Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns COLT OFFICER'S MODEL ENHANCED

Ever since I went to the 'dark side" and started carrying a Glock (31), I always felt "dirty" . So the other day I found a used, NIB (still in the box with papers) Colt in 45 ACP and found it to be perfect for my grip and just the right size for CC. I looked up this "enhanced" business and this is all I found'

Extended "up-swept beaver-tail" grip safety.
Angled slide griping grooves.
Flat top slide with grooves.
Lowered and beveled ejection port.
Relief cut under the rear of the trigger guard.
Longer trigger.
Lightened Combat style hammer.

Anyway, the Glock is now in my night stand, replete with light. The Colt carries MUCH easier and besides, there's just something about "Colts"....

👍🏆

If I were you, I'd run a minimum of 200 rounds of the ammo I had loaded in it, through it. Guns that short have a reputation for unreliability the full-size and Commander-size 1911's don't have. Maybe you already have and I'm not putting your gun down, just saying.

Yes, the timing of the slide and magazine follower are much more crucial for reliable performance on these chopped down 1911s.

PS The Officer's Model was Colt's response to the popularity of the Detonics .45. I remember when that was all the rage in CCW.

Ran fifty rounds through it, about half of them rapid fire. No issues...yet..

Plan to replace springs frequently to maintain that level of reliability on an old school chopped 1911.

Good for you, JorgeI!! Colt 1911s still work and carry well.

ummm ok?

Sounds Great, I had one but could never get to to keep firing when I wanted it to! Carried a Glock at work, they are a Work Horse! but came time I wanted a 10mm I started to buy a Glock, but went with a older Delta Elite! Love that gun!

"Enhanced". I'd guess that's a 90's model. Better than the original Officer's Model which came out in the 80's IIRC. I repeat, 200 rds. MINIMUM. JMO.

1993..

Yep, Colt is Colt & nothing else really is.............although some might actually be better.

Are you carrying that bad boy as intended, i.e., cocked & locked?

MM

If you want something even more concealable, look into the 9mm SIG P938. Similar to what you have, only smaller. The Colt Enhanced models were good guns. Before that only Gold Cup's would reliably feed premium ammo, without being worked on.

Nice! get 200 rounds of 230 fmj at the range, shoot that little fugger dry, heat the hell out of it, clean, re-lube, then check function again,

Jorge, TRH is right on this one. Chopped 1911's need more frequent spring changes. How often is subjective. Mostly due to spring quality and how hot the ammo is.

"On this one??" I'm nearly always right, 98.76% of the time. That's a verified percentage, too.

I had one. It was picky about what it would run reliably. IIRC I settled on the 230 gr. Hornady FMJ-FP. That bullet was a full metal jacketed truncated cone flat point. The only hollow point that fed reliably that I had access to was the Winchester 185 gr. Silvertip. Back in the pre Internet days you relied on the local gunshop for ammo and reloading supplies. That Silvertip load was a pretty mild load fired from a 5" barrel and I just didn't trust it to expand from the short Officers Model barrel so I went with the flat points for more reliable penetration. Eventually I swapped it on a Lightweight Commander. I developed a real fondness for the Lwt. Commander.

The comment about the Gold Cup made me chuckle. I had rough experiences with two different Gold Cups in the late 80's early 90's period. One had that five finger collet bushing. That damn thing broke in a match and tied the gun up like you cannot believe. The other had problematic sights. The rear sight roll pins either walked out occasionally or broke. The front sight took leave in a match and disappeared. Once I got that worked out I realized the "upgraded" guns weren't anymore reliable and probably not much more accurate than a good Government Model. I ditched the Gold Cups.

I love the Rampant Pony on a Gov't Model or a Commander. That was a long time ago, things may be different with today's 1911 pistols.

Jorge, since you didn't ask for any advice, you're getting WAY more than you requested.......but then, that's the Campfire for you. Since you didn't ask, I'll go ahead and throw some in too :-) ! The slide moves much quicker on Officers and Defenders than on Commanders and Govt. Models and can out run the springs in a standard magazine, especially old ones. I had some OLD mags from my Marine Corps days (45 years ago) that worked great in Govt. and Commanders but were spotty in a Defender, especially toward the bottom of the magazine (i.e. 6th and 7th rounds)......probably good to test fire the gun with any spare mags that you're likely to use as backup/reloads/etc. and make sure to shoot to slide-lock. JMO-YMMV. I certainly agree with you assessment, "there's something about a 'Colt's'".

But of course...

