACP (Officer 3.5")



The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams. It's Heaven and Hell.....

 

[BillyJean]

Had me a polished blue Colt Officers ACP, series 70 back about that timeframe '85-'88, carried in a Bianchi Askins Avenger holster. Stupidly, I let it slip through my fingers…. Ah, the stupidly of youth!

Do you have a photo of it? Colt was not making 70 series pistols during the entire production of OACPs and I would love to have a new grail to seek. Sounds gorgeous.

 

[nammac]

Do you have a photo of it? Colt was not making 70 series pistols during the entire production of OACPs and I would love to have a new grail to seek. Sounds gorgeous.

Unfortunately no photo's, it was many years ago. The finish was beautiful, polished Royal Blue. Wish I knew then what I know now, would have never let it slip through my hands.

 

[Mathias]

I was told by 1 gun store manager that a 3" .45 barrel is prone to jams unless it's set up just right.

I have also had great functional experience with a colt defender (long gone, unfortunately).

Got lucky with the colt? Maybe.

Had same Colt Defender....not one problem....miss that thing.

 

[Pandaz3]

I can recommend the RIA Rock Ultra as meeting your wants and needs both. I have the 'GI' series version with lesser GI sights and single safety in 45. I like mine

I would love a EMP in 40 (I don't recall a 45)

 

[orygun]

I've owned two Officer sized 1911s. First was a P12-45. Only time it was a problem was when a friend limp wristed it, then it stovepiped. Had an issue around 1000-1500 rounds with the FPS, but that's not length related. It is the reason I don't like "Series 80" style of pistols.
The other was a Colt Officers in stainless. Worked like a champ.
Most of the comments about the shortys not feeding right is leftover from way back when, before manufacturers were making the guns and they were "bob jobs". My Para was made over 30 years ago...