Guys,

My 15-year-old son has suddenly become infatuated with the Colt Defender.

Wants to know everything about it, etc.

"Dad, post a question on AR15.com and ask around"

Ok, son.

In before the usual statements which say short barreled pistols are unreliable.
I really like it, easily concealed, light weight, and I'm very accurate with it.
I've been carrying this for ten years and I trust my life to it.  It got the new finish two years ago, when you start checkering and doing other work on it, the thinness of coating needs to be redone, imho.






ETA



When I mentioned work done, the thumb safety was replaced with an Ed Brown, the original was 'scratchy' and the front strap on the grip was checkered, because I didn't care for the rubber wrap around grips.  The only other thing is an extended Ed Brown magazine release because I like them.






 

Thank you.

I've shot the Defender in 9 and 45. Both shot fine, but I preferred the 9mm. So much so that I will be picking up a new one next week.

I work in a LGS. We have sold a few of these and have only seen one with issues. It needed the extractor tuned.

I have had mine since 1999, back when they first came out.  It's of the XS variety that predate the XSE models.  It has a different style grip safety and sights than the current production.  Mine has been 100% reliable since day one, with ball ammo, hollowpoints, reloads, etc.  It has never failed, period, and is a testament to what Colt can do.  It dispels the story that 3" 45 auto pistols are not reliable.  It isn't as accurate as my gov't model 1911s, but it is respectfully accurate.  Recoil is noticeably sharper than a fullsized, but with standard loads it is tolerable.

As soon as my bank account recovers from buying the Government models I'm buying a Defender., Nice little pistols.

Been carrying with one last few years, it goes on when get up and off when go to bed.

Have had it rusty and crusty but it always fires. Do better maintenance on it now though.

Light weight and very easy to live with, carry mine while working, fishing, yard work and etc.

When it was newer

I purchased a new defender .45 in 2000. Loved it shot great to point of aim and never had a bit of trouble with it. Got bored and sold it when I was stupid. Wished that I had it back. Did feel like it torqued a bit when shooting 230 grain especially +P ammo.

Also had a para carry=POS.

I had one and get rid of it..  It was unreliable about 10% of the time, even after sending It back, changing mags, Springs, etc.   Don't have any problems with full sizers and oddball caliber 1911's.  

Wish it would have worked for me, because it felt awesome

I had one and it wasn't reliable.
On the good side ; It's conceable
On the bad side; Reliability is a 50/50 shot
                        Recoil springs on sub compact 1911's should be changed every 500 rounds. Good luck finding replacements. Colt is usually out of stock
                        45 hollowpoints may fail to expand coming out of a 3" barrel. 45 ammo is loaded around 800 to maybe 1200 fps. The 3" barrel doesn't give it that much runway to get the bullet up speed.

So with all this said, I bought a Colt stainless Commander as a back up to the Commander I usually carry. The gun is about perfect size wise to do alot of jobs.

I have had one for a couple of years in 9mm. It's been flawless for me.

Mike