Gents, thanks very much for all the advice. I was not doubting TRH's comments, merely acknowledging the issue. I'll go ahead and run the remaining rounds through it. So far, it even fed those 185grain "Flying Ashtrays" with no issues. As to the magazine, it takes a six rounder, but it will accept and feed with a standard 7 rounder, although it stick out underneath. On the spring, I usually run heavier springs on mine, I get them from Wilson Combat. I suppose the make them for these as well. In all honesty, I'll not shoot it that much, just enough to satisfy me it will feed reliably, then just shoot it a few times/year along with all my other handguns.

i have always been fond of the flying ashtray, but thought they were all the speer 200grain. I found about ten boxes of the 100ct bullets per box a few years ago in a gun store, and bought them all.
I was always impressed with what they did with power pistol on water filled milk jugs. Although i have heard they don't penetrate all that well.
oh well, i still like them.

I’ve got an 80’s colt officers model and never experienced a problem with it even with JHPs.

The "Flying Ashtray" was a 200 gr. Speer loading. Those were well before the Gold Dot development.

Pics or it never happened.

Good for you, Jorge!
I really like Colts.

The reliability quote was only in reference to feeding hollow points and other sharp-profiled bullets. Hollow points in 45 ACP were not even that common in those days and SWC's were more the profiles that wouldn't feed in the lower-priced Colt 1911's.

Surprisingly, Norinco IMO forced Colt to make their 1911's feed reliably because they came out with their "model of the 1911" which would, at less than $300 when Colt's were probably approaching $500. Colt subsequently came out with the defunct model 1991A1's in all three normal sizes. I never owned one of them that wouldn't feed anything. They then quietly upgraded their regular Government, Commander and Officer's Models and called them "Enhanced". As I said, these guns were much better than their predecessors. jwp makes the comment that his apparently '80s model Officer's would feed anything-I don't doubt it. You would come up with individual guns that did, but a lot of them didn't.

If it will feed the flying ashtray, it will feed anything. I had a stockpile I used to test for reliability.

Good that it feed the FA's well.

As to the mags & springs, Tripp Research is definitely a better product than Wilson & I've used them all. In particular, the followers are better & the Tripp mags provide true controlled round feed (Wilson does not) & the follower also has a metal insert for the slide stop to catch on. The Wilson is all plastic............having said that, I've not had one fail, but any gun that I carry, has a Tripp magazine or at least a Tripp follower & spring.

MM

McCormic makes a compact version which holds 7 rounds which gives the Officer's model a decent capacity. I use one in my 3.3" compact .45 and there has never been an issue with feeding. I only shoot 230 grain jacketed hollow points in it, so I can't comment on anything lighter, but the close to ball profile is 100% in mine.

Now that we've discussed the weapon, what do you guys suggest for a holster? I currently have an EP Saddlery Summer Cruiser IWB, but not a fan of IWBs.

Ethan wears his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel.

I've got IWB and OWB's but I generally just Mexican carry. Were I you, I'd just get another EPS in whatever OWB holster they've got. We've got Constitutional Carry though, so printing doesn't matter.

Printing does not matter here in Florida either.




OR[u][/u]

Any of those look good, I'd prefer one of the first two, black if it will mostly be semi-formal wear, russet if casual.

I actually HATE ordering anything. My track record with ordering is not good. That means a limited brand selection of which DeSantis and Galco have been the ones I've had the best of luck with. Most name brands look about the same. For over-the-counter, I DON'T like Bianchi.

I'm IWB exclusively except with a few rare exceptions, but the Milt Sparks 55BN works when needed.

MM

Gotta horse as fast as polished steel there, Townes?

😎

My voice is strong as kerosene.

Sure wish he'd laid off the dope and booze; he wrote some good songs in his rather short life.

The Flying Ashtray and similar bullet designs sucked - the ogive is too far back and caused feeding trouble. Much of the credit given to pistol manufacturers for adapting pistols is undeserved. Bullet manufacturers put the ogive back where it was supposed to be, but kept the ammo marketing names.

Colt didn't made any significant changes to enhance reliability. What mostly changed are the magazines, beginning with the Gold Cup wadcutter magazines and then the hybrid magazines introduced about the same time as the series 80. Jorge's pistol being a '93 will be fine.

jorge, like EE said, the Galco concealables are what I like...

Thanks again, gents. I think I'll order the top one of the ones I posted. It allows for both strong side or cross draw. EP Saddlery has treated me well through the years.

+ 1, if you have time to wait.
Copied by every holster maker under the sun.


Door# 2, if not.

Always have a backup plan...

guide spring...

Good idea. I assume go ahead and install whilst keeping oem parts for backup. Great plan.

Classy looking pistol Jorge, thanks for the picture.

Nice.

I'm crushed because one of my favorite heroes on the Fire, Clark, eschews them.

Handsome piece.

I had one of the first of them that came out back in the 1980s. Back then I didn’t know that they had the issue of needing regular and frequent spring changes, and sold it when it started regularly flubbing after just a couple thousand rounds.

TY. Range tomorrow for a few more rounds of "reliability testing", then I'll carry and see how I like it (using that EP Saddlery IWB holster depicted)

[quote=jorgeI
Anyway, the Glock is now in my night stand, replete with light. The Colt carries MUCH easier and besides, there's just something about "Colts".... [/quote]

The earth's rotation is returning to normalcy!

