Ruger hit the nail on the head for .45 ACP 1911 owners. Lustful, full-sized 1911 desires aside, the next gun on every .45 ACP owner’s list is the easier to carry, lighter weight, Commander-length pistol and again Ruger has answered the call with the all-stainless SR1911 Commander and now a Lightweight alloy-framed version of its hugely popular SR1911. At nearly 10 ounces lighter than the all-stainless version, the reduced weight is a welcome option.
Let’s re-explore the finer points of the SR1911 platform. The Ruger Commander is a base-priced 1911 in stainless with the basic “must do” upgrades covered—all for under $979. No need to spend a fortune for parts and gunsmithing services for the basic upgrades… Just plop down your cash on the Ruger SR1911 and go have fun shooting or start carrying it concealed.
Finish, Fit, Feel, Features, Functioning & Accuracy
Overall, the Ruger SR1911 is a good fit for a production 1911—the aluminum alloy lower receiver and milled stainless upper receiver. Perfect, buttery, custom gun feel? No, but it was tighter and smoother than many other production guns I have shot. Many will say, “Milled lowers are better,” however keep in mind Ruger’s high-precision foundry has been delivering some of the most precise castings to manufacturers across the industry for decades. I would challenge you to notice, from a fit perspective, that it is a cast lower versus milled. All the parts are tight and have that solid Ruger feel about them. Most will find the fit and finish as good or better than most other production 1911s—note I said production, not custom.
The SR1911 Model 6711 feels solid, beefy, and is comfortable in the hand. This lightweight version is a pleasure to carry at only 28 ounces. The shorter-barreled SR1911 Commander moves the pivot point of the balance back for a less muzzle-heavy feel. The gun is very comfortable and the grooved rosewood grips and rear checkering provide a perfect grip without being too aggressive on the hands. Ruger did groove the front strap on the alloy Commander.
Ruger skipped the problematic newer generation firing pin safeties that leave many 1911 owners swearing about higher manufacturing costs, failures to fire, and harsher trigger pulls. Ruger just made the older simpler problem-free 70-series design just as safe by using a stronger firing pin spring and lightweight titanium firing pin. This allows the gun to survive drop tests without accidental discharge when the gun hits the concrete, provides a nice upgrade, a less complex and less expensive design all while maximizing a great trigger feel.
The trigger is skeletonized aluminum with overtravel adjustment is probably one of the better triggers I have tried on a production 1911. This particular Lightweight Ruger Commander has just a little bit of snag in the trigger, which pushed the feel out of match quality range. However, for its intended purpose, it is a good trigger.
The stainless barrel and bushings are made from the same piece of bar stock. Why? Because every piece of bar stock is just unique enough that one piece will be marginally harder or softer than another. By using the same bar stock for both barrel and bushings, the chance for wear over the long term is greatly minimized, and a better fit equals tighter groups now and into the future. Nice detail.
Features – Standard Upgrades
The Ruger SR1911 includes an oversized mag release, thumb safety, beavertail safety with a nice palm swell for positive safety dis-engagement, and a skeletonized and bobbed hammer. The beavertail safety and thumb safety are not hugely oversized, so the Ruger should be a good, comfortable, carry option. The hammer is nicely stylized and deeply serrated and can be cocked single-handed with the grip hand. The magwell is more of a standard type with a decent magazine flaring and good enough for a carry gun.
| Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .45 Auto |
| Slide Material | Stainless Steel |
| Sights | Fixed Novak 3-Dot |
| Length | 7.75″ |
| Height | 5.45 inches |
| Width | 1.34 inches |
| Weight | 28 ounces |
| Grooves | 6 |
| Barrel Length | 4.25 inches |
| Twist | 1:16″ RH |
The Ruger SR1911 magazines are some of the most gorgeous magazines I have ever seen on any production gun. The Commander included just one 7-shot magazine instead of a 7 and 8 rounder like the full-sized. The magazines are mirror polished, stainless steel with anti-tilt followers. The 7-shot provides a flush fit with the lightly beveled mag-well, while the optional extended 8-shot includes a hard plastic bumper. These magazines are a work of art all unto themselves. Just a note, my Kimber .45 magazines functioned perfectly as well for those looking for possible compatibility options.
The sights are Novak three-dot dovetail sights and provide plenty of function with the rear being adjustable for windage via a setscrew. Unless you are a target shooter, these are all you will ever need. It should be noted that the top rear of the slide is milled to accept other Novak equivalent extended combat and adjustable sights. However, should you want other non-Novak compatible target sights, you may need to have the top of the slide milled to provide clearance. Grips are beautiful cocobolo with deep aggressive checkering for plenty of grip.
