Colt LW Commander Issues

[OldLincoln]

I agree re silent thunder, I already have one for my PM9 and didn't hesitate to get another.

I had planned to polish the feed ramp as it is horrible with horizontal tool marks that are more like gouges (maybe they are?). However, it's an alloy frame and I have been amply warned that polishing WILL ruin the frame. I'm glad I asked around before doing it as there aren't a lot of those frames around and they are costly.

I wish we'd talked before I ordered my 18# Wolf recoil spring. I toyed with the notion of getting the kit to have on hand and not repeatedly pay for shipping. Problem is I do that and a year or so later can't find it anyway. Without a detent for the plunger tube spring, the stop moves quite easily. Perhaps I shouldn't have oiled that part.

Before buying the mags I read up on the at the 1911 forum. Everybody seemed jazzed about the Chip McCormick mags so I bought a pair of 10 round Power Plus. I must have been in my Tim Taylor mindset because now I regret getting such loooonnnngg mags. They stick out of my special decoder ring secret mag pockets in my pants. Now I think 8rds would have been plenty and they would be easier to carry. Also think I may be better off with the original Colt mags. So if anybody wants to trade a pair of official Colt 1911 8 rd blue mags (Manufacturer #: 12150) for a pair of Chip McCormick stainless 10 rd Power Plus mags drop me a note.

Ammunition may be the cure for my issues. FMJ feeds fine and no slide locks, I have to shoot it again, but I believe the Federal Classic 185gn Hi-Shok JHP soot okay also.

NOTE: I paused to check out the ammo and I just discovered that the HSTs are 1mm longer than the Hi-Shok. So I load 5 Hi-Shok on top of 2 HST's. I can slow rack the Hi-Shoks but the HST don't want to chamber or extract on slow speed. I'll take another trip to the range in the next couple days and see if all my troubles disappear! Always optimistic, I am.

Another advantage is they are standard pressure and I was warned away from +P because the aluminum frame will develop cracks. I never thought of Colt 1911's as being wossie but what do I know. Hey if it likes it it's good - maybe I'll name the gun "Mikey" as in "Let Mikey try it" fame.

I'm finding this gun is like my Colt Mustang PocketLite in that it may too special for carry so I sold it to buy my PM9. Now the Mustang was as new and darned pretty, but this one is in very good condition. I'll keep it for awhile but someday may send it to a new home and get a specific work type gun for carry. In the meantime I'll keep it standard and pretty without hacking up the thing.

[cptdean]

I agree re silent thunder, I already have one for my PM9 and didn't hesitate to get another.

I had planned to polish the feed ramp as it is horrible with horizontal tool marks that are more like gouges (maybe they are?). However, it's an alloy frame and I have been amply warned that polishing WILL ruin the frame. I'm glad I asked around before doing it as there aren't a lot of those frames around and they are costly.

I wish we'd talked before I ordered my 18# Wolf recoil spring. I toyed with the notion of getting the kit to have on hand and not repeatedly pay for shipping. Problem is I do that and a year or so later can't find it anyway. Without a detent for the plunger tube spring, the stop moves quite easily. Perhaps I shouldn't have oiled that part.

Before buying the mags I read up on the at the 1911 forum. Everybody seemed jazzed about the Chip McCormick mags so I bought a pair of 10 round Power Plus. I must have been in my Tim Taylor mindset because now I regret getting such loooonnnngg mags. They stick out of my special decoder ring secret mag pockets in my pants. Now I think 8rds would have been plenty and they would be easier to carry. Also think I may be better off with the original Colt mags. So if anybody wants to trade a pair of official Colt 1911 8 rd blue mags (Manufacturer #: 12150) for a pair of Chip McCormick stainless 10 rd Power Plus mags drop me a note.

Ammunition may be the cure for my issues. FMJ feeds fine and no slide locks, I have to shoot it again, but I believe the Federal Classic 185gn Hi-Shok JHP soot okay also.

NOTE: I paused to check out the ammo and I just discovered that the HSTs are 1mm longer than the Hi-Shok. So I load 5 Hi-Shok on top of 2 HST's. I can slow rack the Hi-Shoks but the HST don't want to chamber or extract on slow speed. I'll take another trip to the range in the next couple days and see if all my troubles disappear! Always optimistic, I am.

Another advantage is they are standard pressure and I was warned away from +P because the aluminum frame will develop cracks. I never thought of Colt 1911's as being wossie but what do I know. Hey if it likes it it's good - maybe I'll name the gun "Mikey" as in "Let Mikey try it" fame.

I'm finding this gun is like my Colt Mustang PocketLite in that it may too special for carry so I sold it to buy my PM9. Now the Mustang was as new and darned pretty, but this one is in very good condition. I'll keep it for awhile but someday may send it to a new home and get a specific work type gun for carry. In the meantime I'll keep it standard and pretty without hacking up the thing.

Yep, need to avoid reworking aluminum or you'll have to have it re-anodized. You can still polish the little feed lip on the barrel and the chamber if you like, but it's probably a non-issue since FMJ is feeding well for you.

Sounds like you've got everything else covered and you should have a fun range outing next time. The next thing I'd pay attention to is where the brass is extracting. My Combat Commander liked to throw it at my head (still have a half-moon nick in my melon as a memento). If this happens to you, it's because the extractor is clocking in its channel and you can fix it by hand-fitting an oversized EGW firing pin stop. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to lower the ejection port.

I like that you're keeping the gun as-is. You'll definitely get more money for it someday. If you have the original box, parts, and papers, you'll probably fetch between $900 and $1200 at auction, depending on finish and overall condition of the gun. If you've got a blued model, keep me on the notification list when you're ready to sell. If you "customize" the gun, you'll probably never see more than $700 for it.

