3" 1911 guns dependability questions

[kowalzekc]

I had a 4" kimber. 1500 rounds with only 2 stove pipes. I know several people who have 3" 1911s with several thousand rounds with similar malfunction to round could. Bottom line, you need to find what ammo your gun likes. Typically the smaller the gun, the more fickle it gets with ammo. My kimber typically really liked remington UMC or winchester white box.

[Seismic Sam]

Never owned one, or would want to. Having my pinky finger waving about while shooting makes me feel like I'm part of the Monty Python sketch "Close Order Swanning About". Everything I've heard about them is exactly the same as Rugersol's actual experience, so caveat emptor. When you have a 1911 that short, the spring length and weight have to be dead nuts on the money, and that's probably the same for the ammo. And when all is said and done, it really is the same size stuffed into your waistband as a normal 1911, but just shorter and lighter, with a substantial recoil penalty. I forget who on here said it, but saving those few ounces you have to carry is like taking one deck chair off the Titanic...

[Thunder71]

You must be part sasquatch, I'm 6'2 and can get a full grip on my 3" Kimber and don't feel the recoil is much different that the full size Rock Island I had.

[Metal Bird]

With less than ideal geometry ... recoil springs, magazines, lube, grip, solar flares ... will all have a much greater effect, on reliability!

Ha! Those Solar Flares, they F-Up everything!

I am considering a 3.5" Rock Island in 9mm, if I could actually find one I am sure I would pick it up, but that is why I am trying to find out what I can on the 9mm in these smaller sizes.

[Seismic Sam]

You must be part sasquatch, I'm 6'2 and can get a full grip on my 3" Kimber and don't feel the recoil is much different that the full size Rock Island I had.

You are correct, sir, on both hand (paw) size and amount of hair!!

This is my hand wrapped around a double stack Para P14-45, and as you can see having 1" less grip would have my pinky out waving in the breeze like some great Nancy-Boy!! My ring finger is a size 13 on that hand.

[Thunder71]

I knew it!

[Metal Bird]

With Meat Paws like that who needs a gun !?!

[ammosponge]

Can't speak to 3" but I have a 3.5 " rock island Cs 1911 that runs like a good swiss watch. Ive had zero issues in ~350 rounds.

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[Metal Bird]

Can't speak to 3" but I have a 3.5 " rock island Cs 1911 that runs like a good swiss watch. Ive had zero issues in ~350 rounds.

Good to hear. Is that in the .45 cal then I assume?

I like the Rock Islands. They may not be the prettiest out of the box, but they work and I could get two of them for the price of a Kimber.
And Armscor has great customer service, not that I have had any issues, just what I hear from others, and they are helpful and responsive to my questions.

[ammosponge]

yup, i have a 3.5 and a 5 in .45... they BOTH rock.

and yes, they aren't as pretty as a 2000$ semi custom, but they both go bang every time. (so far anyways) 350 or so thru the 3.5 cs and almost 1000 thru the 5" full sized tactical.