This may have be answered some where already but I couldn’t find it. I have a few friends that carry shorter versions of the 1911. I have been kicking around the idea of carrying a full 5" 1911 my conceal carry. I currently carry an XD 45 ACP service model. I does ok but most of the printing issues are with the wider grip. Im a pretty good size guy 6’-2" & around 230 lb. So carry a somewhat larger gun is really not to difficult. If anynone is currently doing this I would like to know how you like, any problems you are having & what sort of holster you are using. Like wise if others are totally against the idea please be detailed in your response. Thanks for the help guys
Concealment was much easier when I was carrying a 1911. The 1911 is much thinner than a modern pistol. I just used a Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB holster most of the time.
I’ve carried full size and Commander size at about 4:30. No problems.
Same height larger build but my Springer Loaded stainless dissapears into a Desantis cozy partner. My favorite size for a concealment peice is a commander length slide and a Officers model grip frame.
I would suggest trying a 4.25" gun while you are shopping. When shooting a 4.25" I only feel a slight difference between it and a 5". Accuracy and velocity differences are not enough to concern me at defensive distances. Also check out a bobtailed model while you are at it. You can carry the gun canted forward and not get poked in the ribs when you bend in the guns direction.
+1 for Milt Sparks.
The Government Model is perfect for carry. I wouldn’t go any smaller.
The key with 1911’s is to remember that they run best in the .45 ACP, 5", single stack, steel format. 1911’s are quite easy to carry using a proper holster, like a Milt Sparks Heritage #1, Kramer #2, Custom Carry Concepts Looper, Alessi DOJ, or Raven Phantom. The biggest issue is the heavier weight of a steel 1911 compared to a polymer or aluminum frame pistol. This can be mitigated somewhat by using an alloy frame like the SA LW 1911 below, but this is a conscious choice to sacrifice durability for ease of carry:
While LW 1911 frames are not as durable as the steel ones–this may or may not be an issue depending on your practice schedule. If you are shooting less than 5000 rounds a year, either will likely work fine; with higher round counts, then you’ll probably want to have a steel frame. This can also be worked around by having two otherwise identical 1911’s–a steel one for practice, and a LW one for carry.
As already mentioned, carrying a fullsize 1911 is not a problem. The biggest thing, and its true regardless of the weapon, is to use a proper belt and holster. When selecting a belt and holster, cheap should not be anywhere in the equation. If your prefer leather, get a good GUN belt from someone like Sparks, Kramer, Galco, etc… Same with the holster. All the ones Doc mentioned are good.
I personally prefer kydex, and have long had great results using a Wilderness 5 stitch belt and a Blade Tech IWB holster for my Glocks and 1911.
Also, adapt you wardrobe to carrying, not your carrying to your wardrobe. Get your pants a big larger in the waist. Make sure the pants FIT. Get used to wearing a unbuttoned cover shirt, even in the summer, and that its loose enough to be cool, comfortable, and properly conceal the weapon, but not so large as to look sloppy or odd. Make sure your t-shirt underneath is more close fitting so as to not bunch up around the gun, and cause you to grab a handful of shirt along with the grip when drawing (found this out the hard way). One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in regards to concealed carry, is in their wardrobe (second only to belt/holster selection).
My 5" 1911 conceals better for me than my G19. I’m 6’2" 215lbs and the 1911 just disappears. I carry it in an Alessi PCH (amazing holster, btw) with a Rafter S belt. I can wear it under a T-shirt even. With the 1911, the big factor is the weight. Make sure you wear a wide sturdy belt and get a quality holster and you’ll be set.
I’m 5’10" and 125#. My daily carry rig is; a 5" 1911 Springfield px9109l, in a Concealco iwb holster, and a wilderness 5 stitch belt. I feel comfortable with this setup while wearing anything other than a tight t-shirt.
6’4" 235, SA fullsize all steel, Gov’t Model, IWB.
No problems. As already mention besides the weight it’s usually the grip that makes CCW difficult.
-RD62
As others have mentioned, a 5" 1911 is very practical to conceal given a good holster and belt, and some thought as to attire.
Buy cheap holter/belt = buy twice.
