Why the plastic on the 1911 Colt Commander?

[rdmercer]

I have always wanted another 1911 after purchasing the Ruger 1911 Commander 10 years ago. Since then I have bought 2 Rock Islands one in 45 and another in 9mm. I noticed just recently the trigger and grip safety happen to be made out of plastic instead of metal on my Colt Commander, so why a gun that cost me almost a $1000 new from the retail dealer have plastic parts when my $400 RIA's are all metal?

 

[1KPerDay]

Check your mainspring housing also

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Colt doing Colt things… why do it right when you can ride on ya coattails ?

 

[silicosys4]

I have always wanted another 1911 after purchasing the Ruger 1911 Commander 10 years ago. Since then I have bought 2 Rock Islands one in 45 and another in 9mm. I noticed just recently the trigger and grip safety happen to be made out of plastic instead of metal on my Colt Commander, so why a gun that cost me almost a $1000 new from the retail dealer have plastic parts when my $400 RIA's are all metal?

Colt factory employee's don't have to live in a thatched hut.

 

[sqlbullet]

I will preface my comments my saying I don't care for plastic triggers, grip safeties or MSH's on my guns and have swapped them in the past.

But, the engineer in me will acknowledge that a properly spec'd polymer is a better choice for these parts. Polymers are lighter weight, have greater surface lubricity, are more resistant to oxidation, are easier to manufacture and are from a less expensive material. Metal is preferred because that's how JMB designed it, not because it's actually the better choice (when properly spec'd).

 

[trackskippy]

I never understood it either, but Colt has been doing that since the late 80's, early 90's. Just something else to annoy us, I suppose.

Back then, those parts were still plentiful and cheap, as a lot of people were switching them out when upgrading their guns. The trend/fad for longer triggers and flat MSH's was kicking off then, and most gunsmiths usually had plenty of the short triggers and arched MSH's lying around for those of us who prefer them. These days, you tend to pay a premium for them.
.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Made in PI vs USA.

Union wages, taxes, health insurance.

 

[twofewscrews]

I have always wanted another 1911 after purchasing the Ruger 1911 Commander 10 years ago. Since then I have bought 2 Rock Islands one in 45 and another in 9mm. I noticed just recently the trigger and grip safety happen to be made out of plastic instead of metal on my Colt Commander, so why a gun that cost me almost a $1000 new from the retail dealer have plastic parts when my $400 RIA's are all metal?

If it took you 10 years to notice then those parts must have been made relatively well . . .

Unless your concerned with them breaking or have a strong preference for metal over plastic or are worried about the longevity of the firearm as you intend to pass this firearm on to your kids, why does it bother you?

Personally on firearm like a 1911 a plastic part is a no go for me, and bothers me on all three of the levels I mentioned, and yes I realize those plastic parts will in all likely hood outlive me.

 

[Roverguy]

Colt doing Colt things… why do it right when you can ride on ya coattails ?

I think you meant “colttails”

 

[rdmercer]

If it took you 10 years to notice then those parts must have been made relatively well . . .

Unless your concerned with them breaking or have a strong preference for metal over plastic or are worried about the longevity of the firearm as you intend to pass this firearm on to your kids, why does it bother you?

Personally on firearm like a 1911 a plastic part is a no go for me, and bothers me on all three of the levels I mentioned, and yes I realize those plastic parts will in all likely hood outlive me.

I just bought this Colt recently and just noticed it. How can a cheap but well made RIA 1911 be all metal when the more expensive Colt uses plastic? I am beginning to think the Rock Island 1911s are the best out there and ironically don't they use old equipment from WW2 that was owned by Colt to make their modern line of firearms?

 

[cfullgraf]

I’ve yet to run into a plastic trigger or plastic grip safety, but it has been a while since I bought a Colt Commander. Maybe I have one or two guns with the plastic parts and just have not noticed.

The trigger I’d probably not mind. Not so sure about the grip safety.

Most, if not all Colts come with flat polymer main spring housings these days. I prefer an arched main spring housing so I buy an after market metal main spring housing.

I don’t like spending the extra cash but it is not much and I get a gun that I like.

Apparently, market research has indicated the flat main spring housing is the most desirable and polymer is less expensive and performs well.

 

[twofewscrews]

I just bought this Colt recently and just noticed it.

my mistake. I misread your oringal post.

