questions bout colts

[adamsbomb]

Narrowed it down to 3 colts today, my question is, if I just bought a NRM stainless, i would want to put on a beavertail and hammer, smith says cost me about 140 for that, then should do a trigger job cause of the knew hammer, another 70 add in the cost of the pistol and tax I will be around $840, but I could just shoot it and do the rest in a bit, The same guy also has a colt stainless xse nib for $719.00 or right under $800 out the door, comes with the features I like, is it worth spending the extra money now to get the xse? Is there anything else about the xse's that would make it a more desirable pistol to buy?? Oh yeah, one more thing, what kind of warranties do the colts carry??

 

[Josey]

Buy the XSE. You will VOID all warranties if you or anyone tinker with the pistol. The XSE sounds like it would have the bells and whistles.

 

[halvey]

Depends though. A NRM can have YOUR bells and whistles instead of Colt's. If you're not that fussy though, it sounds like the XSE is your best bet.

 

[Jim Watson]

XSE comes with a drop-in type beavertail that is ugly to my eye.

Sometimes a gun will come out of the box with a decent trigger pull, but you can't count on it. Since there is one in stock you can check it out.

If the one in stock suits you, get it. As my gunsmith says, "If the factory will do it, let them.

WWW posts indicate Colt is pretty good on warranty service. As far as warranty goes, the best thing to do is to shoot a new gun as is for a few hundred times to show up any fault that can be fixed on warranty. Then you can get it customized with little worry about it failing down the line.

 

[halvey]

Yup, I forgot about the beavertail. That has to be one of the first things to go on most Colts.

 

[45auto]

I believe the XSE has a commander hammer so you would only need to add the beavertail. If the trigger is good, you won't need a trigger job either.

It might be cheaper to buy the XSE, and add the beavertail, unless you don't want front serrations, extended thumb safety.

 

[DoubleAction]

If your going to hire the services of a pistolsmith for the upgrades, just purchase a Colt "Gunsite" 1911, you will have everything in one package, and you will save money in the long run. If it's just a range shooter, purchase the Gold Cup Trophy, with the BoMar, and put a Wilson Drop in Beavertail on it. The Shorter tangs of the Gold Cups, and the fit of the Wilson Drop in is a good match and you won't spend much getting there.

 

[Nalapombu]

I have a NRM Colt and then I traded for a Commander XSE, so I can tell you a bit about both.
First, my XSE DOESN'T have a better trigger pull than my NRM 1911. Maybe I got lucky in my NRM or unlucky with the XSE, whatever the case the tirgger is better on the NRM.
As for as the beavertail, the XSE does come with one, but a lot of people HATE it. It is one that does not force your hand into a "High" grip position like the Wilson, Brown, Kimbers and others do. The XSE has a down swept beavertail, but I like it. The NRM will accept one of the Wilson so called "Drop-in" beavertails and if you don't like that you will have to send it off and get the frame modified to accept a different one.
The sights are the same on both and if you don't like them you are looking at about $150 to replace them. I don't have a problem with them but they are basic military style sights and the front is not dovetailed into place.
The slide to frame fit is excellent on both guns and somewhat better on the XSE. They both feel really solid with no audible rattling or discernable looseness.
With the work you are lookingat having done on the NRM you are looking at spending about an extra $400 or so. Custom work doesn't come too cheap. The up side is that if you spend that extra money in my opinion you'd have a better performing gun than the stock XSE. Generally speaking though, if youhave an idea that you are going to add things to your 1911 in the future, it is much cheaper to go ahead and get the pistol that has all the stuff on it that you want up front. You'll pay more, but it will be cheaper in the long run.
I would go with the NRM stainless and shoot it for a few hundred rounds and then see what you like and dislike about it then you can send it to a 'smith to have him do whatever you want and then you'll have the perfect pistol for YOU.

Nala

 

[BluesBear]

The main differences between the 1991A1 and the XSE series are the hammer, grip safety, the undercut below the triggerguard and the front slide serrations.


As for needing a trigger job after installing a new hammer. Maybe maybe not. Try it and see. I have found that at least ½ the time it's just as good or better. Especially on a new gun where nothing has had a change to wear yet.