Gunsite Pistol

[daveohno]

I just bought a new stainless Colt Gunsite Pistol. Does anyone have any advice on what ammo to use with it? This is the first 1911 model I have ever owned. I have three Glocks, a Colt Trooper and two Pythons, Nickel and Blue. Also, any opinions on the Colt Defender? I believe Colt still makes them and I am partial to the Pony. What I have read leads me to believe it is an excellent lil pistol.

[Hawkmoon]

Which Gunsite pistol did you buy, and what do you intend to use it for? For just going to the range and blasting holes in paper, Winchester USA ("white box") in the 100-round value packs from Wal-Mart is probably as good and as cheap as you'll find anywhere this side of loading your own.

For personal defense, try several of the "name brand" jacketed hollow point rounds (Gold Dot, Golden Saber, Ranger, etc) and see which is accurate and RELIABLE through your pistol. The most important factor in a self-defense round is reliability. Massive expansion is secondary -- it won't expand if your gun won't feed it and shoot it.

[daveohno]

Hawkmoon, what grain? Is 230 always the best? Or less better? I will probably just be using this one for targets and training that I plan to go for. After all, the pistol comes with a coupon for 100 bucks off a class at Gunsite. Sounds like a good excuse for a vacation to Arizona and to familiarize myself with this new pistol under professional tutelage.

[Spindly61]

Daveohno,
First off welcome to the forum,and congratulations on your new pistol. Ammo is a personal preference. Pick up a few different boxes and see what you and your pistol both like.I have run everything from cheap factory reloads (ball ammo) to the more expensive hollow point rounds. Right now I'm using American Eagle 230 grain full metal jackets. The main reason for them is that I buy them by the case at a local police equipment store ($230.00). I have found that I feel more comfortable with FMJ ammo because thats what the pistol was designed for. Might all be in my head, who knows. The main thing right now is to just get out there and shoot. Take a little extra oil with you to the range and keep her lubed well and have fun getting used to the pistol. Let us know how she shoots.
Oh and do you own a digital camera??? :)

[daveohno]

Hawkmoon, the pistol is the Stainless full size gunsite pistol.
Spindly61, not sure how to post a picture here. But when I figger it out, I will put one up. Why is it that people that don't own Colts, always bad mouth them? I have never heard a Colt owner trash other guns.

[Spindly61]

Envy???? :lh: . Just kidding. Buy what you like and shoot it. Everyone has a right to an opinion and I like to think I'm intelligent enough to discern what I like and what I don't. I take what I find usefull and leave the rest. My next pistol will probably be a Colt. There is a legend there.
Competition is good for the sport, I feel it keeps gun makers on thier toes, or should. Putting out a poor firearm will show in lack of sales. ( In my own little make believe world). Just read and shoot and remember that in a mass produced pistol world, there are a few lemons made by all.
Customer service is a big plus. Oh no I'm rambling on! Enjoy the site.
Rich

[bslamb]

Welcome to the forum Daveohno. Congratulations on your first 1911 - Great choice with 5" Gunsite. You have found a great resource in this site. There is some really good articles on takedown, maintenance, and such on this site, http://www.m1911.org/m1911dt.htm the search tool will become your friend. :) in the forum section.

I like to use Winchester White Box (WWB) to break in a new gun as it is a cheap factory FMJ round. Take your more expensive rounds and load them so they are they are the first and last one or two rounds in a full magazine with the cheap stuff in between. The expensive ammo will be in the positions were most feeding problems will occur and you can get more magazines / reliability checks per box of expensive stuff.

[Hunter]