Included in the, now standard, cardboard box was the gun, a lock, one magazine, plastic takedown wrench, and zippered pistol pouch.
Testing included 300 rounds of five types of ammo ranging from the inexpensive steel case Herters & Wolf, and various standard and premium Winchester rounds in hollow point and FMJ. Everything fed, fired, and ejected without a single issue. Based on the fact the gun could feed anything I threw at it, I would not hesitate to recommend this 1911 for anyone intending to utilize the SR-1911 as a defensive pistol.
Accuracy Testing
For me, the lightweight version of this Commander was actually a bit more accurate than the all-stainless model. I wanted to replicate my testing of the full-sized SR1911 and dug through the ammo box to find the same boxes and brands of ammo. The shorter sight radius marginally decreased accuracy, however, if placed in a Ransom rest, I am sure the groups would be nearly identical. Almost all of my groups were solidly just over 2.5 inches for 5-shot groups, and about the same size as my full-sized Ruger 1911. Again, the Federal HST and Winchester 230-Grain FMJ rounds delivered my best groups. All around, the SR1911 proved to be a very accurate 1911 pistol for the price.
Final Thoughts
The Ruger SR1911 is an outstanding value for a feature-loaded production 1911 that you can just buy and have the confidence to pull it out and shoot. The Commander version offers a carry option, which is a ¾ inch shorter, and a few ounces lighter to increase all-day carry comfort.
Like the full-sized version, the grips are a bit big for my hands. I would swap them for a set of VZ slim custom grips. Highly recommended.
Are you a 1911 fan? Which do you prefer Government- or Commander-sized 1911s? Share your answers and thoughts about Ruger and 1911s in general in the comment section.
You have weight wrong, Ruger says it’s 29.3 oz, not 28 oz. Which makes it the same as the Colt lightweight if I’m not mistaken
this is a suggestion for that boots asking for a good , reliable lightweight 1911 in 45 acp. IF STILL LOOKING I would strongly recommend a KIMBER ULTRA CARRY2 . I have and shoot one ;; easy to control and little felt recoil for me. I have had great reliability after the first 250 rounds. I shoot mine regularly / surprisingly accurate for its size. easy to carry, . great little guns !25 oz empty 3″ bbl 7+1 std capacity.
My first Ruger 1911 LW Commander was my favorite 1911. My son was so impressed with the handling and accuracy that he convinced me that it would be a great pistol for his use. He gained my first Ruger 1911 LW Commander and was super pleased with the pistol. I needed to search again for another Ruger 1911 LW Commander and was fortunate to locate one owned by a close friend. I have my second Ruger 1911 LW Commander, and this pistol will remain part of my 1911 pistol collection. If you own one, hold onto it and enjoy the benefits of one fine Ruger 1911.
just a note ; there are two (2) magazines included with the gun. one in the gun as it rests in the box and a second inside the box itself along with the trigger lock and manual.
fantastic 1911 at a reasonable price! NOW IF RUGER WOULD ONLY SHRINK IT DOWN TO OFFICERS SIZE I’LL BE FIRST IN LINE FOR AT LEAST ONE!!!
i had my eye on one since first seeing the release article with review. its a very good looking clean no front groves on slide(a plus in my eyes), gun loaded with great extras. got my hands on one at my LGS.; near perfection for me and fit in my hand. felt good instantly and the trigger is great for a production gun. very smooth and crisp breaking, my guess on my example is 4.5-5 lbs closer to the first. good looking ,lightweight, lots of extras, great trigger.2 polished stainless mags , American made, reliable and accurate right out of the box. Ruger has done a great job on this one .. I enjoy shooting it and highly recommend it!! I only found one minor thing I did not like on it. the oversized mag release doesn’t feel right to me ( just my preference) but the longer slide release and combat thumb safety are just right for me. if you are looking for a LW commander sized 1911 JUST GO GET ONE OF THESE! you won’t be disappointed! thanks RUGER! 5 stars
I was at my local gun & pawn shop and it was Ruger week. One of the salesman took me back to the range and I had to have a SR1911 LC. I didn’t have the cash at the time so I had to pass on the deal. A year later I was at the same shop and they had a like new/used SR1911 LC and I bought it. It was a great buy and I’m now looking for a second one. Mine has about a 2.5-3lb trigger pull and it is sweet! Easy to breakdown and clean. Just a blast to shoot. Glad I pulled the trigger that day.
