I carry my Wilson Stealth single stack it’s a LW aluminum frame and being in AZ most of the time it’s shorts and T-Shirt for me and it conceals the best for me. I feel that I am a good enough shot to hit my target out to 15 yards and carry a 9 round magazine in the gun for better concealment.

I seldom even carry a spare magazine as most of my outings are quick runs to the store.

I have had 2011s and never really carried them although I had holsters for them I just felt they were a bit to bulky to conceal well for me.

 

This is a good question. I have both single stacks and double stacks. The only reason I would carry a single stack is if I had something like a commander or a CCO, and the thinness of the single stack frame helped with concealability and comfort. However, all my single stacks are government sized, and although a single stack frame can be easier to conceal, the tradeoff in capacity isn’t worth it to me.

 

I feel like something like the OG Staccato C is still appealing for deeper concealment, although I’d end up wanting to have a spare mag on board. While something like the CS could allow the ability to run without a spare mag, and generally still be concealed pretty well. The single stack example having a thickness of 1” is better than the double stack example of 1.2” at the thinnest point and 1.3x” at the thickest point. So pending the circumstances having multiple options would give the most flexibility for choices. My daily has been a double stack with spare mag and just dress around the pistol.

 

The vast majority of the time I carry a single stack, all steel, 5" Gov't model in 45ACP. I know the thread title states 9mm, but I feel like that requirement slants the comparison towards the 2011. I mean, why not have more rounds than less?

I really believe that a big factor rarely mentioned in these comparisons is the age of the shooter. Most of us old guys grew up with the 1911, chambered in 45. The 2011 is a relatively new phenomenon. The 1911 looks traditional and the 2011 looks futuristic, at least to me. You gotta go with what looks and feels best to you.

I have a couple of 2011s, a Wilson and a Guncrafter, and really like them, but my typical EDC is a 1911. The thinness, the heft, the history and heritage all appeal to me. Especially the look of the gun.

 

I understand where you’re coming from on this. I carried a single stack government in .45acp for years, and I loved a classic blued 1911 in a summer special 2, but as soon as the magazine issues got more or less fixed for 2011s, I instantly gravitated to it.

 

My EDC for the past 10 years has been a 45 ACP Les Baer Commander. Granted it only holds 8 rounds, but it conceals very well. I do own 2 Nighthawks- a TRS Commander and a TRS Comp but they print worse than my Les Baer. I own several 9mm commanders, but since the Baer has served me well, I continue to carry that.

You didn't want to get into a 9mm vs. 45 ACP discussion, so I won't . Since I know this crowd likes pix, here's my Baer...

 

That is nice! Beautiful gun

 

I have both. I typically like to take my 2011’s to training classes with me (less mag changes). I carry my single stacks most though.

For me, the 1911 feels like it’s a bit more concealable as well.

Lastly, and I’m not saying this is true, but there is some part of me that still doesn’t trust 2011’s all the way through. I have no reason to doubt mine as they have been tremendously reliable, but…. I still trust my single stacks over my double stacks for a concealed carry option.

 

i don't really find a difference between DS/ SS in carry. i'm mostly using OR/ light bearing holsters for EDC, so all but one solution has rails/ lights and run in the same holsters, as the others.

 

I transitioned from a BHP to a LW, single stack officer. Aside from the obvious weight difference, the SS just felt so much better in my hand. I replaced its 8rd mag with a 9rd + XGrip and it feels even better. Shortly, the officer will be replaced with a Guardian that just melted in my hand and conceals as well as the officer. With either gun, I always carry an extra mag in case of malfunction rather than for extra round count.

 

Although at my advanced age comfort has become more of an issue, I’ve never felt under-gunned with a single stack. Hardcore gunfights are rare necessitating high round counts. I’ve had many LEOs and SF Operators tell me that if 7-8 rounds isn’t enough I need more practice or a gun I can shoot. Now if I know I’m going in to an active area I may prepare accordingly.

 

With all due respect,

I am a patreon supporter and avid follower of "police activity" on youtube.

I have seen more police body cam footage and shooting footage than any random Joe should in a lifetime.