Welcome to the forum and great choice on the 1911. I have heard right many good things about the Gunsite but I have yet to shoot one. I would break it in on 230 ball like the Wal Mart Winchester white box (as Hawk said) and that is plenty good ammo for informal range use if you do not handload. Stay away from Wolf. I would not run cheap steel cased ammo through such a nice pistol that steel case is hard on the feed ramp and extractor no matter what you might hear. Think of it like running kerosine through your new Saleen Mustang. I am sure your Gunsite has the dimpled barrel (a little groove cut in the barrel throat that looks like it was done with a small rattail file) this is to aid in feeding SWC and JHP ammo and it really helps. I imagine she will feed most anything but like Hawk said you need to be sure. Once I got 500-600 rounds through the Colt (be sure to clean it every 100 rounds or so during break in my opinion) I would get a few different types of JHP and give them a try and see what ones you and your Colt like. As for why folks trash Colt that one is beyond me. I am a die hard Colt man and never had trouble with any I have or have shot. The couple gunsmiths I deal with also love Colts. I think people may look at Colts and see how long they have been around and feel the company is out dated and the new 1911s like Kimber that advertise almost every other page in gun magazines have a better way of doing it. Which is way off base. I am sure their are other quality 1911 manufactures (Springfield) but to me nothing comes close to Colt if nothing more that the name and that Rampant Pony. I know I am rambling but it is a tender subject to me. Good luck with your new Colt and let us know how she shoots. Remember if it is not a Colt it is a copy.

[CWG]

I just bought a new stainless Colt .


Welcome to the club, and its NICE not to be the noob anymore! :lh:

[jaybo292]

Welcome to the forum. Great choice on the pistol.

Jay

[1911 Shooter]

I agree with Hunter, stay away from Wolf. Very dirty! And with Hawk on the white box winchester 230 hardball. Good stuff!

See what your new semi-auto tells you. Try a variety after break-in. I have a Colt XSE that is partial to winchester SXT 230 gr. Even with Cor-Bon over anything else.

[littledoc]

Hawkmoon, what grain? Is 230 always the best? Or less better?

Welcome aboard, daveohno.

In this case, grain is a unit of measure, from the apothecary system. The same system that brought us dram, bushel and acre. There are about 60-64 grains to a gram, depending on the conversion chart. About the only endeavors who still use this unit of measure are medicine and shooters.

A 230 grain bullet is the standard weight for a .45 ACP bullet,it may not always the best bullet weight, but more often than not it is. The benchmark load most manufacturers use when making guns is the 230 gr ball (FMJ) load. It is also the easiest bullet weight to find when shopping for ammo.

Reasons for the lighter bullets are that the lighter bullets are a little faster. The first hollow points available ran about 185 gr. But I think time has shown that the original weight of 230 gr, whether hollow point or ball, still is a best bet. Another reason is there is usually less recoil with a lighter bullet. This can be helpful with smaller guns like the micro 1911s and such.

I hope this primer helps. Entire books, magazine articles and forum threads are out there that discuss this stuff, and unless you are really into it, they can be pretty boring.

Have fun and be safe!

[Rio Vista Slim]

Daveohno,
First off welcome to the forum,and congratulations on your new pistol. Let us know how she shoots.
Oh and do you own a digital camera??? :)
Or, do you know someone who does own a digital camera?

Seriously, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Colt Gunsite 1911. My esteemed colleagues have given you some great advice on getting started with your new pistol, and I can only echo what they've said.
We love to see pictures of other members' guns, and read about how those weapons are doing on the range, as concealed carry guns, etc.

I make it a point of personal pride to have never bashed a different brand of 1911. In fact, for about twelve years, I owned only Kimbers and a Springfield. Both of those companies make quality handguns and rifles. After lusting for a Colt for quite sometime, I finally returned to the fold this past spring, and I couldn't be happier.

Enjoy your new Colt, and try to get us a picture as soon as you can, as well as a range report. As I previously stated, we here in the forum dote on such things. :)

[1911 Shooter]

Here, Here to Rio Vista Slim...I echo his statement. Colt owners as a whole do not bash other 1911 selections. Heck most of own one or more of them. My excuse is that I'm and old. I still love to see the word Colt on the side of my 1911.

[daveohno]

here you go
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/DSCN0282.jpg

[daveohno]

The other side
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/DSCN0281.jpg

[daveohno]

My Rampant Ponies two other cousins
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/DSCN0278.jpg

[Hunter]

Nice heard of ponies you got yourself. I am partial to Colts myself.

[dakota1911]

Wolf and Silver Bear are two brands I have had some issues with. WWB from Wally World is generally a good buy although I bought several cases of WWB in 50 round boxes at a gun show recently for a very good price.

