Colt Combat Unit 9mm: Review and Initial Impression

[Sensei]

Thanks for the revival—very interested to see how this plays out. I’ve been looking at a combat unit in .45 myself

With regard to reliability issues since going to Wilson, would Wilson warranty their work since you’re still having issues?

Wilson warranties their work to run with high quality ball, Hornady Critical Duty/Defense, and their mags. They do not have the ability to test guns with Gold Dot or HST ammo, and I’ve not tried any Hornary ammo in it since I run either GD, HST, or Ranger only. Having said that, it seems to handle the 147 grain HST and 124 grain AE pretty well with a 14lb spring and no shock buffer as long as I use Wilson ETM mags. That is good enough for me. I suspect the bottom line is that 9mm 1911s are FAR more ammo, mag, and recoil spring sensitive than their 45 caliber cousins. That being said, they can be reliable enough for carry if you do your due diligence.

Finally, if you are looking at the CCU in 45, I strongly suggest that you give the Dan Wesson Specialist a look. Much better fit, finish, and customer support for $300-400 more. See my review of a 9mm Specialist in this sub-forum.

[Sensei]

Got another 50 rounds of 124 grain SB FMJ w/o failure using Wilson ETM mags.

It now has 1000 rounds with about 25% of that being JHP - mostly 147 grain HST and GD.

[JonInWA]

From a standpoint of seeing how you worked through the issues with this gun/platform, I'm impressed, and appreciative of you openly discussing the issues, work-arounds, work-throughs, and what seems to be a qualified success.

From an operational/defensive use standpoint, I'm appalled on what you had to go through to get things to work to the extent that you have.

At this point, if I were to get a 9mm 1911, it would be in the 4.25" Commander platform, and I'd be anecdotally predisposed to one of Alchemy Arms offerings.

But at a price point start of $3,500, I'm really, really hard pressed to justify one compared to, say, a Glock G19/G45/G47/G49 or an HK P30....or a quality used FN/Browning High Power Mk III.

I can admire and appreciate a 1911, but all of mine are in .45 ACP.

What I'm seeing is that to vet a 9mm 1911 for carry/defensive/duty use is far more trouble that what it's likely worth-especially given well-proven (and generally significantly less expensive) alternative platforms.

Yeah, I'll likely lose my 1911 hipster aficionado card, but I can live with that...

Best, Jon

[Sensei]

From a standpoint of seeing how you worked through the issues with this gun/platform, I'm impressed, and appreciative of you openly discussing the issues, work-arounds, work-throughs, and what seems to be a qualified success.

From an operational/defensive use standpoint, I'm appalled on what you had to go through to get things to work to the extent that you have.

At this point, if I were to get a 9mm 1911, it would be in the 4.25" Commander platform, and I'd be anecdotally predisposed to one of Alchemy Arms offerings.

But at a price point start of $3,500, I'm really, really hard pressed to justify one compared to, say, a Glock G19/G45/G47/G49 or an HK P30....or a quality used FN/Browning High Power Mk III.

I can admire and appreciate a 1911, but all of mine are in .45 ACP.

What I'm seeing is that to vet a 9mm 1911 for carry/defensive/duty use is far more trouble that what it's likely worth-especially given well-proven (and generally significantly less expensive) alternative platforms.

Yeah, I'll likely lose my 1911 hipster aficionado card, but I can live with that...

Best, Jon

No problem Jon. Please see my thread on the Dan Wesson Specialist in 9mm.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread....ressions/page8

Embedded in that thread are my experiences with a DW Guardian. That would save you about $1500. Both of those guns have been acceptably reliable across an assortment of magazines and ammunition. Of note, the Specialist comes in a Commander length slide. I suspect that it will also be available in the Optics Ready configuration within the next couple of years.

[JSGlock34]

From a standpoint of seeing how you worked through the issues with this gun/platform, I'm impressed, and appreciative of you openly discussing the issues, work-arounds, work-throughs, and what seems to be a qualified success.

