Colt M1991A1

N

Nightcrawler

New member
Local shop has a Colt M1991A1. I like the old style spur hammer.

I don't like having M1991A1 (tm) written in block letters on the slide. Yech.

I hear Colt has been having quality control issues? Is this true?

I also hear that new Colts have plastic parts? Is THIS true?
 
Yes, Colt still has QC issues. It's a luck of the draw. I'm unlucky so I got a bad one that I had to send back. I don't mind the plastic housing.
 
The trigger is also plastic. I had two of them both totally reliable with everything I fed them. Just never fell for them for some reason:confused: sold both.
 
The M1991A1 has been phased out, replaced by a newer model with polished flats and a new "Colt's Government Model" rollmark. Overall Colt's QC is on the upswing, but they still have a higher number of bad apples than say SIG or Glock. Fortunately Colt's Customer Service is bending over backwards for people, from what I've been hearing. Most of the QC issues I've seen have been minor things, such as gritty triggers and small cosmetic defects. The MS housing and trigger face are plastic, as are a couple of the smaller through-pins. They don't affect durability much if at all, although many 1911 purists detest anything other than steel and wood on their guns.
 
Others are correct, part of trigger and the main spring housing are "plastic".
Mine had no functioning problems, just terrible accuracy!!
 
I got my 1991a1 last year. I was told the QC was on an upswing and they were actually producing a nice gun again. When the pistol was finally approved for CA sale, I got one. It has never failed on me, but I've only put 500 or so rounds through it. Plus, it has become a bit of a money pit (new trigger, hammer, msh, trigger job, sights, mag well, thumb safety, beavertail & Wilson mags)...they can get addicting!
 
I think I'll go with a Springfield mil-spec. I'll send it to a good smith for a reliability job and an ambi saftey, get the gun reparked (or one of those new high speed wonder finishes) and I should be good to go. Not interested in a match pistol, just a simple, reliable shooter.
 
I also bought one of the new 1991s with the "Colt's Government Model" rollmarks. It has been 100% reliable with FMJ and a variety of hollowpoints so far (just shy of 1000 rounds).
It's not as accurate as I would like, although it is certainly "combat accurate" - which is kind of the idea. The sights are also better than stock 1911A1 - but I really don't like 3 dot. I feel it's a good gun for the money (paid $500).

edit - and the trigger. It's OK... certainly shootable.
 
Nope. Hold on, I'll go grab mine. I'm back (wasn't that quick :D

On left side of slide we've got

COLT'S
Government Model
45 Automatic Caliber

With the prancing pony on right of the marks

On the right side under the ejection port we've got

-- SERIES 80 --

and that's it! No truly awful 1991 anywhere to be found. Slap a set of rosewood grips on and it's a nice looking, nice shooting low dollar 1911 (see, I should be a gun store salesman :)
 
I'm with Borf on this except that my 1991A1 with the new/old rollmarks (which has so far less than $600) will go to the gunsmith and come out with a match barrel/bushing, an action job, Videcki trigger, Novak sights, front strap checkering and probably Boron Carbide over hard chrome. Other than that it will be a standard old Series 80 Colt ;)
 
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I just bought one of the new Colt Commanders. It came with nice rosewood grips. The trigger breaks very cleanly. I believe it is a heavier trigger pull than my Kimber only because it uses a standard hammer spring, whereas Kimber uses a reduced power hammerspring. This new Colt is a very nice looking gun, with attractive blueing, instead of the cheap black oxide used on the 1991A1 or the base Kimber. I paid $549.
 
actually i paid alot for my 1991a1 ($800). I got it with front dove-tail sights and a Bo-Mar rear with rosewood grips. It all came standard when I bought it. The gun seems very accurate to me, the barrel lockup is tight with no movement at all. i got it last august
 
I just removed the series 80 safety pieces, and replaced with the shim from Brownells. This did make a significant improvement in the trigger pull, inspite of what some others say. I also put in a 19 lb wolff hammer spring. The trigger on my Colt is now the equal, or even slightly better, than the trigger on my Kimber. I see no need for a trigger job, or for replacing trigger, hammer, or sear. A drop in Wilson grip safety might be nice. The trigger is black anodized aluminum, not plastic.
If going for a Springfield, I have read that all the 2002 models will have the re-contoured front strap. It is noticeably different when compared to the old Springfield. I think I would want one of the new ones.
 
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