Author Topic: Would you buy a Colt 1911 today? (Read 3395 times)

K.K. · « **on:** February 14, 2006, 03:05:59 PM »

In light of today's 1911 improvements (tighter tolerances, improved functioning, etc), would you buy a Colt 1911 for self-defense? I mean, right out of the box, not with a trip to the gunsmith.

williamlayton · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:02:07 AM »

YES!
Now the qualifier. I would trust no weapon right out of the box without a trip to the and 500 rounds thru it with my life.
I would not trust any with my life if they had just come from a Smith without the above criteria applied.
I would trust both to the test with the criteria applied.
Would I believe that a 1911 could be found wanting with the test applied?
YES!
Could I believe that a 1911 could be found reliable without a Smith?
YES!
Would I trust my life with ANYTHING without either?
NO!
The idea that if a weapon has need for a Smith does not apply to the thought that it cannot be made to work reliably.
Blessings

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2006, 12:09:25 AM »

what he said and i do. I carry 1911s almost exclusively now at least when its an autoloader im carrying. Nothing still touches a 1911 for power reliablity and ease of consealment in my opinion.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2006, 02:34:13 AM »

Nope! I would opt for another Springfield. Mikey.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2006, 02:56:43 AM »

Nope. There are better makers today. Colt is a non-entity in the gunmaking business today.

Dusty Miller · « **Reply #5 on:** February 15, 2006, 07:51:34 AM »

I think I'd get another Kimber before spending money on a gun made by folks who just don't seem interested in the civilian market.

jimster · « **Reply #6 on:** February 15, 2006, 11:22:34 AM »

I don't think I'd carry any 1911 right out of the box, without testing it.
Nobody makes a good enough pistol for me to bet my life on without ringing it out first.

Since you brought up the COLT name...I'd say I'd buy one if the price was right at the time, I'd like the WW1 model as a matter of fact.
Then I'd stick some Ed Brown parts in it...some Wolf springs, ect...
But I'd do that with most any standard 1911 that was not a custom built piece.

K.K. · « **Reply #7 on:** February 15, 2006, 01:28:16 PM »

Thanks to all who replied. A number of years ago, I bought a Colt 1911, and spent a pretty penny in customizing it with parts from Ed Brown, Wilson, and Videcki. It shoots great, looks great, and functions well. However, if I knew then what I know now, I'd ahve probaly gone with a Kimber, Wilson or others and be out the same amount of money. I don't know what happened to Colt, but it sure is sad. Everybody else seems to have passed them by at their own game. I'll keep mine, and save or trade for one of the newer, improved models. (no disrespect to Colt lovers!)

PS- I agree that every pistol should be tested completely before trusting your life on them. That is a great point.

1911crazy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:47:15 AM »

No I would never buy another colt product i already had two bad 1911a1's I think there quality is long gone and were paying for a name now even my python cylinder was out of time and it was new too.

My new 90's Springer still won't stop stove piping too its still NIB. POS

My Chinese Norinco 1911a1 is awesome too!!! The Chinese showed us how its done.

My new Auto-Ordnance Army WW2 Copy 1911a1 in 45acp is awesome for $389 its the best brand new 1911 I have ever owned right out of the box. Its a No Frills 1911a1, its a shooter, its reliable and dependable. All i added was a full length guide rod kit w/18# spring and its good to go from day 1. My only problem is now i want to get another one.....

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 07, 2006, 10:33:14 AM »

Springfield for me.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #10 on:** March 07, 2006, 11:39:52 AM »

dont know ive had bad sprinfields and bad kimbers and all of my colts have run right out of the box.

Ct Kid · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2006, 02:32:31 PM »

YES , I would trust a Colt. First I would test it and test it again, just out of the box.. At least 500 rds to 1000 rds start with ball ammo. Others might disagree but 500 to 1000 rds of ball without a failure with regular cleaning . Say 200 to 300 rounds per practice sesson. After that decide what your going to to carry as far as ammo and see how that functions. Then go from there as modification see fit.ALOT of people might not agree but I have nothing but COLT'S for over 20 years. The worst that has happened was a front sight fell off after 5000 rounds of an officer's model.Also I have just purchased two colts. XSE and the special combat goverment bolh have 1000 rounds each and each one is getting better. The special combat goverement will go best of the best with any custom out there.There is no excuse for marksmanship.The colts I carry , Yes I would bet my life on. Thanks

257 roberts · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2006, 04:27:07 PM »

YES!!! I have two, a Gov. Model Series 70 and a Officer Model series 80
Both are tricked out.
I use Wilson mags and both guns are very reliable.

longwalker · « **Reply #13 on:** March 10, 2006, 02:48:32 PM »

I always wanted one and when I had the money that is exactly what I bought. I have yet to have a problem ith mine shooting either ball ammunition of hollow points. It never fails to feed or fire. I would grab it before some of my other guns if everything was hanging out.

longwalker

jimmyp50 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2006, 02:47:20 PM »

I love the 1911 pattern but I have never owned one, even an expensive Kimber that was 100% reliable. I don't believe that you spend $1000.00 on a gun and then spend more to get it to run right. Please don't reply and tell me how many thousands of rounds you have had through your gun. This is my personal experience. If you are dead serious about reliablilty I would trust a Glock 21 or Glock 30, or even a Ruger .45 they might feel like holding a block of wood but they are a lot more reliable out of the box without a pistolsmith working on them. A pistol is just a tool in my mind and it should do what it is supposed to do at least 99% of the time. The inexpensive auto ordinance comments intrigues me! I have had 6 or so 1911 guns (I think maybe more I cannot remember them all) including I am sure two series 70 Colt's and an old Remington Rand. The RR was inaccurate at best but at least it never failed to feed, fire or eject. My mistake to sell it! I want to like the gun, I shoot them well....maybe next time!