[Hunter]

I believe Silver Bear is nickle plated steel cases but I am not positive, would be a step in the right direction from steel cased Wolf but I think brass cases would be the best way to go. Not to mention I am not sure you can (or should) reload Silver Bear and for sure not Wolf.

[Rio Vista Slim]

daveohno,

:) Very, very Nice! :) I've got my "gun shop guy" advised; the next Python that comes through the door of his shop goes nowhere until I've had a chance to look it over.

Outstanding herd of Ponies!!!!!!!!!!

[jaybo292]

Hey daveohno. If you don`t mind me asking. How much was your Colt Gunsite? One of the nicer gun shops here ( who is run by a bunch of pricks, I think you have to be one to get a job there, another story) has one for $1409.00. But all there pistols seem to be 2 or 300 high. Looks nice.

Jay

[daveohno]

1527.00 delivered, which included the installation of night sights, a voucher for 100 bucks off a class at Gunsite Ranch and shipping to my FFL guy.

[daveohno]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/DSCN0284.jpg

[daveohno]

I know, it's not a 1911, but I figured you'd let me slide since it is a Colt.

[bill may]

I have a Gunsite Pistol on a Springfield frame. Bought it years ago when the first batch came out (I think Ted Yost did some work on them or inspected them or something like that).

It shoots just about anything and has everything a 1911 needs and nothing it does not have to have. Reliable and accurate. I wish I had another one at the price I paid.

I use the Wal-Mart white box (100 rounds). Hawkmoon is right when he says it is about as chaep as you can find. seems to work Ok in all my 1911s.

Good choice. I have heard great things about the Colt Gunsite Pistol. I wish I could afford to run with you. Happy shooting and stay safe.

[OD*]

Good looking Colt's, Dave. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

[dogdollar]

I like American Eagle better than WWB, but Lord knows I have shot my share of the Wally World white box.
For defense loads, I really like Cor-Bon Pow'R'Ball. It has the same profile as hardball but is a super premium load: deadly expansion and velocity.
Good choice on your pistol, best of luck.

[jaybo292]

1527.00 delivered, which included the installation of night sights, a voucher for 100 bucks off a class at Gunsite Ranch and shipping to my FFL guy.
Thanks

Jay

[daveohno]

Hey daveohno. If you don`t mind me asking. How much was your Colt Gunsite? One of the nicer gun shops here ( who is run by a bunch of pricks, I think you have to be one to get a job there, another story) has one for $1409.00. But all there pistols seem to be 2 or 300 high. Looks nice.

Jay
By the way, the pistol came from the Gunsmithy at Gunsite Ranch in Arizona

[daveohno]

I shot today. Hollow points and ball ammo. I shot without my reading glasses and was very annoyed with the groupings. I put on my reading glasses and voila, nice groupings. Only problem was a bad round that didn't want to feed. Not the pistols fault. I was very pleased to see that old big mouth shoots better groups for me than my Glock 17. Colt was all in and around the x ring and the glock was more scattered. Anybody got suggestions on what to do about the glasses? I use 1x readers. Without them, the sights are fuzzy, with them the sights are crystal clear. I am 50 now and don't believe the eyes will get sharper on their own. Wearing two pairs at once is annoying.

[1911 Shooter]

Daveohno, Same way with me. Hit 50 and now I wear progressive lens. Had them two weeks. I really only use them for reading but I noticed my sight alignment is better with them. Most of the time they stay in the bag and I wear shooting glasses. I noticed that I'm tilting my head more with the progressives. You may want to check into the progressive lens. Just a thought.

Sweet Colt you have there!!

[daveohno]

Daveohno, Same way with me. Hit 50 and now I wear progressive lens. Had them two weeks. I really only use them for reading but I noticed my sight alignment is better with them. Most of the time they stay in the bag and I wear shooting glasses. I noticed that I'm tilting my head more with the progressives. You may want to check into the progressive lens. Just a thought.

Sweet Colt you have there!!
Where did you buy them from, and are they called progressives?

[Ted Smith]

If it is a really serious issue, here's some advice. I talked to a shooter whose optomitrist made special bi-focals for shooting. They would focus on arm's length (front sight) and infinity (target).

Mine are actually tri-focal progressives, one focus for reading, one for midrange, and one for infinity. I like them even though some folks say they're hard to get used to.

