Colt Rail gun/combat unit pistol?

[navyman8903]

Let me open with I'm getting a Dan Wesson Specialist. I've been convinced by everyone here, and it will be my primary 1911. If I only get one, it'll be a DW Specialist.

Now, that said. I have an opportunity to pick up a Colt rail gun or combat unit pistol 45 for $1000 flat NIB. I have to figure out what it is, not even sure what the differences are honestly. One has 25LPI and an undercut? First I'm trying to figure out what the differences are, second I'm trying to figure out what the gun is, and lastly I'd like to see if y'all have any good experience with it. And if it's worth the price tag. If I let this one go, I might get another 1911 to run if my wife wants to run one together for a class or something. We shoot 1911's like........5% of the time, I just wanted one for nostalgia and her 1911 can be the colt combat unit (she wanted the kimber I asked about before). She's already fine with it. I don't want to have to do too much work to it either. I might also run it suppressed if she's up to it.

Just looking for feedback if you have it. I don't have the budget for two DW specialists........I have another MR762, and twin LWRC suppressed builds I'm doing. This is just something I'm kicking around. I wouldn't mind having 1 colt in the collection, especially if it runs.

[Robinson]

The differences between the standard Rail Gun and the Combat Unit Rail Gun are: the finish, front strap checkering, undercut trigger guard, tritium front sight and plain black rear vs. 3-dot sights, and dual recoil spring. $1000 would be a great price for a NIB Combat Unit gun, a bit high for the standard Rail Gun.

Colt's rail dimensions are not the same as some other manufacturers, so if you plan to holster the gun you may need to seek out a vendor who makes a holster specifically for the Colt guns. The rail specs were required for the Marine Corps contract, and Colt decided to use the same dimensions for all their Rail Guns.

Forum member Sensei did not have a great experience with his Combat Unit pistol though I think eventually the problems were resolved. I've had good luck with my Colts and I have confidence in them. But their QA really needs to be more consistent.

[azerious]

Let me open with I'm getting a Dan Wesson Specialist. I've been convinced by everyone here, and it will be my primary 1911. If I only get one, it'll be a DW Specialist.

Now, that said. I have an opportunity to pick up a Colt rail gun or combat unit pistol 45 for $1000 flat NIB. I have to figure out what it is, not even sure what the differences are honestly. One has 25LPI and an undercut? First I'm trying to figure out what the differences are, second I'm trying to figure out what the gun is, and lastly I'd like to see if y'all have any good experience with it. And if it's worth the price tag. If I let this one go, I might get another 1911 to run if my wife wants to run one together for a class or something. We shoot 1911's like........5% of the time, I just wanted one for nostalgia and her 1911 can be the colt combat unit (she wanted the kimber I asked about before). She's already fine with it. I don't want to have to do too much work to it either. I might also run it suppressed if she's up to it.

Just looking for feedback if you have it. I don't have the budget for two DW specialists........I have another MR762, and twin LWRC suppressed builds I'm doing. This is just something I'm kicking around. I wouldn't mind having 1 colt in the collection, especially if it runs.

Pass!!!

I just had one that i sold. I wanted to love this pistol sooo badly. Colt and 1911 go together. After a bad M45A1 experience I thought I would take my chances on this offering. I got a sweet deal on one, now I know why. After it arrived I was super disappointed. The safety was improperly fit, and was about as mushy as it gets, the plunger also would stick in the tube for some reason (burr?). I replaced it with a wilson bullet proof plunger and the safety still had issues. The beaver tail portion of the frame was improperly cut and misaligned. Its very obvious and the beavertail rattled something fierce. Just walking around with it would cause it to audibly rattle. And this wouldn't be fixed with a sear spring tweak since the actual FRAME was not cut straight and even. The front strap checkering was kind of nice but felt....fake. Hard to say why it just did not feel like quality checkering I have come to love on my Les Baers, Springfield's, or even sig 1911s for that matter. The feed ramp on the frame was complete shit and hollow points and FMJs alike would hang up. I polished it and found it too was cut uneven and had bad tooling marks. The trigger also was extremely loose and had worse fitment than RIA 1911's.

Overall I was super disappointed and it put a very bad taste in my mouth regarding Colt 1911's. I had previous issues with a M45A1 and thought it was a fluke. That is obviously not the case now. Must be Friday everyday of the week because the gun i got had ZERO QC.

Hate to be a buzzkill. I'm sure there are some who have them and shot 5,000 rounds through a weekend and they perform flawless. I envy them. But at this point i'm done with Colt.

[WobblyPossum]

$1000 sounds like a great deal on a Combat Unit. The MSRP is $1499. The main differences seem to be the checkering, G10 grips, finish, and night sights on the Combat Unit. I don’t have any experience with either gun. I’ve heard from numerous people that Colt is currently building the best 1911s they’ve ever built but I believe @Sensei had some issues with his Combat Unit.


–————————————————
My posts only represent my opinion and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of my employer. Obvious spelling errors are likely the result of an iPhone keyboard.

[Sensei]

$1000 sounds like a great deal on a Combat Unit. The MSRP is $1499. The main differences seem to be the checkering, G10 grips, finish, and night sights on the Combat Unit. I don’t have any experience with either gun. I’ve heard from numerous people that Colt is currently building the best 1911s they’ve ever built but I believe @Sensei had some issues with his Combat Unit.

–————————————————
My posts only represent my opinion and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of my employer. Obvious spelling errors are likely the result of an iPhone keyboard.

It took Colt SIX MONTHS to get my gun back to me after replacing an out of spec slide. Think carefully before choosing Colt.

[StraitR]

Think carefully before choosing Colt.

The truth here gives me a case of the sadz.

[NPV]

Save your money put it towards the Specialist.

[Sensei]

The truth here gives me a case of the sadz.

My CCU is still at Wilson getting the schizzle. I’ll post pics when I get it back.

The way I see it, there are 3 option for a properly fitted 1911:
1) Buy a DW or TRS- $1500
2) Buy a base SA or Colt and send it to Wilson or someone equivalent - $2500 minimum
3) Buy a Wilson, NH, Baer, EB, etc - $2500 minimum

Buying a Colt with their “extras” will get you a decent base gun with a decent finish and some poorly fitted extras - both of which will need to be replaced after a reputable gun shop does some milling, dehorning, and refitting.

[JonInWA]

Perhaps ironically, what I'm seeing is that their more basic Series 70 Repros and 1991s seem to be pretty decently put together, and well priced.

Best, Jon

[MGW]

Perhaps ironically, what I'm seeing is that their more basic Series 70 Repros and 1991s seem to be pretty decently put together, and well priced.

Best, Jon

I've looked at a few different Competition models that seem to be put together well too.