Is the Colt Defender the compact standard?

rich52us · 06-03-2012, 16:47

I'm toying with the idea of getting a 3" - 31/2" light weight 1911 as a daily carry pistol. Of course, reliability is paramount. I would like it to cost 1K or less, and if I could spend less, that would be great. So, is the Colt Defender the gold standard? Are there better choices? I've done my searches but would like to here from those on this forum as to the current market and your experiences. I've read all the threads where people say not to get a 1911 under 4" but I'd like to here from people who carry the compacts. Thanks.
Rich

P.S. .45ACP

***Wil Ufgood*** · 06-03-2012, 16:50

I like my EMP, got a good deal on it. Usually they do run more than a grand though.

Good luck!

EricandSuebee · 06-03-2012, 16:50

I'd stick with a Commander length, easy to conceal and you get a decent barrel length at 4.25"

rich52us · 06-03-2012, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAJ

I like my EMP, got a good deal on it. Usually they do run more than a grand though.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, and I've heard only good things about the EMP. I should have specified .45 ACP on my initial post.

rich52us · 06-03-2012, 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricandSuebee

I'd stick with a Commander length, easy to conceal and you get a decent barrel length at 4.25"

Yea, I think I read that about a hundred times in my searches, but it's the little guys that I'm interested in.

tango44 · 06-03-2012, 17:10

My Colt Defender is 100% reliable!

glock2740 · 06-03-2012, 17:23

Get a CCO. Best of both world's.

ca survivor · 06-03-2012, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricandSuebee

I'd stick with a Commander length, easy to conceal and you get a decent barrel length at 4.25"

I have one and unless I'm going to carry in a fanny pack, I rather have a Commander or Gov. length barrel

EricandSuebee · 06-03-2012, 17:25

Yeah I forgot about the CCO, and I concur its the best of both worlds. Colt still makes one as well as DW.

glock2740 · 06-03-2012, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricandSuebee

Yeah I forgot about the CCO, and I concur its the best of both worlds. Colt still makes one as well as DW.

The DW CCO is a GREAT gun.

rich52us · 06-03-2012, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by glock2740

The DW CCO is a GREAT gun.

Well, the CCO seems interesting, but I'm still really interested in the true compacts.

glock2740 · 06-03-2012, 18:11

I've got a few and they've all been great. Two Kimber 3" and a RIA 3.5". All with no issues. And ALOT more accurate than you would think.

rich52us · 06-03-2012, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by glock2740

I've got a few and they've all been great. Two Kimber 3" and a RIA 3.5". All with no issues. And ALOT more accurate than you would think.

Thanks Glock2740. That's helpful information.

***Wil Ufgood*** · 06-03-2012, 19:01

Don't have any experience with them, so hopefully someone else can chime in. The STI compact line looks pretty sharp.

Ruble Noon · 06-03-2012, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by tango44

My Colt Defender is 100% reliable!

So has mine. Various hollow points, semi-wadcutters, whatever, it likes them all. Mine is surprisingly accurate too.

bushhogg · 06-03-2012, 21:33

the little springfield is great... I gust got a new Para 1911 LTC for my dress up days... IT is a joy to shoot and its accuracy is great... little over $800.00

countrygun · 06-03-2012, 21:42

My wife's Kimber Ultra raptor II has been 100% and very accurate.

at a bit of a risk I will say that Colt, like S&W with their compacts and micros on the 39/59, was behind the curve established by custom makers and others in "micro'ing" the 1911. They did not lead the way, they followed so I don't know that they are a/the standard.

MD357 · 06-03-2012, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich52us

I'm toying with the idea of getting a 3" - 31/2" light weight 1911 as a daily carry pistol. Of course, reliability is paramount. I would like it to cost 1K or less, and if I could spend less, that would be great. So, is the Colt Defender the gold standard? Are there better choices? I've done my searches but would like to here from those on this forum as to the current market and your experiences. I've read all the threads where people say not to get a 1911 under 4" but I'd like to here from people who carry the compacts. Thanks.
Rich

P.S. .45ACP

If reliability REALLY is paramount as you say you have a few options.