Talk to your optomitrist.

Good luck.

[dakota1911]

Yes. Silver Bear is steel cased and Berdan primed as is Wolf but zinc plated. My issue with Wolf was that it had a nasty, acrid smell (Indoor range). My issue with Silver Bear is that I had a couple cases I noticed that had cracks from the neck down about three fourths to the base. One fired from a 1911 and the other from a Ruger Blackhawk convertible (45 Colt/45 AcP with the ACP cylinder in use of course), and I only shot 100 rounds of the stuff. In my little part of the world, for .45 ACP, WWB from Wally World is about the same price.

[1911 Shooter]

Daveohno, They are available with a prescription. Ted Smith is talking about the same thing that I have. Three ranges in one lens without the lines, called progressive lens. Bottom is for reading, middle for mid-range (front sight) and top for your distance. They are not cheep but worth every penny. It does take some time to get accustomed to them.

[daveohno]

Daveohno, They are available with a prescription. Ted Smith is talking about the same thing that I have. Three ranges in one lens without the lines, called progressive lens. Bottom is for reading, middle for mid-range (front sight) and top for your distance. They are not cheep but worth every penny. It does take some time to get accustomed to them.
Thank you, thank you & thank you. I will check into these as soon as I get a chance. I have seen some actual shooting glasses with readers built in, but i didn't want to go in "blind" and buy several pairs that don't work well and still not have the problem solved without consulting actual adult shooters. The best part of the 1911 model and this forum is that it is an adults pistol, not a hood rat or kids gun. They are also somewhat pricey so the owners are like Harley owners, they love their 1911's and take good care of them! There are so many handy tips to be had from this forum. I thank all of you.

[daveohno]

I have to push the eject button to insert a magazine completely. What should I do to remedy this? It won't stop on it's own, with use, will it? I saw (posted in the forum) that if I use a file on the magazine it will probably fix this issue. How fine a file was not stated or I might have missed it. Any suggestions?

[mabella]

I have the same pistol and got the Alumagrips for it in clear standard slimline. It looks great! Enjoy this wonderful pistol.

[Bruce Foreman]

I have to push the eject button to insert a magazine completely. What should I do to remedy this? It won't stop on it's own, with use, will it? I saw (posted in the forum) that if I use a file on the magazine it will probably fix this issue. How fine a file was not stated or I might have missed it. Any suggestions?

Dave,

Don't file on anything. Most likely this will "wear in" some as you use the pistol. For now try this insertion technique:

Get the magazine started in the grip then when you encounter the resistance (it's the magazine catch and a fairly new stiff spring behind it you feel), tap the magazine the rest of the way home with the heel of your palm. Not hard enough to hurt the hand but sharply and "smartly" enough to force it past the magazine catch.

This should work and you won't damage anything.

Bruce Foreman
Defensive Handgun Instructor

[Bruce Foreman]

Anybody got suggestions on what to do about the glasses? I use 1x readers. Without them, the sights are fuzzy, with them the sights are crystal clear. I am 50 now and don't believe the eyes will get sharper on their own. Wearing two pairs at once is annoying.

The guy who makes my glasses set me up with a special set of shooting glasses. I am 67 (almost 68) and wear trifocals. I had asked him to make me a pair where the upper part matched my midrange segment (about arm's length) and the bottom matched my reading segment (like midrange and reading bifocals). He had a better idea and had me hold a pencil point at arm's length while he slipped fractional diopters over my baseline (distance) part of my eyeglass lens. The goal was to find a fractional diopter value that allowed me to somewhat focus on the front sight (pencil tip) and yet still be able to see well across the room (about 50 feet away).

That was a compromise focal point that was a bit over arm's length and yet allowed me to somewhat focus on front sight and still see what the target was. Worked fine for IPSC matches, but I still do instructing and range practice with my regular trifocals because that will be what I'm wearing if the "soup hits the fan" out on the street.

My shooting glasses also make fairly good computer glasses.

Bruce Foreman
Defensive Handgun Instructor

[daveohno]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/Picture.jpg
Just got these bifocal shooting glasses from Wizard Industires. I have seen others and might try another type later on. For now, these seem to be just fine. Thanks for all the help from the visually challenged among us.

