1911 recoil reduction

JNG

JNG

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I am looking to buy a commander/commanche length 1911 as a CCW gun. I am torn between a short officers' length or a government length frame with an Ed Brown bobtail. Both seem like good choices for CCW. What I am looking for is recommendations on recoil reduction since the barrel/slide is only 4.25".

I haven't seen any 4.25" tungsten guide rods. Can a 5" be shortened?
Could the slide be lightened to reduce recoil? I know adding weight can help but it seems like lightening some parts could be beneficial?
Other ideas I had were to use a weighted cone barrel or send the barrel and slide to get "magnaported".

Any suggestions/recommendations?
 
any slide lightening will increase felt recoil.
Have you considered a compensator? it will add length tho so a good 5 incher will do just as well..

opinions vary on the magnaporting. some say it makes little difference. Run a search under Google.

with CCW weight is an issue- the lighter they are the easier they are to carry(and less likely to be left at home when you should have had it with you) but of course more recoil. if recoil is more of an issue then the 5" might be a better way to go. is there any way you can test fire both? at a public range for instance.
 
I've read that the recoil is noticeably more on the commander/commanche length 1911. I have a 5" 1911 in 38 Super and there is not much recoil but the gun I am looking to build will be 45ACP so I thought I would look at different strategies for reducing the extra recoil that will come with the shorter gun.

Nighthawk Custom makes a 4.25" 1911 with a weighted cone barrel on a shorter officers' frame:
PredatorIII.jpg


They also have the option of a regular sized frame with a bobtail:
nighthawkbobtail.jpg


The cone barrel option is pricey so I thought maybe it might be possible to shorten a 5" tungsten guide rod to gain a couple of ounces..?
 
"...as a CCW gun..." Ahem. No such thing in Canada.

There is such a thing in the US though. With the Utah CCW permit and the New Hampshire permit Canadians can carry in 30 States. Soon I am going to be one of them.
 
.... Reducing the "perceived recoil" can be achieved, to varying degrees, by having grips/stocks that fit the users hand comfortably. Heavier springs may help, but the laws of physics remain ! One other option, is to switch to a 9mm version of the 1911 . Weight when you carry a pistol, and spare ammunition is definitely a factor that should not be ignored, if one is serious about carrying a weapon legally in the States. ..... David K.
 
You might want to see if TSE has any of the Kimber compact's they had in a few months ago. I don't see them on their site but they might be getting more in.

I have one of the compact stainless versions and love it (the utimate CCW gun IMHO ;) ). I was waiting on the CDP Compact but they didn't make it on the shipment

As far as the recoil, it seems to be even less in he compact than in my old SS Springfield TRP. Could have something to do with the bushingless bull barrel and the 2 pc recoil spring they use??? All I know is she is a nice manageable shooter.

Officer sized grip (still 7rnds)
4" slide with 106mm barrel

http://www.theshootingedge.com/

large_compactstainless2.jpg


large_compactcdp2.jpg
 
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I just talked to Gunnar at Armco. He is doing some work for me on another gun. He recommended using a bull barrel instead of a bushing barrel. No difference in accuracy but adds a couple of ounces. He was a little iffy about using a tungsten guiderod on a carry gun but said that if I didn't mind carrying a heavy gun (adds 3.5oz) that it would also help quite a bit with recoil. He said he could easily cut down a 5" tungsten rod to fit.
He also said he liked an officer's frame for CCW with no magwell. He also liked the idea of using a government frame with an Ed Brown bobtail because he said that the bobtail fits inside his hand very nicely. I may go with that option since it would allow me to have one extra round in the mag.

Thanks for all the replies! If anyone else has any more suggestions feel free to comment.
 
While I love my STI for IPSC shooting, I wonder about the safety aspect of carrying a SA only pistol for CCW. How about a bit of a discussion about the condition of carry that you 1911 fans will use...........

Cocked and locked seems to me a bit dangerous for CCW.

Hammer down on a loaded chamber gives you another thing to worry about in the high-anxiety environment of lethal confrontation.

An empty chamber, requiring draw-and-rack, seems almost too inert and complicated.

I'm thinking of the Para Ordinance LDA CCW as a "safer" alternative for an inexperienced CCW'er like myself, since I prefer the feel of the 1911.
http://www.paraord.com/product/product.html?catid=13
 
That is the exact gun that Gunnar from Armco told me he would use for CCW.

I think I may be leaning towards a government sized frame for the extra round in the mag. The Ed Brown Bobtail is supposed to really aid in the concealability of a government sized frame. AND I would probably carry it hammer down on a loaded chamber.

nighthawkbobtail.jpg
 
nairbg said:
While I love my STI for IPSC shooting, I wonder about the safety aspect of carrying a SA only pistol for CCW. How about a bit of a discussion about the condition of carry that you 1911 fans will use...........

Cocked and locked seems to me a bit dangerous for CCW.

Hammer down on a loaded chamber gives you another thing to worry about in the high-anxiety environment of lethal confrontation.

An empty chamber, requiring draw-and-rack, seems almost too inert and complicated.

I'm thinking of the Para Ordinance LDA CCW as a "safer" alternative for an inexperienced CCW'er like myself, since I prefer the feel of the 1911.
http://www.paraord.com/product/product.html?catid=13
Click to expand...

Obviously it would depend on the user's familiarity...as well as the type of holster used. A secure holster keeping the trigger sealed, cocked and locked...and there's still a grip safety...that should be fine even in CCW.
 
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