Colt XSE Gov. SS mods?
- Thread starter DWH
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ugaarguy
Member
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- Mar 19, 2006
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Shoot a PM to 1911Tuner and ask about reliability mods. If the extractor needs upgrading from what Colt currently uses, that would be my first step. After that, per Tuner's recommendation, use Colt OEM magazines from Metalform, but use Wolff springs in them; Tuner please correct if I got that wrong. Personally I'd also replace any MIM internals with machined internals. After that, get a good set of grips that suit your tastes if you don't like the factory ones. I think the sights on the XSE are just fine, but upgrade to some sort of night sights if that's your preference. Get a new longer or shorter trigger if you need to adjust trigger reach or a different style trigger if you want to change the look. Much of what I list are little tweaks. After a few upgrades to the guts I think the XSE is just about right out of the box.
10-Ring
Member
Shoot it first. I put 400 rounds through mine before I did anything.
I ended up w/ an arched MSH, new trigger, hammer, internal parts from C&S, trigger work and carbon fiber grips.
I ended up w/ an arched MSH, new trigger, hammer, internal parts from C&S, trigger work and carbon fiber grips.
Lone_Gunman
Member
I think more money gets wasted upgrading 1911s that don't need it than on any other gun related activity. God knows I have been guilty of that in the past too, but I think I have finally overcome it.
I would shoot the gun and see how it works. If it doesn't jam, and you hit the target, then don't mess with it.
I would shoot the gun and see how it works. If it doesn't jam, and you hit the target, then don't mess with it.
fastbolt
Member
When I bought my stainless XSE Government I replaced the followers & springs in the 8-rd magazines, replacing them with Wolff 11-lb springs and flat, dimpled Metalform followers, restoring them to 7 round capacity. I personally dislike the short-legged, split leaf followers and the weaker springs that go with them.
I stripped the pistol and inspected it. The extractor appeared fine in both condition and tension. I scoped the sear & hammer and found the engagement looked text book perfect. Everything felt fine. I left the trigger as it came, since I happen to like a slightly heavier trigger on a 1911 used for service or off-duty.The ambi safety looked a little ragged on the underside of the left lever, appearing as though it had been filed in a few places to make it fit, although the engagement looked and felt fine in operation. Nasty looking, though.
The pistol functioned fine on the firing line with a variety of ammunition ... until the left-side safety lever snapped off while I was depressing it and it fell onto the sand.
The fellow I spoke with at Colt sympathized with my annoyance, but did remind me that the ambi assemblies weren't Colt parts, being purchased from an outside vendor. He basically said that such failures of vendor parts weren't that common, and he would pass it on.
Not being a particular fan of ambi safeties on my Colts, and being a Colt LE armorer, I simply replaced it with a single sided lever.
Aside from that, the pistol has functioned fine for several hundred rounds. Reliable and accurate. What I expected.
I'm not going to start replacing any other parts until the existing ones either start to exhibit signs of excessive wear and require regular replacement, or unless something else breaks.
The various springs will be replaced as normally expected.
Nice pistol.
I stripped the pistol and inspected it. The extractor appeared fine in both condition and tension. I scoped the sear & hammer and found the engagement looked text book perfect. Everything felt fine. I left the trigger as it came, since I happen to like a slightly heavier trigger on a 1911 used for service or off-duty.The ambi safety looked a little ragged on the underside of the left lever, appearing as though it had been filed in a few places to make it fit, although the engagement looked and felt fine in operation. Nasty looking, though.
The pistol functioned fine on the firing line with a variety of ammunition ... until the left-side safety lever snapped off while I was depressing it and it fell onto the sand.
The fellow I spoke with at Colt sympathized with my annoyance, but did remind me that the ambi assemblies weren't Colt parts, being purchased from an outside vendor. He basically said that such failures of vendor parts weren't that common, and he would pass it on.
Not being a particular fan of ambi safeties on my Colts, and being a Colt LE armorer, I simply replaced it with a single sided lever.
Aside from that, the pistol has functioned fine for several hundred rounds. Reliable and accurate. What I expected.
I'm not going to start replacing any other parts until the existing ones either start to exhibit signs of excessive wear and require regular replacement, or unless something else breaks.
The various springs will be replaced as normally expected.Nice pistol.
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