Springfield might have one or two that meet your budget. Don’t sell Kimber short though.. .they make really good guns.

 

Don’t sell Kimber short though.. .they make really good guns.

I guess it’s the horror stories that I’ve heard in the past.

 

I carry the Ronin EMP. It's small, thin, and easy to conceal.

I also carry a commander.

The EMP is significantly easier to carry.

 

I also like the EMP, nice thin small 1911. Good for summer carry.

Trigger might not be a nice as others but don't really need a great trigger on my carry gun.

 

I carry an SA Range Officer .45 every day

Definitely. It’s a great platform.

 

I’ve owned a Kimber Officer .45, and a Springfield EMP. The EMP was a VASTLY superior gun. Of the 1911/2011s that I’ve owned, the Kimber was the ONLY one that just didn’t work.

Now that being said, the trade off that would now make me think twice about an EMP is the trigger and the weight. The EMP has an aluminum frame, and the trigger is not great compared to more midrange guns.

 

I find the CCO configuration to be about right. Steel preferred for me, now in 38 Super. Yup it's a bit heavy but comforting. Been carrying some form of 1911 for 20+ years now. MI has had "shall issue" CPL for that long.
Jim

 

Find yourself a Springfield RO Elite Compact. Officer sized lightweight frame and 4 inch bull barrel. Shoots and carries great!

 

I never thought I would say this but, that dot looks very nice on that 1911. I would certainly like additional pictures and a detailed description of your rig if you have the time.

 

I have a Tisas that I'm happy with.

In the $750 price range you are also going to be shuffling through the decades of politics. I would NEVER own a "fill in the blank" because "fill in the blank".

Everything from geo-political lessons on a world scale to some "sell out" company who.....whatever, ya know, whatever.
Haters don't need a reason to hate.

 

I did it. Two months ago circa, I felt the irresistible push to go to metal and wood back again. Older guy here, it made sense. I went for a Colt "Defender". Two months later, I am loving my choice. Mind you, I still have tons of my plastic handguns, including some smaller ones. Nothing is incompatible, we just rotate the things. Picture of Defender in different clothes

Defender Bang! by Solo__, on Flickr

Colts by Solo__, on Flickr

Back in Black by Solo__, on Flickr

Daily Carry Colt Defender by Solo__, on Flickr

Fortis and Friends by Solo__, on Flickr

PS my Defender is in 9mm

 

Also consider the Rugers. This is offered in 9MM and 45ACP. Ruger® SR1911® Officer-Style Centerfire Pistol Models

 

I just took a brand new Springfield Emissary for a quick range session today… I 100% recommend it and will definitely be adding it to my carry rotation… I’m very impressed.

 

Another vote for the CCO. I have a SA Range Officer compact that I have carried a lot. Changed to a DW Guardian earlier this year, and really enjoy it, but back to the Range officer on this warmer days as it conceals just a little easier under an untucked shirt.

 

There was a Dan Wesson ECO in the classifieds that would have fit your needs well.

 

That was WAY more than I can spend! 🙂

 

Sub-4" barrel guns can be very picky. I couldn't get my Springfield Ultra Compact to work despite my gunsmith's best efforts and Dan Wesson couldn't fix my ECO 9. You may get lucky and the gun works fine. Also know that 45 ACP out of the SA Ultra Compact was extremely snappy; you may want to consider 9mm. But at that point, you can just get a S&W Shield Plus or SIG P365X and have a gun that's the same size for half the price. I have had a fantastic experience with my Nighthawk T4 (3.9" barrel) because it's been tuned.

My belief is that you're choosing a 1911 because you want the look, feel, and trigger of the 1911 platform. If that's the case, then my personal recommendation is to get a well built gun from a company like Wilson Combat or Nighthawk. This ensures that the gun has been built properly and has the company's service backing. A production gun from an average company is going to be built by "assemblers". The parts are slapped together, minor fitting is done as fast as possible, and out the door it goes.

Springfield did this with my EMP's and neither were functional out of the box. Kimber did this to me with a Tactical Ultra II and its replacement. Dan Wesson wasn't able to fix my ECO. Two EMP's, one Tac Ultra II, and the ECO cost me around $5,300 or so. I spent around $1200 trying to get that Kimber working (I tracked the receipts). That's over $6,000 in garbage guns because "I cannot afford a Nighthawk"! One amazing NHC would have cost less and at the time, I could have purchased two.

Go into this with open eyes and assume, on a production gun, you're going to spend at least the cost of the gun in shipping, parts, mags, ammo, range fees, gas, gunsmiths, etc. If you're willing to tinker, you may be able to do some of the work yourself and get it going.

But the last thing you want to do is buy the gun, clean it up, and take it to the range assuming it will work well. Then you'll get disappointed and join the legion of gun owners who think "I cannot trust this gun!!!!".