257 roberts · « **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2006, 01:37:39 PM »

YES YES YES I have two now and would buy another if the price was right.

myronman3 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 04, 2006, 02:43:56 PM »

i think today all you get with a colt is the name.

same thing about ar 15's. bushmaster makes a way better gun than colt does.

as far as 1911's, colt is on the bottom of my list

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #17 on:** April 04, 2006, 02:59:17 PM »

Colt builds a VERY nice 1911. As a matter of fact, I just bought one. They've got the least MIM parts in them too. ARs? Colt.

kyote · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2006, 03:01:17 PM »

Hmmm..they used to be the best.when Para came out with the high cap .45 I called colt.said hey.I want a high cap .45acp.they are making them in canada and are sweet.are you folks going to make one.nope,probalbly never will.I thought you folks chupa.
and even there 1st 1911 that were sold to the civilan pop way back when.worked, but not always and the accuracy that most folks wanted was not there.and by todays standards for most folks.you gotta dump a whole bunch of money in to them to get them to do what you want.I have several one still in its origanal state the way it come from the factory.I can not shoot a mag out of it with out a malfunction.it was bought back in the 60s..the others I have are modified crazy..and function flawlessly.and are accurate..yea I would buy one of the older ones as long as it was origanal.but not a new one from the factory.ther are others that are a lot gooder.

countryrebel8174 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2006, 12:57:54 AM »

i have one colt ...its a colt combat commander 45 acp 70 series....granted i didnt get it new but i would trust my life with it and i do.

country rebel

doncisler · « **Reply #20 on:** April 05, 2006, 04:35:31 PM »

i have several colt brand 45's.
most have been great - 1 like new 70 series gold cup, 2 giles customs, 1 aliason custom and.....
one brand new model 1991 that split the barrel right between the lugs on the first box of ammo thru it!!!

9x19 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:55:50 PM »

I have one Colt 1911, made in 1914... was my Dad's personal side-arm and it really means alot to me.

The rest of my 1911-pattern pistols are Kimbers (.17HM2, .22LR, 9mm, .38 Super, 10mm and .45ACP)... Never had a bit of trouble from any of them, and they have the features I wanted, right out of the box.

shilo · « **Reply #22 on:** April 22, 2006, 04:57:47 PM »

I will never buy Colt again. After two 1911s and one "enhanced" that were all the poorest excuses for pistols. Extremely sloppy slide to frame fit, poor barrel lock-up, poor barrel to bushing fit, terrible triggers, poor reliablity, wavey machine lines on slides and or frames, and accuracy in the 6" range at 25yds. Then Colt's marketting blunders: banning the sale of AR to the public, and withdrawing from the handgun market. Why would I want to buy anything else from them. Colt is a ghost of what it once was. I've since owned Springfield Armory 1911's and have nothing but praise for them. My favorite is Springfield's TRP. What a pistol!! It is everything the Colt could be after you sent the Colt to a custom smith and spent a pile of money on it to get everything fixed.

muzzleblast525 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2006, 06:46:48 PM »

Yes I would buy one.

44 Man · « **Reply #24 on:** May 12, 2006, 11:07:29 AM »

I believe that a Kimber Custom is probably the best buy out there. For about $700 you can have everything you need on a 1911 in a good shooting pistol. That said, I no longer have a Kimber but have 2 Colt's and am working on a third. It's a Stainless Gov't on layaway at Jay's. The price; $699! The Kimber shot well, but the Colt's just seem a little classier. I am very happy with my Colts, fit and finish are excellent and I have had zero malfunctions so far. The engraved one below has one of the best out-of-the-box triggers I have felt in a 1911! And the Defender can shoot! 44 Man

williamlayton · « **Reply #25 on:** May 14, 2006, 12:25:46 AM »

Colt is making some of the best weapons they have ever made.
Blessings

Questor · « **Reply #26 on:** May 14, 2006, 08:16:45 AM »

williamlayton:

Does Colt have a presence in your market? I never see any new ones sold in Minnesota. They seem to be out of business. I don't disagree that they're making the best they've ever made. I will observe that a lot of companies seem to be making something better than Colt. At least that's the widespread perception, which of course is everything in marketing.

44 Man · « **Reply #27 on:** May 16, 2006, 10:04:39 AM »

In our area it is easy to buy a Gov't model. Defenders and Commanders are very difficult to come by. If and when you find one, you better buy it because it may be a very long time before you find another. 44 Man

Questor · « **Reply #28 on:** May 16, 2006, 01:18:54 PM »

For the first time ever, and because of this thread, I went to the Colt website -- such as it is. My reaction was: "You're joking, right?" Maybe they're selling to law enforcement or premium military weapons, but they can't possibly be selling much to private owners. These are tired old designs that people had improved upon in the 1950's. The 1911s -- or 1991s rather -- look like relics from the distant past.

williamlayton · « **Reply #29 on:** May 17, 2006, 12:44:58 AM »

I certainly would not argue with a persons opinion, however; I will tell you that three well known builders will reccommend Colts as a base for a build and that all three agree that a Colt, in other than the enhanced, is well built.
Good guns. Some exceptions too the rule but as ageneral statement-good guns.
Blessings