I have a gunsite cco. I’m very pleased with it. I’m sure you will enjoy yours. Hasbeen

Very nice!

Gunsite? That must be a nice one.

I really like the Gunsite model CCO. I think the new Wiley Clapp is pretty close. Both are 70 series.
The WC pictured is a 9. The others are 45. The WC pictured is a Commander. Hasbeen

I like jorges better.... No billboard or front serrations.

No, wait.... I like hasbeens better. The beavertail, sights and extended safety.

Oh heck, who am I kidding?

I'd take either, and like the hell outta whichever one I had.

200 round count, no stoppages or issues. Daily carry. The Glock is in the night stand drawer and the world is in equilibrium...

Jorge, what is the carry ammo you are using in your Officers Model?

Federal 230gr Hydra Shock

That's a nice looking pistol.

A classic old school load for a classic old school pistol. Sweet

If you're really serious about your carry ammo, you might want to look at the fired bullet comparisons in the attached between the (older) HydraShoks & the (newer) HST's.

There are no absolutes, but this is pretty clear cut, if you're carrying HS's, might just as well carry hardball.

I'm carrying HST, for the most part, in everything; not HST's then Gold Dots.

HydraShoks got all used up for practice.

MM

Bullet PErfromance Tests

Put the bullet in the boiler room and I don’t think it’ll matter much.

Old school.

Hah, you had the exact same thought.

Well, maybe, but did you look at the pics?

If I'm going to carry HP's of any persuasion, I expect some expansion otherwise, why not just ball.

Not that ball is bad, but when you use it, it's not with the expectation of expansion.

MM

Old school non-expansion performance too............................ball by another name with a higher price.

MM

They didn’t look too good. I’ve recovered a few Hydro shocks and they were expanded. The velocity in the test was only 794 FPS. At that speed I’d rather a flat point.

I know, but didn't want to be rude.

Yeah, but the 794 is the factory loaded velocity..............& that's what he carrying.

Lots of people don't realize that HS's are not really great & that's what Federal brought the HST's & all the agencies went away from the HS's.

MM

I wouldn't want one passing through my lungs or aorta regardless.

Me neither, but why pay a premium, premium price to get what ball gives you.................that's the point.

And I have no problem carrying mil-spec or commercial ball.

But as a h-p, they are next to useless. You want to pay for a h-p, buy HST's, hands down, not even close, not even for convoluted minds.

MM

Fugk I don't know. Maybe they open up quicker at sea level.

Besides, Jorge is Cuban. The only thing they shoot at is other Cubans and the sky on New Years.

He'll be fine.

Jorge - congrats on the nice Colt!

Got mine in 1984, and have likely only put a thousand rounds through it. I use my 5" 1911 an awful lot though.

Managed to pick up another a few years back, a gift for my oldest son.

They'll work just fine, and carry easy. I make sure to keep mine clean, lubed, a new recoil spring now and again, and decent ammo.

Enjoy that classy Colt!

Regards, Guy

ROTF, LMAF

Just TFF................but you could be spot on.

We'll see, if he's serious, he'll go buy some HST's, if he's just BS'ing & casual & flappin' his lips, he'll defend his HS's, which of course, have no defense, given today's alternatives.

MM

Bookmarked that link. Thanks.

Well, I guess I'm serious and I will order some today. I've had the HS for a while, as my carry gun for the last few years was a G31.

HST is excellent, and yeah better than the old Hydra Shok. Gold Dot is good as well.

And a damn good thing.

New springs and SS long guide rod installed, OP check w fifty rounds. Good to go!

Needs ivory slabs.

I did find some nice Colt gold medallion woodies.

You’re Cuban.

Act like it.

Ivory slabs.



PS-When do I get to come visit?

Or some nice Sambar Stag.

when do you want to come up, or better still you can come over when I'm at my folks' house in Coconut Grove?
PS: unwashed Cubans use pearl, us of "the realm" use ivory....

Forget the fugly commemorative inlaid coins..... lissen to the flave

A lot of fairly priced grip options here Jorge.

https://www.cdnnsports.com/gun-parts.html#category_2=GUN%20PARTS%2FGRIPS&brand=1911&mpp=60

Thanks, Ed. Unfortunately, I found these, so I'm stuck with them for now. At least they are a lot better than the ugly rubber ones it came with!

I've got to be honest, Jorge, the ones you currently have on now (the checkered ones) are worlds better looking than those Colt medallion grips.

That's ok. They are "defender" grips, so not OEM and I was shooting for that.

Look on EBay at Ahernds grips. Hasbeen

Ahrends. I can’t spell. Hasbeen

Those are classic & likely worth more than you paid for them............I have a set like that which came on a new Colt Combat Commander once upon a time.

MM