New XSE

[Texasguy]

Hello, I recently purchased my first Colt and 1911. I picked up a blued XSE this week for $900 out the door, hopefully this was a fair deal. It was brand new in box with two magazines and appears to be very well made and the first 100 rounds went through it without hesitation. I was able to get decent groups, actually better than my Glock 23 which I have owned for years. I don't feel like it really requires any modifications to be a great shooting gun, the trigger feels nice and the I like the stock grips. Do these guns tend to break in and get smoother?
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/3/l_22e802829e7b44c7adc4601040a6a477.jpg

[A.B.]

Congratulations, that's a very nice gun. The trigger will get smoother, it doesn't need to break in, otherwise. And welcome to the forum.

[vashooter]

Nice XSE, I have two also. one Combat Elite and one SS commander. Might want to read up on some of the problems with the new Colt's. Maybe your's won't have any issues. Welcome to the forum and happy shooting :D Floyd

[OK_Kid]

Nice. I like the XSE's myself, and looked for one recently in a few Houston shops. I only found one in blue and it was going for $999 at a Gander Mt. I passed on it. Congratulations. Hope you enjoy it.

[JustinTime]

Very nice Colt. Colts do not have a "break in period" to be reliable. That said, your pistol will smoothen up quite a bit from being shot. Honestly, If you want that gun to be super smooth...do not clean it for 1000 rounds. This is how I treated my Les Baer Concept 4 and it is by far the smoothest 1911 I have ever felt. Please understand when I say don't clean it. That does not mean don't maintain it. I wiped the feed ramp clean every 100-200 rounds. Plus before each range session you should break the gun down and lube it with CLP or hoppes. I use CLP. Lube the rails, barrel lugs, where the slide release rides, and the inside of the barrel bushing. What your doing is letting the carbon build up work as a very fine polish. By adding the CLP, the gun stays slick and continues to function. I did not experience a single failure while doing this. There is another method called slurrying. You can do a search on it. I also did this 200 times after I reached the 1000 round mark.

[texagun]

There is another method called slurrying. You can do a search on it. I also did this 200 times after I reached the 1000 round mark.

Hi Justin,
I did a search and only came up with this one post of yours. What is "slurrying." That's a new one on me.

Note: At first I thought you meant "slobbering." I've done that on a few of my Colts but it didn't seem to make them shoot any better. :p

[JustinTime]

Hi Justin,
I did a search and only came up with this one post of yours. What is "slurrying." That's a new one on me.

Note: At first I thought you meant "slobbering." I've done that on a few of my Colts but it didn't seem to make them shoot any better. :p

I slobber on mine too. The only thing that results is...I can't hang on to them while shooting.

The term is actually called "slurry". Below is a good thread that covers this topic for and against. Post 17 goes into depth on how to mix the slurry compound. I believe CLP must be used for this because of it's teflon base. Don't know for sure.

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=43364&highlight=slurry

[paul45]

Very nice first Colt and 1911! I especially like the blue models.

[d90king]

I slobber on mine too. The only thing that results is...I can't hang on to them while shooting.

The term is actually called "slurry". Below is a good thread that covers this topic for and against. Post 17 goes into depth on how to mix the slurry compound. I believe CLP must be used for this because of it's teflon base. Don't know for sure.

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=43364&highlight=slurry



Can't you get almost the same results using the Baer break in method?

I cant say that I have seen many Colts where anything like this was really needed.

It's a Colt all you gotta do is shoot it and enjoy it for what it is.

[JustinTime]

Right, Patrick. Being tight or not really doesn't have anything to do with slurrying. It is really just polishing. Colts do not need this to function. He was just asking about it becoming more smooth. So I thought I'd suggest it. It doesn't need it though. Neither do Baers for that matter.

[wmw221]

You guys are a bad influence, I just placed an order for a XSE Stainless today. It marks my return to a 1911 after 10 years (a combat commander that had some Wilson work done to it, it was stolen :( )

Mike

[daveohno]

Welcome to the forum! Congratulations on your new XSE!

[wgppp]

I have a stainless Commander XSE and a LW Commander XSE. I may be different from most in that I don't own a 5" 1911. I just prefer the Commander "feel". Both of my XSEs have been excellent, hopefully you'll have the same results.

[Texasguy]

Thank you all for the warm welcome, I hope to learn a lot while hanging out on these forums.
So I took it to the range again and put about 300 rounds through her, every round fed flawlessly and I was shooting the tightest groups of any pistol I've fired. Then the gun started to shoot every screw on it loose! All four grip screws were backing out and the rear sight screw nearly worked its way completely out. I had to re-tighten the screws every magazine, I mean they would work themselves loose quickly. I brought it home and put some blue threadlocker on, and I hope they stay put from now on, but that rear sight is loose fitting and only a 1/16" screw holds it on. I might upgrade to a better sight for the piece of mind.
Oh, and the pistol is much smoother now even thought it only has 400 rounds through it total. I took some 2000 grit sandpaper and LIGHTLY polished the frame edges inside the magazine well to make inserting/dropping the mag easier and I also hit the edges of the frame rails, I only did two light passes each rail with the oiled 2000 paper. The paper is so smooth you would have to rub for some time to even change the metals appearance, let alone change any tolerances, and it is cycling smooth as butter now.
So, any recommendations on the rear sight? I actually see light between the dove tail cutout and the bottom of the sight when held up. Should I get a new rear sight, or ask Colt to fix it?

[Longshank]

It took a few tries to figure out the Picture postings ---

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii127/sonicsystems1/Colt45auto.jpg

[tailgunner]

Nice XS Longshank! Got an XS myself:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/6435/dsc02524be0.jpg

[Longshank]

Very Nice- Collection If I do say so myself- I'm looking for a good Holster for mine- and not sure which one to get. any suggestions??

[wmw221]

Wow, that's a loaded question. I guess it depends on what you plan on doing with it. I've read good things about Blade Tech but have never had one. I personally have owned Hellweg, Uncle Mike's, Galco and DeSantis and recently, a Blackhawk Serpa. for IWB 1911, I'm looking to snag a Galco and for OWB, i will snag another Serpa. For my Glock 19, I use the DeSantis Cozy Partner and the Serpa (but literally just got this one)

http://www.blackhawk.com/product/SERPA-CQC-wMatte-Finish,1145,1410.htm

http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=3757&GunID=38
or
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=3579&GunID=38

http://www.desantisholster.com/storefrontB2CWEB/itemdetail.do?action=prepare_detail&itm_id=6260&itm_index=0

[wgppp]

+1 for the DeSantis Cozy Partner. I have two, they aren't Milt Sparks but they're very affordable, have been durable and for me they work very well.