Posted: 4/4/2014 6:33:01 PM EDT
| I used to stay away from anything lower than a 4.25 barrel, but I've heard some good things about the Defender. How is the reliability on these 3" 1911s? Anyone here have one? Thanks. |
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I used to carry a Colt Commander until I ran into a hip issue, and went to the smaller Colt Defender Two classes at Gunsite about 3500 rounds total, probably another 2000 rounds at the range and it's never missed a beat. I carry it daily, those that say it's unreliable usually don't own one.  |
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^ this
I have two, one in 9mm and one in 45 and the only issue is the 9 doesn't like to lock the slide back after the last round on lower powered range loads. Never really bothered me so I never tried to fix it and locks back fine on 147s which is what I carry anyway. |
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Quoted:
I used to carry a Colt Commander until I ran into a hip issue, and went to the smaller Colt Defender Two classes at Gunsite about 3500 rounds total, probably another 2000 rounds at the range and it's never missed a beat. I carry it daily, those that say it's unreliable usually don't own one.http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x167/50-140/DSC00790_zps3b24f869.jpg Looks like you had some work done on it too. Details? 
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Quoted: Looks like you had some work done on it too. Details? Quoted: Quoted: I used to carry a Colt Commander until I ran into a hip issue, and went to the smaller Colt Defender Two classes at Gunsite about 3500 rounds total, probably another 2000 rounds at the range and it's never missed a beat. I carry it daily, those that say it's unreliable usually don't own one.http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x167/50-140/DSC00790_zps3b24f869.jpg Looks like you had some work done on it too. Details? Had a lgs do the checkering on the front grip, I didn't like the 'surround' grips that came with it, and the checkering gives me a good grip. The finish is 'Cera-Hide' by CCR refinishing. |
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Had a lgs do the checkering on the front grip, I didn't like the 'surround' grips that came with it, and the checkering gives me a good grip. The finish is 'Cera-Hide' by CCR refinishing. http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/index.html Quoted:
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I used to carry a Colt Commander until I ran into a hip issue, and went to the smaller Colt Defender Two classes at Gunsite about 3500 rounds total, probably another 2000 rounds at the range and it's never missed a beat. I carry it daily, those that say it's unreliable usually don't own one.http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x167/50-140/DSC00790_zps3b24f869.jpg Looks like you had some work done on it too. Details? Had a lgs do the checkering on the front grip, I didn't like the 'surround' grips that came with it, and the checkering gives me a good grip. The finish is 'Cera-Hide' by CCR refinishing. http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/index.html Very nice! I don't like the factory grips either. |
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Quoted: Very nice! I don't like the factory grips either. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I used to carry a Colt Commander until I ran into a hip issue, and went to the smaller Colt Defender Two classes at Gunsite about 3500 rounds total, probably another 2000 rounds at the range and it's never missed a beat. I carry it daily, those that say it's unreliable usually don't own one.http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x167/50-140/DSC00790_zps3b24f869.jpg Looks like you had some work done on it too. Details? Had a lgs do the checkering on the front grip, I didn't like the 'surround' grips that came with it, and the checkering gives me a good grip. The finish is 'Cera-Hide' by CCR refinishing. http://www.ccrrefinishing.com/index.html Very nice! I don't like the factory grips either. If you like his grips, you can get a set of OEM slim New Agent grips, bushings and screws from the Colt website  My NA has been flawless over 5k rounds. Just remember to change the recoil spring regularly, like every 750 rounds.
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Quoted: You are right to stay away from any 1911 with anything less than Commander length. You will lose reliability. I'm sure there are guys with umteenthousand rounds with their Defenders with nary a bobble who will say I'm wrong. Mini 1911s are a crapshoot at best. The exception IS Colts though. Colt figured out how to make little 1911's work a long time ago. |
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My defender is back from its third warrantee work 3 month trip to colt in 12 months.
