Lightest 1911 ... - The Firearms Forum

Mike_Fontenot · 07-27-2011, 03:43 PM

What is the lightest .45ACP 1911?

I'm partial to my S&W360sc .357 J-frame snubbies (I carry both of them, except during the hot months) ... each 11oz empty. But I do admire the thinness of the 1911, and the very nice SA trigger on every shot.

All of the .45ACP 1911's that I am familiar with weigh MUCH more than my 360sc ... at least twice as much. Does anyone make one that is lighter than that, perhaps with a titanium slide and an aluminum/scandium frame?

The Duke · 07-27-2011, 04:22 PM

+1 on the 360 Smith and Wesson...I carry a 360PD frequently...So light its easy to forget your are carrying....Its my idea of a perfect pocket gun.

When the weathers cooler, I prefer a belt holstered SW 3 1/2" Pro Series .45ACP..It has a stainless slide and Scandium alloy frame and weighs in at 26.5oz.empty ..But still considerably lighter than 40+ oz stainless beast I packed before getting the Pro Series...Im not sure if there is anything lighter in a 1911 platform, but the Pro Series has got to be right there with them if there is.

I imagine the .45 ammo alone weights more than the 360..

Shooter45 · 07-27-2011, 04:40 PM

I carried an old Colt Lightweight Commander ( ser # 52** ) for years. it weighed in at 27 oz empty. I now carry a Colt Combat Commander and although it's a little heavier, I don't really notice it with a good gunbelt and holster.

Mike_Fontenot · 07-27-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Duke

+1 on the 360 Smith and Wesson...I carry a 360PD frequently...So light its easy to forget your are carrying....Its my idea of a perfect pocket gun.

Yeah, I agree completely. My 360sc is no longer produced, but it appears to be functionally the same as your 360PD ... the only differences that I'm aware of are the color and the sights.

I always carry one in my front pocket (in a holster), and in the months where an undershirt is comfortable (most of the year in Boulder), I also carry the other in a homemade under-the-shirt shoulder holster

Quote:

When the weather's cooler, I prefer a belt holstered SW 3 1/2" Pro Series .45ACP..It has a stainless slide and Scandium alloy frame and weighs in at 26.5oz.empty ..But still considerably lighter than 40+ oz stainless beast I packed before getting the Pro Series...Im not sure if there is anything lighter in a 1911 platform, but the Pro Series has got to be right there with them if there is.

The aluminum/scandium frame is good, but I wish they could make the slide out of titanium.

Quote:

I imagine the .45 ammo alone weights more than the 360..

Yeah, that's the price of heavy bullets, but I really do like their advantages. (I shoot 158gr JHP's in my 360sc's ... on the heavy side for a .357, but much lighter than a typical .45 bullet).

Two additional questions:

My understanding is that the quoted barrel length of autoloaders includes the length of the cartridge. So what it the actual barrel length in front of the bullet, for the three usual model-sizes of a 1911?

And, when I look at a picture of a 1911, where is the chambered cartridge located, with respect to the location of the visible ejection gate? Is it right behind that gate, or in front of it, or behind it?

Mike_Fontenot · 07-27-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shooter45

I carried an old Colt Lightweight Commander ( ser # 52** ) for years. it weighed in at 27 oz empty. I now carry a Colt Combat Commander and although it's a little heavier, I don't really notice it with a good gunbelt and holster.

What motivated you to make the switch?

JLA · 07-27-2011, 06:23 PM

In my experience the Springfield UltraCompact .45ACP is the lightest 1911 chambered in .45ACP. The lightest 1911 overall IMO, would have to go to Springfields EMP in 9mm.

hogger129 · 07-28-2011, 09:52 AM

The lightest 1911 I've fired was a Smith & Wesson Scandium Commander.

Double D · 07-28-2011, 12:07 PM

I carried my colt defender which is a lightweight 3" barrel 45. Great gun. But after I bought the new s&w e-series commander w/ scandium frame, it has quickly become my everyday carry. I switch back and forth sometimes. But like shooter said, get yourself a real gunbelt. Carrying a 1911 wont be an issue. I have one that is like 3/8 thick and it works great. Dont compromise on belt quality.

Mike_Fontenot · 07-28-2011, 03:47 PM

Thanks to all the responders for the info.

fritz · 07-30-2011, 06:43 AM

The lightest That I have personally held is Kimbers RPC II, it weighs 25oz.

07-27-2011, 03:43 PM	#1
Mike_Fontenot Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder, Colo Posts: 11	Lightest 1911 ... What is the lightest .45ACP 1911? I'm partial to my S&W360sc .357 J-frame snubbies (I carry both of them, except during the hot months) ... each 11oz empty. But I do admire the thinness of the 1911, and the very nice SA trigger on every shot. All of the .45ACP 1911's that I am familiar with weigh MUCH more than my 360sc ... at least twice as much. Does anyone make one that is lighter than that, perhaps with a titanium slide and an aluminum/scandium frame? __________________ Mike Fontenot -->

07-27-2011, 04:22 PM	#2
The Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NW Louisiana Posts: 813	Re: Lightest 1911 ... +1 on the 360 Smith and Wesson...I carry a 360PD frequently...So light its easy to forget your are carrying....Its my idea of a perfect pocket gun. When the weathers cooler, I prefer a belt holstered SW 3 1/2" Pro Series .45ACP..It has a stainless slide and Scandium alloy frame and weighs in at 26.5oz.empty ..But still considerably lighter than 40+ oz stainless beast I packed before getting the Pro Series...Im not sure if there is anything lighter in a 1911 platform, but the Pro Series has got to be right there with them if there is. I imagine the .45 ammo alone weights more than the 360..

07-27-2011, 04:40 PM	#3
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,746	Re: Lightest 1911 ... I carried an old Colt Lightweight Commander ( ser # 52** ) for years. it weighed in at 27 oz empty. I now carry a Colt Combat Commander and although it's a little heavier, I don't really notice it with a good gunbelt and holster.

07-27-2011, 06:23 PM	#6
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,298	Re: Lightest 1911 ... In my experience the Springfield UltraCompact .45ACP is the lightest 1911 chambered in .45ACP. The lightest 1911 overall IMO, would have to go to Springfields EMP in 9mm. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

07-28-2011, 09:52 AM	#7
hogger129 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,064	Re: Lightest 1911 ... The lightest 1911 I've fired was a Smith & Wesson Scandium Commander. __________________ Samuel Adams once said, "among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life, secondly to liberty, thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."

07-28-2011, 12:07 PM	#8
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,051	Re: Lightest 1911 ... I carried my colt defender which is a lightweight 3" barrel 45. Great gun. But after I bought the new s&w e-series commander w/ scandium frame, it has quickly become my everyday carry. I switch back and forth sometimes. But like shooter said, get yourself a real gunbelt. Carrying a 1911 wont be an issue. I have one that is like 3/8 thick and it works great. Dont compromise on belt quality. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

07-28-2011, 03:47 PM	#9
Mike_Fontenot Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder, Colo Posts: 11	Re: Lightest 1911 ... Thanks to all the responders for the info. __________________ Mike Fontenot

07-30-2011, 06:43 AM	#10
fritz V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 89	Re: Lightest 1911 ... The lightest That I have personally held is Kimbers RPC II, it weighs 25oz.