I recently bought a new Colt Lightweight Commander XSE. During my first brief shooting session I had trouble with the "factory" magazines not feeding the last round from the magazine; they would allow a nose up malfunction.
After the first session, I installed a set of XS "Big Dot" night sights and ordered some different magazines, Tripp.
The XS sights required fitting; I knew this when I purchased them, and I bought them anyway. The front sight required major fitting; I should have skipped the file & sand paper and got a Dremel tool
(turned out to be a real PITA 
).
Well, the front sight wasn't going in very easily:banghead:, the plastic punch that came with the sights was breaking off; I reverted back to a caveman and went for a metal punch, that sight WAS going to go on.
In the process of "installing" the front sight I put a couple of major scratches on my new pistol. 
I decided the best course of action was to get the sandpaper and start working on the offending scratches. After a couple of different grit sandpaper I used Flitz. The slide no longer matched the frame, so I did the frame too. The end result is a pistol that has a polished look.
As for the magazines, I bought Tripp 7 round factory magazines and Tripp replacement kits for the "Colt" magazines.
Shooting session number two went well. First, I was pleased when the Tripp magazines and replacement kits worked with 100% reliability. I was also extremely happy when the initial shots using my newly installed XS Big Dot sights hit where I aimed at 7 yards. Next, I tested my speed and accuracy of a "double tap" at 6 yards. I placed a 6'' circle at 18 feet (6 yards) and measured my elapsed time from 1st to 2nd shot. Typically, I'm doing very well to keep BOTH shots on the 6'' circle with a 2nd shot time around .29 sec. However, in this "test" the XS Big Dots allowed me to achieve "blazing" (for me) 2nd shot times of .19 -.21 sec. using 230 gr. factory ammunition, while keeping both shots on the 6'' circle. For SD these sights are perfect for me! Thank goodness I like them after the installation episode.
I chronographed 4 different factory loads, here is the average velocity for 5 shots:
Remington 230 gr. JHP @ 817 fps
Federal Hydra Shok 230 gr. @ 850 fps
Winchester Ranger T 230 gr. @ 868 fps
Hornady XTP 185 gr. @ 904 fps
Other than the initial last round from the magazine problem, which I have solved, there have been no malfunctions.
I like the shiny (of course I'm saying I like it shiny) Lightweight Commander and Big Dots.
If you get some XS Big Dots I strongly advise filing enough away that installation doesn't require excessive force.
After the first session, I installed a set of XS "Big Dot" night sights and ordered some different magazines, Tripp.
The XS sights required fitting; I knew this when I purchased them, and I bought them anyway. The front sight required major fitting; I should have skipped the file & sand paper and got a Dremel tool
(turned out to be a real PITA ). Well, the front sight wasn't going in very easily:banghead:, the plastic punch that came with the sights was breaking off; I reverted back to a caveman and went for a metal punch, that sight WAS going to go on.
In the process of "installing" the front sight I put a couple of major scratches on my new pistol. I decided the best course of action was to get the sandpaper and start working on the offending scratches. After a couple of different grit sandpaper I used Flitz. The slide no longer matched the frame, so I did the frame too. The end result is a pistol that has a polished look.As for the magazines, I bought Tripp 7 round factory magazines and Tripp replacement kits for the "Colt" magazines.
Shooting session number two went well. First, I was pleased when the Tripp magazines and replacement kits worked with 100% reliability. I was also extremely happy when the initial shots using my newly installed XS Big Dot sights hit where I aimed at 7 yards. Next, I tested my speed and accuracy of a "double tap" at 6 yards. I placed a 6'' circle at 18 feet (6 yards) and measured my elapsed time from 1st to 2nd shot. Typically, I'm doing very well to keep BOTH shots on the 6'' circle with a 2nd shot time around .29 sec. However, in this "test" the XS Big Dots allowed me to achieve "blazing" (for me) 2nd shot times of .19 -.21 sec. using 230 gr. factory ammunition, while keeping both shots on the 6'' circle. For SD these sights are perfect for me! Thank goodness I like them after the installation episode.
I chronographed 4 different factory loads, here is the average velocity for 5 shots:
Remington 230 gr. JHP @ 817 fps
Federal Hydra Shok 230 gr. @ 850 fps
Winchester Ranger T 230 gr. @ 868 fps
Hornady XTP 185 gr. @ 904 fps
Other than the initial last round from the magazine problem, which I have solved, there have been no malfunctions.
I like the shiny (of course I'm saying I like it shiny
) Lightweight Commander and Big Dots.If you get some XS Big Dots I strongly advise filing enough away that installation doesn't require excessive force.
