There are few firearms that are more recognizable than the iconic 1911 pistol. Legendary gun designer John M. Browning designed both the 1911 pistol and the mighty 45 ACP caliber it is most often chambered for. The rugged 1911 45 ACP pistol dutifully served as the official sidearm of America’s military forces for more than 70 years, and despite the design being over 100 years old, it continues to be one of the most popular firearms available. In addition to being the choice for elite military and law enforcement units, civilians choose the 1911 for everything from competition shooting to personal protection.

In addition to the 1911 pistol and 45 ACP cartridge, John Browning also developed the 380 ACP cartridge, which has also been in service for more than 100 years. With recent advances in ammunition technology, the 380 ACP is a legitimate choice for personal protection with the popularity of micro 380 ACP handguns skyrocketing.

1911 45 ACP model, making it ideally suited for concealed carry duty, and for a wider variety of shooters.

Variants of the 1911 handgun are popular among the concealed carry crowd, and the design is one that many shooters are highly familiar with. The 1911, thanks to its single-stack magazine, is narrow and conceals well for its size. However, 45 ACP and 9mm versions of these guns are still large, heavy, and can be difficult to conceal depending on what the carrier is wearing.

The 1911-380 is the only authentically designed, full-featured 1911-style handgun currently available that is chambered in 380 ACP. Compact, for sure. But the 1911-380 is just a tiny bit larger than many micro 380s. Why?

Feels better. You get greater shooting comfort because the grip is long enough for three fingers to fit below the trigger guard.

Shoots better. Yes, the slide and barrel are longer. But this greatly improves accuracy and function -- yet the 1911-380 only weighs 3-5 ounces more than subcompacts.

Follows up better. It is the perfect size to reduce recoil and barrel jump, and allow for more comfortable shooting, more control, and more accurate follow-up shots.

Conceals better. It is easily concealed with its smaller size and single-stack magazine that offer a compact, flat profile that fits easily inside the waistband and keeps the grip narrow for shooters with smaller hands.

One of the biggest performance advantages of the 1911 is a single-action trigger that provides a light, crisp pull that allows for excellent accuracy. The 1911-380 is no exception. The trigger and light recoil make the 1911-380 capable of extremely accurate follow up shots.

The natural grip angle offers instinctual pointing and a feel that 1911 shooters are already familiar with.

Unlike other compact, 1911-style 380 ACP pistols available, the 1911-380 includes both the manual thumb safety and grip safety found on the full-size model. Multiple safeties offer secure “Condition 1” carry. The 1911-380 thumb safety is an ambidextrous design that allows it to be easily manipulated by right- and left-handed shooters. A beavertail-style grip safety helps prevent hammer bite and allows a higher grip to help control muzzle flip.

A low bore axis provides excellent recoil control and shooting comfort.