Officer vs Commander 1911

[Zero]

I am really wanting to get a Rock Island MS or CS (MS = Commander, CS = Officer). I've read online that the officer style 1911s are unreliable and you have to replace parts frequently. Is there any truth to this? I compared the sizes of a officer 1911 to a Glock 19 in order to see the comparison between the easier to carry G19, the dimensions are the same. I can't find any gun range that has commanders or officer pistols to shoot though. Does anyone have any insight or opinions? My government size 1911 is just too heavy to carry comfortably concealed.

 

[Lesau]

Kimber sells a lot of their ultra model, which is a 3 inch barrel vs an officers 3.5 inch barrel. Most of the ultras also have an alloy frame which reduces the weight, I am assuming the officers do too but don’t know what rock island does. Since you are comparing it to a glock 19, are you looking for one in 9mm or .45? 9mm loaded would obviously be lighter for carry. I would say as far as replacement parts go, if it has a proper size recoil spring, that would be the thing that would need replacing from time to time. If it has the correct weight springs it should not be damaged by being shot. Just my opinion. Rock island makes and sells lots of 1911s.

 

[Zero]

Kimber sells a lot of their ultra model, which is a 3 inch barrel vs an officers 3.5 inch barrel. Most of the ultras also have an alloy frame which reduces the weight, I am assuming the officers do too but don’t know what rock island does. Since you are comparing it to a glock 19, are you looking for one in 9mm or .45? 9mm loaded would obviously be lighter for carry. I would say as far as replacement parts go, if it has a proper size recoil spring, that would be the thing that would need replacing from time to time. If it has the correct weight springs it should not be damaged by being shot. Just my opinion. Rock island makes and sells lots of 1911s.

I want to stick with .45, I compare it to a 19 because that was one of my first carry guns. It was very light and nice to carry. I ended up losing it in a house fire. I've always loved 1911s though and I ended up getting a Colt for my birthday and loved it. The only problem is it's a government model and since it's a Colt I feel like babying it a little. I've heard nothing but great things from Rock Islands and it is a very affordable gun as well in comparison to Kimbers, which is around a four hundred dollar difference ($545 vs $931). Now that you mention it though since the Kimber has a lighter frame that is very nice. As far as the Rock Island model as far as I know it's an steel gun, no lightweight metals.

 

[Lesau]

The kimber ultra is a great shooting pistol, recoil less than you would expect with a 3 inch barrel. it has a 2 spring recoil spring assembly, which I think is what makes the difference.

 

[ImperialBlade]

Although what I own is not a of the Rock Island variety, I do own a Custom Dan Wesson Commander sized 1911, as well as a Springfield Pro 1911 - Government size, Dan Wesson Specialist - Government size, as well as a Custom Fusion Firearms sized 2011 - Commander size. So I have an inventory to talk about.

I have had no reliability issues with any of them. As stated before these are metal framed guns (save the Fusion), so you know you have one on your person at all times. I will say the Springer, is a bank vault in terms of tightness, rail to frame. Alas, that does not impact performance in the least.

I do like carry the Commander size guns more, only in terms of weight and "comfort".

Unless you are a professional shooter and going through thousands upon thousands of rounds I'd doubt you see any difference.

I will say when it comes to 1911s (or 2011's) how they are made, as in how well will determine the guns reliability / durability.
That's not to say you can't tune them, you can. If you are looking for "out of the box" "perfection", any of the major brands have a higher likelihood of filling that role.

One last things, a $5,000 (or more) 1911 and $500 1911 will likely perform just fine. As most things in life this a point of diminishing return. The difference being a true custom is a true hand tune one off, and the other is an "assembly line" firearm.

 

[Scout308]

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