ltwguns.com

Hi!

I am looking at a couple pistols out there right now and I am looking at a CCO to carry. I like the compact size and I like the added reliablility of the 4.25 in barrel.

Some guys add the extended mag wells and others just bevel the natural mag well...

I rather keep away from the extended mag well as it almost makes it the same size as my commanders.

What do you guys think of not using the extended mag well?
I know lots of people say that the officers frame is too small to get your hands on, well I have small hands so thats not an issue.
Lots say the extended mag well makes it 100 times easier to do quick mag changes when in high stress situations and I can see that but at the same time I think the bevel of a natural mag well speeds things up quite a bit....

Right now I am looking at the Nighthawk Talon III and the Predator III... Yes, I know they arent a full custom job BUT they will get me by till the customs I have on order do get here... I can have a Nighthawk in under a mth while I still have close to a year ahead of me till my first custom carry 1911 arrives.

So, what do you guys think about not having the extended mag well? And what do you think of the Predator vs the Talon? I know the Predator weighs 3.1 oz more as it has their better barrel. (do I really need that? Its a carry gun, not a target gun)

Thanks for your advice!

I have been carrying a customized Springfield Compact for the last year and find it is about the perfect size for a concealed carry 1911. My hands are small enough to not hang over the bottom. The SA Compact is a 4" barrel, but a 4.25" bbl wouldn't be much different. I don't use a magwell, but the bevelled mag well in the frame is fairly easy to hit during speed reloads. I don't own a Nighthawk, but have heard many good things about them so I'm sure you'll be happy if you get one.

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Ted

I'm pretty hit and miss with magwells.. My hands are big enough that i like the extra metal in the palm; cosmetically I think they also balance out the front-heavy demeanor of a full size 1911. As for concealed cary functioning I think most would agree the tactical benefit is not worth the extra girth.

As for specific magwells, the ones that include the mainspring housing (more custom) are much nicer than the attached or welded ones. I specifically don't like wilson's/nighthawk magwells because they don't blend with the mainspring housing.

You can always have SDM put on a custom magwell. Scott wills about 1/4" off of the bottom and TIG welds on a magwell so you get a huge increase in magwell opening but keep the OAL of the grip the same.

This sounds like the best option if you're wanting a magwell.

I would be disinclined to just add a magwell to the stock gun, since it just adds more weight and length, and like you said you may as well carry a Commander at that point.

Same thing with the Glock 26 and the grip extensions, but I digress.

A simple Wilson steel mag well can be fitted to work well and doesn't add much to the butt of the gun.

Ross

I was concerned about adding length to mylightweight commander so Ned just milled off some of the lower frame and fabricated a a new magwell. Length is the same and the outer circumference is the same as the grip panels but the opening is HUGE. I think this is the best magwell option.

Heinie magwell is the same thing

There's no doubt a mag well will give you much faster mag changes. I'm much faster with my Rock River LM than I am with my 1*. But having said that I'm confident that if I were to practice my mag changes more with the 1* that I could close that gap a lot. For a defensive gun I wouldn't trade the extra length for the time saved in reloading.

The Nighthawk Talon III is interesting, I played with one yesterday and thought the fit & trigger were great. If I had limitations that kept me from practicing reloads or wanted a gun for IDPA then that would be a good choice One drawback for me is that their guns just look "busy". It's like they feel the need to justify the $2,400 price tag by adding as many cosmetic treatments as possible. I guess I spent too much time around Jason Burton. But on the whole it's a good product.

I have the Wilson 188 Mag Well on my DW PM7 and I cannot tell a difference when I carry it than when I did not have it on. The fit and finish are great.

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Dan Wesson PM7 .45

I love having a Heinie Magwell on my Commander and other guns. It does not any length (require the milling of the frame) and is narrow enough that the full length grips still cover the magwell, for a very sexy look. Pricey when compared to Ed Brown or SA, but well worth every cent.

Check them out at http://www.Heinie.com

Bdavis

For what it's worth, I own a Predator and it far and away outclasses other conventionally barreled guns when it comes to accuracy and followup/doubletap shots. PM me if interested in reading a review.