albatross

I have a chance to buy either a Colt Combat Commander or an Officers ACP. Both guns are stainless and series 80. Which woulkd be my best choice for self defense and informal practice. I have there are problems with the rscoil system on the officers model. Which gun would be more reliable and is ther that much difference in weight size and concealment. please send opinions. All will be appreciated. Thank you

BobFord

The commander is 100% reliable...the officers is NOT.

Go with the commander and you will be happy and well served !

dfariswheel

The Officer's Model is more "collectible" and is an easier gun to conceal.
It is usually quite reliable, but there was a "Sometime" problems with the recoil spring plug breaking a lug off and allowing the recoil spring to escape.

Replacing the "possibly" troublesome recoil plug is easy to do, and this eliminates any possible problems.
Some parts, especially factory type double recoil springs are no longer available, so you have to use after-market springs.

The Commander is a very reliable gun and needs no work or changes to be perfect right out of the box.
There are no weak parts or potential problems.
It is a larger gun and is harder to conceal.
All Commander parts are plentiful and easily available.

eodtom

Had both. Worked on both. Carried both.
The Officers is easier to conceal but in stainless will not weigh much less.
The Officers REQUIRES modification to ensure reliability. Then it's fine.
(you need to find a smith who understands the short 1911s)
The Commander is easy enough to conceal if you want to carry a .45.
The Commander will go bang every time as is.
Your call.

tonyta

I have all three. Never had a problem with them, use them all part time.
If you have a chance, get to a range and try to use each size to find what you like. I would not try to buy an 1911 unless you want to risk getting addicted. Full size are in 10 mm and .45 acp. Commanders are 9 mm and 45 acp. officer is .45 acp.



Tony

Aguila Blanca

The recoil plug on the Officers ACP gets a bad rap, but is usually a problem only if it's out of spec such that the aft end of the plug extends beyond the slide dustcover and impacts the recoil spring guide flange on firing, rather than the slide making contact as designed.

Despite enjoying both models, IMHO the Commander is the better proportioned and better balanced of the two. If I could have only one, for the purposes described by the original poster, I would choose the Combat Commander, hands down.

jakes10mm

Commander all the way. I can shoot my XSE Commander as accurately as my Government model. The Officer's model I owned for a brief time required a lot more concentration and practice to control. It did have its share of feed problems if I had the slightest level of limp wristing. If you want more compact than the Officer's model, take a look at the Defender model. Personally, I have much more confidence with the Defender over the Officers. Although it lags behind the Commander and Government models in range accuracy, it applies plenty of pressure to the other two. It also has an alloy frame which makes it a more pleasant carry gun.

cochise

Just a short comment.

I have Colt Officer's .45 acp. I fired many rds, ( thousand or more ) and had to replace the plug on the recoil spring. Mine cracked and didn't notice for some time and it still fired. I replaced mine with a Ed Brown from Brownells. You need to file the slide about a 32nd of an inch to allow for the shoulder on the plug. It has the full length guide rod. I never had a failure to fire ever!

I had a combat commander and loved it but could not get good accuracy. My ex out shot me all the time with that gun. I traded it off and don't miss it.

I have a full size 1911 and I love it.