I'd rather have a gun on me that will give me 100 rounds of trouble free use than one that can do 500 rounds easy, but was too big to conceal and was left at home when I needed it. If you are the type of person that can deep conceal a full size 1911, then I envy you that. I cannot. If I need to go somewhere that I need deep concealment, my choices are a .380, small 9 or snubnose .45. I'll go with the .45.
If I find myself heading into a situation that may require extended fire without the benefit of a cleaning (don't know what that might be for a civilian), I'll take a full size 1911. When I go where concealment is not that important, I'll take either a CZ 75 or mid size 1911 (4"). But, when concealment is paramount and I want something in .45, the Ultra Carry works.
Too many folks are thinking in a single dimension. To say that a gun that has trouble getting through a 500 round day of abuse, yet does 100 rounds a a time without trouble, is a piece of junk, is one dimensional thought. It's like saying a Mosin Nagant is a useless rifle because it sucks when clearing room to room. Or that an AK is useless because it cannot take out a 1500 yard target.
Different weapon systems are designed for different purposes. A 3" 1911 is not a combat handgun that will run 500 flawless rounds without maintenance of some sort. It's not designed to be. It is a compromise that allows a person to carry a good size caliber in an easily concealed package, but that comes at the price of high volume use. I find it interesting that a large number of people don't consider carrying a spare mag because the average gun fight is over in 3 to 5 rounds, yet thinks a gun is crap if it cannot run 500 rounds without a hiccup.
I don't think anyone is saying that a 3" 1911 is no different than a 5" 1911 when you run 500 rounds through them. But, my experience has been that in 100 round outings, my 3" 1911 has performed just as well as any of my full size 1911s, and better than some. It's not a matter of brand loyalty either. My RIA works just as well and is a favored gun depending on the situation. Folks need to stop trying to find the holy grail of firearms and accept that almost every weapon is a compromise of sorts. Match the tool to the need and you'll be better off in the long run.
If I find myself heading into a situation that may require extended fire without the benefit of a cleaning (don't know what that might be for a civilian), I'll take a full size 1911. When I go where concealment is not that important, I'll take either a CZ 75 or mid size 1911 (4"). But, when concealment is paramount and I want something in .45, the Ultra Carry works.
Too many folks are thinking in a single dimension. To say that a gun that has trouble getting through a 500 round day of abuse, yet does 100 rounds a a time without trouble, is a piece of junk, is one dimensional thought. It's like saying a Mosin Nagant is a useless rifle because it sucks when clearing room to room. Or that an AK is useless because it cannot take out a 1500 yard target.
Different weapon systems are designed for different purposes. A 3" 1911 is not a combat handgun that will run 500 flawless rounds without maintenance of some sort. It's not designed to be. It is a compromise that allows a person to carry a good size caliber in an easily concealed package, but that comes at the price of high volume use. I find it interesting that a large number of people don't consider carrying a spare mag because the average gun fight is over in 3 to 5 rounds, yet thinks a gun is crap if it cannot run 500 rounds without a hiccup.
I don't think anyone is saying that a 3" 1911 is no different than a 5" 1911 when you run 500 rounds through them. But, my experience has been that in 100 round outings, my 3" 1911 has performed just as well as any of my full size 1911s, and better than some. It's not a matter of brand loyalty either. My RIA works just as well and is a favored gun depending on the situation. Folks need to stop trying to find the holy grail of firearms and accept that almost every weapon is a compromise of sorts. Match the tool to the need and you'll be better off in the long run.
Good point!