From an operational/defensive use standpoint, I'm appalled on what you had to go through to get things to work to the extent that you have.

At this point, if I were to get a 9mm 1911, it would be in the 4.25" Commander platform, and I'd be anecdotally predisposed to one of Alchemy Arms offerings.

But at a price point start of $3,500, I'm really, really hard pressed to justify one compared to, say, a Glock G19/G45/G47/G49 or an HK P30....or a quality used FN/Browning High Power Mk III.

I can admire and appreciate a 1911, but all of mine are in .45 ACP.

What I'm seeing is that to vet a 9mm 1911 for carry/defensive/duty use is far more trouble that what it's likely worth-especially given well-proven (and generally significantly less expensive) alternative platforms.

Yeah, I'll likely lose my 1911 hipster aficionado card, but I can live with that...

Best, Jon

Small sample size, but in my personal experience, the double-stack Staccato design has proven far more reliable than a single stack 9mm 1911. While the 2011 magazine leaves something to be desired (hence the Wilson EDC X9 and new V3 Staccato C/CS designs), but I haven't had any magazine related malfunctions in over 16,000 rounds through Staccato models (not to mention an overall MRBS better than 1 in 4000 rounds). While I think the Wilson ETM, ETM-HD, and ETM-V magazines in .45 are best in class, I'm not sure anyone has produced an equivalent 9mm 1911 magazine.

[gato naranja]

Bummer. I love the idea of buying a 9mm 1911 but have avoided them so far in favor of plastic handguns whose function I felt I could trust a little more out of the box...

We have had good luck with our Springfield nines, but they have also been pampered "fun guns"/range toys (for the most part). The 5" RO Operator overcame initial hiccups to become utterly reliable and a joy to shoot as long as I follow "the regimen," but the old cat's paranoia never really goes away. The wife's RO Compact has been good to go from the beginning.

Alas, for more practical uses Berettas have gotten the nod.

[JonInWA]

Exactly....

Best, Jon

[bofe954]

I really think you need a ramped barrel (Wilson/Nowlin, Clark/Para, whatever) to make a 1911 decent in 9mm. The only manufacturer that I don't see using one is Colt. You mention it in your Dan Wesson review. Even a glock barrel looks more like a ramped 1911 barrel than a non ramped.

I know there is supposed to be some art to the fit at the non ramped barrel to frame junction, but it just seems silly to have a seam like that interact with your bullet if it happens nose down a little. It is probably less of an issue with the larger diameter of a .45 ACP, and you can imagine why it would be worse with a HP vs a round nose.

The ramped 9mm mags seems to be an attempt at a solution, and you can also see how the perfect mag could solve the problem.

[Trooper224]

These are things I've learned in fours decades with God's gun.

If you desire a Govt. Model stick with the .45. If a Commander's your thing ditch the .45 and go 9mm. Anything smaller and the juice honestly isn't worth the squeeze. .38 Super and 10mm are rabbit holes best left for weekend bangers.

Colt's pony is no longer any guarantee of a functioning gun. They continue to fall farther down the list of manufacturers you should be interested in. If they're not using a ramped barrel in a 9mm, they no longer give a shit.

[G19Fan]

These are things I've learned in fours decades with God's gun.

If you desire a Govt. Model stick with the .45. If a Commander's your thing ditch the .45 and go 9mm. Anything smaller and the juice honestly isn't worth the squeeze. .38 Super and 10mm are rabbit holes best left for weekend bangers.

Colt's pony is no longer any guarantee of a functioning gun. They continue to fall farther down the list of manufacturers you should be interested in. If they're not using a ramped barrel in a 9mm, they no longer give a shit.

What are your favorite 9mm 1911 commanders? Both normal price and say les baer prices range.

I don't know anything about 1911s besides shooting them but am tempted by a 9mm commander