Colt Defender

[ceg]

How about a thread for Colt Defenders.
Just got mine for off duty carry. I am looking at night sights and I am trying to decide if I want to change the grips. The grips feel very good but would like to try another type.
Ammo: Speer GoldDot 230 GR. GDHP

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/ceg35173/ColtDefender.jpg

[paul45]

Very nice piece! here is mine......
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k57/paul10mm/Defender.jpg

[clughog]

I love my Defender!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/Defender001.jpg

[wetidlerjr]

I got one !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/101405DEFENDER001Small.jpg

It has the stock rear sight on it now, though. :D

[ceg]

The style grips on you Defender is what I have been considering. How do you like them over the grips the Defender comes with?

[wetidlerjr]

The style grips on you Defender is what I have been considering. How do you like them over the grips the Defender comes with?

I like them better as they are not as bulky. They are VZ Grips. :D

[44 Man]

I like my checkered 'Kingwood' grips (they now wear silver Colt medialions). The rubber insert is a Pearce and adds much to the my grip on the gun. That gives me the best of both worlds. The grip of rubber and the beauty of wood! Hope you enjoy yours as much as I have mine. Mine has been flawless in operation with everything I have fed it. 44 Man
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/clare44man/ColtDefender.jpg

[daveohno]

Very nice Defender!

[ceg]

Has the sign ever worked?

[wetidlerjr]

Has the sign ever worked?

I just drive right by him. :D

[flyhalf]

I am sorry I don't remember specifics but, I have heard "bad things" about defenders.

Have you guys had issues? Have you heard of anyone else having issues?

I would imagine it's like any other .45. Some things might have to be polished here and there and rounds have to be run though it. Good mags help too.

Any comments?

[Captain America]

If you cruise the 1911 forums, you will notice quite a few more complaints
about the defender than the full size, steel framed 1911s.

Mostly complaints about jamming, as most smaller sized 1911s seem to
suffer a higher ratio of malfunctions.

And problems with the alloy frame.

Clearly, they are designed for carry/occasional firing, rather than a range
gun used on a regular basis.

[wetidlerjr]

I am sorry I don't remember specifics but, I have heard "bad things" about defenders.

Have you guys had issues? Have you heard of anyone else having issues?

I would imagine it's like any other .45. Some things might have to be polished here and there and rounds have to be run though it. Good mags help too.

Any comments?

I have had no issues. :D

[KenW.]

I've carried my Defender for 10 or so years now. With no complaints as it is absolutely reliable.

I just put some XS Big Dot sights on it. Still getting accustomed to the change in sight picture, but it shoots great inside 15 yards.

[ceg]

I have not had any problems with jamming/fail to feed in the 250 rds. fired so far. It was ejecting an occassional brass in my face but it is not happening as often as it first did. Just be sure to wear safety glasses. :D

[44 Man]

Somewhere along the line, small, short 1911's got a rep for being finicky about what they would function with. Of course in the 'old days' MANY full sized 1911's were fussy about what they would feed. I have owned two short Colt's and both have been flawless in fuction and suprisingly accurate. I had a Lt. wt. Officers and shot it a lot and I don't remember a single failure to feed/eject all of the years I owned it. (Wish I still had it!) My present Defender has been 100% so far. Yes, I have had a couple of casings bounce off the top of my head. I don't think this Defender will ever part from me. 44 Man

[Elmo C]

I was trying to think of some grips and still keep some of the rubber grip on my defender. So here i am at the site and your defender shows me just what i need. If you want to change your Colt,just wait and it will appear.
Thanks

[dakota1911]

I still love my Defender, although I no longer carry it. In live in a more rual setting and like a gun that hits further out so I now carry a Colt XSE LW Commander. It is a few ounces heavier and a little larger than the Defender.

I have loved little .45s for years, buying a Detonics back in 1984. The last Glocks I still own are both little 36's. The Defender has been the most trouble free and ammunition friendly of them all, and I have put over 2K rounds through mine. I did change the grips to what I like.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/colt_defb.jpg

[clughog]

I am sorry I don't remember specifics but, I have heard "bad things" about defenders. Have you guys had issues? Have you heard of anyone else having issues? I would imagine it's like any other .45. Some things might have to be polished here and there and rounds have to be run though it. Good mags help too. Any comments?Flyhalf, I've had a couple of problems with the sights on mine and had a bad magazine from the factory, but absolutely no feeding problems in over 640 rounds. If you do a search for "Defender" on the Forum you'll come up with all sorts of posts. I love mine!

