Colt Commander progress

I have been working on my new (a couple months ago) Commander a little at a time. The first mod was a beavertail, the stock grip safety made me literally bleed. Fitting a high ride beavertail like I used requires a LOT of grinding, but it is worth it. The second was a nice Nowlin trigger, on a single stack I like a little longer trigger, the price was right and it has a little "cool factor". I ditched the overtravel screw due to the series 80 parts still involved, and it works great. The third mod was a Wilson magwell with a flat checkered mainspring housing, takes away the plastic stock housing and greatly improves reloads. Fitting of this was a little more than I anticipated, the stock contours were pretty poor but it works great now. I also added a Wilson checkered front strap sheet metal thingy, works great even if it doesn't look great, and it will do until I get the checkering done. The latest mod was a NM bushing, fitting it took quite a while as I had to shorten it to Commander length and fit it in all regards. The good news is that it REALLY tightened up the groups, this thing flat shoots!!!! Along the way I have done some trigger work, it is right at 3 pounds and very crisp now.

It was definately a good 'service' grade gun before but now it really sings. This gun came out of the box running as well as a gun can run, with a good barrel fit and good slide to frame fit. Adding the bushing put the icing on the cake, the rest of the stuff made it easier and more comfortable to shoot. I bought this in the Wildalaska group buy, and it was a fantastic gun for the money, I really couldn't be more pleased with it.

Sights, checkering, ambi safety ( I shoot ambidextrously ) and hard chrome are about all that is left.

Here is a quick pic....

Thanks for the compliments guys, it is coming along very nicely. The pic isn't as good as it could be, but the beavertail installation is as good as they get. It takes a couple to learn how to do it, this one looks like the practice has paid off.

I am not sure on the rear sight yet, but the front is going to be the TruGlo Tritium/Fiber optic combo. I've not been able to find much T&E on this sight for durability but all claims are that it works very well in all light conditions from intense light to total darkness. If you haven't seen it, it basically is a tritium night sight with a fiber optic coming back to the shooter. The fiber illuminates in lighted conditions, in dim or dark conditions the tritium powers the fiber.

On the rear I am thinking of the Heinie race cut or going all out and low mounting a Bo-Mar with the combat leaf in it.

If I go with the Heine rear I will do all the sight work myself, I might do the Bo-Mar cut too if I go that way but I haven't decided yet.

This gun will be used primarily for HD, IDPA, possibly some USPSA L-10 too.

Tripp will do the chrome, they do the best chrome I have seen and I have had a few done.