The 1911 Pistol Is Great for Carry and Home Defense
As a fighting handgun, the 1911 has no equal. Its redundant safeties, superb ergonomics and trigger make it the easiest common service pistol to shoot well under stress.
And it’s also a popular choice for competition shooting. Its popularity has led to a cottage industry of upgrades and accessories.
9mm
Designed by legendary firearms designer John Moses Browning, the 1911 pistol has been in use for more than 110 years. This is a testament to its unsurpassed trigger, ergonomics and design.
A full-size Commander-sized frame and a 4.25 inch barrel make this gun easy to handle for a large number of rounds. This is an excellent choice for home defense or law enforcement duty carry.
If you’re looking for a functional, reliable 1911 for home defense or for work as a side arm, there are many options in this price range. You’ll find some well-known name brands in this category, as well as high-end custom 1911s from top-tier gunsmiths. You’ll also find a few inexpensive 1911s that are solid out of the box and offer upgrades over the GI model.
Compact
The 1911 Range Officer Compact is a pocket pistol with serious packable power that shoots like a tuned race gun. Its flat wire recoil spring tames recoil and allows the 4″ fully supported bull barrel to stay compact and shooting straight. Its cocobolo grips look classy, and each of its two included magazines packs half a dozen rounds.
This premium gun has a number of upgrades including a skeletonized trigger that breaks crisply at four pounds. It also has a lowered ejection port for improved reliability and a heavy-duty external extractor that works well.
It is a good choice for concealed carry because of its shortened frame and action and reduced grip radius. It also uses Sig Sauer P320-compatible magazines that are more available and less expensive than 1911-style magazines.
Full-size
The 1911 is one of the best handguns for home defense. Provided a decent example is purchased and maintained to its proper standards, the gun can be trusted to save your life when necessary.
It’s important to understand the inherent limitations of the 1911 and choose a model that fits your needs. 1911s come in three basic sizes, Government, Commander and Officer. Choosing the right size is essential as it impacts shooting stability and handling.
A full-size Government 1911 is the most reliable option with a longer operating cycle than the Commander or Officer models. It is also the most forgiving of rough treatment and fouling. Regardless of the model you choose, it is crucial to research your local concealed carry laws and practice diligently before attempting to use your 1911 in real-world conditions.
Reliability
The old adage that a handgun is only as good as its reliability, recoil mitigation and effective follow-up shots still applies. While a 1911 is a great self-defense pistol and will digest most modern softpoint or hollowpoint ammunition designs, it’s not 100% reliable with every round unless you have the feed ramps tuned.
Even a well-tuned 1911 requires periodic maintenance and upkeep. Its extractor has a tendency to weaken and deteriorate over time if not properly tensioned. Keeping the 1911 tuned is an easy way to maintain this critical component.
With proper care, a well-tuned 1911 can be one of the most reliable sidearms for carry and home defense. It’s no wonder that this iconic pistol is the handgun of choice for many service personnel, military and law enforcement organizations.
Accuracy
Many 1911 fans claim their pistols are more accurate than other service pistols. With proper care, a decent 1911 can be quite accurate.
Gunsmiths like Cliff Diseker at Lone Star Gunsmithing and Cerakote in Princeton,Texas incorporate sound and proven techniques to make them even more accurate. Accurizing and customization features on the 1911 pistol, such as extended beavertail grip safeties, ambidextrous thumb safety levers, custom target sights, custom barrel bushings, trigger and action jobs for smoother pull and reliability make all the difference in a supurb shooting pistol.
The 1911 pistol is available in three frame sizes — Government, Commander and Officer — as well as a variety of slide and barrel lengths. Each is designed for different applications and scenarios, but they all share similar design and handling characteristics.
