Happy dance...

[Tzvia]

Took my new XSE to the range for the first time today. I shot some reloads I had made, some with the 200gr Hornady swaged bullet over 231, and some with 230gr Oregon Trail over 231 and Titegroup (which was a new powder for me). I started at 7 yards, not sure where the gun would print (or how well). The top left target is the first 32 rounds from that gun with the 230gr over 231. The top right was the first 4 magazines of the 230gr over Titegroup and yes that flyer was ME. :D By this time, I was very happy.
http://home.earthlink.net/~zahava.s/images/colt-target2.jpg

I then shot the 200gr Hornady which functioned and grouped as well. After that, I went to 14 yards and did some 'quick' shooting, as fast as the range allows, one a second and shot 3 mags at the bottom target with the 230gr/Titegroup.

The only issue I had was with a new Wilson mag. I have a bunch of old Shooting Star mags that work fine, but bought a Wilson just to see if it was worth the money. Well, this Colt does not like that Wilson. It would double feed, about once in 3 mags, or lock open as if on the last round, but the last unfired round would just be sitting loose in the open chamber. Once, the recoil of the previous round caused the last round to just pop out the ejection port and land on the table below. This never happened with the SS mags or with the two Colts (yea I tried em) which worked perfect. Go figure.

[Hunter]

Nice Colt and nice shooting. Nothing like a new Colt and ammunition you assembled yourself preforming like you want it to. You may have a weak spring in the Wilson magazine. My Colts all like the lead bullets pretty good to.

[swampthang]

That is some nice shooting and sweet colt

[OD*]

http://www.combatcarry.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/dancinguy.gif

Good shootin' - nice Colt!

[dakota1911]

Happiness is a warm gun that shoots great.

[daveohno]

Nice pistol and good shooting!

OD, I knew the dancing banana would show his face on this one!

[OD*]

http://www.oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/bananahi.gif Hi Dave.

[daveohno]

http://www.oprano.com/msgboard/images/smilies/bananahi.gif Hi Dave.
That's a talented banana, he can dance and wave! :D

[jeff1124]

Unlike OD's dancing banana, I need a few malt beverages before my feet do anything like that.... :D ;)

[daveohno]

OD always has funny little "critters" for the posts!

[Mick_In_Texas]

Nice Colt and nice shooting. Nothing like a new Colt and ammunition you assembled yourself preforming like you want it to. You may have a weak spring in the Wilson magazine. My Colts all like the lead bullets pretty good to.

Interesting: my USGI 1911 fed lead (no pun intended) 100%; rumor from one gun buddy goes, that in 1911-1919 that's what the 1911 was designed for. That is the first and only time I've ever shot lead bullets in ANY gun in 36 years of owning firearms and shooting them!

Haven't tried them in any of my modern mfg's 'cause I don't reload... you and Tzvia like them? Can you buy them in factory loads?

Tzvia: AMEN, NICE Colt's you have there, good shooting, sir!

Mick

[Tzvia]

Interesting: my USGI 1911 fed lead (no pun intended) 100%; rumor from one gun buddy goes, that in 1911-1919 that's what the 1911 was designed for. That is the first and only time I've ever shot lead bullets in ANY gun in 36 years of owning firearms and shooting them!

Haven't tried them in any of my modern mfg's 'cause I don't reload... you and Tzvia like them? Can you buy them in factory loads?

Tzvia: AMEN, NICE Colt's you have there, good shooting, sir!

Mick

Thanks for the comment folks, and Mick_In_Texas, it's Ma'am :D as in little ol' 5'2" female. ;) .

I like to shoot lead (costs, costs) on outdoor ranges, as when I shot the XSE on Sunday. Indoors, I use plated bullets, like the Rainer. Only my HP hates lead, but it is acceptable with unplated bullets above about 130gr weight. Since I reload I have control; my Dillon 650 has saved me gobs of money since I also like to shoot a 45 SAA.

It's been years since I purchased handgun ammo other than premium defensive loads.

And I think with some load development that Colt has promise. Just very disapointed with the Wilson mag.

