Wanting compact 1911

browninghunter86 · February 17, 2013, 08:48 PM

I have looked on the threads and online and am having trouble deciding if I should get a Citadel Compact 1911 for my first 1911 compact. Wanting something affordable that I can trade my Px4 storm for. This retails for $499 at Academy sports.

Any thoughts if I should run away fast or give it a try?

Hairbag · February 17, 2013, 08:51 PM

What about a RIA?

browninghunter86 · February 19, 2013, 12:49 PM

went with the Citadel

coop2564 · February 19, 2013, 02:47 PM

Whats the specs on this gun?

Hairbag · February 19, 2013, 03:03 PM

You will have to give a range report !

browninghunter86 · February 19, 2013, 10:07 PM

http://www.legacysports.com/products/cit_m1911.html

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...0051_451207_-1

Apparently is has some features not standard on some 1911 models....? Not sure though as this is my first one.

I will definitely do a range report when I get out there to shoot it.

Nathan · February 19, 2013, 10:23 PM

That Citadel compact looks like the got it all right. Now, the question is can they deliver.

IMO, the keys to a good compact are:
- Not shorter than 3.5". . .4.25" preferred
- No oversized thumb safety
- No ambi thumb safety
- No MIM. . .They probably whiffed on this one. . .
- Good sights
- A reverse guide rod plug
- A bushingless barrel

Citadel appears to have gotten most of that right. I wonder how there execution was?? Still, small guns run on a shortened ejection stroke and the thing will have to be damn near perfect to run at all. I think even Wilson doesn't like to build compact 45 Auto's because of the feed reliability.

thedudeabides · February 20, 2013, 06:45 AM

Citadel is a RIA/Armscor. I had one. It was heavy as hell, but put together well and the trigger didn't suck. I eventually sold it and bought a SA 3'' GI 45 that I then had Alchemy retrofit with a BGS. That one was also heavy as hell.

Compact 1911s are all about money. For 500 bucks you can get a Filipino brick (Armscor tends to be the best compared to ATI).

For a grand you can get something like a Colt, SW, Kimber, etc.

Stay away from double stacks like the Fatboy--I haven't seen one that works right.

...or get a G30. Just as accurate, cheap, and holds 10+1.

Remember that a BGS can poke you pretty badly over the course of the day if you want to CCW.

thedudeabides · February 20, 2013, 07:00 AM

Quote:

some features not standard on some 1911 models

BGS, novak cut sights, skeletonized hammer, flared ejection port, ambi safety (on some models), skeletonized trigger, FLGR (on some models, NOT compact).

Chesster · February 20, 2013, 07:43 AM

I have a Colt and a RIA. Both shoot well and serve the purpose.

bikerbill · February 20, 2013, 03:38 PM

Don't want to argue, Nathan, but there are a ton of Kimber Ultras out there, including my .45acp UCII, that run perfectly with a three-inch barrel ... I have hundreds of rounds through mine and it has never failed to load, fire and eject as designed ... one of the most accurate guns I own at reasonable distances ...

iblong · February 20, 2013, 04:12 PM

Im with bikerbill on this one my UCII has had zero failures to date.
I almost did not buy it due worries of the short slide but I"ve run swc,many
jhp and ball through it.Mabe I just got lucky but mine runs great.

markj · February 20, 2013, 04:32 PM

My colt new agent 3in barrel hasnt missed a beat yet. They do build them reliably now adays altho in the 70s the 1911s I shot were just as reliable.

michael t · February 21, 2013, 02:04 AM

My Colt Defender been putting lead down range for several years and never a problem . When I traded my Colt Agent for a AR-15 (just before he rush) it was running fine also.

Only compact 1911 I had that didn't work was a Para Ord That double stack single shot junker made sure another Para will never be in my house.

kutz · February 21, 2013, 08:12 AM

My colt na&kimber ultra CDP 3 inchers both work well.

browninghunter86 · February 21, 2013, 03:23 PM

first 50 rds shot perfect. Used both magazines. Worked fine.

Now on to the second box. Had 4 failures to load the bullet. The slide didn't go all the way forward. It was just barely not going all the way forward. It was doing this only on the last round

Shot great besides this issue

February 17, 2013, 08:48 PM	#1
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 524	Wanting compact 1911 I have looked on the threads and online and am having trouble deciding if I should get a Citadel Compact 1911 for my first 1911 compact. Wanting something affordable that I can trade my Px4 storm for. This retails for $499 at Academy sports. Any thoughts if I should run away fast or give it a try?