 

I’ve got a Glock 43X with an optic that I like quite well that I carry now. I’ve had two Officers sized 45’s in the past…a STI Guardian and an Sig.
I’m getting up in years and have better things to spend six grand on besides a gun. Perhaps I’ll just forget it.

 

Find a decent CCO, that's a Commander slide on an officer sized frame. Aleviates some of the quirks of a 3" model.

Just save your money till you fine something worthwhile

 

With a proper belt designed for CCW, and a quality holster, it's easy to carry a full sized steel 1911

With a floppy walmart belt and crappy gunshow holster, it's a disaster

 

With a proper belt designed for CCW, and a quality holster, it's easy to carry a full sized steel 1911

With a floppy walmart belt and crappy gunshow holster, it's a disaster

I like how you added that fiber optic front sight. At 73 I need all the help I can get getting a quick good sight picture.

 

I’ve got one of those “ratcheting belts and I usually get a quality leather holster, sometimes I find a good used name brand off eBay. My 43X came with a really nice kydex, which is fine for it, but I normally get leather for the nicer guns I had.

 

A ratcheting belt and the 3 inch EMP is a winning combination. Keeps the pistol tight to the body, easy to conceal, and easy to move without your pants falling down.

 

Jump in and get one! Make sure it functions, and as stated get a good holster.

in a few months or a year, you may find you want one with other options. Go for a little higher & gun then if you want one. I have no trouble carrying a full size 1911. The Officer carries well too.

 

I got my eye on a Magnum Research right now.

 

I got my eye on a Magnum Research right now.

There is a pretty nice lookin SA RO in the classifieds. In your price range.

 

Thanks, but I’m looking for a 45.

 

I saw a SA Champion. The listing says it has an “Officer’s cut”. Is that the same as a CCO?
Does the Champion have the alloy frame?

 

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I don't believe that the listing mentioned 'officer cut' but instead, a 'contour carry', referring to the bobtail ... IMHO.

 

Under 750 I think might put you in a tough spot. Officers size 1911s in 45 are not super fun to shoot and have been known to have reliability issues. (Slide out cycling the magazine) 9mm officers and defender size pistols are a lot better in that regard.

My best recommendation would be to try and find a used Springfield champion model or Colt defender in 9mm.

the reality is for a carry gun there is absolutely zero practical reason to be looking at 2K plus pistols unless that’s what you want. M1911A1s cost the USG in the 1940s about 28-30 bucks a pop in 1946 the government model and the commander were about 35-40 on the commercial market and they worked fine. Which is about 620-700 USD. I say that to say this. For a working tool you should be able to find something in that price range used most likely, however sadly because of the way the market has gotten your options are going to be limited.

 

Here’s an excerpt from the listing:

“The Springfield Armory Champion is a stainless steel “officer’s cut” 1911. With the natural ergonomics of the 1911 and a compact barrel, this handgun makes for a great option for conceal carry or self/home defense. Chambered in .45 ACP, this pistol comes ready to hit the target hard.

UPC ECOM00441656
Action SEMI AUTOMATIC
Barrel Length 4.00 BARREL
Caliber .45 ACP
Capacity 8 ROUNDS
Finish BLACK
Weight 1.6”

I remember the term “CCO” mentioned in this thread. Is this what that term was referring to?

 

Here’s an excerpt from the listing:

“The Springfield Armory Champion is a stainless steel “officer’s cut” 1911. With the natural ergonomics of the 1911 and a compact barrel, this handgun makes for a great option for conceal carry or self/home defense. Chambered in .45 ACP, this pistol comes ready to hit the target hard.

UPC ECOM00441656
Action SEMI AUTOMATIC
Barrel Length 4.00 BARREL
Caliber .45 ACP
Capacity 8 ROUNDS
Finish BLACK
Weight 1.6”

I remember the term “CCO” mentioned in this thread. Is this what that term was referring to?

OOPA!!! I looked at a different description.
I've not heard the term "officer's cut" before, but that pistol does appear to be their Range Officer Champion. It's a lightweight officer with a 3.5" barrel. @Uncle Bob referred to a CCO which has an officer's frame - same as in that listing - but a 4.25" barrel. Hope that helps.

 

This is the gun in question:

https://www.guns.com/used-guns/p/springfield-armory-champion?i=532477

 

@oldman Bryson
I have a Springfield Champion Operator in .45 and it's been a reliable performer. I replaced MIM ignition and other parts with EGW and Wilson Combat offerings to upgrade it a bit recently. Easy to conceal and fun to shoot-you'd probably agree.

 

I personally never had much luck with compact 1911's .... Ones I tried were ammo finicky and didn't feel right weight wise. Wound up carrying a Sig Sauer C3 which I loved from 2009 until 2023 when I needed to go lighter due to health reasons.
Wish Sig Sauer made a 9mm version of the C3

 

I guess I’ve been fortunate in that regard. I have two CCO’s and an Officer’s model. Never had any trouble with my Officer, but, Yost worked on it so….