[flyhalf]

I originally wanted a Defender and started looking around. Went to shops and shows...pretty much everyone had stated they sucked. Same with Springfields.
My goal was to have a 1911 in that size. I am still looking but have other weapon priorities now. I don't know. I think I would want a Colt just for mear fact that it says Colt. Also, need to do side-by-side comparisons and put it on, draw and index.
So, guess they are like any other piece out there, someone will find something right or wrong with it. It's all personal choice.

Check six....

[ceg]

I purchased a Kimber Ultra Carry II before getting the Colt Defender. I didn't particulary like having to use a special tool, something that resembled a bent gym clip, to break the gun down. If you are out in the field and need to disassemble the gun, you need to have the tool to keep the springs on the guide rod. I believe this is also true with the Springfield 3" version. I found it a pain to take apart and put back together. About 3 weeks after getting the gun, the base pad of a mag was blown out. Took the gun back and got the Defender. No special tools are needed to take it apart and I am loving it.
Plus, I like having the horse on it.

[1927]

My Defender has never had any feed problems. However it is showing wear and a fair sized gouge on the feed ramp. All I've ever fed it is 230 gr HB. Anyone know if its at all possible to use a steel frame on it??

[ceg]

According to other posts, the damage is being caused by the magazine's metal follower. Recommended switching to mags that have a plastic follower such as Wilson Combat. I purchased some Metalform mags from Brownells that have a plastic follower and they have worked very well.
Also, I have read where the ramp can be replaced.

[1927]

Good thought ceg! I swapped out my Kimber mags after reading about similar issues.

The gouge on my feed ramp is low and could very well have been caused by the mag follower. I have approx. 500 rounds of HB through it.

Guess I just have to much going on in my life, sometimes I forget these things.
(poor dumb boy!)

[ceg]

Lots of information on this forum and sometimes it gets hard to find. I wish that it was broken into sub-categories such as you go to Colt Defenders or Commanders to read about the good, the bad and recommendations on each particular model. I am watching the Colt mags that came with my Defender which are suppose to have plastic coated followers to prevent damage. I understand that the plastic eventually wears off and starts damaging the ramp.

[daveohno]

Wilson mags have polymer followers. You can buy follower replacement kits with springs from Wilson. I think you can get them from Midway and Brownells, also.

[clughog]

My understanding is that when the last round goes, the follower strikes the frame. Doesn't happen except for the last one. Being alloy, it puts a little "gouge" in the metal. My gunsmith told me not to worry about it as it's cosmetic only, doesn't hurt the gun's performance as it's actually below the feed ramp, and for goodness sake don't try to polish it out--it'll just do more damage than good and will recur anyway. His advice was to just shoot it and not worry about it. I did get some plastic follower magazines from Metalform but have been less than pleased with them. Guess I'll have the same issue with my XSE Lightweight .38 Super.

[wetidlerjr]

Wilson mags have polymer followers. You can buy follower replacement kits with springs from Wilson. I think you can get them from Midway and Brownells, also.

That is what I did. :D

[1927]

I purchased my Defender back in 2001, and the orange plastic coating has warn on the top front edge. Guess I'll order 3 plastic followers this weekend.

I replaced my magazines for my Kimber with Wilson's and placed heavier springs in those as well for competition.

[44 Man]

I purchased three Wilson 7 rounders for my Officers many years ago. I am still using them, but now in my Defender as my 'go too' magazines. The two Colt mags that came with the Defender are lying in the drawer loaded with hard ball. I doubt I will need them after going through 3 Wilson mags! The orange plastic on one of the Colt mag's peeled off right after I got the gun. I just took the rest of it off, not a biggie. I have never had a problem with the Wilson mags and I know they are well over 15 years old. I wouldn't hesitate to put Wilson springs and followers (sorry Tuner) into any mags if I were concerned about the metal follower. 44 Man