Another Defective Colt Going Back To Factory

[ottobon100]

With just over 600 rds thru mine (XSE Commander purchased March 4th) hoping to work the numerous gremlins out with a good "break-in" - didn't work - the front sight came off. The proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back!" So now I'll see if I get to experience what joneric70 has so far with the Colt folks (another thread "Slide not quite right," 17 March). It is going back as soon as I can contact them. This gun had all kinds of burs that any good QC should have caught, it fails to go fully into battery bunches, fails to eject, stovepipes, rounds end up hanging up nose down, barrel bushing is extremely loose, firing pin stop will just fall out when you push in the firing pin, etc, etc, etc.. Just plain old shoddy craftsmanship! I was caught up in it being a beautiful Colt and obviously didn't look very well before I bought it not that I could have caught everything that was wrong without shooting it anyway. We shall see how they remedy this. From their web site: "Quality makes it a Colt" Hmmmmmm. Thinking.....

[DFC45]

This may be one of the more depressing stories I've read in a while, particularly since I recently purchased a new XSE government (see my thread "New Government Model Qustion). I have since put 300 rounds of various types of ammo through it without a problem. At what point did you begin having problems, as you neared 600 rounds or right away. Now I'm going to start hearing foot steps as I near 600. I've owned numerous Colts in the past and enjoyed great performance from all of them. I'm nervous now.

[dsk]

Out of every three Colts made, I believe two are usually perfect and one is a total pile of doo doo. DFC45, if you haven't had any problems yet you probably won't.

[ottobon100]

It started fairly quickly but I'm pretty stubborn. Well, very stubborn. As long as I knew it wasn't going to blow up on me I was going to try to give it time and maybe it would somehow magically fix itself. I did little things in between range trips like gently polishing the breech face and feed ramp, removing some burs from the end of the barrel where the rounds feed, and removing a bur from the extractor. When the front sight came off I just gave up. It is supposed to arrive at Colt this morning and I'll call this evening if they haven't called me. Glad to hear someone had a good experience with their Colt.

[automan]

My 1991A1's staked front sight came loose after 1000 rounds or so, I had Novak LO-Mount sights dovetailed, front and rear. No more problem. I understand from the pistolsmith that its common for the staked front sights to shoot loose. Anyway, it shoots better now than it did before. :)

[care-less]

Just make sure that you send a cover letter detailing everything; don't expect them to go over it and find all the faults. Colt will however take care of everything that you point out to them. At least that has been my experience. They usually do try pretty hard to make you happy. Of course, they should have done that in the first place by not letting crap go out the door huh?

[ottobon100]

Sent a page and a half letter with ALL of the things that were wrong. We'll see. No call today and they received and signed for it at 9:01AM Thursday morning per FedEx. I'd prefer a refund but I know that won't happen.

[Hot-1991]

I had a Millet dual crimp front sight installed on my 1991 before I even fired it. After 10 years good as new.:D

[paul45]

I read with interest your post here and 2 other forums. I sincerely hope that you get your issues resolved. I believe you will ,as others have who posted on the various forums. I can completely understand your anger and frustration with your XSE, however, may I in complete friendliness suggest that you allow Colt the chance to make things right for you. Not one manufacturer of ANY product can make everything 100%. Personally, its my unasked for opinion, but I think you are trashing Colt on the internet BEFORE they can make it right.Yes, I agree, the XSE should have performed better from the start, but repetitive internet trashing just makes you look bad. AND...I would have this opinion if your problem pistol was another make.Hey, trash away if Colt doesnt make things right, but how bout you lighten up a little in the meantime..........

[ottobon100]

I hear you Paul but have to disagree - in a kind way - without lightening up. Your statement: "but I think you are trashing Colt on the internet BEFORE they can make it right." Huh? They didn't make it right. "Hey, trash away if Colt doesnt make things right, but how bout you lighten up a little in the meantime.........." So, that is what I'm doing and why. That is why I had to send it back even though I really tried on my own to get some of the bugs worked out it just kept getting worse. I know other manufacturer's have problems too but I just haven't experienced that before. Not with my Kimbers, ParaOrdnance, Glocks, Smith & Wesson, Berettas and even an old Colt Detective Special my Dad gave me. That's just me. :D

[Sifu]

There are a lot of Colt fans out there so I didn't want to hammer Colt for fear of a poop storm but since this thread was started i will share me personal experience with you.

