First Post EVER! 1911 Commander sized options

[SalchaketJoe]

The 1911 bug has bit me. I like the commander sized w/4in to 4 1/4 barrel. Looking at a Kimber Raptor, Springfield Champion and the original Colt LW Commander. My biggest question concerns the COLT. Thats where I am leaning but all the talk on here is about the Kimbers.

Is there something wrong with the Colts? Do they digest JHPs? Thoughts and opinions appreciated.

Semper Fi, Out.

 

[Yo Mama]

Colt 1911s are great. Some on here feel that Colt has lost the edge in the market, and I'd look at the Springfields before the Kimbers.

 

[Cloudpeak]

Colt 1911s are great. Some on here feel that Colt has lost the edge in the market, and I'd look at the Springfields before the Kimbers.

And I'd sure look at the Dan Wesson CBOB, too. I had a LW Springfield Loaded Champion and it was a great pistol but I like my CBOB better and sold the Champion. STI also makes a good pistol in this size range, a Ranger ll. STI Ranger's come with a dual captured recoil spring (Recoil Master) as does the Champion. I like the conventional, single spring guide rod of the CBOB. Easy to change spring rates for reduced power loads and easier takedown, IMO.

 

[Vonderek]

Do they digest JHPs?

I have a CC that functions fine on 230gr Hydrashocks...never a malfunction. I have not tried any other JHP as I am happy with HS and that's what I have.

 

[rellascout]

If you can find a CBOB get it!

 

[kanewpadle]

+1.

 

[Geno]

I carry Winchester 230 rain JHP Personal Defense rounds in my Colts (full-size, Commander-size and New Agent). They all work just fine. Here are some pics. They look like flying ashtrays. They were retrieved from a Russian boar that I hunted with one of my Colts.

http://s325.photobucket.com/albums/k368/OhWowPictures/?action=view&current=45ACP2.jpg

http://s325.photobucket.com/albums/k368/OhWowPictures/?action=view&current=45ACP1.jpg

 

[Oro]

Some on here feel that Colt has lost the edge in the market, and I'd look at the Springfields before the Kimbers.

Yes, that was certainly true in the '90s. But the real marketplace moves in the recent years is that Kimber has ramped up volume dramatically with reduced QC and cheapened parts, and Springfield's foreign components just leave me cold. Colt in the meantime has improved QC and even innovated, importantly. Since 2000, the grooved barrel design has really given Colt an edge in handling various bullet designs out of the box. Importantly, they also refused the trend towards massive application of MIM or foreign parts. They use a few, but that's all, and less than anyone I know of except the likes of Ed Brown and Wilson.

After I did my homework on all this, I spent about two years looking for a great deal on a Colt. I put this 1991 model Commander (all steel model) in the line up last winter for $600, and was super pleased to find the reliability 100% with various loads, the stock three-dot sights and controls totally functional for carry. The trigger was super - as good as any regular production gun I've seen. I decided it's a keeper; got it some custom, unique grips to give it some personality (the stock diamond cocobolo grips were excellent; I just wanted to give it some "personality."). At some point I will get a pre-80, post WWII model to go with it.

 

[Jason_G]

DW, Colt, Springfield (in that order for me).

Jason

 

[txgolfer45]

I'm partial to the Kimber Pro Raptor II.

 

[skoro]

Is there something wrong with the Colts? Do they digest JHPs? Thoughts and opinions appreciated.

I have a Colt XSE Combat Commander. In over 1000 rounds, it has yet to hiccup. I've done nothing to it other than cleaning and lubing as I would with any firearm. I've fed it a very mixed diet: hardball, 185gr hollowpoints, 230gr +P hollowpoints, even 25 year old semiwadcutters. It handled them all perfectly.

I also have a 1976 MkIV Government model, and it also digests whatever I feed it with no protest.

I have another non-Colt 1911 that had some issues when it was brand new. Wouldn't even work with 230gr hardballs. It took a trip back to the service center to get it to run right.

Nope, there's nothing wrong with Colt 1911s.

 

[SalchaketJoe]

Thanks

I will need to wrap my paws around the CBOB. Seen a lot of positive reviews about it but am not sure how I feel about the bob portion.

Thanks for all the comments. I have been reading posts on here for a few months and knew I would get a lot of good information. Thanks again and I will be posting a lot more in the future, if anyone cares to read my rants.

 

[LancerMW]

You can get most Springers in Champion(commander), aalso the STI Guardian i belive is commander size

 

[Dr_2_B]

sounds like springfield would be a great choice

 

[Oonzpoonz]

Looking for one myself, anyone here have experience with Springfield Champion Operator. This really appeals to me. But I can't find any in stock in my area. salesman told me that Springfield is concentration on getting m1a rifles out to marines... dunno.

 

[Slvr Surfr]

+ another for the Cbob......

 

[Oro]

sounds like springfield would be a great choice

As long as lowest quality producer with sub-spec foreign parts is your game, you are going to love SA. I made this mistake with a Norinco in the 90s; but they were still better quality than current SA guns in that category... I mean, the extractors worked; that was a start.

salesman told me that Springfield is concentration on getting m1a rifles out to marines... dunno.

That has a few interpretations:

1) I laughed really hard; you bought that?

2) You realize the current "SA" just bought the name and imports foreign parts; they aren't a real US gun maker?

3) I assume you are a troll since you only have two posts.

Well, you gave us all a laugh with that. Soldier on.

 

[samurai]

Dan Wesson CBOB.

 

[weisse52]

As many have said Colt is making a quality product. I have a pre 80 series Combat Commander that feeds anything I have put in it. My full size Colts operate equally well.

I use to have quite a few SA's, all gone now.

The DW's I have seen look like a quality product as well. I may consider one in the future, and if I do it would be the CQOB.

 

[HexHead]

Get the Colt. It's a real 4.25" Commander with a bushing and a GI guide rod. Kimber and Springfield both use 4" bull barrels in their "Commander size" guns, and you need to use a "tool" to field strip them easily. I've had both and I much prefer the bushing system Colt uses.

Also when stripping a Kimber II, you have to be really careful not to depress the grip safety when removing or reinstalling the slide or you run the risk of shearing off the Swartz safety piston and making the pistol inoperable.

Get a real Commander, a Colt.

 

[Oonzpoonz]

well I didn't buy that, I was just puzzled that a salesman would just say something like that.

 

[dairycreek]

Another CBOB fan here. Only had it for two weeks and am just blown away by the quality. All metal, no MIM and as accurate as it can be.

 

[sophijo]

Look real hard at Fusion.

 

[longhorngunman]

Another +1 on the CBOB, Series 70, no MIM, night sights, and nothing on the market like it except for a $2000+ Ed Brown.

 

[PattonTime]

Colt Commander Lwt

My new to me Commander, Series 80 Blued enhanced Lwt
I bought it on Gunbroker $614.00 I am so happy I have wanted one for years
this is the first one that seemed right.
Picked it up tonight, at my local range shot a box of shells not a hiccup
Whats not to like, my fifth Colt 1911 and the only one that jammed was a 1911
9mm Government Model and so did my Kimber 9mm , not bad but sometimes
I think Colts are great , but I own Kimbers and Dan Wesson too. I have a Rock Island Government thats pretty nice for the $275.00 I paid for it.I think you can get a bad one in any brand the more you pay, you at least get more features , I am not sure about quality though, that is sometimes hit or miss.

YMMV