1911 commander in 9mm

[Rob Kroupa]

I think I'm in love with a Colt Commander in 1911 I saw at the local gun shop.  Anybody have any experience with them?  Researching online shows magazines can be problematic.  Any other issues?

[NS2]

The Wilson Combat 9mm mags have been perfect for me.

[Rob Kroupa]

Good to hear, I think I'm going to go back and pick it up in the morning. 

[NS2]

Good to hear, I think I'm going to go back and pick it up in the morning. 

Of course you must now provide pictures...

[Rob Kroupa]

That's a given, it should make a really great 30th birthday present to myself.

[NS2]

Happy Birthday!

[Bob Mayne]

Pictures and a range report!  Happy Birthday.

[Devereaux]

Happy birthday, youngster (being as I am more than double your age)!

Reward yourself - no one else will.

I have from time to time considered a 9mm 1911, but never managed to actually procure on. I will be interested in hearing your experience over time. Most any gun can be good in the short run, but whether or not it continues to work well over time is more potentially problematic. NS2, being apparently blessed with the situation where he has unlimited ammo and the work requirement to shoot as much of it on any given day as I might shoot in 6 months or more, manages to do a nice job of ass-whooping on a weapon in only a day or two; you might take a bit longer, but the end result is still what we are all desirous of hearing about.

[Rob Kroupa]

I'm going to go pick it up in a few hours so expect pictures later today.  Dev, I'll do my best to show it who's boss tomorrow at the range and I'll continue to report back on how it's doing on the long haul.

About rewarding yourself, after numerous car wrecks, getting shot, almost drowning, and a few other "interesting" incidents I'm happy I've made it this long and figure a reward is a good idea.

[Rob Kroupa]

Well I got it home.  I think I love it, it almost seems like destiny, I got it home and checked the serial number... it was made the same year I was...
It's got just a little surface rust in two spots but nothing major.  Going to order up some more magazines and some new springs tonight.  I'm trying to fight my natural instincts to start modifying it, can't make up my mind if I want to leave it stockish or start planning a build for it... 



And here it is with it's big brother



I'll report back tomorrow after range time, and I'll try to get some better picks.  I'm currently in a hurry, got to go pick my daughter up for a daddy/daughter lunch date.   

[Devereaux]

Ahhh! Really nice, Rob. I know it ruins the "originality" of it, but I personally hate those grip safeties from way back when - always seem to put a bruise in the webbing of my hand. Since we all know you are going to shoot it, might as well make it comfortable.

[NS2]

Great Find Rob!  Well done!!!

Wanna sell it?

Looking forward to your range report.

[Rob Kroupa]

Range report: Started with 200 rounds of reloads, mixed batch with some of my really cheap cast lead loads and some of my plated loads that I use for matches.  Not one issue at all with the gun.  At first it seemed to be shooting a little low and to the left but then I realized it was the operator that was the issue...

After that I ran 100 rounds of my normal carry ammo (147gr Speer Gold Dot's) through it.  The only thing that didn't work perfectly was he slide failed to lock back on an empty mag once but I'm pretty sure this is the original mag and mag spring that came with the gun. 

Dev was correct, that grip safety sucks and it felt like someone stabbing the web of my hand with a flat blade screwdriver every time I pulled the trigger. 

I'm kinda surprised, I expected at least a couple of minors malfunctions or something.  Overall the thing ran like a top and is more accurate than I am.  I managed to fire one whole magazine with all the holes touching at 7 yards (nothing amazing but good for me).

Something kind of odd that bothered me a little was how sharp the serrations are on the front of the trigger, rubbed my finger pretty raw.

And no Scott, it's not for sale...

[Devereaux]

Actually, Colt makes a drop-in beavertail grip safety. I don't much like it, but it's an improvement over the "spike" and it keeps your frame original, so you can return it to its original pristine condition. My old Commander went under the knife and sports a proper beavertail, making it fun to shoot again.

[Rob Kroupa]

I went ahead and order a Wilson Combat "drop in" beavertail, it's supposed to be designed for the Commander frame.  The more I think about it the more I think this one is going to get cut on several times, really considering bobtailing the frame, cleaning up the surface rust, and refinishing the frame with silver duracoat.

[Rob Kroupa]

Spent some time running a file today, replaced the trigger, thumb safety, and grip safety.  Gun feels much better in my hand now, can't wait to go and try it out. 

[Devereaux]

?Was this a drop-in grip safety. If so, ?how  much fitting did it take.

[Rob Kroupa]

?Was this a drop-in grip safety. If so, ?how  much fitting did it take.

It's a Wilson Combat drop in unit designed for the Commander frame, it really only took a little fitting, maybe 10-15 minutes.

[xmunckx]

Lookin' good...
I have also considered a 9mm 1911 from time to time but haven't found one I can commit to yet.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[Devereaux]

OK, Rob. Next obvious (stupid) question - is the frame steel. The original Commanders, like I bought back in the Stone Ages, were aluminum, so if you filed on them, you broke the anodizing.