So I bought a Sig 1911 XO .45 ACP >5 years ago and I really love it. It's one of my most accurate guns and I smile a little every time I pull the trigger. Looking to expand the collection with another 1911. This will be a range toy only since I have a M&P Shield and Glock 26 for carry. I would get another Sig 1911 but the Traditional Match Elite 9mm has front cocking serrations. I prefer to have a clean looking 1911. I'm down to a Dan Wesson Valor stainless but debating between the 4.25" vs 5". I really enjoy the longer sight radius of the 5". I've shot a couple of 5" 1911 9mm (Springfield RO, Citadel); both exhibited a weird recoil impulse. It was as if the slide was in slow motion as it was returning to battery; it seem like there wasn't enough "oomph" to move the slide. It could have been that these guns were range rentals that didn't get much maintenance or 115 gr FMJ ammo.

Question: For those of you that own Commander or Government model 1911 9mm, how do you like them and would you buy that length again?

Own 3 government model 1911s in 9mm, but none are Dan Wesson. Mine are all semi-custom or custom

I love the 9mm in the gun. It’s kind of like cheating


I have friends with 9mm Wesson guns, and I have fired them. They are great guns. Hard in some ways to distinguish from my significantly more expensive examples

i took my dw pm9 to my lgs last week and put a small rag over slide and could not tell who the manufacturer was.

I asked 4 1911 expert shooters to pull slide and trigger and tell me who they thought the manufacturer was.all of them said it was a wilson,baer or high end custom 1911.

No one could believe it was a dan wesson pm 9.

maybe i got lucky,when i bought it,but it sure is as good as the 3 to 4 thousand dollar guns

Have both DW PM9 & Guardian in 9mm. Like both. PM9 is a joy on range. Like to carry the Guardian.

I have quite a few 1911s of which 4 are DWs in both lengths you mention. But no 9mm flavors, only 45ACP and 400 Cor-Bon.

I prefer 5" for range and 4.25" for carry.

I like 1911's; to me it really isn't a 1911 if it's not .45 acp (though I have owned them in .40).

DW 1911's are excellent, well made handguns, with the best fit and finish of any of the production 1911 handguns on the market. They have some of the features and a lot of the fit one expects of a custom 1911; they're sometimes called "semi-custom" for that reason. They were one of the best deals out there; the prices went up, and now a new Valor isn't too far removed from a used Les Baer or Wilson.

Whether you go with a commander size 1911 (4 1/4" bbl) or a Government size (5") really depends on what you want to do with it. My preference for carry is actually a commander length slide on an officer size frame, sometimes called a "CCO" (Colt Concealed Officer). DW makes one. I have one; it's lightweight, comfortable to carry, and very reliable, little play, and an outstanding trigger (like all of DW's pistols).

If size isn't an issue, the Government model is the best all around 1911, in my opinion. A 5" bbl and full grip. The geometry makes it the most reliable design of the various 1911's, a lower barrel tilt angle. To me, it's a bit big for a 9mm, but it would be a soft shooting pistol with a steel frame.

You won't be disappointed with any of the DW 1911's.

Have a Colt 5" in 9mm, one of the Competition Series guns, in blue.

https://www.colt.com/detail-pa...tion-ser70-9mm-bl-91

It has been accurate as well as reliable. Very pleasant to shoot too. The 9 in a full sized, steel 1911 is very mild on recoil and muzzle jump.

For the $840 I paid for mine I'm quite happy with it. Even the trigger is good enough that I haven't had the urge to get it smoothed or lightened.

Take a look at the Colt.

If you want a new range toy this you may like.
Dan Wesson Discretion

Dr, My 1911 type 9MMs,i.e., Dan Wesson, Kimber, Colt, Springfield and STI, have been the 5" guns. I understand what you mean about the "slow motion" slide. My 1911 9mms all had the full weight slides, just as used for .45 ACP, 10MM etc., with light factory recoil springs to allow reliable function with 9mm. My Dan Wesson and STI 9mms both came with 10# recoil springs. I don't often use lightly loaded 9MM, and am using 16# recoil springs in both my current 1911 5" 9mms, a Dan Wesson and a Kimber. With the 16# springs, the slide is not slow motion anymore, and both have been boringly reliable. Anyway, I do like them, and would buy them again. My 4.25" guns have been in .45 ACP, but I think the Commander length guns in 9MM would perform just as well. The choice between the 5" and 4.25" guns would just be personal preference IMHO....

I am a self-proclaimed DW fanboy. The masses on this forum led me to DW years ago and I have owned many DWs since. For range use, I think the PM-9 is hard to beat, but alas it does have front cocking serrations...

Therefore, again, range use begs for that longer sight radius. Go with the govt.

Thanks so much for everyone's opinion. I think I'm leaning towards a 5" Valor 9mm. I just love the traditional look of the Valor plus since I already have a .45ACP 1911, I just want something different. Might look into getting a DW Specialist .45ACP at some point in the future.

Sig Forum is the first place I go each day, but the 1911 Addicts forum might be the second. Several DW dealers on there, and always a number of nice used ones.