Colt Commander Lightweight Advice (Actual Thread)

[jamz]

Hi all. I am Trying to narrow down my ideal carry gun, an evolution that is a long time in the making, like a lot of us.

Brief hsitory: I am narrowed down to a 1911 platorm in .45acp, but I am not manly enough to tote around an all steel version.

So, a while ago, I found a Colt Defender, which I've tested and have been carrying for the last 6 months or so maybe. I know the reliability issues of the 3 inchers, and would like to move up to a lightweight commander length model.

I really like the S&W 1911SC, it's a scandium gun in the right length, and I like S&W's reliability so far. (I have a plain steel rollmark S&W1911 and it's been perfect.)

So for a while I had decided on that gun when I had saved up enough money. Now an evil, evil man at my local gunshop has showed my a few used Series 80 Colt Commanders that have the lightweight frame, and I know that a lot of experienced people here trust the older Colts (not that Series 80 is really old), so now I am puzzled. I have a choice of three guns. Colt Commander buffs, what would YOU choose for a carry gun?

1. NIB S&W 1911SC

2. Colt Commander S80 with some "history". Lots of custom work done, barstow barrell, trigger, sear, hammer, grip safety, night sights etc etc etc etc replaced. (All stock parts come with the gun as well). Additionally, this gun was the property of the evil man at the gun shop for a time, and he insists that it was reliable and shot very well. He has no interest in selling this particular gun, he's just an employee, and the Colt Defender that I have was once his as well, and as per his word, it does shoot very reliably) The work was done before he owned it.

3. Another Colt Commander S80 with night sights, no other work done, untested.

The s&w is around $850, the two colts around $650.

I'm nervous about the amount of work done on gun #2, and would not consider it unless is had been owned by they guy and deemed reliable.

What would you guys advise in this situation?

Thanks, James

 

[Steelharp]

I will take # 3, if you don't! Someone's custom work that may have been perfect for them might not be for me. The Colt's are actually an insignificant 2 ounces lighter than the S&W... but they are lighter. Great for carry. And, it's got that pony!

Now, uh... what's that evil man's number?

 

[HSMITH]

I voted for the Colt with the custom work but there is a big fat IF here, IF the custom work was done RIGHT I would select that gun.

If not or if you are not sure the custom work is quality I would probably take #3 and work it over myself. Not much work, beavertail, traction aid on the front strap ETC.

I have handled but not shot the S&W you mention. GREAT looking gun, the one I handled was fitted nicely and felt good in the hand. Most reports on the S&W 1911 guns are very positive.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I have 2 LW Commanders, one in .45, one a 9x23/38 Super convertible to 9mm with a barrel switch. I have a 5" steel .45; I won't carry steel frames anymore now. I'm spoiled on aluminum. Both are customized, one from a stock 80 series Colt, the other was built from unfinished parts - a Springfield frame & Caspian slide. I spent a week with Jim Garthwaite in his shop learning how to built 1911s. Now I know enough to be dangerous, but also what to look for.

I won't buy custom work. I'll commission it, but I won't buy it. Especially from a second owner, and not having the original bill of work in front of me to see what shop did what work.

S&W has a good concept, they just did goofy things with it after they put it on a good frame. I don't like the sights, and they've managed to make the gun hard to do much in the way of altering to taste by using proprietary cuts for parts.

Look around for a stock Colt .45. $650 isn't bad. Personally, I'd ask myself: What sights are on it now, and when I take them off, can I put what I want on it, or was the slide cut to only take a specific brand? Once I get an unmolested piece, then I'll send it off to Jim and have what I want done, and not try to settle and make due with someone else's wish list.

Its a bit like buying a custom suit from a consignment shop. It might fit, might look nice, but in the end, you're making due with someone else's style and fit. I'd pay the marginal increase in cost to do it my way.

 

[W Turner]

Personally I would go with the unmolested Colt as well.

If you carry IWB anyway another viable option is a Springfield Lightweight Loaded Gov't. model. I have had one for about a year (1500 rds. or so) and have been very pleased with mine. You get all the advantages of a 5" steel model (balance, sight radius, etc.) in a much lighter weight package (30 oz unloaded).

Makes for a great all day IWB carry piece.


W

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I voted for the unchopped Colt, too. I never...NEVER trust someone's work that I don't know (case of the Colt that is highly modified - I'm the same way with vehicles, I want bone stock, and I'll be the one who modifies them, or has them modified). The S&W 1911s are great guns, too, but I always pull for a Colt, especailly if resale were a potential issue. The extra $200 would make me also rule out the S&W over the Colt.

I have a 2005 Colt XSE LW Commander and really like it. It's a lot lighter than my Officer's model that I carry most of the time. I'll start carrying the Commander after a few more boxes of ammo goes through it. I really like the size and the weight of the LW Commander. BTW, I got my new one for $790, and a dealer in North Carolina was asking $755 for theirs (I got a better deal, considering shipping and FFL fees).

 

[shield20]

I would go SW1911SC. Had a Colt XSE till last month - unreliable enough to have to sell it. Slide lock broke also. My full size SW has been 100%, and I think the Sc would be too.

 

[jamz]

Yeah, for a carry gun I'm leaning toward a newer one, so long as it has a good rep like the S&W does. Colts that have been worked over...I dunno. I'd have to shoot it. I haven't heard great things about Colts anyway.

Jamz tosses in the hook for Fuff and Tuner

 

[jamz]

ump!


I don't like bees

 

[farscott]

After a not-so-good experience of my making with a Lightweight Commander, I would look over the 'smithed Colt very carefully before buying. I took a stock Lightweight Commander, sent it to Robar for some work, and carried and shot the snot out of it for the next several years. When I was done, I had a damaged feed ramp and a damaged mag well opening.

By stripping the hard anodizing from the frame to do the work (stippling the front strap and dehorning) and refinishing in NP3, the soft aluminum alloy frame was more exposed to wear and tear. Now I know that the alloy frame should be anodized after any work is done, but it was an expensive lesson. In my experience, modern Colt pistols need to be dehorned before they are holster ready, so the frame finish issue is important. I would also either fit a steel feed ramp into the frame or a ramped barrel (caliber being the deciding factor, and in .45 ACP, I would go with the insert) to avoid the feed ramp mess I have.

To make a long post shorter, I cannot suggest the smithed Colt, and I would hesitate to buy the other two. The S&W has a lot of proprietary parts, and the Colt needs some work before it is holster ready. You might want to consider a steel-framed Commander or a Government Model. In a good holster, it is quite easy to carry a steel-framed Commander or Government Model. They are also easier to shoot and, for me, faster than the lightweight guns.