1. Buy an EMP.

2. Get a Colt Defender and have a competent gunsmith run through it. Get quality mags and change your springs frequently.

3. Get a CCO type gun as the difference in carrying a CCO and compact is extremely small, doubt you'd notice. Your window for "paramount reliability" will increase substantially with this and the EMP.

oldsoldier · 06-04-2012, 17:01

I owned one about 10 years ago and it would feed anything I put through it. It was an excellent 3" 1911. I like to shoot my guns and the alloy frame started to take a beating in the feed ramp area at about the 3K rd count. I think you should consider that if you plan on shooting it a lot. Maybe it was just my gun but I doubt it. I do know that at least one gunsmith shop offered a steel insert modification to the Defender's frame to fix the damaged feed ramp. I don't know if he's still out there or not. I'm not familiar with all of the 3" alloy frame 1911s out there but I think some of them use a ramped barrel that would probably eliminate the feed ramp damage. It's been a long time since I owned one so maybe it isn't a problem now. Some of the new hard finishes may help to eliminate feed ramp damage and maybe Colt uses something along that line now. Anyway, it is an excellent and reliable 3" 1911.

rich52us · 06-04-2012, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsoldier

I owned one about 10 years ago and it would feed anything I put through it. It was an excellent 3" 1911. I like to shoot my guns and the alloy frame started to take a beating in the feed ramp area at about the 3K rd count. I think you should consider that if you plan on shooting it a lot. Maybe it was just my gun but I doubt it. I do know that at least one gunsmith shop offered a steel insert modification to the Defender's frame to fix the damaged feed ramp. I don't know if he's still out there or not. I'm not familiar with all of the 3" alloy frame 1911s out there but I think some of them use a ramped barrel that would probably eliminate the feed ramp damage. It's been a long time since I owned one so maybe it isn't a problem now. Some of the new hard finishes may help to eliminate feed ramp damage and maybe Colt uses something along that line now. Anyway, it is an excellent and reliable 3" 1911.

Thanks, Oldsoldier. Great info. I handled a New Agent today. Really felt great, but I didn't like the trench sight much. The Defender should be the same in my hand, but with good sights.

dmdmx2 · 06-09-2012, 20:26

Think about a Sig Sauer 1911 Ultra 2 tone. According to their specs the barrel is 3.3" long. I've seen elsewhere it say it's 3.5" long. But it is a heck of a gun. I picked one up this week for under a grand. It shoots great and it feeds hollowpoints as well as FMJ's. It's barrel is ramped, it's as light as my Glock 23 and it comes standard with night sights. The best thing is the trigger is nice and smooth, letting off at 5lbs or less with hardly any takeup and no over travel. I'm totally glad that I ended up with this Sig. I had gone in to buy a Glock 21SF. But that thing was huge compared to the Sig. I'll be carrying it full time as soon as the holster arrives on Monday. BTW it's accurate for only having a 3.3 inch barrel. It's like your getting something from the custom shop, but only paying for a standard production pistol.

rich52us · 06-09-2012, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmdmx2

Think about a Sig Sauer 1911 Ultra 2 tone. According to their specs the barrel is 3.3" long. I've seen elsewhere it say it's 3.5" long. But it is a heck of a gun. I picked one up this week for under a grand. It shoots great and it feeds hollowpoints as well as FMJ's. It's barrel is ramped, it's as light as my Glock 23 and it comes standard with night sights. The best thing is the trigger is nice and smooth, letting off at 5lbs or less with hardly any takeup and no over travel. I'm totally glad that I ended up with this Sig. I had gone in to buy a Glock 21SF. But that thing was huge compared to the Sig. I'll be carrying it full time as soon as the holster arrives on Monday. BTW it's accurate for only having a 3.3 inch barrel. It's like your getting something from the custom shop, but only paying for a standard production pistol.

Thanks. I'll keep it in mind.