I really wanted to like this gun but it's been a disaster would not feed 230 grain jhps at all. I don't know if it's fixed Yet but frankly I'm not optimistic Buy something else. |
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I'm not saying you're wrong, and I agree with you, and tell people the same thing. The exception IS Colts though. Colt figured out how to make little 1911's work a long time ago. Quoted:
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You are right to stay away from any 1911 with anything less than Commander length. You will lose reliability. I'm sure there are guys with umteenthousand rounds with their Defenders with nary a bobble who will say I'm wrong. Mini 1911s are a crapshoot at best. The exception IS Colts though. Colt figured out how to make little 1911's work a long time ago. It wasn't all that long ago. I am thinking the original factory issue did have some problems for a year or so but Colt worked that out. |
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Mine was made 11/12 It wasn't all that long ago. I am thinking the original factory issue did have some problems for a year or so but Colt worked that out. Quoted:
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You are right to stay away from any 1911 with anything less than Commander length. You will lose reliability. I'm sure there are guys with umteenthousand rounds with their Defenders with nary a bobble who will say I'm wrong. Mini 1911s are a crapshoot at best. The exception IS Colts though. Colt figured out how to make little 1911's work a long time ago. Mine was made 11/12 It wasn't all that long ago. I am thinking the original factory issue did have some problems for a year or so but Colt worked that out. |
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Quoted: My defender is back from its third warrantee work 3 month trip to colt in 12 months. I really wanted to like this gun but it's been a disaster would not feed 230 grain jhps at all. I don't know if it's fixed Yet but frankly I'm not optimistic Buy something else. My NA feeds 230 gr well, but the recoil impulse was enough, and long enough, to make 185 gr a better choice, something that Bill Wilson recently echoed: http://blog.wilsoncombat.com/1911/a-reliable-compact-1911-by-bill-wilson/
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| Don't have Colt but I do carry a 3 inch Kimber. Thus far no problems at all. I would guess years ago more people experienced more problems with the short 1911's but I have been seeing more and more people carry them as they have improved. I use 230 grain Speer short barrel in mine and they have worked well. My Kimber weighs 25 oz empty and I use Tripp 7 round magazines and with such a light package it is a pleasure to carry. |
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I just got back from the range with mine. I'm super disappointed. This was its third trip back from colt with the same problems.
Will not feed: GDHP ...just 1 failure out of the box so that's something Federal JHP ...5/20 fails Golden sabers...4/50 fails All 230 grain. Maybe the GDHP jam was a fluke and it will run ok but I'm just not comfortable carrying it so I think it's getting sold. Maybe it would work better with 185s but I'm not interested in carrying those in 45...I have a 9mm. Maybe I just got screwed since several people seem to have good experiences, I read a couple bad reviews but figured "nah they must be doing something wrong that won't happen to me, I'm sure it will be fine it's a colt." Well it's not and I'm out 9 months and god knows how much in defensive ammo to test it. |
| I have a SW 1911ES. Great for CCW. I DO want a Colt Defender. Probably will get one just because. The Kimber Ultra Stainless TLE II though has a lot more options for the same price. I have a Kimber Pro Series I. And yes, I will put it up against any Glock for reliability. It has been flawless. A buddy of mine has a series II Kimber Ultra. Also has been very reliable, except the barrel shows rust all the time. I will probably still get the Colt Defender. Going to sell my SW 29-2 to fund the Colt. |
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Where in PA and what do you want to trade it on? Email me if you like after you see what they offer you. I love these little 3" pistols, I have a S&W pro series and Pappap has a kimber ultra cdp II. They both needed some tinkering but work perfect once tweaked.
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Taking mine to see what they will give me for trade in today Are all you guys saying "mine works fine" really feeding 230 JHPs thru. them no problem? Like more than one box? Mine is still questionable after 3 trips back, I just don't get it. I run Golden Sabres. Run a couple 100 FMJs a year and 5 boxes [ouch] of GS and no issues. Very picky about replacing the recoil spring, probably more then I need to be but they need to be changed far sooner then a full length model. |
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Recoil spring shouldn't be an issue it's more or less new and just back from colt (for the third time) it has less than 500 rounds down the pipe most of them JHPs in testing.
