1911 IWB 4” or 5”

[CJATE]

I am gearing up for my first 1911. I have only shot a 5� and worry I will not like shooting a 4�. I hope for this gun to be a carry piece, and will my only 1911 for a while.

I am unaware of a range in this area that has 1911’s to play with.

I am not a little guy and my only IWB issues, have had have more to do with the handle and the over all width. But I only have one full-size and don’t have a holster for it, so I have never carried it.

Any one carry to comment on shoot the 4� or carrying the 5�

[KinnyLee]

I hide a Government size 1911 IWB often. For comfort, go leather. The Milt Sparks VersaMax II is the way to go IMO. Sometimes, you won't even know it's there. Hehe. For speed, go kydex like Comp-Tac's CTAC or Infidel.

The difference between a 4" and 5" is the length of the slide (as far as I know) so handling it will be the same.

[carlson1]

If you can only have one I would go with the 5." The concealment is the grip and the grip on the 4 and 5 are the same. Just my thoughts.

[HighVelocity]

I like the 4" but really prefer the 5". I just shoot the 5" better. I am packin' a 5" Springfield lightweight as I type this.
The Sparks VMII is a good holster and a lot of folks swear by them. I like the Sparks Summer Special II better though after having tried both.

Your options in guns and holsters are infinite.

[mkim1120]

i only own commander sized 1911's
get a commander sized with a ed brown bobtail
cant go wrong with those as a ccw

also get a milt sparks holster to use as your carry holster
they make a great holster for 1911's

[barres]

I am unaware of a range in this area that has 1911’s to play with.

Where is your area? Maybe we can help you find one!

[striker55]

I was shooting my 5" Para at ASC at the steel plates and hitting them pretty regular. Tried my friends Kimber 4", felt like a snub nose at first (only 1" difference but felt shorter than that) and hit the targets pretty regular with his. Didnt see a big difference. Maybe kick was a little more, hard to tell, it was a while ago.

[tex45acp]

I grew up with a 5" 1911 in my hands and have literally shot tens of thousands of rounds, over the 30+ years of doing so. Today I carry a 4" and wish I had found one so many years ago. The balance is in my opinion perfect with the 4" gun, reliability is the same as with the 5"...yes the sight plane is a bit shorter, but I have no problems shooting it as accurately as I have any 5" I have ever shot. I can conceal the 4" much more comfortably,especially in long sitting sessions. I still own one 5" 1911, but it only gets range duty, albiet a lot of range duty. I carry the 4" exclusively. It really helps that I have an outstanding holster to carry it with, a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2.

tex45acp

[dukalmighty]

I have a 5" sa 1911-a1 and Rock Island Armory 3.5",i carry the RIA in a bianchi model 100 IWB holster and half the time forget i's there it's so comfortable

[moodyamber]

I am gearing up for my first 1911. I have only shot a 5” and worry I will not like shooting a 4”. I hope for this gun to be a carry piece, and will my only 1911 for a while.

I am unaware of a range in this area that has 1911’s to play with.

I am not a little guy and my only IWB issues, have had have more to do with the handle and the over all width. But I only have one full-size and don’t have a holster for it, so I have never carried it.

Any one carry to comment on shoot the 4” or carrying the 5”

I carry a 4" Springfield 1911 Champion in an IWB Bianchi holster,Its just a tad heavier than your standard 5" to compensate for the recoil(I've noticed no difference in the recoil between my Chapmion and my Norinco 5" 1911.)

If you're ever in my neck of the woods youre free to come out with us and shoot my Champion as long as you bring your ammo of choice.

[frankie_the_yankee]

I carry a stainless steel Series 80 Gold Cup Commander in an IWB holster. I find almost no difference in "feel" between it and a 5" gun. If anything, the Commander seems to have better balance.

I'm not a big guy and it works for me.