1911 or Sig SAO

[Builder Bob]

Hello to all! I am new to the 1911 platform but interested in it. I have been looking for a 1911 lately and was wondering about suggestions between a commander sized 1911 and a Sig SAO 220 carry. Any suggestions on a 1911? I already have a 229, so I am familiar with the Sig line. Any thought/suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob

[BimmerFreak]

Hello to all! I am new to the 1911 platform but interested in it. I have been looking for a 1911 lately and was wondering about suggestions between a commander sized 1911 and a Sig SAO 220 carry. Any suggestions on a 1911? I already have a 229, so I am familiar with the Sig line. Any thought/suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob

The owner of this board actually owns BOTH of those guns....I bet he will be able to give you some outstanding feedback on both.

[TGO David]

I have both.

The only advantages that I see in the Commander sized 1911 are that it has a slightly slimmer frame width (about 1/5th of an inch) and a lower bore axis. Of course accessories and parts are more prevalent for the 1911 handguns but that's probably not a big deal for a gun that you don't plan on tricking out.

The 220 Carry SAO is dimensionally otherwise identical to my Kimber Pro CDP II except for the frame width that I mentioned above. The two handguns weigh the same with empty mags. Mags for the SAO are no more expensive than good 1911 mags. The SAO also has what I think is a better feed path from the magazine into the bore and should run literally any ammo you feed it without jamming.

The SAO is easily as accurate as my Kimber in my hands. It's also easily more accurate than I am capable of shooting it.

Really, unless you're just a 1911 fan (and I am so I'm not throwing rocks) there's no reason in my mind to choose them over the 220 Carry SAO.

[Builder Bob]

Thanks for the replies! Who knows, maybe I will have to get one of each and settle it that way.

Bob

[TGO David]

Both is always an option. But if I had to choose just one, it'd be the 220 SAO. You can get a 1911 that is about as reliable, but you'll pay 2x - 3x as much for it.