Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
2/17/2009 10:48:46 PM EDT
I have heard that a Commander slide is not optimal in terms of reliability, due to the higher slide velocity.  What does this translate into in terms of reliability reduction?  15%?  20%? Can it be simplified in these terms? I like the form factor of the shorter slide, but is it worth it?  Can the reliability be brought back with a spring adjustment?

                                                                                                                          D-R
2/18/2009 9:08:13 AM EDT
[#1]
You heard wrong.
2/18/2009 9:37:03 AM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
You heard wrong.



+1
2/18/2009 9:44:55 AM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I have heard that a Commander slide is not optimal in terms of reliability, due to the higher slide velocity.  What does this translate into in terms of reliability reduction?  15%?  20%? Can it be simplified in these terms? I like the form factor of the shorter slide, but is it worth it?  Can the reliability be brought back with a spring adjustment?

                                                                                                                          D-R


Well as I heard from Ed Brown himself, a commander length slide is all the shorter he will go making a 1911 for sale. That is due to the 1911 being designed as a 5 inch gun. Every time you shorten the slide it affects the dynamics of the 1911's functioning. Reliability will come into question by the shortening of the slide from the original 5 inch. He did say you could make a 3 inch 1911 that runs like a top, but it was too much a hassle to make hundreds of them for sale. It was his opinion that 5 inch is the best, 4.25 slightly less than optimum but still fine, and less than 4.25 was a gamble.

I've pretty much gotten the same answer from LB.

Personaly, I have Government 1911's, Commanders, and serveral CCO's. I think a 5 inch 1911 has a slight advantage in reliability. As in if you bought 10,000 5 inch Browns and 10,000 Brown Commanders, the 5 inch guns would have a slight advantage in reliability.
2/18/2009 10:04:07 AM EDT
[#4]
Put simply and strictly my own opinion....Commander is as small as I would go. I own two in that size now seeing I just ordered an STI Ranger II. The Nighthawk T3 runs like a top.
2/18/2009 11:59:55 AM EDT
[#5]
I've never heard that Commanders are less reliable, and my own experience contradicts that notion.
2/18/2009 1:45:29 PM EDT
[#6]
Shortening the operating system on a gun that was designed a certain way can always provide adverse reliability, but the question is how much.

The AR15 was designed for a rifle length gas system, but can work with systems far shorter, and while the shorter systems may prove less reliable, it's all in perspective.

And I think anyone would agree you are more likely to have problems with a full size 1911 when you don't properly maintain your hardware, use quality ammo, or use quality magazines compared to a shortened 1911 where you do properly maintain your hardware, use quality ammo, and use quality magazines.
2/18/2009 4:15:54 PM EDT
[#7]
Thanks for the responses.  Pretty muchly what I had thought, 'ole JMB designed it as a 5" and never expected us durn fools would mess with it.  But I still think Commander length slides are dead sexy.   Keep 'em coming...

                                                                                                                                           D-R