[OD*]

Unlike OD's dancing banana, I need a few malt beverages before my feet do anything like that.... :D ;)

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/images/smilies/cheers.gif

[Hunter]

Well if do like to shoot lead and already reload then casting your own might be another way to cut costs. I have found my own cast are much more consistent than store bought lead so accuracy is noticeably better and with control over which lube you use there is less leading when using a soft lube.
All my Colts have done great with lead and costs are down to $2.10 per 50 rounds of 200gr LSWC with 5.8gr of Unique.
If you shoot a .45 LC then you will be able to cast for 2 pistols with 1 mold, just a thought.
Again nice Colt and nice shooting, ma'am.

[Mick_In_Texas]

Thanks for the comment folks, and Mick_In_Texas, it's Ma'am :D as in little ol' 5'2" female. ;) .

I like to shoot lead (costs, costs) on outdoor ranges, as when I shot the XSE on Sunday. Indoors, I use plated bullets, like the Rainer. Only my HP hates lead, but it is acceptable with unplated bullets above about 130gr weight. Since I reload I have control; my Dillon 650 has saved me gobs of money since I also like to shoot a 45 SAA.

It's been years since I purchased handgun ammo other than premium defensive loads.

And I think with some load development that Colt has promise. Just very disapointed with the Wilson mag.

It is SO good to see women firearms owners!!! And women firearms enthusiasts. JoniLynn here is a favorite, and I'm glad to see you here. We need more women involved in our interest!

It's also good to know about women who are into reloading. I am not; I live in a small apartment, and I don't have the space.

Those reloads that I fired out of First Lady, my USGI Colt's 1911, got along with her well: she was 100% with them. You're absolutely correct: less expensive than the copper-jacketed FMJs, same bullet shape.

Sorry to hear about your probs with the Wilson mag. Mine have been good. But, there are many good"er" brands... actually, I've had NO probs with my Springer mags, my RIA Novaks (although I SURE didn't like the looks of it when I got my Rock 1911A1), my Metalforms that came with my 38 Super Model Colt's. Good luck to you, ma'am and welcome, and keep on shootin' and reloadin'!!! I LOVE it.

Mick

[jeff1124]

http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/images/smilies/cheers.gif

OD*, man of a milion smilies!! ;) :D :)

[44 Man]

I would be interested to know if that Wilson mag was new or used. I have several and they have never missed a beat. It sounds like yours may have a weak spring. 44 Man. (excellent shooting by the way!)

[jeff1124]

I put Wilson kits in several of my colt magazines that had the Devel follower that has a history of chewing up lightweight ramps. They consisted of a Wolff 11 pound spring and a Wilson plastic follower. So far no problems!

[Mick_In_Texas]

Well if do like to shoot lead and already reload then casting your own might be another way to cut costs. I have found my own cast are much more consistent than store bought lead so accuracy is noticeably better and with control over which lube you use there is less leading when using a soft lube.
All my Colts have done great with lead and costs are down to $2.10 per 50 rounds of 200gr LSWC with 5.8gr of Unique.
If you shoot a .45 LC then you will be able to cast for 2 pistols with 1 mold, just a thought.
Again nice Colt and nice shooting, ma'am.

While I don't reload, I'm thinking on it. I do recall once I shot factory lead bullets (.38 Specials, standard powder load) in my former Smith ss 686 revolver; it was HORRIBLE trying to get the rifling grooves clean: lead on ss under high speed and pressure, NOT good! Up until First Lady got hold of some, I had a REAL negative impression of them.

However, the barrel cleaning on the Black Army finish was about normal... maybe a few extra passes with the patches, after the nylon brush; but nothing like the trouble I had in the 80s that time I shot the leads in the .357. The overall need of a gunsmith detail cleaning was the only problem: she had been rode hard, put up wet (or, in this case dirty), no telling how many years ago. Surprised she was in as good a shape as she was; but, my gunsmith said everything was in excellent shape, in general, but especially being 88 years old. She cleaned up real, real good.

Back to point of story: after First Lady's handling of the leads, I lost a lot of my aversion to them in general. My retired gunsmith buddy, probably DOES use some kind of lube; he reloads a lot of bullets, and I'm talking A LOT... and a significant proportion of those are lead-bulleted, at least his .45ACP stuff.