I’ve been very satisfied with a Kramer IWB and a Bianchi pancake. I have a RCS on the way.
While I love my Commander, the 5" 1911s are inherently more reliable than the shorter models.
Barrel length has little effect on concealability. The critical dimension is grip length (height of gun). Any good IWB holster should conceal well, I like to carry with the gun between belt and pants, sacrificing little concealability for much greater comfort.
I use a Sparks SS-II and a Kramer Belt Scabbard with a Kimber Desert Warrior. Both conceal very well and are comfortable for all day (16 hour) carry.
When I used to carry a 1911, I wore it in a Milt Sparks Roadrunner. I never had any issues keeping it concealed. As other people have already mentioned, you need a sturdy belt.
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received regarding pistol selection for concealed carry was to carry the largest pistol you can conceal. If you can conceal a full size 1911, I say go for it.
Ironically, I find that the 1911 conceals better than most other handguns. The slim profile makes it tuck in well against your side, hiding easily under an untucked t-shirt.
…and now thanks to the innovators at Raven concealment, you can comfortably conceal 4 magazines for the 1911 using a quad mag carrier:
It’s a bit bulky with double-stack mags…but it’s perfect with single stacks like the 1911.
I’m 6’5 and 215lbs
I carry a 1911 Govt regularly. For me the problem is not the barrel length at all! It is the holster and printing. Just about any IWB I’ve ever tried (blade tech, sparks, galco, comptac) works well for concealed carry. I persoannly draw much better from Kydex than leather, and the comptac CTAC holds the pistol higher up and allowed for the best draw of any of them for me (I’m currently running a Sparks SSII though). The problem I get is with OWB holsters and printing. I usually wear T-shirts (over a tank top) hanging out over the belt, or a button up camp shirt (liek the Tommy Bahamas). Wearing a T-shirt, printing on the shirt is horrible with just about any OWB holster I’ve ever tried. With the camp shirts it is, however, much more forgiving. Yet, an OWB will reveal the muzzle end of the holster very easily any time I raise my arm(s). All this said, I also carry a G19 on occassion and have had the same issues regarding printing regardless of the shorter barrel/grip length. In my experience, if you were to use a good IWB, you’ll have no problems carrying a full size 1911. What IWB??..For me it has been trial and error over a number of years to find what works best for me. I believe that concealment holsters, unlike a lot of other things we discuss here, are much more subjective in what will work best for the individual.
Stay safe and Best of luck,
ADH
and don’t shy away from that 5" 1911
for me the best invention that has increased the concealability of a 1911 is the BOBTAIL MSH…
as many have said, the slim profile of the 1911 lends itself to concealability, and assuming you aren’t overaly short, the extra barrel length down your waist isn’t an issue…
the problem most people have, again as said, is the printing from the butt of the gun…
I am currently having Fusion Firearms build me a 5" 1911 with a bobtail on it…
to me, the two biggest things that screw up concealability on a 1911 are
- the MSH/butt of the gun
and
- the beavertail which many times will print…
get a good smith to make you a traditional, no beavertail 1911 w/ a bobtail and it’d be about the best of both worlds
having said all that, I am sticking w/ my G19…
even with a good belt I find a 1911 is just too damn heavy for me, much to my regret (i love the guns)…with everything I carry, and with (as my wife loves to point out) my white boy butt (or lack thereof) too much stuff on the belts and pockets equals my pants at my ankles…
I’ve tried to carry a 5" 1911 and the biggest problem I’ve had is the weight. Even with a wilson sharkskin belt and kramer holster. I’m 5’9" and 190lbs. Belt and holster make all the difference so stick with top tier makers and you should be fine. I find it much easier to carry my 3" alloy Kimber in a Sparks VMII.
i carry my full size springfield everyday. im a big guy too at 6’2 275lbs. i guess the way i dress makes it easier, button up shirt, jeans. i have been using a sidearmor iwb holster for years. combine that with a wilderness polymer lined ring belt and youve got it covered. love the extra weight, reminds me that carrying a gun is a bit of a discipline, and it should not be forgotten that your packing the power to save your life. thats my mindset anyway.