Big Pistols in a Micro-Compact World

We live in a marvelous age of firearms technology, in which handguns are becoming smaller, more ergonomic, capable of modification and superbly easy to conceal. That’s a wonderful thing, and I’m totally on board with it, but I confess the neo-Luddite in me still prefers the comforting heft of a full-sized service pistol for everyday carry.

My preferred handgun these days is an old “split-rail” Colt Rail Gun in the venerable .45 ACP, which I’ve had for quite a long time, and have shot in many matches, shooting classes and other events to the point that I feel very, very comfortable and confident with it. Yeah, yeah, I know…Fudd, obsolete, too big/too heavy, hurr-durr, Internet outrage and all that, but hear me out for a moment.

“1911s are too big!” Yeah, it’s a big handgun. Not even kidding here. It’s also very heavy, being an all-stainless full-sized railed 1911, but even so, I like it and I’ll tell ya why: it works, has always worked and I haven’t found a pistol that fits my hand and feels as comfortable as this one despite years of trying other brands, types and calibers. Seriously, I’ve carried just about everything – Beretta .25s, Walther PPKs to Kel-Tec P3ATs to Beretta 92 series to Glocks, and a whole lot of others besides, and I still keep coming back to my 1911s.

You go with what you know, and do so until a better solution comes along. There’s a lot to be said for being comfortable and proficient with a what might be considered a less-than-perfect weapon as opposed to being being awkward and unfamiliar with a high-end one. I’ve seen both extremes on the range. I’ve also seen people with cheap guns outshoot people with expensive “race guns.” Gear doesn’t replace ability. You have to put in the work and develop proficiency, no matter what you choose to carry.

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, say in the neighborhood of finding a good pistol (of any quality brand) that doesn’t break the bank, learning as much as you can about it, how it works, cycles of function, etc., and then practicing with it as much as you can. Dry-fire practice is a good start, and a great way to work on form and handling without spending money on ammo or range time.

I have a long relationship with big, old pistols, and have carried them quite happily for many years. The aforementioned Rail Gun is one of my favorites, and has never let me down. I keep the old girl in good fighting trim with regular changes of springs, frequent cleaning/inspection and plenty of dry-fire practice coupled with enough range time to stay on the ball. It doesn’t matter if this was a Glock 43 or a Smith & Wesson Shield, or an old K-Frame Combat Magnum, the same care and use principles apply, size/caliber/type/brand notwithstanding.

“But, a full-sized steel-framed 1911 is too big and heavy to carry!” Nonsense! I’m wearing mine right now, in an old Kolbeson Leatherworks lined Kydex inside-the-waistband holster modified with Comp-Tac C-clips that make this huge hunk of American stainless steel disappear, even under summertime clothing. The weight of the gun and extra magazines is easily manageable with a good gun belt and holster combo, and I find it quite comfortable for everyday wear.

Holsters are plentiful for the 1911, and there’s a fellow by the name of Ryan Grizzle who makes some really, really nice examples in cowhide and horsehide. I have one of his cowhide Southern Draw Reinforced IWBs for my Beretta 92 Compact, and I am waiting feverishly for a couple of his 1911 holsters that are under construction. Of course, there are at least a hundred other holster makers out there, each with products that fit the bill for just about any taste or budget, so the days of uncomfortable, awkward-riding holsters is just about done, if you have no issues spending a decent amount of money on quality.

“But, 1911s are unreliable Fudd guns!” I can’t speak to every user experience out there, but I do know that, despite the huge spread of Internet commentary about how awful the 1911 is/was/always will be, I’ve never had any significant problems with any of the 1911s I have owned or carried. Maybe I’m just lucky, or maybe the folklore is based on bad/incomplete information or commentators who may have had one or two bad experiences? Beats hell out of me, but suffice it to say that I tend to keep an open mind about my selection of guns, regardless of what I read on the great intellectual toilet known as the Internet.

From my own observations, I can tell you that my Colt Rail Gun got dragged through the mud at a 3-gun match one time, and the holster was clogged with thick, red clay mud as I drew for the handgun portion of the stage. I fired all the rounds of the handgun portion, with mud and water flying everywhere, and the CRG never missed a beat. It still has scuffs and scrapes from that match, and I have no plans to refinish the pistol because I like the reminder of where it’s been and what we have done together. These guns are more reliable than the Internet would have you believe.

“But, muh low-capacity!!” Whatever. I don’t anticipate getting into a giant firefight with a handgun, and I generally don’t roll around in places where such things are likely to ever happen. Even if they do, your best bet is to use your big brain and get yourself and/or your loved ones out of the area as fast as possible, because a standup fight sounds great on discussion boards and social media platforms, but in today’s litigious society, hunting for trouble like that is a losing proposition. A handgun, ANY handgun, is a weapon of absolute last resort, and should be treated as such.

Whatever you choose to carry doesn’t really matter as long as it’s decent quality, reliable and comfortable to use and easy to carry according to your own requirements and tastes. Train with your chosen weapon, get to know it, take care of it and it will take care of you. Can’t ask for much more than that.