I bought the new Colt Defender+ when it came out and I really liked the way the pachmyers felt in my hand. The ejector broke after 300 rds so I sent it back to Colt. After another 200 rds the front sight post fell off and I sent it back to Colt again. Colt had the weapon for 8 weeks on both occasions. That was enough for me. I come to realize Colt has not kept up with the 1911 industry does not make the quality product they once did. With the 1911 market so competitive these days I decided to try the competition. I bought a Kimber and four Kimbers later I tend to lean away from Colt these days. Just my disappointing personal experience and anguish.

[paul45]

Gotcha,Ottobon.....I got the fingers crossed for you...I hope Colt does you right...at least in the end. Let us know how it turns out!

[larry starling]

My only question is?Why didn't you notice all the fault's mentioned,when you were buying the pistol? One of the first things I do is try and inspect a pistol before I buy it! I have seen some Colt's with some rough spot's on it and passed! My friend was Looking at a .38 super Enhanced,It rattled and sounded like a rat trap! Also at the same store was a pocket nine NIB,The finish on it was rough and it had milling marks all over it! On the other hand all the colt's I own appear to be of the highest quality compared to other 1911's I own from other manufactuer's!! :rolleyes:

[ottobon100]

Larry. I wrote: "I was caught up in it being a beautiful Colt and obviously didn't look very well before I bought it not that I could have caught everything that was wrong without shooting it anyway." The gun shop where I bought the gun won't let you shoot a brand new gun to try it out. Does yours? If I could have done that then I would have noted several of the problems. I did shoot it the next day after clean & lube. Also, I haven't been in the habit of tearing into a gun before I buy it nor have I seen anyone do that at any gun shop or gun show I've been to. Again, can you do that at a gun shop or show? Other than doing those things I had no way of knowing the problems that would crop up. Cosmetically and with a general inspection of the gun it "looked" great. There was a little wiggle in the slide to frame fit but not more than other guns I have picked up. Hammer dropped, everything cycled, looked good. Well, maybe not on par with a Les Baer. I joined this Forum to learn and have learned a lot. Maybe a "Sticky" "Here is What To Look For When Purchasing a new Firearm - Checklist Included"??? If I had taken it to my gunsmith and had it repaired out of my pocket how would Colt know that they aren't doing all they can with regard to quality and how would others be made aware of this problem? I'm not the only one with problems with Colt although I know they CAN make a good product. Lots of folks here are perfectly happy with theirs and have had zero problems - one of the reasons I bought mine. Hope this helps.

[larry starling]

ottobon 100 my questions to you were not meant as a attack! The awnser is no my local store's dont allow you to break a gun down! But the do allow you to as much as physically possible look and handle the gun! Many stores will allow you to break down a used gun before buying if you are well know there and have a reputation of nowing what your talking about! They will also allow you to test fir if the gun is used! Now as far as being new gun, There are some stores that will allow you to shoot a gun if its on layaway!!! please allow colt to try and fix it before you give up on them!!! Please dont take my post as a personall attack! and my earlier post wasn't meant that way either! :p

[ottobon100]

Hey Larry. I didn't take it as an attack at all. Sorry if my response sounded that way. I will certainly give Colt a chance too. I see Colt as an American brand name like Harley Davidson, Ford, Chevy and others. I WANT them to be successful. Heck, I'm doing my best. I bought one of their products. I do however want them to get the message when they start putting out something with poor quality and I hope others do as well. If not, they will remain status quo or worse and then we'll lose them. Take care.

[Rezmedic54]

I have heard a lot of bad things about Colt but my XSE Government was great right out the box. But I had a Guy in my CCW class got one out the custom shop and was truely disappointed in it. He sent it back to Colt and it still didn't work right. Don't know what ever happened to it or if he just junked the gun from what I saw was mostly minor things that where wrong.But this guy was really picky and I don't think anyone could have made him truely happy no matter what.

[cloc10]

With just over 600 rds thru mine (XSE Commander purchased March 4th) hoping to work the numerous gremlins out with a good "break-in" - didn't work - the front sight came off. The proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back!" So now I'll see if I get to experience what joneric70 has so far with the Colt folks (another thread "Slide not quite right," 17 March). It is going back as soon as I can contact them. This gun had all kinds of burs that any good QC should have caught, it fails to go fully into battery bunches, fails to eject, stovepipes, rounds end up hanging up nose down, barrel bushing is extremely loose, firing pin stop will just fall out when you push in the firing pin, etc, etc, etc.. Just plain old shoddy craftsmanship! I was caught up in it being a beautiful Colt and obviously didn't look very well before I bought it not that I could have caught everything that was wrong without shooting it anyway. We shall see how they remedy this. From their web site: "Quality makes it a Colt" Hmmmmmm. Thinking.....
I am sorry to hear about your problem, I have had lots of different hand guns and I am very suprised Colt would sell something like this. The few problems I have had with the Colts are the sights coming loose or bad magazines.In addition , ammo is a big factor. Also when I first shot an Auto my grip was way to loose and this would cause any gun to jam. There are so many variables and I am sure Colt will do anything they can to help you . I have dealt with customer service recently and the gal down there was wonderful.
I hope the best for you. ( you win some and you lose some)

