So I'm seeing Ruger 1911 5" slide lightweight frames for right around $600. Immediate question is, why so cheap? I have to admit I've always been intrigued with a 5" lightweight 1911 for some reason. Why? I don't know, they don't really do anything for me that a lightweight commander doesn't already do. But for $600 it is tempting. Just wondering why it is so much cheaper than Ruger's other 1911 offerings.

They have showed up at several places. A guy on the 1911 forum left a good review. I have the regular Ruger 1911 and have been impressed.

My 1911 Ruger in 10mm is excellent.

I carry a SR1911 LW CDR sized one every day. I did change the grips & use Wilson Combat mags



That’s a good price, I wouldn’t wait too long

You know how the rails on a Sig P series guns would start showing silver after 1000 rounds downrange. I have a 9mm Ruger Lightweight Commander and with at least 2500 rounds downrange I still cannot see any rub mark on the frame at all. Also don't see any wear marks on the slide grooves. I don't know what Ruger used to coat my pistol but suspect it's a high hardness high lubricity ceramic of some type.

At present I have 4 SR1911's in various configurations and one thing I have learned is the Ruger magazines are pretty poor. However Wilson Combat magazines are 100% reliable. So I have about 10 9mm magazines and 14 or 15 45 ACP magazines and my pistols run perfect. I'll also note that all 4 of my Rugers came with the single action trigger pull right at 4.5 lbs. which I consider just perfect for a 1911. I will also note that mine have proven to be pretty accurate. Now they are not sub MOA but 2-3 inches at 25 yards off a rest is still pretty good for a 1911.

Tip. Use that adjustable trigger stop. If you set it just past the point where the trigger breaks the reset becomes about 0.04 inch and you can really get some sweet split times with the 9mm. Could probably do the same with the 45 ACP if it weren't for the recoil, with that caliber the recoil limits your split time.

I recently sold my 5 inch .45 SR1911. Ran flawless for 1500+ rounds during my ownership. Hope to replace it with a Commander SR in 9mm. I ran Wilson and Ed Brown magazines. My Ruger mags were OK, but aftermarket is better.

I love my Colt Government LW .45. Bought it about 6-7 years ago after handling one that belonged to a friend. I mainly shoot target level reloads with 185 grain bullets. Recoil with full power 230 grain loads isn't bad, but does slow down getting back on target. I'd go for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
You know how the rails on a Sig P series guns would start showing silver after 1000 rounds downrange. I have a 9mm Ruger Lightweight Commander and with at least 2500 rounds downrange I still cannot see any rub mark on the frame at all. Also don't see any wear marks on the slide grooves. I don't know what Ruger used to coat my pistol but suspect it's a high hardness high lubricity ceramic of some type.

The other thing on that is the P series guns have full length slide rails on the frame so it's a lot more surface contact than on any 1911 that is production fit. Although one question I do have is does Ruger build a feed ramp into the barrel on the 9mms or is it classic 1911 where the frame is the feed ramp?

As far as why these are going cheap, I think they may be discontinued. I looked over at Ruger's website and the only 5" 9mm on the website are Target models, 4.25" Commander, or the compact Officer model.

I had a LW Colt Government that I foolishly sold at one time, these new Rugers really have me thinking hard about one. I had a chance to handle one and it was a very nice 1911. I’ve got a couple LW Commanders, a Colt and Ruger so I really don’t “need” it but I’d like to have another 5” LW

I bought one about 8 years ago and put nearly a thousand trouble-free rounds through it before giving it to my son-in-law. I thought it was a fine pistol and wouldn't hesitate to purchase another should the right opportunity present itself.

Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by DanH:

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
You know how the rails on a Sig P series guns would start showing silver after 1000 rounds downrange. I have a 9mm Ruger Lightweight Commander and with at least 2500 rounds downrange I still cannot see any rub mark on the frame at all. Also don't see any wear marks on the slide grooves. I don't know what Ruger used to coat my pistol but suspect it's a high hardness high lubricity ceramic of some type.

The other thing on that is the P series guns have full length slide rails on the frame so it's a lot more surface contact than on any 1911 that is production fit. Although one question I do have is does Ruger build a feed ramp into the barrel on the 9mms or is it classic 1911 where the frame is the feed ramp?

As far as why these are going cheap, I think they may be discontinued. I looked over at Ruger's website and the only 5" 9mm on the website are Target models, 4.25" Commander, or the compact Officer model.

