Just bought a "slightly new" Colt Defender

[airbornerangerboogie]

I took it to the range today and I must say I was impressed witht the accuracy of this small/light pistol.

Now for the bad....(I need some expert advice)
Every time, and I mean every time I put either one of the 2 mags that came with in it I'll get an FTF at some point during the fireing series. Also I'm getting smacked in the forehead with the spent cartriges at least 3 out of 7 rounds. "Kinda throws off your concentration a'mite". I'm using Blazer Brass and one of the range officers said to try different ammo. I've bought a box of WWC's and will try them tomorrow. I really want to use this as my CCW carry, but at this point I can't trust it, so I'm back to my "tupperware gun" for now. :butthead:

[ceg]

I had the same problem with empty casings hitting me. The more I shot it the fewer times I got hit. Now it rarely happens after approx. 250 rounds. My mags worked well and when I did have a misfeed, I found that a little more oil on the slide took care of the problem.

[OD*]

It sounds as though your extractor could use a bit of tuning.

[jeff1124]

+1 on what OD* said, you might also try a different Magazine, all made for officers will fit. There's a lot of useful info here on magazines. Let us know how trip 2 goes. Good luck!

[Noah Zark]

It sounds as though your extractor could use a bit of tuning.

+1. Properly tuned, there will be no empties in the face or on the head.

Noah

[jeff1124]

nice user name Noah!! :D

[Joni Lynn]

If tuning the extractor doesn't help, look at where the case is hitting the ejector. Where it hits can have an effect on the cases angle of departure.

[dakota1911]

I would suggest a change of ammo. My Colt Defender has presented no problems but I have a couple Glock 36's. One would hit me in the head with Winchester 230 gr. hollowpoints 2 out of 6 rounds. The other one would not. I bought ammo in a new lot number and the problem went away. Did the one pistole shoot enough rounds for something to wear in? Did the new ammo help?

[airbornerangerboogie]

Thank you all for your recommendations....
Wanted to give an update to my first post.
I bought a new Mag, 100 rds. of Winchester (I was using Blazer Brass before), broke the Colt down for a cleaning and oiling and headed for the range.
First 14 - 21 rounds were good then a fairly consistent "brass in my forehead" again. Next the FTF's started, didn't seem to matter which "old or new" mag I used. I've turned to a gun-smith to see if they can help me fix these problems (hoping it's not operator error), I asked him to "over-haul" it. The Colt Defender is a beautiful gun, but I'm wanting to CCW it and at the moment I can't trust it with my family's or my life.
I'm looking at a Kimber raptor, any suggestions?

[Rich-D]

Sound advice by Joni, OD and Noah. Have the Smith tune the extractor and check the ejector and give the gun a full inspection including the mags. I just bought a Colt Defender, thus far I have put a hundred through it, experiencing no problems. At 25 yds I was grouping shots as good as my 5". I would not give up on the gun just yet.

[rod m1]

Kind of expensive for a experiment but try installing a extra power spring in the mag. I’ve changed the follower and spring in my defender and it seems to have fixed the problem of FTF. What I did to mine whose install a Wilson 10rd magazine spring and follower in my Wilson 7rnd mag and it seems to have fixed my FTF in the last 100rds at least.

[elijdub]

I wouldn't give up on it either... Extractor tuning, and seeing what your 'smith says too. Worst case scenario Colt should stand behind their warranty. Up until yesterday i owned only Kimbers recently. I've become something of a convert though, receiving a WWI repro. I can say for certainty that regardless of how much of a hassle it may be to send it in (being without your primary CCW gun for a couple weeks, etc.), Kimber will fix ANY problem free of charge (minus, but not always...if you heckle 'em enough, shipping). I don't know too much about Colt warranty but i'd imagine that it's in line with the rest. Good luck

[K9american]

Does the Defender have the 80-series firing pin safety? Not thinking it has anything to do with airborne's specific problem, just curious.

[airbornerangerboogie]

Does the Defender have the 80-series firing pin safety? Not thinking it has anything to do with airborne's specific problem, just curious.

How can I tell?

[elijdub]

How can I tell?

This is a dirrect quote (with thanks to OD for the post) from a post below. The quote comes from Dana Kamm..

"The single biggest change to the 1911 design came about in 1983, when Colt introduced the "MK IV Series 80" pistols. These guns incorporated a new firing pin block safety system, where a series of internal levers and a plunger positively blocked the firing pin from moving until the trigger was pressed, thus eliminating the possibility of the gun discharging if dropped onto a hard surface or struck hard. In this instance however, ALL of Colt's 1911-pattern pistols incorporated the new design change so even the Commander and Officer's ACP pistols became known as Series 80 guns. With the previous paragraph in mind, it is important to know that from 1983 until 1988 the early Government Model and Gold Cup Series 80 pistols used the Series 70-type barrel and bushing as well, although they were known only as Series 80 guns."

My understanding is that ALL the series 80's have the FPS; but if i'm wrong, someone please fill me in!
Eli

[OD*]

Does the Defender have the 80-series firing pin safety? Not thinking it has anything to do with airborne's specific problem, just curious.
It should have (unless it has been removed), I don't believe Colt ever made a pre-Series 80 pistol with a barrel shorter than 4 1/4"

[elijdub]

Ah, good point OD! (is there anything you don't know about Colts ;) ?)

[OD*]

Oh yeah, there's plenty I don't know about Colts (and most other things). :p

[elijdub]

Well i'll have to take your word on it, but so far you're aces in my book!

[OD*]

Thank you for the kind words, Eli.

Give me time, I'll disappoint you. :D

[K9american]

Trying to think of the last time I dropped one of my pistols. Hmmm, wrenches si, pistols no. Maybe I need lanyard loops on all my wrenches.

"There they go again, saving us from ourselves." K9, 1999

[d90king]

I had to chuckle when I read the initial post ;) . When I bought mine and took it to the range I left bloodied :o It is now at Colt and I am sure upon return it will be perfect :p . Good luck with yours.

Patrick

[airbornerangerboogie]

I had to chuckle when I read the initial post ;) . When I bought mine and took it to the range I left bloodied :o It is now at Colt and I am sure upon return it will be perfect :p . Good luck with yours.

Patrick
Mine's at the gun-smith, sure hope it's fixed when it comes back.

[airbornerangerboogie]

Pick up my Colt Defender today and straight away to the range with 100 rounds of WWF in my bag. round after round went down range and my forehead stayed unmarked and no FTF's from either the original mags or the new wilsons.
Much kudos to :) Charlie at Bass Pro Gun-Smiths in Grapevine Texas :) . He did a tune up on my ejector and extractor and like magic they worked.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/pdgayle/may172007.jpg

Wore out 2 targets, but as you can see from the target above, I'm still instintively flinching expecting to get hit by brass. The above target was set out to 12 yards. :D , but I think I now own a keeper.

[Phil]

:) Glad to hear that your problems are solved. A good 1911 'smith is worth every penny that he charges..............

[dakota1911]

Yes, a happy ending is always good.

[Rich-D]

I am glad that you are now able to have confidence in the Colt Defender and join the ranks of owners like myself who find the gun to be an excellant carry gun.

[d90king]

I'm still instintively flinching expecting to get hit by brass.[/QUOTE]

I just got the call that mine is back from Colt and you have spoken my biggest fear as with any pistol that fails. :o

Patrick