Do you think that is the proper way to compare two companies after we've been told that 30 years ago Colt was using old, warn out equipment with a hostile labor force, and today they have new CNC equipment with a more stable labor force?
Am I Out of Line?
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Do you think that is the proper way to compare two companies after we've been told that 30 years ago Colt was using old, warn out equipment with a hostile labor force, and today they have new CNC equipment with a more stable labor force?
Sapper771
Member
I have had a little experience with the current crop of 1911s from SA and Colt.
Several years ago, I purchased a SA GI and my friend purchased a SA Milspec. The GI was nothing special, but the Milspec was pretty nice. Good trigger, good slide to frame and barrel fit. The Thumb safety wasnt hard to manipulate and it was responsive.
Fast forward a bit. I purchase a Colt 1991 100 year roll marked model. Trigger was so-so, but not bad. Thumb safety was a bit stiff. Everything else was in order though. What really got me about this pistol was that it would hold a 1" group at 25yards with my match hand loads. What was even better was that at 25 yards it would print the group only 1" above POA! The Milspec was accurate too....but not like this Colt.
I really like Colts, but I think it is more for the Name and its history. I have noticed a lot of inconsistencies with the current crop of Colts, especially the XSE series
Heavy gritty trigger pulls and poorly fit thumb safeties mostly. Kind of crappy for a $900+ pistol. Of course SA is not with out issues. I noticed some of the same inconsistencies in SA TRP's in the 2007-2009 time frame.
One thing to mention about the two companies is their warranty. I have never had to use Colt's, but I have used SA's once and they handle my minor issue superbly.
I sold off most of my 1911s after running into some reliability issues/concerns. I now mostly have Glocks and Sigs. I still have one 1911, a SA TRP.
Several years ago, I purchased a SA GI and my friend purchased a SA Milspec. The GI was nothing special, but the Milspec was pretty nice. Good trigger, good slide to frame and barrel fit. The Thumb safety wasnt hard to manipulate and it was responsive.
Fast forward a bit. I purchase a Colt 1991 100 year roll marked model. Trigger was so-so, but not bad. Thumb safety was a bit stiff. Everything else was in order though. What really got me about this pistol was that it would hold a 1" group at 25yards with my match hand loads. What was even better was that at 25 yards it would print the group only 1" above POA! The Milspec was accurate too....but not like this Colt.
I really like Colts, but I think it is more for the Name and its history. I have noticed a lot of inconsistencies with the current crop of Colts, especially the XSE series
Heavy gritty trigger pulls and poorly fit thumb safeties mostly. Kind of crappy for a $900+ pistol. Of course SA is not with out issues. I noticed some of the same inconsistencies in SA TRP's in the 2007-2009 time frame.
One thing to mention about the two companies is their warranty. I have never had to use Colt's, but I have used SA's once and they handle my minor issue superbly.
I sold off most of my 1911s after running into some reliability issues/concerns. I now mostly have Glocks and Sigs. I still have one 1911, a SA TRP.
Skylerbone
Member
A few things to remember about the 1911.
Philosophy. Mr. Browning designed it and called for specific tolerances in every part. Colt faithfully produced its 1911s to those specifications and to a great extent still does.
Loose or tight. While any well built Bullseye pistol can prove that exceptional fitting equates to exceptional accuracy that was not what the 1911 was designed or built for. Many, including me, prefer the greatest amount of accuracy possible (within budget) and a well-fit pistol.
Price. Colts are made in the US, Springfield imports ALL of their 1911s from Brazil. The difference in price paid is accounted for in labor cost alone, BUT...
Parts. Colt uses (with few exceptions like the disconnector and MSH) first-rate materials in their 1911s. Comparable Springfields do not. Add that difference to price as well.
As a base pistol for a custom build either is fine and, when considering the several hundred in savings a Springfield could be considered a bargain since all but the frame and slide are generally pitched.
My current production XSE is not drum tight but is built to "Enhanced" tolerances that give it a more than acceptable fit and no rattle save the side-to-side knock of the beavertail grip safety (now replaced). If considering either manufacturer, prioritize wants and remember what it is you're paying for. Some don't mind cheaper parts and overseas labor, something that in this case bothers me. I can say it's personal that there are particular countries whose economy I choose not to support. I buy Colts, among others, and also support local markets by having them customized.
It's not blasphemy, it's simply a matter of individual choice.
Philosophy. Mr. Browning designed it and called for specific tolerances in every part. Colt faithfully produced its 1911s to those specifications and to a great extent still does.
Loose or tight. While any well built Bullseye pistol can prove that exceptional fitting equates to exceptional accuracy that was not what the 1911 was designed or built for. Many, including me, prefer the greatest amount of accuracy possible (within budget) and a well-fit pistol.
Price. Colts are made in the US, Springfield imports ALL of their 1911s from Brazil. The difference in price paid is accounted for in labor cost alone, BUT...
Parts. Colt uses (with few exceptions like the disconnector and MSH) first-rate materials in their 1911s. Comparable Springfields do not. Add that difference to price as well.
As a base pistol for a custom build either is fine and, when considering the several hundred in savings a Springfield could be considered a bargain since all but the frame and slide are generally pitched.
My current production XSE is not drum tight but is built to "Enhanced" tolerances that give it a more than acceptable fit and no rattle save the side-to-side knock of the beavertail grip safety (now replaced). If considering either manufacturer, prioritize wants and remember what it is you're paying for. Some don't mind cheaper parts and overseas labor, something that in this case bothers me. I can say it's personal that there are particular countries whose economy I choose not to support. I buy Colts, among others, and also support local markets by having them customized.
It's not blasphemy, it's simply a matter of individual choice.
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