When the 9mm SR1911 Light CMD hit the market reviewers were showing how Ruger had used a Titanium insert in the frame to provide a durable feed ramp. That apparently was changed right after the initial run because mine is an early production gun and the feed ramp is part of the barrel. That is not a concern for me, the original 1911 design refinement by John Browning in 1910 had two barrel options, one with a barrel mounted feed ramp and one with a frame mounted feed ramp. IIRC there were actually two 1910 pistols produced with both types of feed ramps and function was perfect with either. Colt chose to produce the frame feed ramp to reduce the manufacturing cost of the barrel.

In 9mm we have a shorter overall length for the bullet and visually that barrel mounted feed ramp appears a bit extended versus the frame mounted ramp and I suspect that one reason for the barrel mounted feed ramp is to provide reliable feeding with the the shorter cartridge. One thing I do know is that it works very well. I have yet to have one single miss-feed.

Note, did a bit of shooting yesterday. Put 6 rounds thru an Astra 300 from WWII that my father brought back. The new firing pin I made up for it functioned perfectly. Also found out the sights on it are horrible couldn't see them at all at an indoor range and only had one hit on a 12x12 paper target. Won't be carrying this one, ever. Also shot a new to me TZ75 that's a decent shooter but does need the rear sight shifted 0.03 inch to the right and it's regulated for 115 or 124 grain ammo so it shot 1 1/2 high at 30 feet with my 147 grain ammo. Finished up with my 9mm SR1911, probably my favorite pistol to just shoot with. Sights are spot on perfect and the recoil spring is noticeably lighter than the TZ75. I'll have to do some weighing but I suspect the TZ75 may have a lighter slide than the 1911. If they are the same weight that TZ75 spring will get a coil cut off it. I don't load or shoot NATO 9mm ammo and see no need for a pistol sprung for it and while my Arthritis has improved a lot since cutting down Sugar it still lets me know it's there with a heavy recoil spring.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Scooter123,

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I carry a SR1911 LW CDR sized one every day. I did change the grips & use Wilson Combat mags

I assume the sap is just for the photo?

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:
In 9mm we have a shorter overall length for the bullet and visually that barrel mounted feed ramp appears a bit extended versus the frame mounted ramp and I suspect that one reason for the barrel mounted feed ramp is to provide reliable feeding with the the shorter cartridge. One thing I do know is that it works very well. I have yet to have one single miss-feed.

It's also to protect the alloy frame as there's been some reports on early alloy frames getting gouged by the ammo. It never seemed to be a problem on the steel framed guns, and I'm not sure it's a huge issue on current production alloy framed 1911s.

quote:

Originally posted by car541:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I carry a SR1911 LW CDR sized one every day. I did change the grips & use Wilson Combat mags

I assume the sap is just for the photo?

Nope, I’m retired, I’m not bound by any policy and Texas allows it. Since I had my stroke I really can’t fight with someone, so if for whatever reason I can’t avoid a fight, someone is gonna get whapped with that 10oz sap and then I’ll reassess the situation.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:

Nope, I’m retired, I’m not bound by any policy and Texas allows it. Since I had my stroke I really can’t fight with someone, so if for whatever reason I can’t avoid a fight, someone is gonna get whapped with that 10oz sap and then I’ll reassess the situation.

Mike, remember Diminished Capacity to Defend oneself and just shoot your assailant. Odds are just too good that a thug would take the SAP off you and use it as a weapon.

I have heart disease so my ability to use hands or feet to defend myself is about 2 minutes at best. So if some asshole wants to mix it up I'll let him have one swing so I can do an arm pull and get his back to me and then I'm drawing my pistol and stepping back so when he turns around he'll be staring down the barrel with me out of reach.

quote:

Originally posted by Scooter123:


Mike, remember Diminished Capacity to Defend oneself and just shoot your assailant. Odds are just too good that a thug would take the SAP off you and use it as a weapon.

I’m well aware, but telling a DA that I tried to fight someone off before going lethal goes a long way to help prevent a murder charge.

[/drift]

A friend was looking at one of these.
Why is a cast aluminum gun so much cheaper than a cast steel gun of the same brand and configuration?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
A friend was looking at one of these.
Why is a cast aluminum gun so much cheaper than a cast steel gun of the same brand and configuration?

I suspect it's because the 48 ACP LT CMD isn't selling that well. A light pistol with the 45 ACP adds up to more recoil and muzzle flip. What is interesting is the 45 ACP version does have the Titanium Feed Ramp insert cast into the Frame. As for the rest of the Rugers prices in both 45 ACP and 9mm are hovering in the 900 to 1100 dollar price range. So the discount is for just one model that is probably a bit tough to shoot because of Recoil.