Really thought I was in love with the Sig 1911 Ultra Compact. My "1911 buddy" was telling me "You really need a 1911 in 10mm. So now I was thinking Ruger SR1911 in 10mm.

Went to a couple LGS. Fondled them both. The sights on the Sig didn't work for me at all. Trigger wasn't all that, either. The SR1911 simply did not call to me.

Stopped at the tiny LGS down the street. Checked out a couple things. Nope. Nope. Then I said something about a 1911 carry piece. "Oh, you want a carry piece. I got something in a Colt for you."

Came out with a used Colt Defender in stainless. Got a light idiot mark and a couple other minor scratches that you have to look for. Felt good in the hand. Trigger nothing short of terrific. Mentioned I'd need a holster. He went over to his rack of holsters, poked around, came back and laid a Galco Combat Master pancake holster down. "You tossin' that in?" I asked. He nodded. Sold!

My first Colt. Can't wait to see how it shoots for me.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ensigmatic,

Very nice and a new Galco to boot. Ya done good. Enjoy! John

I own a Colt Defender as well. They are great guns. Looks like you got a nice one.

Congrats! That is a VERY nice compact 45.

My partner carried one in plainclothes for several years. I never saw it choke. Accurate too. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

OP, you'll have to give us a range report. I know these short nose guys have gotten more reliable than yesteryears models and would be interested in your reliability experience.
Congrats on a fine looking pistol and may you carry it well.

I've always had a hankering for one. For no real reason. No and I like the Combat Master. I carried my compact frame Glocks in one for years.

Thanks, guys!

It needed a good cleaning. Wasn't filthy dirty, but wasn't nearly as clean as I like to get 'em. So I gave it a good cleaning and lube.

Couldn't figure out how to get the thing back together YouTube to the rescue, then it was easy.

Going up north with one of my best friends this weekend. We're going to be adding to the pistol range he's putting together on his property. They're predicting 70% chance of showers, but I'm hoping we'll get enough breaks in the weather for me to give the new gun some target time and to test out the 4, 6 and 8 inch gongs I'm bringing with me.

CV, I'll be testing it with 3-4 FMJ target loads and the same JHPs I did with my R1. I'll let y'all know how it fares.

DaBigBR, That Galco is something like my Milt Sparks I-BAK. Obviously I can't carry this pistol until I've function-tested it, but I did put the rig on, briefly, earlier today. It seemed almost weightless after wearing a Gov't 1911 all day

That's a good looking 1911 with the s/s and wood grips and I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Colt builds a nice 1911. They recommend changing the recoil spring every 1000 rounds on the defenders.

Thanks for that info, j. Maybe I'll order replacements, then. I have no idea what the round count is. Shop owner said he knows the guy who sold it to them, and he did more carrying than shooting.

Wonder where to get 'em from...?

https://www.gunsprings.com/COL...NDER/cID1/mID1/dID66

Nice pistol!

I had one. I loved it after I had it dehorned. Before that, it cut me more than a sink full of broken glasses.
My sister fell in love with it and has it now.

Bruce

I’ve got a colt defender in 9mm.

Love it. Fiancé loves shooting it too

I slipped some wolf springs in it and it wears some predator green VZ grips.

Mine prefers colt mags.

It’s a nice piece.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
https://www.gunsprings.com/COL...NDER/cID1/mID1/dID66

Nice pistol!

Thanks! (On both counts.)

quote:

Originally posted by RNshooter:
I had one. I loved it after I had it dehorned. Before that, it cut me more than a sink full of broken glasses.

What were you cutting yourself on? Only thing "sharp" on mine are the slide serrations.

Mixed results

First of all: Recoil was stout. I suppose I was lulled into complacency by the milder recoil of my Rem. R1, but this is a much lighter, shorter-barrelled pistol. It took me a few rounds to come to grips with it, so to say.

It took everything I fed it:

• Blazer Brass, 230 gr. FMJ
  
• Federal Champion, 230 gr. FMJ
  
• Sellier & Bellot, 230 gr. FMJ
  
• Remington Golden Saber, 185 gr. JHP
  
• Hornady Critical Defense, 185 gr. JHP
  
• Federal HydraShok Low Recoil, 165 gr. FMJ
  
• Winchester Silvertip, 185 gr. JHP
  
• Speer Gold Dot, 185 gr. JHP
  

I had one (1) instance of the slide locking back on a nearly full mag. I think that was with the Federal or Winchester, after the first round. I sling-shot the slide, or hit the slide release--I recall not which, and carried on. Everything else fed and cycled flawlessly.

It shot to the right for me. But I was able to group with it.

This is 49 rounds, when I was function-testing ammo. ±25 feet.



These are 4" diameter circles. ±25 feet, again. Five rounds/target.



You can see from targets #2, #4 and $7 that the pistol can shoot if the shooter does his or her job. (On #4 I knew that'd be a flyer when I pulled the trigger.)

I don't even want to talk about #6 & #8

I was definitely not at the top of my game. My sight picture was more than a little blurry. I don't know whether it was a bad day for my eyes, the light coming in through the windows behind the firing line coupled with a dimly-lit range, or both. And I was pushing it when I shouldn't have--sometimes firing even though I was getting the shakes. So I expect that on a different day I can do better.

The pistol is currently with the LGS from which I purchased it, for their smith to correct its shooting 2" to the right at 25'. I should have it back early-to-mid next week.

All-in-all I think this little 1911 will make a fine carry pistol.

Colt got it right with the 3" 1911...I've had 2 Defenders, and 2 New Agents, and all would feed, fire and eject anything I put in them.

Those are very nice groups for a 3" gun at 25', when you did your part. Looks like you picked up a great shooter.

I own three(3) Colt Defenders in different calibers, and wouldn't consider parting with any of them......they just work!!

I bought one yesterday, took an hour to get the slide stop in the first time I tried, just seconds every other time. Maybe common knowledge but by putting the slide stop in just slightly less than horizontal and pushing up and in it just pops right in, every time.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Thanks, guys!

It needed a good cleaning. Wasn't filthy dirty, but wasn't nearly as clean as I like to get 'em. So I gave it a good cleaning and lube.

Couldn't figure out how to get the thing back together YouTube to the rescue, then it was easy.

Going up north with one of my best friends this weekend. We're going to be adding to the pistol range he's putting together on his property. They're predicting 70% chance of showers, but I'm hoping we'll get enough breaks in the weather for me to give the new gun some target time and to test out the 4, 6 and 8 inch gongs I'm bringing with me.

CV, I'll be testing it with 3-4 FMJ target loads and the same JHPs I did with my R1. I'll let y'all know how it fares.

DaBigBR, That Galco is something like my Milt Sparks I-BAK. Obviously I can't carry this pistol until I've function-tested it, but I did put the rig on, briefly, earlier today. It seemed almost weightless after wearing a Gov't 1911 all day

I have the Colt 'New Agent'-same gun in blue without sights other than a gutter down the top of the slide.

I love the little thing! SO easy to carry, perfectly reliable, plenty accurate, etc.

Enjoy yours!

Had my 'smith install a tiny brass shotgun bead in the nose end of the gutter, NOT to use as a 'sight' but just as an eye catcher when and if in a big hurry. Wonderful enhancement.

I have the Ruger SR 1911 in 10mm you mentioned. DO NOT GIVE UP on getting one. SUPER accurate, completely reliable and recoil is quite tolerable.

I've shot it a lot and intend to take it deer hunting.