New Colt 1911 pistols

[jsalcedo]

My local shop has some of the newer Colt 1911 type pistols for ok prices
but I am concerned about the plastic (errr) polymer triggers.

Are these decent guns? Should I buy one and replace the funky non-metal parts?

Is there another manufacturer that has a better product at a similar price?

 

[cslinger]

The PLASTIC trigger is an afront to all that is good and decent, much like the Porsche Cayenne but I digress.

That being said I have a new Colt with the afore mentioned trigger and it is every bit as good as any new production Kimber. It is a wonderful gun and as much as I dislike the trigger material it has doen me well and I have yet to replace it which I swore I would. Fit and finish is excellent.

Chris

 

[Cactus]

The most current Colt's are coming with aluminum triggers, IIRC. They look like the plastic ones but are not, so you may want to check them.

 

[dsk]

Colt has not used plastic triggers for least two years now. Instead they used a black-anodized aluminum trigger on the NRM Series 80, and a steel short trigger on the new Series 70. In any event, replacing a 1911's trigger is straightforward and shouldn't impede a buying decision.

 

[Billmanweh]

I was about to add that my NRM Colt Commander doesn't have a plastic trigger, but it looks someone has already covered that.

 

[BigG]

I have a bunch with plastic triggers and they all work like a champ. No malfs. Just a snob issue with me. The 1911-type trigger must be low mass in order not to trip the sear from inertia. That's why all the light material triggers, swiss cheese treatment, etc. It ain't about coolness and plastic, well, what do you think your Glock/HK/Whatsis is made of?

 

[jsalcedo]

well, what do you think your Glock/HK/Whatsis is made of?

I don't do plastic. If I'm going to pay more than $300 for a gun I want
it to be made out of metal then treated with some kind of finish or bluing.

The closest I'll come to plastic is bakelite on some old revolvers or the original GI 1911 grips.

 

[1911Tuner]

Plastic Triggers

If ya get that Colt, and the plastic trigger is the long trigger, I'll give
15 bucks and pay postage on it to help defray the cost of a new trigger.
I'll even give instructions to fit the new one if you want to have a go at it
yourself. If it's a short one, I'll give 10.

Cheers!
Tuner

 

[BigG]

If 1911Tuner will buy a plastic Colt trigger, it should tell you something.

Hi Mr. Tuner!

 

[jsalcedo]

I'm still in the browsing stage. I'll go look at them again today.

I also saw a MKIV with a 4 inch barrel for $499 It may be reblued though.

 

[1911Tuner]

Plastic Colt Triggers

BigG said:

If 1911Tuner will buy a plastic Colt trigger, it should tell you something.

Howdy BigG! Nothin' real complicated. I've never seen one break or fail,
the bows are sufficiently hard, they feel real close to the old pre-1911A1 long triggers, they're light, and they're consistent on the dimensions
and in-spec. Never understood what all the howlin' was about.

Cheers!
Tuner

 

[BigG]

Jeez, my Colt AR15 would be embarrassed to be seen with some people. Luckily, she ain't here to hear such talk. But she looks good in basic black - plastic!

 

[John Forsyth]

The new Colts are well made guns. Mine is accurate and reliable. I'd get one in a minute over a new Kimber II.

 

[mattk]

The new Colts (NRM) are great guns. I have a new blued Commander and it is absolutely fantastic. I replaced the Rats tail with an Ed Brown Beavertail and fitted a McCormick thumb safety to it and now it is my large caliber carry gun. It has been 100 percent reliable and is pretty as picture.
Accurate as all get out too.

 

[cratz2]

My NRM 5" Colt came with a long black aluminum trigger which was just fine. I replaced it with a bit shorter aluminum trigger but only because I don't like the gratuitously long triggers and I like them fitted a bit better than mine was.

 

[ajacobs]

Funny, but I replace almost all of mine with the short plastic sti trigger.

 

[Sean Smith]

New Colts have metal triggers. They have for a couple years, I think.

 

[mattk]

Oh My Gosh! Sean Smith posted in a Colt thread and didnt put a picture of that Delta in his reply.
I am sorely disappointed. I love seeing that blaster.

 

[dsk]

There's nothing at all wrong with the plastic triggers. The only beef I had was that some of the more recent ones weren't parallel on the top and bottom, yielding an ugly tapered effect.

 

[cslinger]

It's not that the plastic trigger is bad or un-usable it is just that it is well.........plastic. Don't get me wrong, I have not replaced mine and I own a plastic gun or two but a plastic trigger on a 1911 is just well.........wrong

It's not about functionality, it's not about durability as I am reasonably well informed to know that the plastic triggers work well feel good and may very well last longer than the metal ones.

It is just that it is well...............plastic. It's not really a snob thing I just have a thing regarding 1911s that they should be sort of traditional. Of course I am not a 1911 first line of defense kind of guy either as I prefer my more modern double action designs.

Anyway the new Colts are wonderful and MY new Colt is wonderful, plastic trigger and all. I have no mechanical complaints what so ever.......just a little nostalgic, maybe snobbish, maybe stupid feeling that the plastic trigger just doesn't fit on such a nicely blued, nicely finished pistol.

Once again I am no gunsmith and I certainly am no expert on anything. The plastic trigger just bothers me from an asthetic point of view. I have had NO PROBLEMS what so ever with it. Anyway I think the new Colts are excellent firearms with excellent fit and finish. Buy with confidence.

Chris