How can a cheap but well made RIA 1911 be all metal when the more expensive Colt uses plastic?

I hear ya there. Ive been told plastic can be just as strong and last just as long, and the science might support that, but my heart/brain don't accept that.

Rock Island . . .don't they use old equipment from WW2 that was owned by Colt to make their modern line of firearms?

I've heard that too but as far as I know that just a rumor.

 

[9mmepiphany]

so why a gun that cost me almost a $1000 new from the retail dealer have plastic parts when my $400 RIA's are all metal?

While the Colt is trying to cut corners to keep their price at the entry level price point, they can't really compete with the RIA which is manufactured in the P.I.

 

[vanfunk]

The plastic triggers and mainspring housings have been with us for a while now, but are they really putting plastic grip safeties in now? Really? Honestly I don’t mind the triggers and mainspring housings; they’ve never given any trouble, but plastic grip safeties are a bridge too far! Ok, enough of my righteous indignation. I’m still planning on buying a plain-Jane Government model soon.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I just bought this Colt recently and just noticed it. How can a cheap but well made RIA 1911 be all metal when the more expensive Colt uses plastic? I am beginning to think the Rock Island 1911s are the best out there and ironically don't they use old equipment from WW2 that was owned by Colt to make their modern line of firearms?

I'm not here to stand behind Colt, as they have done plenty over the years to hurt themselves.

That said, the Rock Island pistols that I am am familiar with 5-10 years ago, were not the best either. Low quality springs and metal parts that would fail within 2 or 3 thousand rounds. Several people that I shot with on a monthly basis at matches had at least one thing break on them.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The plastic triggers and mainspring housings have been with us for a while now, but are they really putting plastic grip safeties in now? Really? Honestly I don’t mind the triggers and mainspring housings; they’ve never given any trouble, but plastic grip safeties are a bridge too far! Ok, enough of my righteous indignation. I’m still planning on buying a plain-Jane Government model soon.

I don't have any issue with plastic triggers or MSH either. Mine usually get switched out because I don't like a skeletonized trigger and I usually add a magwell which is a single part with the MSH.

I've long seen grip safeties which were casted parts, but I've never seen one made a plastic yet

 

[Roverguy]

I just bought this Colt recently and just noticed it. How can a cheap but well made RIA 1911 be all metal when the more expensive Colt uses plastic? I am beginning to think the Rock Island 1911s are the best out there and ironically don't they use old equipment from WW2 that was owned by Colt to make their modern line of firearms?

That tooling would be pretty long in the tooth now! I’m not sure the RIA 1911s would have their valid reputation as value for money guns if they were being made with 80 year old tooling

 

[9mmepiphany]

Several people that I shot with on a monthly basis at matches had at least one thing break on them.

A shooting buddy, when he decided to shoot IDPA CDP (Custom Defensive Pistol) Division with a 1911, chose a RIA one for the lower initial outlay. I ran fairly well for a couple of years before reliability issues started cropping up.

He took it to the local "1911 guy", who usually built USPSA Open guns, and the first thing he recommended was to change most of the internals. The smith was Filipino, so it wasn't national bias. He just said that Armscor internals just don't hold up to regular use

 

[Grunt]

If you like Rock Island, you’d love Tisas! So far I have a Raider and Tank Commander in .45ACP and one of the MAC JSOC clone. All of them are forged steel with no plastic or MIM parts other than the recoil spring plunger. They have all been solid performers and my Tank Commander is one of my daily carry pieces in a Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB holster. So what does the Turkish clones lack? Well, there’s no pony stamp of fancy name I guess but at a far cheaper cost and a finish on my raider that doesn’t flake off like the M45A1, I’ll endeavor to persevere and try not to cry all over the ammo my savings bought me instead of a name.

 

[Slamfire]

I have always wanted another 1911 after purchasing the Ruger 1911 Commander 10 years ago. Since then I have bought 2 Rock Islands one in 45 and another in 9mm. I noticed just recently the trigger and grip safety happen to be made out of plastic instead of metal on my Colt Commander, so why a gun that cost me almost a $1000 new from the retail dealer have plastic parts when my $400 RIA's are all metal?

My Remington R1 has a cheap plastic trigger and a cheap plastic housing. And that explains why Remington used those parts, because they are cheap!