I understand about not wanting to carry it, though I do believe it's absolutely worthy. I sold off my CC because it was nickel and I didn't want to have it refinished. I also sold off my New Agent because (though pretty) I didn't like treating an $820 like a beater, and I really wanted real sights again. I may very well end up buying a $550 Springfield Micro GI if I want to 1911-carry something smaller than my GI. Options rock!

[OldLincoln]

Ah HA!! See, you do understand! "... fetch between $900 and $1200....I also sold off my New Agent because (though pretty) I didn't like treating an $820 like a beater" So I'm going to carry a $900 gun (it is blued) and flinch every time I bump the grip handle. Problem is whatever I'd get would also be a $900 gun. Right now I've got too much on my plate to even be fooling with this. Somehow this stuff creeps into the way of doing what I should be doing.

[cptdean]

Yeah, I think I may just be biased toward protecting safe queens. I didn't mind carrying my SIG P229, or P239, or P230, or my Glock 23 or 26, or my Springfield XD45 or GI, and I certainly don't care what I subject my LCP to. But a nice old Series 70, or a mid-80s P220 .38 Super, or a pretty New Agent are viewed through different eyes. I know it's me, but that's just the way I am.

But even with all I mentioned above, I'm looking more forward to carrying my P45 (when it gets here) than almost anything else.

Blued, you say?

[OldLincoln]

Pssst, wanna see some pretty pictures??

[cptdean]

Yep!

[OldLincoln]

Here are a few pics probably in 2 posts.

[OldLincoln]

Post 2









These last two are painful. You can see for yourself why I'm concerned about the ramp and since looking into it further, the left side of the mag area.

[OldLincoln]

Well, I'm not bragging on the pristine condition, but it is 32 years old. I doubt if my range action helped matters running that HST ammo through it. I suspect much of the brass came from that.

[OldLincoln]

I just saw a pic of another 1911 feed ramp in much worse condition than mine. Perhaps it's all relative and along side the mirror finish of my PM9 it is just ugly, but it might be the pretties one at the dance for all I know.

Reminds me of the really pretty girls I dated around the world but I didn't date at all when I got to Goose Bay Labrador. I hope nobody gets offended, but all of the natives I saw looked like 40 miles of bad road. The permanent station guys said "they never get pretty, but they do get better lookin after a bunch a beers".


More guys are telling me I need to replace a bunch of springs in this gun. I'm wondering if I shouldn't let my gunny take a hard look at it and do a gothrough or whatever you call it replace springs and fit everything and make sure it's right before I carry it on some cold night when a band of zombies come out to play. What do you think?

[Bawanna]

That ramp don't look that bad to me. You said you already ordered the 18# Wolfe spring, that should work just fine. Try different ammo, and your McCormick mags or the factory and see how she goes.
Those ole Colts are made to run and it will.

[jlottmc]

Listen to the folks here. They're right. Keep in mind that in the 70's hollowpoints were still pretty much on the drawing board. The 1911 was really made to run hard ball ammo. Cut it's teeth on ball, and earned it's legendary reputation on it. Recently, folks have been throating and polishing the feed ramps and chambers to make the flying trashcans feed properly. Use a round with a ball like profile and don't look back. FYI 18# springs are factory for a 5" bbl 1911, 20# for the Commander, and 16# for long slides. That being said I use 22-24# in my full sized steel framed 1911 (I like to play with hot loads too, and after a long range session it helps the gun return to battery). Listen to what these guys are saying.

[cptdean]

Well, I did some more digging on spring weights. While I was clearly wrong in saying that 16# is stock for a Commander, it is what's stock in my 5" bbl GI. Looks like Jocko was right that 18# is stock (it's what I ordered for my Commander), and he, jolttmc, and others are advising well to go heavier to reduce feed issues. But I would personally only go heavier after you're sure you don't have any feed issues with ball.

BTW, that feed ramp looks just like my New Agent, and I wouldn't worry about it. Your barrel also looks good and, as jlottmc was saying, that thing is designed to run ball so I'd stick with that profile. As said earlier, you have plenty of modern options for defensive carry.

Also, you shouldn't have problems getting work done on aluminum, as long as it's re-anodized after.

That's a really nice Commander, and I'd hold onto it.

[gb6491]

Nice Commander!

Just a couple of thoughts: not knowing how thoroughly the pistol has been cleaned (no insult intended), it might be worth taking a look at the extractor tunnel (can cause feed issues if the extractor can't move freely or is too tight) and the plunger tube (the plunger end that puts pressure on the slide stop may not be moving freely or full travel).

It looks like someone may have used a bad magazine at some point in that pistol, thus the damage to the sidewall of the magazine well.

I also agree with those that advise leaving that aluminum feed ramp alone.
If it turns out to be the culprit in your feed issues, either heed jlottmc's advice or send the pistol to EGW and have a steel ramp insert installed:
Steel Feed Ramp Insert - $40.00 : Evolution Gun Works , World Class Precision Parts

Regards,
Greg

[jocko]

oh ur so right

Listen to the folks here. They're right. Keep in mind that in the 70's hollowpoints were still pretty much on the drawing board. The 1911 was really made to run hard ball ammo. Cut it's teeth on ball, and earned it's legendary reputation on it. Recently, folks have been throating and polishing the feed ramps and chambers to make the flying trashcans feed properly. Use a round with a ball like profile and don't look back. FYI 18# springs are factory for a 5" bbl 1911, 20# for the Commander, and 16# for long slides. That being said I use 22-24# in my full sized steel framed 1911 (I like to play with hot loads too, and after a long range session it helps the gun return to battery). Listen to what these guys are saying.

the 1911 was built on hard ball design. deviate from that and issues do start to show up. all soveable but again the gun was originally designed for hard ball..