I don’t think that the 9mm 1911 is as much of an issue as it was in the past. The guns produced today seem to work very well, and comparing them to guns produced even just 5 years ago would probably not be fair. Add in the fact that a lot of manufacturers are producing more and more variants in 9mm, well it seems that the secret sauce may have been found. Hell, you can get a springer Pro in 9mm now as a factory gun.
People can and will continue to argue and/or try to validate their stance on caliber and capacity, and while truths and lies abound on both sides of those arguments, it still is a topic that has to be considered when choosing something at the individual level.
The one place that the 1911 consistently seems to hit the wall in terms of a duty gun(s) is cost. A good 1911 (preferably 2 or 3) that is capable of being a suitable carry piece, simply is not cheap. Although that could be subjective.
I’ve reached the point where I generally trust 45 Auto government-model 1911s and only trust 9mm 1911s that have proven to be reliable.
45 Auto 1911s (government size guns) seem to be more reliable across a wider range of ammunition (I only buy 230-gr ball and 230-gr HSTs) and magazines, while 9mm 1911s can be both sensitive to ammunition and magazines. And especially magazines.
I would probably look at getting a Dan Wesson Commander (Discretion, Specialist, or TCP) if it were me. I just wish they had forward cocking serrations. The trick is going to be the magazines.
I have a 1911, carry it, and shoot it regularly. I had an XD for a while, and I liked it a lot, but I just shoot better with the 1911. I’d lusted after a Sig P220 for years, finally found myself able to afford a good used one, bought it, traded it for the XD, then had the chance to get the Sig back, and did. I’m still kinda kickin myself for getting rid of the XD, but I have 2 45s, and plenty of mags for both, so I feel like I’m still ok in the hand gun department. I would like to get another XD eventually, but for the moment, my job situation just doesn’t allow for that. When a hand gun won’t do, I have my Yugo underfolder, my .308 Saiga, and my Savage 10 FP .308. Sorry, I got side tracked. I just shoot a 1911 more accurately than just about any other pistol I’ve ever owned or shot.
If the Staccato C works out, my plan would be to either have a second Staccato C or something larger like their Staccato P with a double stack magazine. I am interested in STI’s “host” optics ready versions. I am holding out to see how the Aimpoint ACROs look and function on 1911s.
If it were me, I’d skip the STI and grab a SACS, Wilson or GI. I’d probably stick to .45 for a 1911 as well although I do have 9mm 1911s from Wilson and a custom that just runs and runs. If you want a 9mm 1911-ish pistol that hands down stomps on 2011s, grab the Wilson EDC X9.
The P’s a nice “service pistol” size with the Commander length slide, but heavy.
Mine required a bit of tweaking as mentioned, but is a shooter now.
I tweak ALL my pistols; Wilson’s, Bears, Wesson’s and true customs. The triggers/thumb safety’s and grip safety tension are never to my liking at a minimum.
That does not mean the pistols were inferior or lacking, more that I am difficult to please.
I have carried a 1911 on/off duty for years(about 17 now at my current agency), both uniform patrol and plain clothes details also. Recently I got a Springfield TRP stainless and absolutely love it. In uniform I carry 4 Wilson +P ETM mags(8rders) in a quad pouch. In plain clothes it’s 2 Wilson 10rders in a Wilson combo flashlight/mag pouch. Off duty it’s a Wilson 10rder in the combo pouch. My TRP has replaced all my other guns due to it’s reliability and accuracy. I even carry it in the summer in shorts, it’s all about dressing around the gun and holster selection. I use either a Blade Tech “Nano” IWB holster or a Wilson/Blade Tech Eclipse OWB holster and have done fine.
TRP 1911’s are the goods. It was one of my first guns many moons ago, never malf’d. I bought a second SS because I found it cheap on GB. I’m with you on TRP.