I replaced both this week. CDNN had a Remington aluminum short trigger, (I have stubby fingers) and a Remington blued steel checked mainspring housing. This pistol is a series 80, start to finish, it took an hour to get all those trigger parts in alignment, push the pins in, and I also only lost one mainspring cap, which took off when I removed the mainspring from the plastic housing. I come across these spring loaded parts in the weirdest of places. I suppose I will find it, and Jimmy Hoffa at the same time. Never know what's buried in the corners.

 

[trackskippy]

If you like Rock Island, you’d love Tisas! So far I have a Raider and Tank Commander in .45ACP and one of the MAC JSOC clone. All of them are forged steel with no plastic or MIM parts other than the recoil spring plunger. They have all been solid performers and my Tank Commander is one of my daily carry pieces in a Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB holster. So what does the Turkish clones lack? Well, there’s no pony stamp of fancy name I guess but at a far cheaper cost and a finish on my raider that doesn’t flake off like the M45A1, I’ll endeavor to persevere and try not to cry all over the ammo my savings bought me instead of a name.

I kept hearing how great the Tisas's were and gave them a try. Im either really unlucky, or they have something going on.

Being a glutton for punishment, I bought four of them, two 45's, and two 9mm's. All were trouble in short order, if not right off.

Kind of figured out that extractors were an issue, and with the 9mm's, the ramped barrel set up they went with was a problem too. Best thing you can do with them, is let a smith that knows 1911's go over them and straighten a few things out, and address a couple of others. wouldn't trust one for anything but a range toy, and a frustrating one at that. Id have to see how well things got straighened out after it was gone over before IId consider trusting my life to it.

I just unloaded another one about a week ago on an MOS slide at a bit of a loss, but it is what it is. They really arent worth much as it is, and even worse for trading/selling on the used market. My local shop always seems to have two or three in the used cabinet that look a lot like some he was selling in the new cabinet a few weeks prior. Although that seems to be slowing down a bit, now that he doesn't seem to be selling many new ones anymore.

The only 1911's Ive ever had luck with, and trusted to carry, had a Prancing Pony on the slide or a US Property stamp on the frame. And even with those, they all needed some help from a good 1911 smith to get them 100% sorted, especially if you were loading anything other than ball in the mags.

 

[twofewscrews]

I'm not here to stand behind Colt, as they have done plenty over the years to hurt themselves.

That said, the Rock Island pistols that I am am familiar with 5-10 years ago, were not the best either. Low quality springs and metal parts that would fail within 2 or 3 thousand rounds. Several people that I shot with on a monthly basis at matches had at least one thing break on them.

Which parts did you see break most?

I'd wager the slide stop and the hammer/hammer strut.

 

[Jim Watson]

My FLG likes the Delrin mainspring housings that Colt uses. The "composites" of other brands, not so much.
He liked the McCormick synthetic trigger, too; and was sad to see it go, along with their hammers and sears.

I have never heard of a plastic grip safety, I would not have thought the long skinny "arm" rigid enough.

We hear how great the foreign copies are, yet the standard post describes how their proud owners immediately start throwing parts away in favor of US name brands.

 

[twofewscrews]

I kept hearing how great the Tisas's were and gave them a try. Im either really unlucky, or they have something going on.

Quality control?
I recently bought my first 1911 and went with RIA over Tisas due to track record. While Tisas offer of no mim parts sounded great I've heard mixed things about their QC, whereas RIA aren't known for being the most durable 1911s due to mim parts they are considered dependable. When the mim parts inevitably brake I will replace them with "forever parts"

 

[JTQ]

I have always wanted another 1911 after purchasing the Ruger 1911 Commander 10 years ago. Since then I have bought 2 Rock Islands one in 45 and another in 9mm. I noticed just recently the trigger and grip safety happen to be made out of plastic instead of metal on my Colt Commander, so why a gun that cost me almost a $1000 new from the retail dealer have plastic parts when my $400 RIA's are all metal?

I've long seen grip safeties which were casted parts, but I've never seen one made a plastic yet

I have never heard of a plastic grip safety, I would not have thought the long skinny "arm" rigid enough.

I would have guessed the OP meant to say mainspring housing, and his grip safety comment was in error, but it's been a few posts and he hasn't corrected his original post yet.

Like the folks above, I've not previously seen or heard of a plastic grip safety.