Rate your experiece with Colt 1911..

[TRK2AJK]

love-hate or passive-agressive

i always fall for the horsey.
i hate buying colts because 1st they need a new mainspring housing, then a trigger, maybe a new hammer, then a beavertail, dehorning, sights etc. . . blahblahblah
i still cannot see myself buying a skimber, stringfield, or any other COPY as long as i can get the real thing.

i think this comes from my father who carried a satin commander for as long as i can remember. he still has it and oneday it will have a place of honor in my safe.

 

[1911Tuner]

Experience

Mine has been very good overall. From USGI Colts that range from 90 years old to the present, they've been very good on average...if we can discount the early Series 70 era when they were in some sorta transition. Quality was
a hit and miss proposition then. The guns ranged from very-good-to-excellent
all the way to near-hopeless junk.

Flat statement:

Most functional issues are simple to correct. Too many people get a new
pistol that produces a stoppage or jam 4 or 5 times, get nervous about it and
give up on the gun...when the problem likely could have been corrected in 30 minutes or less About 90% of the time, it was due to incorrect extractor tension or geometry...or magazine trouble. The fault lies squarely on the manufacturer in these instances...for failing to provide a proper extractor and/or magazine. Not our fault, and our having to correct the problems
is a travesty...but there it is.

I bought two of the early 1991-A1s when they were introduced. Both guns had functional issues out of box. Both were corrected in about 30 minutes total for the pair. I can't recall the last malfunction that I've had with either...and I've put tens of thousands of reloads with my funky home-cast bullets through'em. I clean the guns about every 2500 rounds, whether they need it or not.

Just my nickel's worth...YMMV

Luck!

 

[tkosiba]

I just purchsed a new Colt series 70 stainless steel. It's a very nice gun in terms of accuracy, finish and somewhat more unique due to limited production. However, my intent was to enhance or modify it to a higher level. If I was looking for an "out of the box" gun with the most value and functionality, I would buy a Kimber (which I own the stainless target).

 

[Zach S]

Rate your experiece with Colt 1911.

Dont have any, but my 1991A1 has never failed me

I clean the guns about every 2500 rounds, whether they need it or not.

Do you ever get weird looks when you say that? Ever find yourself in a heated discussion with someone who insists they should be cleaned after each range session? People think I'm crazy because I only clean it if I'm changing the recoil spring, somewhere between 1500 and 2000 rounds.

or was 2500 a typo?

 

[mec]

My series 70 went 900 rounds and then became unreliable. I've had a series 80 stainless and still have a series 80 Enhanced Gold cup and have shot a series 1991.

The 80s and 1991 proved very reliable. The factory had put the proper tension on the extrators and even beveled the lower inside hook as they should be. The 1991 AI is accurate with all loads. Both Series 80s would throw 230 grain ball ammo in five to seven inch groups at 25 yards but would cut the x ring with 185 grain match loads and quite a few 200 grain factory and hand loads. I never have figured that out but had ten ring precision fix up the Gold cup to the point that it shot very well with ball.

I have no idea how they are doing right now but, over the years, I had some contact with customer service.- I lost a couple of passive firing pin safety springs and Colt donated replacements to me free of charge. I thought that was nice.

The roll pin on the rear sight let go and I replaced it with a solid pin made from an allen wrench. Later, Ten Ring replaced the sight with the Wilson Combat. On those occasions that I'm in the mood to carry an Autopistol, the Gold cup inspires confidence. I have a supply of 8 round Wilsons Mags generally loaded down one round.

 

[jeremiah]

Thanks for the responses. It helps much. I am looking at a xse govt blued with all the extras for 700.00. Good price or not? There is a combat commander xse for the same price also nice. Decisions...decisions....

 

[45auto]

mec:

How do you like the Wilson sight on the Gold Cup? I have a GC and I'm considering one.

Thanks

Edit: mec, thanks for the reply.

 

[mec]

It seems to be a very fine piece of work. i asked alex at 10 ring if it was really an improvement on the Colt Gold cup sight and he said that it was. That is good enough for me as he really does know his 1911s. Im satisfied with its adjustments and it has stayed on the gun and in one piece.

 

[Wildalaska]

$700 is an excellent price for a blue XSE....especially considering you even found one...

Right now we are backordered on about 100 Colts......they are working 7 days a week...for 6 days they build M4s...on the 7th day they build a pistol.

WildsnickerAlaska

 

[jeremiah]

wildalaska i can also get a blued goldcup for the same price. iIt would cost me more later for the ambi and grips later,is it that much more accurate than a standard gov;t model? thanks to all by the way....This weapon is for range mostly but also for carry. I have a great Defender for carry.

 

[Wildalaska]

My personal taste would be the XSE

WildbutithinkcourtneyloveishotwhatdoiknowabouttasteAlaska

 

[Jspy]

I have more Colts than any other 1911 style pistols, and they are all reliable. They run from a hard- chromed Spcl Combat Govt. down to the NRM Govt. which I consider a real good value for the quality. Also have an XSE Combat Commander which I would recommend. I've had the hots for the XS Series but haven't been able to find any at reasonable prices. I do have one of the early XS style Defenders which is my carry gun. Also would like to find one of the Combat Elites. Currently I have Colts in the following calibers: 9MM, 38 Super, 9x23, and of course 45 Auto. My 10MM is a Dan Wesson Razorback.

 

[Michael_2112]

I have an ORM 1991a1 commander. The pistol is put together great, and it is actually put together fairly tight. I originally wanted to do lots of mods to it, but it runs 100% right out of the box. You can't mess with that.

I now have about 2000 rounds through it, and havent had a single hiccup.

I strongly suggest the prancing pony!

Mike


P.S. The XSE is really nice. My best friend has one and his has been 100% reliable as well. Good choice, and $700 seems like a great price. I kinda prefer the commander length 1911's YMMV.

 

[tex_n_cal]

1. ORM 1991A1 - always reliable and accurate, if homely
2. Enhanced Gold Cup - outshoots the more expensive S1 Kimber it replaced, superb pistol
3. Defender, had its quirks (ejection into the forehead ) but fine with the ammo it prefers
4. Stainless NRM Gov't - terrific pistol with some minor cosmetic flaws
5. another one like the above - no flaws, it is unfired in the safe and will stay that way
6. Customized .45 LW Commander - a used problem child when I got it, needed extractor tuning only - it has now become my 9mm LW Commander project
7. Enhanced blue 38 Super - accurate and reliable
8. Early Delta Elite - reliable, but inaccurate. I installed a Bar-Sto barrel and it is now a champ for accuracy and reliability
9. Elite Ten/Forty - just got it, accurate, reliable, and
10. Double Eagle .40 Commander - a dog, but it's not a 1911, now, is it?

edit to add: I really like the XSE's too, I've not heard of a bad one, and I think you will like it. Ya know as much as the old Colts are legendary weapons of honor, the American Katana, and possess remarkable worksmanship, I find myself lusting more for new ones, than old ones

 

[MICHAEL T]

lets see i guess