3/3.5 inch 1911 velocity

[AKA]

My understanding the 3-inch Officers model has a loss in velocity compared to its big Brother. Is this loss enough to decrease the effectiveness of the weapon? Is it better to stay with the 4 or 5 inch for best results?

[Jammer Six]

My understanding the 3-inch Officers model has a loss in velocity compared to its big Brother. Is this loss enough to decrease the effectiveness of the weapon? Is it better to stay with the 4 or 5 inch for best results?

The smaller 1911's aren't as reliable as the full size weapons.

For that reason, I don't own any of them anymore.

I wrote about the one I owned here. (http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=567480#post567480)

Good luck!

[Brian D.]

Yes, there's certainly some velocity loss from a 5" to a 3" barrel. Somewhere in the vicinity of 150 f.p.s., from my Colt Defender, as opposed to one of my Gov't sized guns. That's with a couple brands of 230gr. ball or JHP ammo, btw.

For that reason, I don't use heavyweight hollowpoints in the Defender, as they likely wouldn't expand. I carry 200 gr. (+P) CorBon in the gun, and
230gr. ball in the spare mags when that gun is on my hip.

Now, as far as reliability concerns go, the farther you get from Mr. Browning's 5" bbl. design, the better the odds that your gun could have functioning issues. My saying is: "If you have a gun shorter than a Commander and it works well, don't get rid of it!"

Since I just admitted to owning a 3" Defender, it's safe to say that mine runs good then, eh? And it took virtually no tweaking to get it that way, just some break-in time.