I am a left handed,want to find a 1911 that works without having to spend money after I buy to get it to work guy. I have sent 1911's to smith before only to have the same disapointment. So Mr. tuner your post have given me hope in Colt again and I have a question involving one. it is a Gm size xse with ambi-safety with rose wood grips. Fit and feel are good and I have not had a full size in the past and hope this improve reliability. Are the chances pretty good this is going to work out of the box in your opinion? The price is 700.00 by the way and a scandiun commander is second runner up. Thanks for your imput....
A question for Tuner...(long)
- Thread starter jeremiah
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1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Colt
Howdy Jeremiah,
The chances that a full-sized Colt will work out of the box are high, assuming that it hasn't been tinkered to death by a previous owner.
While there are some talented tinkerers out there, there are far more
who should stick to building model trains.
The gun may hit the ground runnin' and still fall flat on its face on down the road...but those are generally easily corrected. Assuming that the gun is
pretty close to spec, there are three things that the 1911 depends on for reliability.
A good extractor...Good magazines...and good ammo. There are a few simple things to remember also.
Don't overspring the slide and forget about shock buffers. A 15-or 16
pound recoil spring is a gracious plenty for all but near-proof level handloads. The darlings of the range beaters...Shock-Buffs...are fine
for the range if your gun will run with'em. Some will and some won't.
They are a no-no in any carry gun.
I'll draw fire on this one, but I don't like 8 or 10-round magazines. The gun was designed to work correctly with the standard magazine with a decent spring...which many factory mags don't have...and a flat follower with a dimple on top. John Browning put that dimple there for a very good reason.
Avoid the lightweight +p screamers. It'll run right with 230-grain bullets at
800-870 fps...and the closer you stick to 850, the better.
Call Brownells and invest in a 3-pack of Wolff 11-pound magazine springs. Money well-spent. A good extractor, correctly fitted and tuned, will go a long way toward making your gun reliable for tens of thousands of rounds.
I've had excellent luck with Ed Brown Hardcore extractors. C&S spring
steel extractors are a bit better, but all that I've seen in the last 2 years or so required alteration which voids their warranty...which I don't have a problem with. I alter all extractors a little upon installation.
Have the timing checked on the Series 80 safety levers. I've noticed an unusual number of those lately being a little slow.
If I can be of any help after your baby is home, don't hesitate to sing out.
Howdy Jeremiah,
The chances that a full-sized Colt will work out of the box are high, assuming that it hasn't been tinkered to death by a previous owner.
While there are some talented tinkerers out there, there are far more
who should stick to building model trains.
The gun may hit the ground runnin' and still fall flat on its face on down the road...but those are generally easily corrected. Assuming that the gun is
pretty close to spec, there are three things that the 1911 depends on for reliability.
A good extractor...Good magazines...and good ammo. There are a few simple things to remember also.
Don't overspring the slide and forget about shock buffers. A 15-or 16
pound recoil spring is a gracious plenty for all but near-proof level handloads. The darlings of the range beaters...Shock-Buffs...are fine
for the range if your gun will run with'em. Some will and some won't.
They are a no-no in any carry gun.
I'll draw fire on this one, but I don't like 8 or 10-round magazines. The gun was designed to work correctly with the standard magazine with a decent spring...which many factory mags don't have...and a flat follower with a dimple on top. John Browning put that dimple there for a very good reason.
Avoid the lightweight +p screamers. It'll run right with 230-grain bullets at
800-870 fps...and the closer you stick to 850, the better.
Call Brownells and invest in a 3-pack of Wolff 11-pound magazine springs. Money well-spent. A good extractor, correctly fitted and tuned, will go a long way toward making your gun reliable for tens of thousands of rounds.
I've had excellent luck with Ed Brown Hardcore extractors. C&S spring
steel extractors are a bit better, but all that I've seen in the last 2 years or so required alteration which voids their warranty...which I don't have a problem with. I alter all extractors a little upon installation.
Have the timing checked on the Series 80 safety levers. I've noticed an unusual number of those lately being a little slow.
If I can be of any help after your baby is home, don't hesitate to sing out.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
re:
Where AH mah mannahs?
Welcome to The High Road, Jeremiah!
Where AH mah mannahs?
Welcome to The High Road, Jeremiah!
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Durham?
Durham? Well, don't that take the paint off'n the outhouse! I'm about an hour or so away, about 15 miles north of Winston...If ya ever get back for a visit, look me up.
Durham? Well, don't that take the paint off'n the outhouse! I'm about an hour or so away, about 15 miles north of Winston...If ya ever get back for a visit, look me up.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Invite
My wife has mucho family in the maiden and ashville area. Dont extend the invite if you dont want the visit.
I wouldn't have if I didn't mean it. Come on up and set a spell.
Coffee's on the house. Hope ya like Collie dogs. Watch out for Kelie...She'll try to start an all night Rummy marathon.
_______________________
I would buy you dinner just to pick your brain.
How 'bout we toss a few burgers on the grill and pick away?
Bring your new pistola with ya and we;ll go through it.
My wife has mucho family in the maiden and ashville area. Dont extend the invite if you dont want the visit.
I wouldn't have if I didn't mean it. Come on up and set a spell.
Coffee's on the house. Hope ya like Collie dogs. Watch out for Kelie...She'll try to start an all night Rummy marathon.
_______________________
I would buy you dinner just to pick your brain.
How 'bout we toss a few burgers on the grill and pick away?
Bring your new pistola with ya and we;ll go through it.
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