Golden sabers and federals run poorly GDHPs run "ok" but not good enough As far as where I live, I don't want to break any of the ee rules, If I don't get the trade in I want I'll list it on ee or maybe gunbroker as I'd hate to screw an arfcomer. Really at this point I can't trust it for carry and while it's a good looking gun it's not worth it to me to keep it in the safe. And I don't have the energy to keep swapping parts and pouring money into a nib gun colt had three chances to get right |
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Recoil spring shouldn't be an issue it's more or less new and just back from colt (for the third time) it has less than 500 rounds down the pipe most of them JHPs in testing. Golden sabers and federals run poorly GDHPs run "ok" but not good enough As far as where I live, I don't want to break any of the ee rules, If I don't get the trade in I want I'll list it on ee or maybe gunbroker as I'd hate to screw an arfcomer. Really at this point I can't trust it for carry and while it's a good looking gun it's not worth it to me to keep it in the safe. And I don't have the energy to keep swapping parts and pouring money into a nib gun colt had three chances to get right Does your pistol have a recoil buffer in it? Mine had one and choked every couple of rounds until I took it out. After that, it ran like a raped ape. Another issue to look for is a scarred feed ramp. The magazines Colt supplies with these pistols have the old style flat follower, and it can kick forward into the feed ramp after the last round and the flat edge can gouge the feed ramp pretty good. Mine has a couple of nicks in it, but I switched to round follower Metalform mags and that will at least keep the damage from progressing any further. |
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Quoted: Does your pistol have a recoil buffer in it? Mine had one and choked every couple of rounds until I took it out. After that, it ran like a raped ape. Another issue to look for is a scarred feed ramp. The magazines Colt supplies with these pistols have the old style flat follower, and it can kick forward into the feed ramp after the last round and the flat edge can gouge the feed ramp pretty good. Mine has a couple of nicks in it, but I switched to round follower Metalform mags and that will at least keep the damage from progressing any further. Quoted: Does your pistol have a recoil buffer in it? Mine had one and choked every couple of rounds until I took it out. After that, it ran like a raped ape. Another issue to look for is a scarred feed ramp. The magazines Colt supplies with these pistols have the old style flat follower, and it can kick forward into the feed ramp after the last round and the flat edge can gouge the feed ramp pretty good. Mine has a couple of nicks in it, but I switched to round follower Metalform mags and that will at least keep the damage from progressing any further. On that note, I only ever use Wilson Combat #47,OXCB and 47DOXB magazines in my New Agent, and their Gov't model equivalent in the others. I have a few McCormick Shooting Star mags and some Colt OEM Gov't model mags that came with McCormick followers, but their flat follower can/will slip forward.
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On that note, I only ever use Wilson Combat #47,OXCB and 47DOXB magazines in my New Agent, and their Gov't model equivalent in the others. I have a few McCormick Shooting Star mags and some Colt OEM Gov't model mags that came with McCormick followers, but their flat follower can/will slip forward. Quoted:
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Does your pistol have a recoil buffer in it? Mine had one and choked every couple of rounds until I took it out. After that, it ran like a raped ape. Another issue to look for is a scarred feed ramp. The magazines Colt supplies with these pistols have the old style flat follower, and it can kick forward into the feed ramp after the last round and the flat edge can gouge the feed ramp pretty good. Mine has a couple of nicks in it, but I switched to round follower Metalform mags and that will at least keep the damage from progressing any further. On that note, I only ever use Wilson Combat #47,OXCB and 47DOXB magazines in my New Agent, and their Gov't model equivalent in the others. I have a few McCormick Shooting Star mags and some Colt OEM Gov't model mags that came with McCormick followers, but their flat follower can/will slip forward. Tried with 47oxc too. I had this problem since it was NIB it's been back to colt 3 times presumably they checked everything else. Anyway it's up for auction now. I guess I learned my lesson on these guns. |
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Kind of want a 9mm Defender, but my S&W 3913 pretty much does the exact same thing.
Then I found out about these last night when reading up on various 1911 configurations...... Commander frame with officers slide....the rare Colt Defender Plus....Made for something like two years. Someone here bobbed the grip on one a few years back and turned it into one of the slickest CCW's I've ever seen. 
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Quoted: Kind of want a 9mm Defender, but my S&W 3913 pretty much does the exact same thing. Then I found out about these last night when reading up on various 1911 configurations...... Commander frame with officers slide....the rare Colt Defender Plus....Made for something like two years. Someone here bobbed the grip on one a few years back and turned it into one of the slickest CCW's I've ever seen. http://www.louisianasportsman.com/classifieds/pics/p1341599628831372.jpg http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f6/kjwroble/DSC02117.jpg Is that a 3" or 3.5" barrel? Here's my earlier version of that, from when the OACP's were made with a 3.5" barrel:  |