Posted: 10/24/2012 9:38:58 PM EDT
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I've been eyeing new production 9mm Colt Governments, but at over $1k for a very basic configuration, find it hard to stomach. I was in the right place at the right time to happen across this one, sold as used, but I'd be surprised if it had more than 100 rounds through it. Even the idiot scratch has hardly gotten started.
The previous owner had what looked like an old Wilson Combat skeletonized trigger, and it had virtually no pretravel. The trigger pull was probably 8 pounds. Fortunately the stock plastic trigger was included and putting it back in was the first thing I did. 
The polish job on the flats is really exceptional ... you can read a newspaper in the reflection. The slide to frame fit is good, better than most Series 80 guns and comparable to what they're turning out today. The barrel fit is mediocre at best, though. Noticeable movement of the hood when pressed down while in battery, and a bit of wiggle at the muzzle. I'd love to fit a beavertail, thumb safety, checkering, Novaks, trigger job and possibly fit a match barrel and bushing. But at the same time, it's tough to start cutting on something as pretty and pristine as this one, especially when a reblue is in the cards. It cost me $710 out the door, so at least I didn't overpay for it. |
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Nice score, I picked up a series 70 a few years ago for a bit less and it's a blast to shoot, they hold their value pretty good and the only reason it didn't sell before I bought it was that it was a small fudd show with few handgun shooters.
I did score a year or so ago on a ton of Italian 1911 9mm mags for $9 apiece that work great. No name on them but they are identical to the Mec Gars I have. They really are fun and quite a lot cheaper to shoot over .45 acp. Don't see many ever go up for sale so you got a nice find, usually they are a couple hundred higher in price if you run across them. |
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Take the gun out and shoot it! You find it runs fine as is and doesn't need any upgrades ( poor choice in terms since I prefer to do as few mods as possible)
I don't get hammer bite so Beaver tails and round hammers are a waste to me. Looks like it has the high profile sights which should be good enough. I have had inaccurate 1911's that were tight and rattlers that shot very well, so start pulling a trigger! |
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Quoted:
Take the gun out and shoot it! You find it runs fine as is and doesn't need any upgrades ( poor choice in terms since I prefer to do as few mods as possible) I don't get hammer bite so Beaver tails and round hammers are a waste to me. Looks like it has the high profile sights which should be good enough. I have had inaccurate 1911's that were tight and rattlers that shot very well, so start pulling a trigger! I'll probably put it in the Ransom rest to see what it'll do but I don't hold out much hope. I modify every GI gun I get, just cannot shoot GI configured guns with my hand size and grip style. The sights would probably work fine but the staked front is loose and I'd like to install a Champion adjustable Novak-style rear. I can't abide slick frontstraps and will probably put a flat MSH & magwell combo on it. The sear face and hammer hooks seem to show what is either tampering or shitty factory work, which is more than likely why they had to increase sear spring tension to 8 pounds to keep it from following. It's academic at any rate since they are both going away. |
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Nice pistol Ken.
I was going to start a thread about 9mm 1911s, but really didn't know if it would get much attention. I had a few questions about them. I have been tossing the idea of of having one buil similar to thist: 
STI master frame with one of their unique slides. The frame is milled for a ramped barrel only. I don't know if I should have concerns over that. Is that something that is pretty standard for 9mm? Are there and problems with reliability? |
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Quoted:
Nice pistol Ken. I was going to start a thread about 9mm 1911s, but really didn't know if it would get much attention. I had a few questions about them. I have been tossing the idea of of having one buil similar to thist: http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff111/servarw/Slab-Sides/BenCSlabSideBTIonXL-13.jpg STI master frame with one of their unique slides. The frame is milled for a ramped barrel only. I don't know if I should have concerns over that. Is that something that is pretty standard for 9mm? Are there and problems with reliability? I love 9mm 1911s. I'm getting to the point where more .45 1911s just don't interest me. Ramped barrels are an easy way to bypass the frame feed ramp angle issues. Most everyone uses them except Colt, Rock Island and (I think) Taurus. They are standard on just about every high-end 1911. The one downside I've noticed is that they tend to prefer a rounded ogive bullet. Flat points and some JHP designs just bump into the ramp and stop. This is sometimes overcome by using a magazine that holds the bullet higher. Something I've wanted to try, but haven't yet, is recutting the ramp at a slightly shallower angle. This will remove a bit of case support, but since just about all of the ramped barrels I've seen are fully supported, it isn't worse than any number of other designs. The keys to having a reliable 9mm 1911, in my experience, are A) Having good mags. Wilson ETM and Tripp Cobramags usually work very well. Other designs can be OK too, depending on your gun and bullet length. B) Properly sprung. 19# mainspring and about a 12# recoil spring is what I use in 5" guns and I feel it provides a good slide velocity but will still cycle weaker stuff. C) Slide stop. Having a 9mm slide stop and then tuning it to work reliably will save a lot of frustration. I'm thinking about having the lugs and hood welded up on this Colt barrel to take out the slop. If nothing else, it should be cheaper than buying a new match barrel. They are supposed to be excellent barrels otherwise. |