[Chuck S]

M1911A1 weighs between 38 and 40oz with an empty magazine inside.

8 rounds of 230gr .45ACP weighs another 1/2 pound.

Grips, magazine construction, mainspring housing material all influence the weights, but a fully loaded M1911A1 is pushing 4 pounds loaded. That much weight dragging my belt down all daylong is a PITA and leads to the urge to reposition it frequently -- pretty much a telegraph that your're carrying.

There are alloy frame M1911 types in the 23oz empty range, a full pound lighter (loaded or unloaded!) that carry much, much nicer as far as I'm concerned. Since it's unlikely you'll expend more than one magazine in a street engagement these small pistols are a better idea for me. I carry a spare magazine, of course.

Practice with your all steel pistol. Carry your alloy pistol. If they're both M1911s and set up the same way (same sights, same thumb safety, same trigger) there'll be no adjustment needed pulling the shorty out of your holster when you need it.

Your SIG will not place it's first shot on target unless you manually cock it during presentation, or you take way too much time getting and holding on target long enough to complete that DA trigger pull. You're better off putting the first round in the dirt as you clear the holster. The next two will be SA and you can place them center of mass. M1911 (or Glock) doesn't have this problem.

-- Chuck