[bill may]

Picked up my first Colt Gunsite last Sunday. I took a Gunsite class (from Gunsite Adjunct Instructors) two years ago up in Boone Co., Indiana (county next to and north of Indianapolis). They issue Colt Gunsite SS Pistols. Pretty pricey for a law enforcement agency, and kind of unusual for an ageny in this region to issue a cocked-and-locked .45 ACP pistol. Most administrators run screaming from anything cocked-and-locked.

[OD*]

Ooh, I like that pistol Dave!

I will trade you a multi-family refrigerator box dwelling for it?

[daveohno]

Ooh, I like that pistol Dave!

I will trade you a multi-family refrigerator box dwelling for it?
You are so generous. I guess I could get a six flat box out of you! Will it be next door to Hunter? I won't need quite as large a box as him though, cause my Colt collection is still quite small.

[Hunter]

Dave that is a sharp looking Colt! Have you test drove her yet? I reckon with all the cardboard box homes and Colts we would have the nicest hobo jungle there is.

[daveohno]

Yes I shot her, she shoots well, when I can see the sights, this is kind of an old posting. I was just updating it because I am old, hard of hearing AND blind as a bat. I'd have included the dumb part, but OD is here and I don't want to get him going poking fun of me. :D I was showing off my new bifocal shooting glasses, that I got because I asked for ideas on what to do about fixing my old, decrepit eyes. Next we'll work on the deaf part, I'm not so sure anyone can help the old part. Just make sure that onion dome is near our hobo retirement home.

[Weg Ban]

Oh thank you Lord, a thread where I have not been led into temptation. A beautiful pistol and a useful discussion of bad eyesight (of which I am afflicted as well), but Colts are supposed to be blue...(at least in my world).

[daveohno]

Oh thank you Lord, a thread where I have not been led into temptation. A beautiful pistol and a useful discussion of bad eyesight (of which I am afflicted as well), but Colts are supposed to be blue...(at least in my world).
Well, I will try my best to lead you into "blue temptation" as soon as possible, my ffl is supposed to get me 4 blue 1911's one day soon now. Blue Gunsite CCO, Blue Gunsite Pistol, a 1911 WW1 repro and a S** Gunsite pistol Commander scandium frame (the asterisks are for Hunter's sake). All guns paid for but my FFL is part Amish, I think, he doesn't have a fax machine and uses snail mail exclusively :butthead: I am going crazy with the wait here. :mad:

[larry starling]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j209/daveohno/Picture.jpg
Just got these bifocal shooting glasses from Wizard Industires. I have seen others and might try another type later on. For now, these seem to be just fine. Thanks for all the help from the visually challenged among us.
Nice looking Colt. FWIW there were some issues with the slim line grips on these guns. The problem was if I remember was that the grips were causing some of the guns to rust under the grips. Please check under yours. The info was on one of the forums.... :o

[daveohno]

Nice looking Colt. FWIW there were some issues with the slim line grips on these guns. The problem was if I remember was that the grips were causing some of the guns to rust under the grips. Please check under yours. The info was on one of the forums.... :o
Thanks for the heads up.

[Jeffrey]

Great looking Colt Dave. Excellent photography too. Congrats.

[IZinterrogator]

Colts are supposed to be blue...(at least in my world).
Like these?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/IZinterrogator/IMG_0523.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/IZinterrogator/IMG_0534.jpg

[Weg Ban]

Oh, yes sir, yes sir...just like those. I put smooth grips on mine, but that's just lily-gilding.

[daveohno]

Like these?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/IZinterrogator/IMG_0523.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/IZinterrogator/IMG_0534.jpg
Hunter is to blame for all my recent activity regarding my checking accounts reduced level and the number of Colts heading my way, you IZinterrogator, are responsible for my recent haste to get the Gunsite Pistols I didn't already own. I saw your post with a pair of 'em, and I thought to myself, I should own all of the models while they are still available in NIB condition. I should have a slew of posts this coming weekend as my FFL finally got his license to all of the sellers! Aaahhhh, Christmas in August. Boys and their toys. ;)

[IZinterrogator]

you IZinterrogator, are responsible for my recent haste to get the Gunsite Pistols I didn't already own. Glad I could help. :D