February 17, 2013, 08:51 PM	#2
Hairbag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 449	What about a RIA? __________________ I'm hairbag and I approve this message.

February 19, 2013, 03:03 PM	#5
Hairbag Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 449	You will have to give a range report ! __________________ I'm hairbag and I approve this message.

February 20, 2013, 07:43 AM	#10
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,538	I have a Colt and a RIA. Both shoot well and serve the purpose. __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle" Vote 'Pro-Choice' on 2nd Amendment issues!!!

February 20, 2013, 03:38 PM	#11
bikerbill Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2007 Location: Lago Vista TX Posts: 2,425	Don't want to argue, Nathan, but there are a ton of Kimber Ultras out there, including my .45acp UCII, that run perfectly with a three-inch barrel ... I have hundreds of rounds through mine and it has never failed to load, fire and eject as designed ... one of the most accurate guns I own at reasonable distances ... __________________ "The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants." Albert Camus

February 19, 2013, 12:49 PM	#3
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 524	went with the Citadel

February 19, 2013, 02:47 PM	#4
coop2564 Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2011 Location: Frisco, TX Posts: 330	Whats the specs on this gun?

February 19, 2013, 10:07 PM	#6
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 524	http://www.legacysports.com/products/cit_m1911.html http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/st...0051_451207_-1 Apparently is has some features not standard on some 1911 models....? Not sure though as this is my first one. I will definitely do a range report when I get out there to shoot it.

February 19, 2013, 10:23 PM	#7
Nathan Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2001 Posts: 6,331	That Citadel compact looks like the got it all right. Now, the question is can they deliver. IMO, the keys to a good compact are: - Not shorter than 3.5". . .4.25" preferred - No oversized thumb safety - No ambi thumb safety - No MIM. . .They probably whiffed on this one. . . - Good sights - A reverse guide rod plug - A bushingless barrel Citadel appears to have gotten most of that right. I wonder how there execution was?? Still, small guns run on a shortened ejection stroke and the thing will have to be damn near perfect to run at all. I think even Wilson doesn't like to build compact 45 Auto's because of the feed reliability.

February 20, 2013, 06:45 AM	#8
thedudeabides Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2012 Posts: 1,031	Citadel is a RIA/Armscor. I had one. It was heavy as hell, but put together well and the trigger didn't suck. I eventually sold it and bought a SA 3'' GI 45 that I then had Alchemy retrofit with a BGS. That one was also heavy as hell. Compact 1911s are all about money. For 500 bucks you can get a Filipino brick (Armscor tends to be the best compared to ATI). For a grand you can get something like a Colt, SW, Kimber, etc. Stay away from double stacks like the Fatboy--I haven't seen one that works right. ...or get a G30. Just as accurate, cheap, and holds 10+1. Remember that a BGS can poke you pretty badly over the course of the day if you want to CCW.

February 20, 2013, 04:12 PM	#12
iblong Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2008 Location: MN Posts: 559	Im with bikerbill on this one my UCII has had zero failures to date. I almost did not buy it due worries of the short slide but I"ve run swc,many jhp and ball through it.Mabe I just got lucky but mine runs great.

February 20, 2013, 04:32 PM	#13
markj Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2005 Location: Crescent Iowa Posts: 2,971	My colt new agent 3in barrel hasnt missed a beat yet. They do build them reliably now adays altho in the 70s the 1911s I shot were just as reliable.

February 21, 2013, 02:04 AM	#14
michael t Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Location: Out back Ky Posts: 4,044	My Colt Defender been putting lead down range for several years and never a problem . When I traded my Colt Agent for a AR-15 (just before he rush) it was running fine also. Only compact 1911 I had that didn't work was a Para Ord That double stack single shot junker made sure another Para will never be in my house. __________________ Certified Armed Infidel Colt Defender ,Colt Mustang ,Dan Wesson CBOB, PPK/S, American Classic 1911,Bersa Thunder 380 http://bersachat.comHome of Bersa http://www.metroarms1911forum.com

February 21, 2013, 08:12 AM	#15
kutz Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 393	My colt na&kimber ultra CDP 3 inchers both work well.

February 21, 2013, 03:23 PM	#16
browninghunter86 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2011 Posts: 524	first 50 rds shot perfect. Used both magazines. Worked fine. Now on to the second box. Had 4 failures to load the bullet. The slide didn't go all the way forward. It was just barely not going all the way forward. It was doing this only on the last round Shot great besides this issue