Colt Lightweight Commander .39 Super

[Q!!]

Well folks, I started a thread earlier about buying a new gun. I had it narrowed down to a Beretta PX4 and a SIG 250. I went back down to the shop to take another look before making the purchase and my buddy who owns the shop pulled out another gun for me to take a look at. It was a Colt Lightweight Commander .38 Super. Damn that thing is nice. Felt VERY good in my hand. He told me he would make me a good offer. It was marked $916 and he offered it to me for $855. I love the thought of having a 4" 1911 for carry, and it's a Colt. However, is it worth the extra $300 or so more than the other 2 guns I mentioned?? Anybody have any experience with this gun?? Is it reliable, accurate and dependable?? Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Is it older or newer?

The older ones I think are some of the nicest 38 Supers Colt ever made. Commanders in 38 Super are not as common but are out there. I think it is an OK deal either way. Nothing screaming though.

 

[Q!!]

Well I believe it is a new one. He just got it in a couple weeks ago. It is brand new.

That being said, it is going to be a carry gun, so is it worth the extra money over the PX4 or the SIG 250??

 

[Oro]

However, is it worth the extra $300 or so more than the other 2 guns I mentioned?? Anybody have any experience with this gun?? Is it reliable, accurate and dependable?? Thanks in advance for any comments.

It's going to be worth the extra money if you value the 1911 platform over others, and the .38 Super as a cartridge over the other cartridges you were considering. If you do not reload and you intend to shoot large volumes, ammo will be more expensive and harder to find (probably), than, say, 9mm. If you want a gun to throw in a holster and never think about, the other guns will dot he job.

The .38 Super is reliable accurate, and dependable - just test the gun and ammo out before you carry it.

The price quoted is a fair to good deal based on what generation it is and how original. The gun has been made in a few generations. The "Lightweight" commander has been so stamped since 1970 (the gun has been around since 1950, but not marked like you say that one is). Street price on a new production gun is $850 to $900. If the gun is new, not used, that's a fair price and they are currently a little hard to get in stock.

 

[Q!!]

Thanks for the replies fellas. Yes it is new in the box.

 

[rmfnla]

FWIW, if I was doing the shopping it would be the Colt, no doubt about it.

 

[Walkalong]

Great caliber in a great platform. What's not to like. I have a 5" Colt 1911 in .38 Super. You can always get a 9MM barrel for it to shoot more cheaply.

 

[orionengnr]

What is a .39 Super?

 

[Oro]

You can always get a 9MM barrel for it to shoot more cheaply.

Yep, that's a good option. Just a barrel and new magazines - all the other parts that vary between models (ramp angle, ejector, slide stop) are the same between .38 Super and a 9mm.

I never have understood why Colt won't offer a convertible with a pre-fit barrel in 9mm and two extra mags, like the older "Ten-Forty" they had briefly.

 

[BullfrogKen]

You can use the same 38 Super magazines for the 9mm barrel, if you want to have one installed. You don't need different magazines.

I did it quite often. You will want a little lighter recoil spring, though.


The Commander will have a better trigger than those other guns you mentioned. I'd jump all over it.

 

[tipoc]

Ammo for the gun is readily available online and at most gunshows. It runs about the same price as any quality ammo. Most factory ammo though is loaded to the 9mm levels. Cor-Bon and Double Tap do load the Super closer to what it is capable of. If you handload the Super is a very versatile round and does very well with bullets from 115 gr to 158 gr.

It's natural home is the 1911.

tipoc

 

[MICHAEL T]

I would jump on the Colt I have a 9mm Commander from 1951 #62XX its still pusting out the rounds . Get the 38 super Then get a 9mm barrel and have both 9mm and 38super
2 guns for really little money

 

[dakota1911]

I would lean towards the Colt. I just bought an XSE LW Commander in .38 Super, also known as the 9x23 SR (Semmi Rimmed). Of course the new ones head space on the case mouth, not the small rim. Very good round and great if you reload. If you don't the ammo will be more than .45 and quite a bit more than 9mm (9x19). I plan on fitting a 9x19 barrel in the near furture. If this one is an XSE then the only negative thing I am aware of are the front slide serrations. They can be unfriendly to some holsters.

 

[doc540]

Colt

I have no problem spending someone else's money.

Note: the internet 1911 experts convinced me that a LW Colt wouldn't handle high round counts like a steel frame, Combat Commander.

So, I sold my LW Commander for a Combat Commander.

in 9mm

that is all