[Adjutant]

Ottobon100
I don’t usually visit this Colt site even though I have carried Colts over the years. Being retired, money is even tighter than usual so I bought a Charles Daly. I have heard all sorts of horror stories but mine worked right out of the box, no cleaning, no lube, from the box to the range. Eleven hundred rounds later I have never had a FTF or FTE with factory ammo, FMJ, JHP, and SWC lead target. Because of the aforementioned horror stories I sent it back to the factory to check the hardness of the metal. Customer service said 6 to 8 weeks. Reasonable for a pistol this inexpensive and I appreciated their candor. Now I have just made an offer on a used Gold Cup and am awaiting a reply. After reading these posts I wonder if I didn’t make a bad move. When I pay $385 for a Charles Day with Novak style sights, extended ambidextrous safety, etc., etc. I don’t mind sending it back to the factory. If I were to pay what Colt charges for a new Gold Cup then the pistol should be right when it leaves the factory. Depending on the “luck of the draw” as regards quality on a gun costing less than $400 is acceptable but not for one that costs in the four figures. Now that Colt has a USMC general at the helm I am amazed this sort of poor QC is tolerated. I can appreciate your frustration and I hope everything works out to your satisfaction.

Bill

[Todesengel]

any news yet?

[ottobon100]

Finally heard from Colt - I called them. They received my gun March 31st. They accepted it and said it will take 30 days minimum to fix it. Slide (like joneric70's), barrel, and trigger will be replaced and lots of other stuff done to hopefully make it work. I'll post again when I get it back and run a few hundred rounds thru it. Got my fingers crossed they'll make it right.

[paul45]

I'll keep the fingers crossed. Lets us know what is going on...

[rtmouse]

came off from shooting 400 rounds! The front is good, it was the rear that flew off! I could tell the back blade shifted..........I'm getting the real Bomars put on like my other Colt. My only complaint is that the Colt "knock-offs" of Bomars AREN"T the same as REAL Bomars!........Other than that the gun is really well made with fit and finish. I'm very pleased with the gun, and as soon as I get it back from TJ's gunworks, I'm gunna shoot the snot out of it!.......Cheers The Mouse

[ottobon100]

Okay, took them two months but my gun is back. I have run 500 rounds through it to date and it works perfectly! Not one malfunction so far. They replaced the barrel and slide and did some polishing and MUST have worked magic on this thing. Awesome. Zero "wobble" in the slide anymore. It is tight as if it was fitted to the frame. Very accurate. I am pleased with the work they did and although I was upset with them taking so long the wait was worth it. They also reimbursed my shipping cost. Hopefully, from this point on I can be proud of my Colt. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/ottobon100/Colt001a.jpg

[OD*]

Good news on your Colt. :D

I was upset with them taking so long the wait was worth it.

Try waiting on a custom 'smith. ;)

[paul45]

great news....I'm really glad everything worked out. Too bad that couldnt have been the case from the beginning though. I guess Colt needs to tighten up the QC dept...

[larry starling]

Excellent news. Looks really nice also. It's Great to know a company will still stand behind there product like colt does.... ;)

[Hunter]

I have 3 Colt 1911s. An original 1911 made in 1918 that was my fathers, and to say there has been twenty thousand rounds fired through it is conservative. A Combat Elite I have had well over 10 years and would be hard pressed to guess the number of rounds put through it. Lastly a Gold Cup National Match I have had over 6 years and spent much time at the range with it. With these pistols of mine which are stock Colts and are all well used I have never had a problem what so ever with any of them and not one trip to the smith. Quality makes a Colt

[res1b3uq]

I think we expect more out of Colt than other manufacturers-and we Should!! After all, they've only been making them since 1911?? The good news is that they made it right, and I figure you now have a better pistol, with a lot of handwork on it, than you would have under normal circumstances.

Now, if I could just find some high quality ammo for 5.00 a box-------