Trading in my Officers Model?

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ceetee

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The first 1911-pattern handgun I ever fired was an older Kimber - TL, I think it was. It had a 4" barrel, anyway. When I fired it, it just felt really good in my hand. I didn't own a 1911 at the time, so when this used Series 80 Officers Model came around I jumped at it. I like it, but I just don't like it as much as I did that old rental Kimber. For one, while it's in decent shape, it's obvious that it's had a metric crap-load of rounds put down the pipe. For another, there's just something about the short barrel that just... I dunno. Feels different than I thought it would.

I've got a few hundred put aside and I'm thinking about selling or trading this Colt in. I want to stay with the Officers grip, but go to the 4" to 4.25" barrel. Budget won't allow for having both. Who makes a good CCO-style pistol that when I buy it, I won't regret having to let the Colt go?

Thanks, y'all!
 
Get the Colt CCO. They are hard to find but out there.
STI Ranger is a good second choice.
Otherwise a Kimber Compact series I is a good third choice.

All have the short grip and 4" barrel.
 
Is your Colt an aluminum frame? Obviously the ~10 oz difference in weight between it and the Mimber you rented would make a significant difference in the "feel" while shooting.

If that's the case then buying a CCO with an aluminum frame is probably going to have you in the same boat. My DW CCO only weighs about an ounce more than my Colt New Agent, both are aluminum framed.

My Les Baer Stinger (CCO) is all steel and weighs a good deal more than the Dan Wesson CCO which equates to a softer shooting gun.

Really depends on intended use, if you want the CCO and it will be mainly a range gun I'd go for one in all steel, but that will limit your choices since an aluminum framed CCO is regarded as an ideal carry piece by many, so most are going to be aluminum.

My pick for carry would be the Dan Wesson if it's in your price range but I can also recommend the Sig C3. It's a great gun and highly under rated, all of Sig's current production 1911's are.
 
MOst CCO patterned guns you'll encounter will have an alloy frame, but there are some out there that are all steel. The Wilson Combat CQB Compact (4" barrel and slide assembly over an Officer's sized grip that has a round butt treatment) that I carry every day is all steel, the Nighthawk Custom T3 can be ordered all steel, the Les Baer Stinger can be had in all steel, as can the Volkmann Precision Combat Carry. The downside of all of these is that they're in the $2k+ price range.

As far as production level CCO patterned guns go, there are a number of options from Kimber (Pro Carry models), Sig Sauer (1911 C3, and Traditional Compact), Smith and Wesson (1911 Compact ES), Dan Wesson CCO, and Colt TALO CCO. Any of the foregoing will have a price tag that is between $1,000 and $1,7000 and all will have lightweight alloy frames of some variety with the exception of the Sig Traditional Compact which is all stainless steel, but comes with a just shy of $1200 price tag, and judging from the pics I've seen of it, it would require fitting a new grip safety at a minimum. I had the same exact type of gooy 'v' shaped grip safety on my old Colt CCO and really hated it right up to the day I sold it to put the deposit down for my Wilson CQB.
 
Unfortunately, there aren't any inexpensive steel-framed CCOs. Ed Brown's Kobra Carry, the Nighthawk T3, and Wilson Combat (I can't remember the model) are the only real choices. Fusion can do a custom for about the same price, but I hear they're a bit spotty on quality.

CCOs in general are fairly rare. Colt is making a Special Combat Officer's, but it's only available through the Colt Custom Shop and IIRC starts at $1200 or so, and only has an aluminum frame. The Dan Wesson CCO is a fine gun, but runs closer to $1400 and also has an aluminum frame.

Talo has a special run of Colt CCOs, but they're built from Officer frames and Commander slides, and the slides are still marked "Commander."
 
Just to clarify, the OP didn't mention aluminum frame vs. steel, I just brought that up as a possible reason the two guns shoot so differently. But they did make an all steel Officer's so that could be what he has.

"A Colt" + "a few hundred set aside" could equate to anywhere between $800 & $1300 so he's in the range of many of the guns we're talking about if he keeps an eye out.

A Baer blued Stinger just sold for $1400 and was listed on a couple of forums, so with some dilligence even they are in the price range. Although a price that good is rare - I'd have bought it if I didn't already have a stainless one. Think I just saw someone selling a DW CCO for $1300 IIRC.

All that said, for entry level I'd buy a Sig C3 in a heartbeat, they regularly sell in the $700-800 range.
 
ive owned several stainless officers all steel, never have seen an alloy in stainless, don't know about blue. btw, the officers have a problem with the recoil assembly . colt has a 4.25 in stainless, blue ,and light wt. all steel or alloy frame. kimber makes a 4" in several models, don't know of any officers grip length in 4"
 
My Colt is parked, with a steel frame, so I'm not too concerned about the weight - carrying this steel Officers Model doesn't really bother me. I really can't remember - did the Kimber I fired have an Officer's grip or full-sized? Maybe I should just be looking at upsizing to a Commander-style, 4" or 4.25" with a full-size grip.
 
You could buy the parts to make a Colt Comander upper assembly, and put it on your present Officers Model lower. In effect you would have two guns for less money. ;)
 
Talo has a special run of Colt CCOs, but they're built from Officer frames and Commander slides, and the slides are still marked "Commander."
There is a Talo CCO in one of our local gun stores marked, "Government" instead of "Commander". They sure don't seem to be of the quality of a Dan Wesson.
 
You could buy the parts to make a Colt Comander upper assembly, and put it on your present Officers Model lower. In effect you would have two guns for less money. ;)
The only downside is that the parts may be able to be had for a reasonable price, but fitting and finishing can get really steep real fast if you opt for a gun smith to do it, and it can be a very tough DIY job on the other hand if you don't have the tools, patience and experience.
 
If you buy genuine Colt parts, a Commander upper (slide, barrel, extractor, barrel bushing, recoil spring assembly, firing pin assembly, etc.) should go on a Officers Model frame without any special fitting. The O.M. frame is identical to the Commander's except for the shortened butt and related parts. You might, or might not need a gunsmith to adjust or "tune" the extractor.

If you want to get into some else's slide, and have a match-grade barrel fitted, then yes - you could get into some meaningful money.

But anyway you cut it, buying just the upper will (or should) cost less then buying a whole pistol.

For looking into the cost of Colt parts, as well as anything else that might be needed, go to www.brownells.com
 
did the Kimber I fired have an Officer's grip or full-sized?

Since we now know both guns were steel framed, the grip size difference may well be your problem if you don't get a firm bite on the officer's with your pinky. Maybe you should try shooting a bobtail commander? It gives you the full size grip and 98% of the concealability of an officer.

I can post pictures later of a Brown or DW C-BOB next to one of my CCO's if you'd like to see the size difference.
 
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