I’ve fired countless 1911’s, and own several from top-tier manufacturers. I’ve yet to find another that is better than the Ruger for less than $2,000. This isn’t just a great gun “for the money”…it’s a superb gun – period.
I have a Colt that I’ve kept for sympathetic reasons, and a Kimber Raptor for its aesthetic appeal, but the SR1911 is my overall favorite by far.
Mr. Mike,
Welcome to the 1911 world. It is a big world out there with many fine pieces and a few absolute dogs. You entered this world with an outstanding handgun that you’ll get years of service from and proudly pass on to your heirs. You’ve made a wise choice and I wish you all the best in your shooting experiences and all life has to offer in the new year.
It is my fervent wish many of our freedoms will be restored or at minimum protected from further infringement. Please become a NRA member, an active member. Now get out there and unload that SR1911 on an even skinnier H2O bottle and bring along a family member or friend to enjoy the shooting sports with.
It’s a pretty good tribute to the 1911 design that so many quality manufacturers are still competing in this market.. I know I certainly still like my 1911’s even though I’ve added a few striker fired models to my collection. Good old John Browning got it right.
No mention of the titanium feed ramp. Have had my lightweight SR1911 commander for about 2 years and I’ve been able to feed anything through it.
I have 3 Government size 1911s and 3 Commander sized 1911s. Definitely prefer the Commanders for carry and at the top of those Commanders is this Lightweight Commander by Ruger(in .45 ACP). Only piece of mine that beats it is my Colt Gold Cup. I have 21 Rugers in my collections. Ruger represents an outstanding value across all platforms. I often do pairs so next is this same Lightweight Commander in 9mm to pair with its big brother and compliment my Colt Commander(Series 70) in 9mm.
I purchased this last year and I’m absolutely in love with it. For me I always wanted a 1911, but it needed to be affordable and reliable. This 1911 spoke to me as soon as I picked it up. Now that I’ve shot it, oh my goodness. Even I’m accurate. I destroyed a water bottle at 10 feet. Trust me, that bottle is skinny at 10 feet.
A quick not about castings. Castings are machined just like forgings or billets. I am not saying there aren’t any out there but I am not aware of any 1911’s that are made from a billet. Most 1911’s are forged. In the forging process an oversized block of material is heated and pounded into shape using a hammer and a die. In the casting process material is heated until it is a liquid and then poured or injected into a mold. The areas on the gun where other parts fit are machined in either a forged or cast gun. A casting could potentially have voids in it. The areas where you would notice the difference between cast and forged are in the areas that aren’t machined like the dust cover and front strap. Fitting of other components to the frame is controlled by the machining tolerances of the frame and the components installed in it.
Started with a Series 70 Colt, which was OK; then an S&W 1911, which is better, finally picked up the Ruger LW Commander. My search has ended! The size, weight and performance are excellent and by far the best shooting 1911 I have used. Thanks, 1Ruger!!
I bought a Ruger SR1911 about 2 years ago and really like it. The only problem I have is it is real picky on the brand of ammo you feed it. Ihave shot many differant type but the PMC bronse ammo keeps jamming. I made sure the gun was very clean as well as the mags but nothing helps. There are acouple other brands that have the same problem. Overall the gun shoots and handles well.
If pmc bronze is jamming in any American built 1911 ,you should send it back immediately . Any colt ,sig,ruger,smith, Springfield will take just about any ammo u run through and be very accurate . This includes steel case such as tulammo,wolf, and bear ammo. I’ve had all of these 1911s and rarely had malfunctions except during the break in period which can be anywhere from 500 to 1000 rounds . But I’m talking about only 10 malfunctions or tops during the break in .
I am first of all a big Ruger fan. I have two Ranch rifles, four semi auto pistols and a revolver. They have all given excellent service and were fairly priced for the quality and purpose intended. I have a government SR 1911 and it has given excellent service with no malfunctions, always goes bang with variety of ammo. My carry rounds are Hornady Critical Duty or Defense. It is one of my carry guns, cross draw from the left in a Serpa Blackhawk holster which is a RH holster carried on the left side for the cross draw which I prefer as I can get the pistol out easily with either hand. My nephew has a Kimber and likes my Ruger just as much as the Kimber. I do not like series 80 guns and felt the Ruger in series 70 with titanium pin and spring plenty safe, I have had some issues with series 80 and liked the Ruger approach to drop safety on 1911,