I carry my CCOs in govt leather. Almost always.
There isnt really a downside unless you are really short.
A well made holster will not suffer from the last .75” being empty

 

When I carry my officer (AIWB), it's in a commander holster. That little bit of extra length adds just enough torque to keep that top-heavy little booger from wanting to flop over & print. Besides ... multi-tasking is a beautiful thing.

 

^this^.
I also use a commander holster for a compact, that little extra with the holster seems to help stabilize the compacts.
For myself the Gov IWB can get old for a longer duration ride in a vehicle, but still works.

 

Exactly. And with nice holsters going for $200 these days, if you can only afford one get the Govt holster and you have your bases covered

 

Thanks guys. That was kind of what I was thinking as far as having my bases covered. I was just curious as to whether there were any issues I wasn't aware of.

 

If you used it exclusively for a shorter slide, eventually you will get a small amount of collapse, but that would go away when you use a longer pistol again.
I have been using the same horsehide Galco holster for Govt and Commander slides interchangeably for a long while now. No negatives to speak of.

 

I do it all the time. I have one TLR 7 iwb government sized leather holster from TT gun leather and I use it for my government and commander. Also I’ve found non railed 1911s fit fine in a well made railed leather holster.

 

No issue doing that

 

Ive carried a 4" Officers in a Commander sized holster but never tried it in a govt size holster.

I notice while carrying a Commander size holster IWB it digs into my seat less while im driving

 

Commanders ride fine in 5 inch rigs, done repeatedly, the holster will sometimes take a "set" near the muzzle to make a 5 inch feel tight - to very tight. I routinely carry 3 and 3.5 inch guns in Commander and 4 inch holsters - I actually feel they ride better --- especiallay some of the optic cut rigs which I think suffer from being cut lower for the optic The extra length just rides better for me.

 

Although I end up with a drawer full of holsters, I am a firm believer in using a holster correctly sized holster for the gun carried. Both IWB and OWB, 5”, 4.25”, 4.0”, and 3.5”. Just me.

 

I was using a 3.5" AIWB holster for my officer, but it tended to be top-heavy & printed when it flopped over. I later picked up a commander size holster and that little extra length worked to torque the grip inwards just enough. Bonus: I use it for my commander, too, of course. This type of multitasking works with a 1911 because excepting for front blade height, pretty much everything South of the trigger guard is the same. Just sayin.

 

I carry a 4.25” in a TTGunleather IWB very frequently. No issues with carrying it but you lose the very slight and only advantage of the 4.25” Commander in my opinion. The govt can pinch the butt cheek at the tip when seated and having a Commander in a Govt holster really doesn’t change that. So that’s the only drawback.

 

Actually, that's only a drawback when you carry south of 3:00 as north of 3, the extra length adds torque. Look at the bright side: some guys gotta pay by the hour to get their butt pinched, lol

 

IWB Commander and Government both ride in the same leather. Who cares about the extra 3/4" of holster inside my jeans. OWB I run dedicated leather.....

 

Milt Sparks Criterion and similar are excellent. Do not forget to order two IPS and two S4C mag holders.