Shooting a New Colt

[niceone]

I don't believe that Colts need a break-in period. They should work right out of the box. If they don't I'll give Colt a good time. Luckily, I haven't had any problem with any of my Colts.

If let's say you just brought home your new Colt, what kind of bullet do you use the first time? Do you use full metal jackets or lead reloads? Do you think there is a difference if you use any of the bullets during the initial/break-in period? Give me your thoughts.

[Joni Lynn]

I've received a few new Colt's so far this year and the first mag I put in each one has 2 rounds of Federal American Eagle. If all goes well, the next mag is full. After a couple mags I start using my handloads. None of the Colt's needed any break in period although one failed to feed the second round of hardball. It has since been fixed up and feeds everything I've tried in it.

[niceone]

That's good to hear joni lynn. I just overheard some shooters saying that you should use only fmj's during the first 200 rounds or so. I just don't get it. Everything is just a bullet to me. If the gun is a-ok, it will spit out everything you feed onto it.

[Joni Lynn]

I had a 1911 buiilt up and the guy said it wouldn't be reliable until 1000 to 2000 rounds of factory hardball were shot through it. It never was reliable until I had someone fix it.
None of my guns have needed a break in to be reliable although I wouldn't trust one for carry without a good shooting first.

[wichaka]

take it out and shoot it with whatever you choose........no break in needed, no special ammo for a certain amount of rounds.

[Rio Vista Slim]

I just overheard some shooters saying that you should use only fmj's during the first 200 rounds or so.
I don't recall seeing a statement of that nature, but I miss a lot these days. :D

What Joni Lynn and wichaka have said is quite true. I've never had to "break-in" a Colt 1911.

[DuckRyder]

I just overheard some shooters saying that you should use only fmj's during the first 200 rounds or so.

I do recall reading in a couple of the other Forums that someone got a message from one of the other companies customer service departments tho do just about that. I also think one of the other companies has it in their owners information. Kimber perhaps.

But all of my Colts have been good out of the box.

[elijdub]

I also think one of the other companies has it in their owners information. Kimber perhaps.
This is what Kimber says:

"For proper Break-in of the firearm
shoot 400-500 rounds of Quality Factory Ball
(230g. FMJ). Ammunition, cleaning and lubricating
the gun every 100-150 rounds."

I don't "buy into" this break-in business personally, and i've yet to see a Colt malfunction out of the box (with my limited experience). That isn't to say there isn't the occasional one that does....it's just more rare with this company.
If a gun is going to function properlly, it'll do so with any ammo, ball, handload or otherwise. I'd think if anything, some guns may be a little more finicky about JHP. Atleast some Kimbers are anyway :D

[jeff1124]

My "new Agent" as gone through Ball, lead swc, and hp with no hiccups at all and it's almost to 200 rounds. I've learned here that the short barrel guns are the most likely to have problems but I haven't seen it in any of my Colts. The only significant problem I've had, with any Colt, was a worn slide stop on a used gun which was easily cured with a new part.

[Hunter]

I have talked to a few folks at Colt about their thoughts about a break in period and the response I got was "what is a break in period?".
I have bought a few new Colts this year and a few last. So far all have ran 100% out the box with all bullet profiles.

[valor1]

I recently shot my newly acquired Colt Government model Series 80 pistol and I am very happy. I shot 200 rounds of ammo using magazines from Novak, Wilson, Mec-Gar and the stock magazine. No failures nor problems of any kind. This gun won't ever taste any kind of modification other than my replacing the stock grips with a pachmayr wrap around.

[CherryRiver]

Last winter, when I bought my new 1991 NRM, I confess it never occurred to me to do anything like a break-in on it, exactly the same as back decades ago when I bought my first gun, a- you guessed it- Colt 1911.
The next time this 1991 gags will be the first. It's up around 3000 rounds so far. Indeed, for one 250 round session earlier I accidently used a magazine I had put aside as defective/damaged. The Colt didn't notice and ran perfect.
About the only thing it might not eat effortlessly is my "girl gun" load of a 230gr Rainier going 580fps (3.5gr WST). At least, with the standard spring. If I drop it to a ten-pounder, all is well.
I can't remember firing anything but my various Rainier loads (580-875fps), with the exception of about 150 230gr factory Speer Gold Dots. I tend to prefer to run at least a hundred of any self-defense load through a gun that could conceiveably be called upon for that use. Again, perfect function.
Just like a Glock, only metal.
(Kidding...)
Bill

[dakota1911]

I inspect, clean and lubricate any new gun. None of my Colt 1911's have given me any problems. O.K., my Defender had two issues in its first 50 rounds but has been 100% since then up to about 2.6K rounds. And for information both of my Glock 36's had issues up to about 200 rounds.

[JRI]

It may be "old school" but I still go with the 500 round break-in. I'll shoot "cheap" (a relative term these days) factory loads just to hone all moving parts. After that a couple of magazines of the carry ammo to insure there are no problems.

Can't say that any weapon has ever failed but it makes me feel better.

[wichaka]

I have talked to a few folks at Colt about their thoughts about a break in period and the response I got was "what is a break in period?".
I have bought a few new Colts this year and a few last. So far all have ran 100% out the box with all bullet profiles.


Coming from a company that has fewer warranty returns per equal amount of guns sold, when compared to other brands...........hmmmmm wonder why that is?

[DuckRyder]

I do usually shoot about 200 rounds of factory ball, but for the simple reason that if something isn't right or if something is going to break from a defect I believe it will be in the first few hundred rounds. If that is factory ammunition no one can blame the problem on a bad handload. Ball simply because I don't want to throw a bunch of hight dollar stuff downrange into the dirt bank.

[garrettwc]

Coming from a company that has fewer warranty returns per equal amount of guns sold, when compared to other brands...........hmmmmm wonder why that is?

[Raises hand]

Um..uh Mr. Wichaka?

Cuz...cuz... Colt starts with quality parts, carefully hand fitted at the factory like Mr. Browning says we're supposed to!?

:D

[wichaka]

Colt starts with quality parts, carefully hand fitted at the factory like Mr. Browning says we're supposed to!?


Now there's a novel idea.......building a gun that's in spec, that will run with just about anything right out of the box!

[dakota1911]

I wonder if it is the "dimpled throat"? These new Colts seem to eat everything, including some 30 year old hand loads I fed them.

[CherryRiver]

I'm sold on the "trench throat" barrels. The 1991 is now my second, following a Special Combat Government last year. Both are exceptionally trouble-free.
If my next 1911 comes with one, I'll be happy about it.
Bill

[cameroni]

I wonder if it is the "dimpled throat"? These new Colts seem to eat everything, including some 30 year old hand loads I fed them.
Hey dakota and CherryRiver,I'm not up on the nomenclature of the "throats"/throated barrels.

I have Colts S70 GC;S80,OACP;McC.OACP would any of these few have a throated or dimple-throat barrel? (Yes,I am slack.))))

What model Colts have them or don't?

TIA,
mike