Opinions on Colt XSE?

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rogerjames

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Still trying to decide on my first 1911.

I have been considering a Springer Loaded, Dan Wesson Heritage/Valor, and just now started considering the Colt XSE. I have read a fair amount of feedback on the Springer and Dan Wesson, but don't know much about the Colt.

I know the Colt uses fewer MIM parts than the Springer and the Heritage. The Valor uses none, but of-course costs the most as well.

Many seem to agree that the Colt will hold value better than the rest.

I guess I may consider Kimber as well.

The Colt is appealing to me because of it's history and made here in the US, but I want a quality shooter as well.

In my previous threads, the DW seemed to get the nod as the best quality for the buck, but I wasn't considering the Colt at that time.

I'm trying to stick around $1000, stainless, beavertail grip safety, fixed sights. The other options are negotiable.

Anyway, I'd like to know what you guys like or don't like about the Colt XSE, and of-course any other suggestions or recommendations are welcome :)
 
I absolutely love mine. If you are looking for a modern 1911 with skeletonized trigger, beavertail, and forward serrations, I feel it is easily the best in its price point. Very close and tight fitting tolerances. Mine is very accurate and has been 100% reliable with any ammo. Fit and finish is far better than my springfield, but that is to be expected with the price difference. However these are just my opinions, others may vary. I have shot several .45 ACP caliber handguns in the past few years, and the only one more accurate than the XSE is the S&W 625 in the pic below, but thats comparing apples and oranges.

DSCN0566.jpg
 
The operator runs about $400-500 more than the XSE. For that price point you are getting into Dan Wesson territory.
 
Colt XSE is my go to town carry, no hiccups from day one. I try to enduce failures (different factory/handloaded JHP, FMJ, SWC ammo) during a 150 round, shoot as fast as I can pull the trigger range session. First day at the range, 400 rounds were a pleasure to shoot.

Heat build up is significant and heat can stop a 1911 depending upon tolerances. Very accurate and fun to shoot. :D

Last I knew, Colt currently uses 3 MIM parts.

MIM
sear
disconnector
mag catch

CAST
Thumb safety
grip safety

FORGED
slide
receiver
barrel
slide stop

MACHINED from bar stock
hammer
all pins
bbl link
bbl bushing
trigger finger piece
ejector
firing pin
firing pin stop
extractor
plunger tube

Bob
 
Colt is putting out some great 1911s these days with good attention to the details. Unfortunately, in the case of the XSE pistols, the "beavertails" are actually down-swept "duckbills." It'll cost you extra to put a proper beavertail on it, and it more than likely will involve grinding the frame tangs (and a possible refinish). You might get lucky and find a drop-in beavertail that doesn't have too bad of a gap at the rear tangs.

Great guns, but Colt needs to ditch those duckbills once and for all. Either give us a GI styled stump, or give us a proper beavertailed grip safety.
 
The newest XSEs use a true beavertail with memory bump and have switched to Novak 3-dot sights with the front dovetail.

I like what there is to like which is pretty much everything. As far as finish, they aren't perfect but more than equal most others in their price point.
 
Love mine:) As stated above all the new ones have the "upswept" beavertail. Fit and finish on mine is excellent and .....well......it's a Colt
 
I have a Combat Elite, which I think is part of the XSE line, with some differences. My thoughts are...

1) It seems to be put together like a government-spec gun. It is tight where it needs to be but looser where it can be. Barrel lockup is absolutely rock solid, front and back.

2) The machine work on the inside of the slide is a bit rough, particularly around the recoil spring tunnel. I deburred mine shortly after I got it, but even with the roughness, reliability was not compromised.

3) The edges on the slide and frame are razor sharp. This is easily the most annoying thing with the pistol.

4) Mine has the Smith & Alexander regular beavertail, not the duckbill one.

5) Mine came with a single sided thumb safety. I don't particularly like either the safety or the slide stop that comes with the gun.

6) Its accurate and dead-nuts reliable, even with the rather angular, square-ogive Hornady HPs (Hornady and Black Hills ammo.)

7) Shortly after I got mine, the back of the plunger tube became loose.

I did a little bit of deburring/edge easing on the slide of my Combat Elite. I replaced the slide stop with an Ed Brown Hardcore and the thumb safety with a standard Colt teardrop-style safety. I removed the loose plunger tube and replaced it with an Ed Brown (highly recommended!) I also put a stainless Colt arched mainspring housing and the Colt 1918 repro walnut grips. The FLGR recoil assembly was swapped out for a GI setup from Ed Brown, which I prefer. Otherwise, no internal work was done and continues to be a sweet and reliable shooter. It gives me warm fuzzies that Springfield and Kimber guns don't (which is not to say that they aren't high quality, reliable guns.)

P.S. I bought mine in 2009, and I understand that the new ones may be slightly different...
 
If I were looking at a new Colt I would get a Combat Elite. I personally like them better than the other XSE.

My Colt guy who moves hundreds of Colts a year recommends the Combat Elite. It is a tutone gun so it sort of meets your criteria. LOL

Colts IMHO hold their values better than any other 1911. If you buy smart and have a good Colt dealer you can buy a Colt shoot 1000 rounds and then sell it for what you have in it.

O8011XSE.jpg
 
Last edited:
boracua9mm said:
Colt is putting out some great 1911s these days with good attention to the details. Unfortunately, in the case of the XSE pistols, the "beavertails" are actually down-swept "duckbills." It'll cost you extra to put a proper beavertail on it, and it more than likely will involve grinding the frame tangs (and a possible refinish). You might get lucky and find a drop-in beavertail that doesn't have too bad of a gap at the rear tangs.

Great guns, but Colt needs to ditch those duckbills once and for all. Either give us a GI styled stump, or give us a proper beavertailed grip safety.
Click to expand...

They are, actually. They're just running down their stock of the old-style Colt duckbill grip safeties. I've seen 9mm Defenders carrying the upswept grip safety with the memory bump, and probably the late-year production guns will all have it.
 
Try the duckbill before you discard it. You might find you like it. Personally, I don't like it and prefer the upswept beavertail ;)

If you want an upswept beavertail, wait until you see one of the 2011 production XSE models.

I would go with the Colt if I were you.
 
Colt. My next gun is the Colt Lightweight Commander XSE. I'm waiting for the goofy "100 year" rollmark to be gone. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Now I'm thinking I want the full size Colt AND the Dan Wesson V-Bob :D

If only I were rich...
 
Buy one or the other and have it worked over. You'll have looks, accuracy and dependability, three things which are rarely found in any single pistol.
 
Buy one or the other and have it worked over. You'll have looks, accuracy and dependability, three things which are rarely found in any single pistol.
Click to expand...

But I like BOTH... and for different reasons :p

Thanks for being the voice of reason.

I'm actually leaning towards the V-BOB because I know I'm going to want to carry it...

I know that I definitely want to own a Government model at some point and I know that I want that to be a Colt. My decision... should I buy the Colt government now, and save for the commander DW... or buy the commander DW now, and save for the government Colt? Hmmm....

Besides a trigger job... what other mods would you recommend?
Sights? Front grip texture and MSH? (V-BOB has these already)
Guide rod?
 
I also have a Colt Combat Elite which is basically a XSE without the name and I love it. It's a great gun. Colt 1911's FTW!!!

4pyq84.gif
 
With a $600 divide I'd get prices on reliability work first. Either one can reach the stratosphere with a little imagination but function always comes first. For a Colt: http://www.rodgerspistolsmithing.com/. Once you see his feed ramps you'll flip, and they're done right. If you get out alive grab a set of grips or sights and pile up the empty brass till you decide what you want to do next.
 
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