Being a MA resident, other than Para Ordnance, what are my options for getting a 1911 with a 3.5 inch barrel? I realize I can get a used Kimber, Colt, etc via a FTF sale but I am talking about a new gun.
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What are my options for a 1911 with a 3.5 inch barrel?
- Thread starter Big_Red
- Start date
dixidawg
NES Member
45collector
NES Member
My opinion? Don't go any shorter than commander length, barrel-wise. 1911 was designed for 5" and in my experience, the shorter the barrel, the more prone to function problems they will be.
But to answer your question, I don't know of any 3.5" 1911's that are brand new and MA compliant. (Besides Para. I had a C6 carry, and P12. didn't fully trust either for carry.)
But to answer your question, I don't know of any 3.5" 1911's that are brand new and MA compliant. (Besides Para. I had a C6 carry, and P12. didn't fully trust either for carry.)
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Agreed. I would stick with 4 or 4 1/4" barrel length. You really don't gain much in terms of concealability by going to a 3 or 3 1/2" barrel, and you lose a lot in terms of sight radius. The hard part to conceal is the grip.
Keep looking for a Kimber Compact or similar gun. They are rare, but one came up for sale here in the classifieds recently. Or work with a gunsmith to have one built for you.
W
wolf223
Para Warthogs ? I beleive those are legal to sell in MA, I always see them on the websites.
...other than Para...I already have one of the LDAs.
Thanks everyone. I didn't think I had any other options for a new one.
As a side note, I recently went to Hoffman's Gun Center in Newingotn, CT. I could stop drooling over all the Kimbers and Springfields.
Oh, how I hate Massachusetts lawmakers.
While the legislature is the biggest problem, PART of the blame also lies with Kimber and Springfield. Each could have submitted guns for testing and been placed on the AFR accordingly, especially as passing the CA tests counts for much of the MA test. Each could also submit certain models for approval under the target roster.
Neither has made any effort to do so. That should tell you all you need to know about them.
I own two Colt Officer's, a Colt Defender and two Kimber Pro Carry's. None of them have had function issues.
The SS Colt OM is my CCW with thousands of rounds thought it.
What was your experience?
45collector
NES Member
My experience is that a full size 1911 will be less prone to functioning issues. I didn't say that anything shorter will not run. The two Para's I've had functioned fine the majority of the time. Majority is not something I want to bet my life on. I've shot a Defender that had stove pipes every 15 rounds or so. Obviously there are shorter-than-commander length 1911's that will have no problems if well tuned, but the shorter barrel you go on the 1911 design, the less tolerance there is regarding the shorter recoil spring, lighter slide and quicker cycling, and how those all work with eachother.
I hope I worded that clearly enough.![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
So if all your shorter 1911's work beautifully, great! It means you've got proper recoil spring weight, barrel lock time, extractor tension and ejector angle. I'm just saying a full size tends to be less finicky as to how all the variables work together.
Safe shooting.
45collector
I hope I worded that clearly enough.
So if all your shorter 1911's work beautifully, great! It means you've got proper recoil spring weight, barrel lock time, extractor tension and ejector angle. I'm just saying a full size tends to be less finicky as to how all the variables work together.
Safe shooting.
45collector
