This is a Colt Combat Commander that I purchased new in July, 2005. I immediately had a gunsmith replace the stock right handed grip safety with a quality ambidextrous safety. I also replaced the stock grips (wood panel, no medallion) with Pachmayrs.
I fired maybe 100 rounds the first time I took it to the range shortly after buying it. It was then I discovered that the front sight was loose, a problem that I understand Colt has had with some of their 1911s. The Colt factory fixed the sight and there has been no further problem re the front sight.
I moved from kalifornistan late in 2005 and didn't fire the gun again until July, 2006. I fired 62 rounds reloads (200 grain SWC plated, 6.8 grains Unique) and a new problem surfaced: the slide locked back with shells still in the magazine on rounds 4 and 54. I changed magazines and swapped out the mainspring housing to eliminate those possibilities.
Then in October, 2006, I fired a total of 125 rounds (230 plated round nose, 7.7 grains Unique) and the slide locked back on round 72 with shells still in the magazine.
I shipped it back to Colt after that because I was sure it was a flaw in the gun. Colt replaced the plunger tube assembly and said that fixed the problem.
Back to the range on 11/24/06 when I fired 80 rounds (230 grain round nose, 5.7 grains Unique). Functioned flawlessly except one round jammed on feed ramp.
1/25/07
125 rounds 5.8 Unique, 230 grain round nose plated. Functioned flawlessly.
6/11/07
150 rounds 230 RN plated, 5.7 grains Unique.
1 round jammed on feed ramp. Slide failed to stay open on last round of mag, twice. Faulty magazine spring?
11/20/07
50 rounds 200 SWC lead. Functioned flawlessly.
1/7/08
100 rounds 200 SWC Ranier, 5.0 gr Unique. Constant stovepipes. The load was so light that my Sig 220ST wouldn't even cycle the cartridge out of the gun. Purely the fault of a too light load.
12/30/08. Back to the range where I fired 75 rounds (200 grain lead SWC bullets, 6 grains Unique). Slide locked back twice with rounds still in magazine.
It's had a total of 867 rounds down the pipe and everything else is in excellent condition. It's just that intermittant problem where the slide is locking back with rounds still in the magazine.
To recap, Colt replaced the plunger tube assembly. I replaced the mainspring and housing and swapped magazines.
Advice before I sell it?
I fired maybe 100 rounds the first time I took it to the range shortly after buying it. It was then I discovered that the front sight was loose, a problem that I understand Colt has had with some of their 1911s. The Colt factory fixed the sight and there has been no further problem re the front sight.
I moved from kalifornistan late in 2005 and didn't fire the gun again until July, 2006. I fired 62 rounds reloads (200 grain SWC plated, 6.8 grains Unique) and a new problem surfaced: the slide locked back with shells still in the magazine on rounds 4 and 54. I changed magazines and swapped out the mainspring housing to eliminate those possibilities.
Then in October, 2006, I fired a total of 125 rounds (230 plated round nose, 7.7 grains Unique) and the slide locked back on round 72 with shells still in the magazine.
I shipped it back to Colt after that because I was sure it was a flaw in the gun. Colt replaced the plunger tube assembly and said that fixed the problem.
Back to the range on 11/24/06 when I fired 80 rounds (230 grain round nose, 5.7 grains Unique). Functioned flawlessly except one round jammed on feed ramp.
1/25/07
125 rounds 5.8 Unique, 230 grain round nose plated. Functioned flawlessly.
6/11/07
150 rounds 230 RN plated, 5.7 grains Unique.
1 round jammed on feed ramp. Slide failed to stay open on last round of mag, twice. Faulty magazine spring?
11/20/07
50 rounds 200 SWC lead. Functioned flawlessly.
1/7/08
100 rounds 200 SWC Ranier, 5.0 gr Unique. Constant stovepipes. The load was so light that my Sig 220ST wouldn't even cycle the cartridge out of the gun. Purely the fault of a too light load.
12/30/08. Back to the range where I fired 75 rounds (200 grain lead SWC bullets, 6 grains Unique). Slide locked back twice with rounds still in magazine.
It's had a total of 867 rounds down the pipe and everything else is in excellent condition. It's just that intermittant problem where the slide is locking back with rounds still in the magazine.
To recap, Colt replaced the plunger tube assembly. I replaced the mainspring and housing and swapped magazines.
Advice before I sell it?