First Look: Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander

January 08, 2015 By G&A Online Editors

Ruger has introduced the SR 1911 Lightweight Commander, a new compact version of its popular SR1911 Commander that weighs about 7 ounces less than its predecessor.

The SR1911 Lightweight (LW) Commander pistol incorporates a black anodized aluminum frame with a stainless steel slide to achieve its classy two-tone appearance. Ruger has addressed a problem all too common with aluminum-framed pistols by equipping the LW Commander with a polished titanium feed ramp to protect against excessive wear and resulting misfeeds.

As with previous SR1911s, the LW Commander is American-made and features Novak LoMount Carry 3-dot sights, a lowered and flared ejection port and a titanium firing pin. Its barrel and bushing are also precision machined from the same piece of bar stock. The pistol also comes with an integral plunger tube, beaver-tail grip safety, oversized magazine release, extended thumb safety and a skeletonized hammer and trigger. Hardwood grips and checkering on the frontstrap and mainspring housing add to the ergonomics and attention to detail.

The Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander sports a 4.25-inch barrel for an overall length of 7.75 inches. The pistol has a width of 1.34 inches, a height of 5.45 inches and a weight of 29.3 ounces with an empty magazine. It ships with two 7-round magazines and a bushing wrench in a soft case for an MSRP of $899.

Each SR 1911 Lightweight Commander features a precision-fitted barrel and bushing, machined to match from the same piece of bar stock.

This 29.3-ounce pistol includes an oversized magazine release, extended thumb safety and a skeletonized trigger.

Its black anodized frame meets a stainless steel slide for a two-tone appearance. With a 4.25-inch barrel and an Aluminum commander-style frame, Ruger is making it easier than ever to carry a 1911.

Attentions to detail surround the SR1911 LW Commander: Novak-style LoMount Carry 3-dot sights, a lowered and flared ejection port, hardwood grips, front and rear grip checkering make for a robust carry gun.

Form meets function: the SR1911 LW Commander has polished titanium feed ramps to address the "commanding" issue of excessive wear in the feed ramps of Aluminum-framed pistols.

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