Surely, I was glad that I could clean the old Black Army barrel of ALL the fouling from the leads, WITHOUT using a wire brush prior to patches. Probably the wire wouldn't have hurt it, but, still...

Y'all take care and be safe.
Mick

[Tzvia]

I would be interested to know if that Wilson mag was new or used. I have several and they have never missed a beat. It sounds like yours may have a weak spring. 44 Man. (excellent shooting by the way!)

It was new. Next time I will try it with my NM to see if history repeats itself. It's a lightslide, so I gotta reload some target ammo first...

Mick_In_Texas- All you need to reload is a sturdy table tucked into a corner somewhere... You can even mount the press on a large block of wood, and use clamps (I've used wood clamps, no table damage). It really does not take a lot of room.

I shoot many rifle calibers, nothing beats the feeling when you cut your group in half and cut your cost in half too.

[Hunter]

Mick my friend the trick to nearly no lead fouling is hardness and lube hardness. A 19.3 on the Brinnell scale and a soft lube will leave very little fouling after a day of shooting.
My last group with my Colt GCT was 14 rounds in a 12" circle from a rest at a 100 yards with my own 200gr LSWC with 5.8gr of Unique. I was pleased.
As Tzvia said, it really does not take up space to reload. If you think you want to give it a try give me a call, you still have my home number?
Tzvia good target loads on the NM should yeld great results. I would be interested in what she shoots.

[Mick_In_Texas]

Mick my friend the trick to nearly no lead fouling is hardness and lube hardness. A 19.3 on the Brinnell scale and a soft lube will leave very little fouling after a day of shooting.
My last group with my Colt GCT was 14 rounds in a 12" circle from a rest at a 100 yards with my own 200gr LSWC with 5.8gr of Unique. I was pleased.
As Tzvia said, it really does not take up space to reload. If you think you want to give it a try give me a call, you still have my home number?
Tzvia good target loads on the NM should yeld great results. I would be interested in what she shoots.

Good information, from you BOTH! Now... Wow, there's so much TEMPTATION--or great ideas, seriously!--HERE... y'all have me thinking. That's pretty dang dangerous, by golly... LOL!

Certainly may start doing a little research on reloading equipment... Won't be anywhere near serious until spring of next year, I am sure; I'm trying to pay off that Colt's 1991 Government, and get my dad and his friendgirl Christmas presents, all that stuff... BUT: y'all have changed my opinion on the viability of it for me... Thanks for that... never really considered it.

Mick
:lh:

[daveohno]

Mick, if you are going to buy reloading equipment, Hunter will have a cow if you don't at least look at a Hornady Lock N Load Press.

[Mick_In_Texas]

Mick, if you are going to buy reloading equipment, Hunter will have a cow if you don't at least look at a Hornady Lock N Load Press.

Good one! Well, Hunter is very knowledgeable... I know Dillon... Once I seriously start considering this, hee hee, I'm SURE that I'll solicit his input on the Hornady... There's a guy at work (the one with the Colt's Mark IV Government) who calls me "Lock and Load"... and I reckon that I am, when I'm not at work (although there is proposed legislation coming in January in Texas, to allow us CHL holders to have our weapon in our vehicle AT WORK AT A STATE AGENCY if the vehicle is locked, and I'll be interested to see how my extremely bureaucratic agency responds if it passes... right now, despite the fact that my agency is supposedly a primary terrorist target, can't park on the property with a gun in the vehicle; although some younger folks have PUBLICLY expressed "security" as meaning that we folks with CHLs should be allowed to be on property with a handgun CONCEALED ON OUR PERSON, not just in our vehicles!... went over like a stonewalled lead balloon)...

Hee hee... but that Hornady equipment... since I've NEVER had any reloading equipment, I reckon Mr. Hunter WILL be an influence on me. He, along with some of you others, has gotten me addicted to Colt's 1911s, so why shouldn't he give me Hornady fever??? LoL!!!

YOU take care and be safe, sir.
Mick