Colt M1991A1 45 ACP for CCW

[Josey]

I am thinking of buying a Colt M1991A1 for CCW in 45 ACP. I am thinking of new Wolff springs, Ed Brown extractor, ejector, round butt conversion and FP. I am considering a two piece full length guide rod. I like a flat MSH. I have plenty of mags. I am not fond of ambi safeties or mag releases. I don't like extended controls. I use stock hammers and triggers. I am interested in your general comments and suggestions for night sights. The choice is made to go with the Colt. That is non-negotiable. The finish is matte charcoal.

 

[Wildalaska]

A few IMHOs if you would like:

Put 500-100 rounds through it first, before ya do anyhting, including spring changes. Break it in.

For a recoil spring, get an ISMI. Leave the sear spring alone. Leave the fp spring alone. Shoot another 500 after you put the ISMI in.

If the Colt extractor is working fine leave it. If you absolutely have to change, use the C&S extractor. That and EGWs ejectors are the only non Ed Brown parts we ever use.

By round butt you mean bobtail yes? Then you have to decide between checkered or no checkered MSH becasue IIRC Ed Brown only sells non checkered ones.

Sights..I like Novak bar/dot-dots...You have to get Novak bars and have dots installed. My eyes suck and they hlep. If you use Novaks, you have to mill them in and refinish slide. If you dont want to do that, get Trijicons..some sights may be cheaper, but ya get what ya pay for .....

WildexpoundingoverAlaska

 

[Delmar]

If you want to make all those changes, by all means. It would be for personal reasons tho, as a stock Colt runs just fine as a general rule.

I once bought a two piece guide rod for one of my Colts-it didn't hurt a thing but it didn't help anything either. I did learn to use the bottom of a mag to depress the spring plug and turn the barrel bushing which was handy for quick tear downs.

Been carrying a Colt for over 30 years and they carry pretty nice-some say they are heavy to carry, and no doubt you will know its there, but that is a comforting feeling to me

 

[Kestrel]

Josey,

Everyone has different ideas about a 1911 setup. From what you've described, here's my suggestion.

Since this is for carry:

- Shoot it about 500 rounds to break it in and get a feel for what you need.

- I would get one of the NEW 1991s, instead of the old model 1991. You mentioned matte charcoal finish, leading me to believe it's the old model. I think the new models look nicer, have better looking rollmarks, have nice blueing and are machined better. (They also have great looking grips.)

- Colt stopped putting MIM extractors in their new models, so it probably won't need to be replaced. If you do get one with a MIM extractor, I would replace it with either a Wilson Bulletproof or an Ed Brown Hard Core. (The C&S extractor is spring steel, which is good, except they are sometimes a bit too long and have a sharp hook. If you polish/reshape the hook and fit it, it voids the C&S warranty. The Wilson and Ed Brown extractors WORK.)

- Forget the full-length guide rod. ESPECIALLY a two-piece unit. Greater chance for failure and fewer options for charging the weapon with one hand, if necessary.

- Night Sights. I like Novaks. It will require your slide to be milled and refinished. (Novaks is an excellent choice to do the work, too, but there are many others.) If you don't want the milling and refinishing, you can go with Trijicons.

- The factory ejector works fine.

- The Colt firing pin is fine.

- Wolff springs are excellent. So are ISMI. Use an 18.5 pound recoil spring, if you are shooting 230 gr., standard pressure ammo. Keep the factory mainspring.

- The Colt 1991s come with flat mainspring housings. If it comes with a plastic one, change it out for a steel housing. You can get steel Colt MSHs from Colt. Of course, you can also get good, flat MSHs from Wilson, Brown and EGW.

- As for the Bobtail conversion, it's nice, but not necessary. I have both and like both. Personally, I like the Bobtail on a Commander size gun better than on a Government Model, but that's just my preference.

- Test all your mags thoroughly. Good mags are Wilson 47s (I like the 7-round, myself), Metalform 7 rounders, Colt factory 7-rounders, CMC Powermags. (By the way, Ed Brown's mags are Metalform.) Wilsons have a lifetime warranty.

- The Colt is an excellent choice. The 1911 is a great defensive pistol. The new 1991s are VERY reliable.

Steve

 

[jercamp45]

Good Choice....good advice.....

I have had three 1991A1's and they were each flawless in performance. The things I changed was a narrow extended thumbsafety, a 'drop in'(still needs to be fitted) beavertail and some skateboard tape on the frontstrap.
The sight could definately be better(at least on the old ones, really have not seen any of the new rollmark ones...be concentrating on finding a nice Colt CCO and saving for it...get it in April!!).
But for a Government model the guide rods are not necessary IMHO. The Officer sized pistols it seems to work well, but for the full size.....if it works, why fix it?
Great CCW tool...flat thumper!!
Jercamp45

 

[BTM]

Good info. here on 1991A1! I have a stainless one bought in 1995-96 that I have been trying to decide what to do with it- for a reliable off-duty carry.
Sights for sure are first.
Debating having sights, plastic parts replaced and tuned as a package or
Sights replaced then upgrade safety/MSH/trigger/grip safety/hammer etc..
myself with help from friends who have done work on 1911s before.
The price of these package upgrades with sights are hard to swallow.
If I was going to start fresh- probably look at a Kimber or Wilson.

 

[happyguy]

You seem like you pretty much know what you want so I'll just add that there are no rounded corners on a Colt. As much as I like them they can all benefit from an ever so slight "melt".

Regards,
Happyguy

 

[Rob96]

I have a stainless Colt 1991A1 that I use for carry. The only change I made, I put in an 18.5# Wolff recoil spring.

 

[Sean Smith]

I am thinking of buying a Colt M1991A1 for CCW in 45 ACP.

-A good choice. 1911s conceal well because they are flat. And my 01991 was excellent.

I am thinking of new Wolff springs, Ed Brown extractor, ejector, round butt conversion and FP.

There is no reason in the world to replace the stock Colt springs, extractor or ejector. The stock springs are fine, the Colt extractor, firing pin and ejector are quality parts machined from barstock. Make sure you handle a "bobtailed" 1911 before you have the conversion done, you may not like it.

I am considering a two piece full length guide rod.

-No reason to do this, either. Furthermore, a two-piece guide rod can shoot itself un-screwed.

I like a flat MSH.

-It already comes with one.

I am interested in your general comments and suggestions for night sights.

Just get some Trijicons. If you don't mind machining the slide, Heinie Straight-8 night sights are even better, but since you want a stock-looking gun the Trijicons might make more sense for you.

The finish is matte charcoal.

-I think you mean blued. Current 01991 series guns are either blued or stainless, and you want to get the current production 01991 instead of the older ones.

My only other suggestion would be to have it de-horned if it has any sharp edges and maybe have a better bevel put on the magwell.

 

[Kestrel]

Sean,

Current Colts have the barstock extractors, but until about a year ago, Colt was putting MIM extractors in their guns for a while. They switched because of failures with the part. I've replaced several of the MIM extractors in some of my Colts (Series 70 Reissues).

Steve