Need info on Colt LWT Commander XSE 45ACP
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I have an XSE commander, but it's the combat commander, not the lightweight. I've had it for 2+ years and it's been flawless. No jams, handles well, very accurate. Not ammo-sensitive, either. Shoots everything I feed it, including some pretty cruddy old stuff I found in the back of the closet.
I'm happy with it.
I'm happy with it.
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My advice is to buy one that you can put your hands on....
Though I like and own a Colt 1991 stainless Commander, and I think Colt makes 1911s that run very reliably, and they have supposedly re-tooled their production with more/better CNC processes to improve quality, there are a certain small percentage of Colts floating around out there with cosmetic blemishes.
Pay a little extra to buy local and put your hands on the gun b4 you put money on the table.
Then you can inspect it and you will not be dissappointed.
You get a lot of extras with the XSE...
front cocking serrations on the slide (which some love and some hate)
lowered and beveled ejection port (increases reliability)
extended-ambi safety
Novak rear sight
dovetailed front sight.
lightweight 3-hole trigger.
Some don't like the duck-bill style beaver tail, and unfortunately you can't get a Commander from Colt with a high rise beaver tail. But these are mainly for guys that prefer the thumb over safety, high rise grip anyways. How important this is is a personal question. And when it comes right down to it, even the Smith & Alexander and Wilson high rise beavertails do not afford the same level of grip elevation as the Ed Brown. So if you really want the best Beavertail, you're going to have to have a smith fit an Ed Brown regardless (donning flame suite in anticipation of an irrate Wilson owner).
When you inspect a gun at the gun shop, you want to specifically look straight on at the muzzle (after checking it clear of course) and evaluate the thickness of the walls on either side of the recoil spring cap (directly under the barrel) and whether it appears to be on centerline with the barrel.
I almost sent my colt back because mine is off ~.015" (but what is lost on one side is added to the other so it winds up being noticeable. I am so glad I didn't, as the gun has been 100% reliable and it's strictly a cosmetic thing, which most folks would not clue into if they had not been coached to look for it.
None the less, if your going to drop ~$900 on a pistol, you'll want it as close to perfect as can be.
Though I like and own a Colt 1991 stainless Commander, and I think Colt makes 1911s that run very reliably, and they have supposedly re-tooled their production with more/better CNC processes to improve quality, there are a certain small percentage of Colts floating around out there with cosmetic blemishes.
Pay a little extra to buy local and put your hands on the gun b4 you put money on the table.
Then you can inspect it and you will not be dissappointed.
You get a lot of extras with the XSE...
front cocking serrations on the slide (which some love and some hate)
lowered and beveled ejection port (increases reliability)
extended-ambi safety
Novak rear sight
dovetailed front sight.
lightweight 3-hole trigger.
Some don't like the duck-bill style beaver tail, and unfortunately you can't get a Commander from Colt with a high rise beaver tail. But these are mainly for guys that prefer the thumb over safety, high rise grip anyways. How important this is is a personal question. And when it comes right down to it, even the Smith & Alexander and Wilson high rise beavertails do not afford the same level of grip elevation as the Ed Brown. So if you really want the best Beavertail, you're going to have to have a smith fit an Ed Brown regardless (donning flame suite in anticipation of an irrate Wilson owner).
When you inspect a gun at the gun shop, you want to specifically look straight on at the muzzle (after checking it clear of course) and evaluate the thickness of the walls on either side of the recoil spring cap (directly under the barrel) and whether it appears to be on centerline with the barrel.
I almost sent my colt back because mine is off ~.015" (but what is lost on one side is added to the other so it winds up being noticeable. I am so glad I didn't, as the gun has been 100% reliable and it's strictly a cosmetic thing, which most folks would not clue into if they had not been coached to look for it.
None the less, if your going to drop ~$900 on a pistol, you'll want it as close to perfect as can be.
I've carried a lightweight XSE Commander for about 18 months now. My only complaint was the edges of the slide and the serrations were sharp enough to cut you, I knocked them down with a file and all's good. I put on a Wilson drop in beavertail and grip tape on the front of the grip for better handling.
I've shot a few thousand rounds through mine, no fail to fire or ejects. Have used the stock mags and McCormick's with no issues, it eats hollow points, semi wadcutters and round nosed lead like a fat kid with a candy bar. The stock white dot sights work very well, I shoot IDPA with mine and easily pick them up in the dim range light.
This is the most comfortable carrying gun I've ever strapped on, I never carry any of my steel frames any more!
I've shot a few thousand rounds through mine, no fail to fire or ejects. Have used the stock mags and McCormick's with no issues, it eats hollow points, semi wadcutters and round nosed lead like a fat kid with a candy bar. The stock white dot sights work very well, I shoot IDPA with mine and easily pick them up in the dim range light.
This is the most comfortable carrying gun I've ever strapped on, I never carry any of my steel frames any more!
I have the XSE in both Commander and LW Commander. The Commander is in my safe, the LW is on my belt. Excellent pistol, mine has been completely reliable and very comfortable to carry and shoot. I don't mind the front serrations or the beavertail and I do like the ambi safety and the sights. I recommend it highly.
I have had the O4691 Commander (2007 build) and an O1918 (2009 build). Both are among the most accurate and well built factory guns I have ever run across (going back 50 years, 30 guns). You need to know the post 2000 Colt models have their proprietary "dimpled" barrel, which greatly improves reliability. If you are talking about a new gun, or at least a recent production one, you should be really happy. They are pumping out some awesome stuff nowadays.
bannockburn
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Monzi
What Oro said: Colt is currently producing some very well built M1911s. On a recent visit to a local gunshop, the owner (and a M1911 pistolsmith for over 25 years), took the time to show me a couple of the latest Colts he just got in. Everything, from slide to frame, barrel to slide, trigger pull, and overall fit and finish, was done right. Equal to, and in some ways, maybe even better than some of the other high end M1911s out there. And he had probably 40 to 50 other M1911s to compare them to in his display case.
What Oro said: Colt is currently producing some very well built M1911s. On a recent visit to a local gunshop, the owner (and a M1911 pistolsmith for over 25 years), took the time to show me a couple of the latest Colts he just got in. Everything, from slide to frame, barrel to slide, trigger pull, and overall fit and finish, was done right. Equal to, and in some ways, maybe even better than some of the other high end M1911s out there. And he had probably 40 to 50 other M1911s to compare them to in his display case.
I had a LWT commander XSE and my only complaints were the front cocking serrations, and the edges were SHARP! I really thought it would be possible to shave with that gun.
On the other end it was completely reliable and was a very nice gun to carry. I have since switched to a Defender and when colder I carry a DW CBOB.
On the other end it was completely reliable and was a very nice gun to carry. I have since switched to a Defender and when colder I carry a DW CBOB.
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