My new Pony is LAME

[NordicRX8]

Hello all,

I just received my new Colt LW XSE Commander. Its stainless steel... I know I know... :fp:

I'll get pics up ASAP. The problem I have... is that the Ambi safety lever on the left side is rubbing against the plunger tube. The Plunger tube is finished in the matte gray, but has a shiny surface scratch. I also noticed that when engaging the safety, it does not just click once to engage nor click once to disengage. There seems to be a middle detent... meaning I can clearly feel a "stop" in between full engage or full disengage. I have compared the thumb safety against all my other 1911s (2 P14 Paras, 3 Kimbers and another Colt Commander), and this new Colt definitely has another "stop". SIGH... I really don't want to send her in but think I may have to :( I have not had a chance to take her out to shoot yet. :butthead:
Think I can get Colt to replace the plunger tube, remove the Ambi and install a regular (extended) safety instead? (Does Colt even offer extended non-ambidexterous safety?)

TIA

NordicRX8

Edited to add: The trigger also felt heavy (to me), so I tested it with a friend's digital trigger scale... the trigger breaks at 7 pounds! errrrr.... that seem high to anyone else?

[garrettwc]

Nordic as you have surmised, that second "bump" is probably the safety riding over the plunger tube. Might be the plunger tube isn't properly staked and is away from the frame too far. And yes, 7 pounds sounds a bit high to me.

I would give the good folks at Colt a call. They'll make it right for you.

[NordicRX8]

Yep. yep...

Called COLT and was told to ship them the Commander for repair. Was also given a separate address to mail my shipping receipt so that I could get reimbursed for shipping costs. I hope the repair doesn't take too long. :nono:

8

[garrettwc]

alled COLT and was told to ship them the Commander for repair. Was also given a separate address to mail my shipping receipt so that I could get reimbursed for shipping costs. I hope the repair doesn't take too long.

At least they weren't like another well known manufacturer who tells you to shoot it for 500 more rounds so it will "break in". :rolleyes:

We would like to know the outcome when you get it back. How long it took, what they found, etc. Give us the lowdown on the whole experience when you can.

[vikz]

:) :) :D amen brother!!you're too much sometimes..At least they weren't like another well known manufacturer who tells you to shoot it for 500 more rounds so it will "break in". :rolleyes:

We would like to know the outcome when you get it back. How long it took, what they found, etc. Give us the lowdown on the whole experience when you can.

[jtmo3]

Nordic, expect the repair time to fall in a 30 to 40 day time frame from when you send it. They will probably quote you 35 days. It is annoying because I've had to send two new pistols to them that were new when shipped back. After Colt worked on them, they were great, just little details like the plunger tube thing, loose sights, etc., sure makes it tough to deal with, being new and not having it and all. But they will take care of it the second time around. Good luck.

John

[larry starling]

At least they weren't like another well known manufacturer who tells you to shoot it for 500 more rounds so it will "break in". :rolleyes:
Amen Brother! :scared:

[elijdub]

Break-in, Shmake-in!!! :nono:

[paul45]

Let's not deflect criticism to Colts competitor in this thread..... :nono: ...I get in fights all over the different forums defending Colt, but fair is fair......QC should not have let this piece leave the factory if the safety is rubbing the plunger and leaving scrapes. In the absence of any advertising.... a strict QC policy, thus severely reducing the amount of fit and finish issues, would do wonders for Colt.

[larry starling]

Let's not deflect criticism to Colts competitor in this thread..... :nono: ...I get in fights all over the different forums defending Colt, but fair is fair......QC should not have let this piece leave the factory if the safety is rubbing the plunger and leaving scrapes. In the absence of any advertising.... a strict QC policy, thus severely reducing the amount of fit and finish issues, would do wonders for Colt.
Agreed.....But It is a well documented fact about another manufacturer and a so called break in period.... :scared:

[elijdub]

Agreed.....But It is a well documented fact about another manufacturer and a so called break in period.... :scared:
It sure is! It's all they talk about over there!

[NordicRX8]

Agreed.....But It is a well documented fact about another manufacturer and a so called break in period.... :scared:

True, (I even own several of the competitor's guns) but this isn't even a "break in" issue. I have not even had the chance to shoot it yet. The scrape marks on the plunger tube will not fix themselves after a "breaking in" period. :butthead: I cannot see contact between the safety and plunger tube, but I'm assuming that where there once was contact, has been fixed by the safety removing enough metal on the plunger tube to now afford some clearance.

Since the safety is not physically touching the plunger tube now... the detent I feel between full safe on and full safe off, must be an internal issue (incorrectly shaped sear/safety) instead of the safety hitting the plunger tube, as someone mentioned earlier.

I thought all Colts were test fired at the factory??? Or am I mistaken, or it that only for Custom Shop Pistols???
Did Colt's QC not notice how hard it was to depress the trigger? All of my "other" 1911s require half the effort to drop the hammer with the trigger, this XSE must have a MANLY MAN'S trigger job... I've felt GLOCKS with the NYC trigger kits pull easier than this Commander's trigger.

I just replied to an e-mail from Colt Customer service, asking for a work order number or serial number so that I could receive a refund of the shipping charges. Good thing I recorded the serial numbers of all my guns into a database before I shipped it off. I never received a "work order", I was instructed to ship the firearm to an address with a letter detailing the problem(s), didn't even get an RMA number or anything similar. I'm really glad I had the serial number.... and a FED EX receipt!!!

I've requested a work order number if they can find one so I can "keep track" of the status of my repairs. ;)

I'll keep y'all informed of the results.

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[dls56]

Insofar as the comparison between a gun that requires a 500 round bread-in period due to close tolerances verses a part sticking / scraping and a 7 pound trigger pull I'd say it's apples and oranges. I own both brands and they each have certain qualities I like, so much so in fact that I chose the things I liked about each and am having a custom built to suit.
I'm sure Colt will make it right. Mine has been reliable and I would buy another without any qualms.