Permit holders are willing to trade off the extra effort required to carry and conceal the somewhat heavy and bulky 1911 because of the powerful .45 caliber round it delivers.
Now one company has taken the 1911 to the next level, creating a much lighter gun made with material two-thirds the density of aluminum.
UA Arms has created the Magna T5, an ultra-light 1911 made from elemental magnesium that tips the scales at 22 ounces unloaded when compared to the 27 ounces a Colt Lightweight Commander boasts. Five ounces may not seem like a lot, but the difference is more than 20 percent. At the end of the day, your body will thank you. The Magna T5 is about 60 percent lighter than a steel-frame 1911.
The specs on the Magna T5 are the standard 1911 configuration with a skeleton hammer, beavertail grip safety, and squared trigger guard. A Picatinny rail, serrated slide, and G10 grip panels are also standard issue.
The trigger is competition grade and the finish is somewhat unique, as described by author Scott W. Wagner in his article “Light Heavyweight: UA Arms Magnesium 1911 Is the Lightest Full-Size .45 You Could Ever Pack” at USConcealedCarry.com:
“Incidentally, the slide is finished inside and out with a clear ceramic that is very tough, and at first glance, it looks like stainless steel. Indeed, the whole gun is finished with this coating, and my guess is that it will stand up to years of service.” (Read more at USConcealedCarry.com)
At the range, the UA Arms Magna T5 really displayed its mettle. The pistol is outfitted with a rear-adjustable Novak sight and a dovetailed front sight. The trigger pull is about 4 pounds.
Although the Magna T5 is significantly lighter than its 1911 counterparts, the recoil is about the same. UA Arms accomplished this feat by incorporating a 14-pound recoil spring into the firing cycle. The unusually textured G10 grip panels proved to be a boon during several days of rain at the range as well.
The accuracy of the Magna T5 is comparable to any 1911 on the market, although the lighter weight does take some getting used to. UA Arms owner and Magna T5 creator Rick Uselton recommends using Hornady Critical Defense ammo for the pistol in personal defense situations.
With the Magna T5, UA Arms has solved one of the major criticisms of the 1911 as a carry weapon; the weight. The accuracy and concealability are equivalent to other 1911s, however the lighter Magna T5 allows for a quicker draw, which could be the difference in a life and death situation.