People on drugs can eat a handful of bullets and act unphased, keep coming. I've seen groups of police mag dump on a suspect and the person didn't die, didn't get seriously injured, or even get hit at all. Some get dropped by a single bullet and die, some take a handful and end up surviving.

I digress. I've seen enough evidence with my own eyes to not consider a 1911 sufficient for "anything" one could encounter in the wild. Take advantage of those slim single stack mags and carry an extra 2 or 3.

IMO

 

I prefer to carry single stacks, but that’s probably because I live in Florida. It’s hot and I mostly wear shorts and a t-shirt 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

Most of the Time I carry my Ronin EMP or my Range Officer compact with my G43x in my backpack for when I am going to or from work. While I have holsters both iwb and owb for my Prodigy, I haven’t really carried it that much. It is bigger then I would like for everyday concealed here in South Florida. Now in a a post Hurricane setting like after Wilma or for duty carry , it is perfect for me.

 

1.5 stack for the win!

Haven’t carried a single stack 9mm since I bought the 1.5 stack Shield+. Also find myself carrying the double stacks less often.

Would be great to see 1911 variants of 1.5 stack. Not sure Staccato CS & new C truly qualify as 1.5 stack.

 

This +1

My low vis carry, summer , t-shirt carry is an Sig P365x with a spare mag. I’m not down very many rounds compared to my 2011 with 120mm mags

 

If I am carrying a 9mm, it is a double stack striker or a 2011. I have no issues concealing them, so I choose to have more bullets. I always have a spare mag on board as well.

 

I think the new generation 2011 mags are more reliable than single stack mags.

 

many fine options as mentioned above, but for me it's the original single stack Staccato C and a spare mag.

 

Actually, for me this one depends more on the question of:

Am I carrying a spare magazine or not?

If I can carry a spare magazine, along with anything else I need - a single stack usually feels sufficient. But if I can’t, for whatever reason (usually for me it’s because I have a TQ inside my waistband) then I tend to favor the double. All depends on how much I can have in the belt on for that particular day or how I’m dressed.

 

My EDC was a Sig Sauer C3 from when I bought it in 2009, a CCO platform single stack until about a year ago. Due to health reasons I switched to 9mm DS gun.

If I went back to carrying a 1911 it would be CCO 9mm.

 

Usually carry a double stack although the single stack is easier to conceal

 

Or, how about a DS in .45? I sent it in to Schauland Performance for some reliability work and he hard fit my barrel and now I shoot it better than anything else I own.

 

I mostly carry a Wilson SFT9 DS, but carry my other 1911s when I feel like it. With a 9mm single stack and an extra mag I have 21 rounds, and if I ever need more than that I should’ve brought a rifle.

 

I have both, and while I largely carried a DS Staccato CS this past year, I am now gravitating to SS 1911. I find that I can carry a Commander size 1911 and conceal it better than the smaller DS Staccato. This is just a function of my body type. I enjoy the DS guns at the range, but will definitely be EDC the SS 1911s

 

P365XL or regular P365. 10 round
mag (11 total). no extra magazine. Where I live in CT, I never feel I even need to carry. But I do just out of principle.

 

I hear ya. I live in a gated community where we miles of walk-ways that make for nice evening walks. We all feel very safe here.
But there were also a few people who were sitting in their houses of worship and sitting in their classrooms that felt pretty safe there, too, so I - like you - take nothing for granted.

 

Capacity plays an important role in what I carry. Given the relative same size and weight, I’ll take a double stack over a single stack any day of the week. That’s exactly why I bought my staccato CS last summer. I carry it about 95% of the time. Only when I am dressed up and it’s hard to conceal the Staccato do I carry my Kimber Micro nine.

 

None of the above. I carry one gun, long term (2+ years), and wear it no matter the weather, my attire, or threat assessment. There is no whim. The only times I’ll switch are when the EDC has an issue that requires repair and when/if I’m ready (after 2+ years) for a change.

 

Smaller single-stack 1911s, like a SA EMP, are perfect for shorts and t-shirt weather. Extra mags are small enough to carry a couple of extra also, even in shorts pockets.