life expectancy of government XSE?

[DeluxeSupreme]

Hello everyone. I bought my first and only Colt Blue Government XSE in March and haven't fired it much, maybe about 200 rounds. I have been going crazy because I can't decide if I want to fire it and wear and tear it. In other words, I don't want it to look used. Its too pretty to admire it and want to keep it looking in near mint condition. I would like to buy another Colt but my health insurance won't cover Coltitis :( . (on a tight budget) So I would like to know a good estimate or if somebody knows how many rounds can I fire without parts failing due to wear and tear? I have other .45 pistols to play with but I still remember that the 1911 was fun to shoot. I will fire it some more but it won't be like the countless rounds in my HK's. Oh, and I oil the gun before I shoot it and clean it after shooting and re-oil for storage. Hopefully that should increase some life into it. Thanks.

[Pwdrburnr]

With proper cleaning and spring replacement it will outlive both of us. I have an XSE GM in stainless that has more then 10,000 rounds thru it. I quit counting several years ago @ 10k. I've only replaced the recoil and firing pin springs. It still looks like new and does not have any visible wear.

[Hunter]

I don't think you need to worry really. I have better than 10000 rounds through my Gold Cup Trophy and only the finish shows wear.
It should last you a long while.

[DeluxeSupreme]

Good, good, that's what I like to hear. I just didn't know how well they can shoot. I'm fairly new to 1911's so I don't know much about them. The finish on some parts of the gun is starting to wear and fade but I'm not worried about it too much. Eventually I'll get another Colt 1911 and fire it only once and put it away just to keep it. Like I said, I haven't shot it in a long time and have yet to break it in that much. So I'm looking forward to shooting it this weekend. I just remember the gun feels solid and fun to play with. Thanks guys

[Frank]

A good 1911 with reasonable care will last several generations. I have a Les Baer that's still going strong after well in excess of 30,000, and another with something like 12,000 plus rounds. Your Colt should easily be up to that sort of use.

DVC

[1911 Shooter]

A good 1911 with reasonable care will last several generations.

DVC

What Frank said.
Mine has minimal wear and has been shot almost weekly for two years now.

[cajunfj40]

Dads satin electroless nickle Combat Commander made early 70s had fired thousands of rounds a year in competition in the 70s and 80s. It now resides with my brother and I. We pound out thousands more a year. He competes in three gun matchs with it and I take to the range once a month.

Its the pistol we learned with. Finish wear is visible and it could use another bushing and barrel but, shoots point of aim, does not malfunction, and shows no real mechanical wear.

Groups are now around 4" at 25 yards. Not bad for an estimated 70 to 80 thousand rounds of everything from reloads to corrosive surplus ammo.

It is never to be sold and only given up in death to our children where hopefully they still can buy ammo to shot with.

[d90king]

You will lose track of your round count before you will break that pistol. It is a Colt and made to be shot. Shoot it and enjoy it.. :)

[elijdub]

1911Tuner has 50,000-60,000 rounds on a number of pistols ;).
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=54996

I wouldn't worry about damaging it. With the exception of rare/collectors items, guns
are made to be fired, IMHO :o ;).

[DeluxeSupreme]

Yeah, guns are definitely made to shoot. I guess I should replace a few springs here and there after 30,000 rounds but I am nowhere near that count. I'll have to get another Colt 1911 so I can have one to play with and one just to look at. This is all great info, thanks.

[Icepick15]

Like you, I bought a blue Gov't XSE. Picked mine up from a private party NIB early last year. Not only do I shoot it, it's my off-duty carry piece. (Department won't let me carry it on duty.) It shows a little finish wear, which is to be expected. Honest wear doesn't bother me. I doubt that I'll live long enough to actually wear it out. I say, shoot yours.