Does anyone else have this gun- if so , what do you think of it-especially the trigger? I'm not sure it is as good as I thought it would be- or is it just me?
Have been shooting pretty well lately, but shooting the Commander twice did not shoot quite as well as with my other guns. Maybe it just takes getting used to....also, is there any "trick" to shooting a 1911?
All suggestions and comments appreciated.

In my hands the 1911 is a better club than a firearm.

1911s take a little practice,but once you get it,they are fun
Is this an older gun with small sights?

Heck yeah, I bought one of the newer ones in 9mm (ignore the other two pistolas in this picture):



The trigger isn't S&W revolver single-action good, but it's fine. A Combat Commander was the first centerfire handgun I ever bought, back when they were a new thing.

I've been reading about wonderfully crisp 1911 triggers ever since that time, so they must exist; I hadn't seen one, even on the two Wilson Combats I own. I probably don't get around enough.

So I sent this Gold Cup to Cylinder & Slide. There's a bit of a wait, but it was well worth it:

I have had my 9MM Combat Commander for probably 20 years now.

I am pretty sure I did a trigger job on it after I bought it. I am seldom pleased with the trigger that any factory puts out.

It is not as accurate as my XI Elite, but that is to be expected, the Elite is basically a Gold Cup

The same "trick" that we use to get good with any firearm practice, Practice, PRACTICE

Maybe shooting a lot more would help. Practice and all that.

I've got a good mix of handguns, and Colt 1911's account for, I think, about 8 of them.
My 9mm Commander and 9mm Govt. along with the other .45's of each of the sizes all feel the same to me.
So maybe you just need to shoot more and get used to the characteristics of the feel of the gun and trigger.

Just got the gun 2 days ago-bought new

tonight I realized my new 1911 is a little heavier and thinner than my other guns...maybe I need to get used to that

The hold is really important and most of us tend to hold it wrong.If you google around a bit for Jeff cooper I seem to remember some stuff onholding it in the right way(it was a long time ago)

Grips make a big difference. A 1911 fits natural in the hand when you get the right ones. Thick, thin.. wrap around..

Yes, focus on the front sight and control the trigger pull. Seriously, I’ve got lots of handguns, that cover all the modern action variants there are. To me, 1911 are the most accurate, easy to shoot with semi auto pistols there are. I shoot; Nighthawks, Les Baers and Kimbers. For me I always had to modify the grip safeties on the conventional hammered Colt 1911s, but not on the rowelled hammered Colt Commanders.

Sometimes shooters who shoot safe action pistols have difficulty adjusting to the short trigger pull and quick reset. They end up diving on the trigger. I have to remind myself that a 1911 trigger doesn’t pivot. I have to make a conscious effort to pull the trigger straight back.

You’ve got a great pistol. Get some ammo and shoot it a lot. I bet it will become one of your favorite pistols and lead to the purchase of more 1911s.

Being accustomed to shooting almost exclusively DA with S&W revolvers it took me a lot of practice to adapt to the SA trigger of the 1911.

I sure do regret trading my Colt Combat Commander 9mm I bought brand new in 1973 or 74.

would you consider putting either on the Colt Combat commander?

I bought one for my wife 25 years ago, she didn't like it, I shot it very well. Better and faster than my 45 1911s. I have been kicking my butt for ever selling it, for 20 years.

@OP,

When you are looking at service grip panels, almost any brand is acceptable. When you start talking grips with thumbrests, shelves, and Palm swells, then you may need to consider the manufacturer.

One item to take into consideration is the mainspring housing. If your Commander has a flat mainspring housing and the grip feels small, you may benefit from an arched mainspring housing. If the grip has an arched mainspring housing and the grip feels too big, you may benefit from a flat mainspring housing.

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Judge control not gun control!

Your handgun has the Colt "Lawyer's dictated pull." You can have a pistolsmith put a much better pull on it right down to ridiculously low poundage. There is/was a big industry out there in modifying Colt 1911s. They can be the best of a self defense handguns or superb target handguns or something in between the two. IMHO a trigger pull that is crisp and averages about 4 lbs. is the optimum for a home defense and plinker. The ergonomics of the 1911 are easily modified for your size of hand and finger length by a knowledgeable pistolsmith. The slim sizing of the frame and slide lend to being easily concealed by most any sized person.

I made my living for several years pistolsmithing 1911s for most all common end usage. I have a Colt 1911 70 series Commander that was original in 38 Super. Just because I could, I fitted a 9 mm barrel and a 9 x 21 mm barrel. I don't reload much anymore so I practice with 9 mm but carry that handgun as a 38 Super. There is very good self defense ammo made in both 9 mm and 38 Super.

I like night sight sets made in the Novak style with Trijicon inserts. I have smallish hands so I use thin grip panels and a short fitted trigger.

Your original Colt 1911 is like a blank piece of canvas to an artist. Any modification that you believe will help your shooting accuracy can be done. And, some are very cheap. Find a competent Instructor that knows 1911 shooting for accuracy and get a few lessons. It will be money well spent.

By the Way; the heavy trigger will get better with thousands of rounds down range. But, you very well could save money by getting a competent pistolsmith to 'breath on it just a little'. ..........

I've got a Combat Commander(satin nickel) and a Gold Cup,both in .45.The CC dates from the early '70s while the GC was born in early 21st century.My CC,after thousands of dry firing,shooting and a little polishing has a better trigger than my GC.
This being said,I'm a revolver shooter more than a SAuto gun.Here are my $0.02 worth of findings.
For quick follow up shots,I feel the 1911 is great(more so in it's short 4 1/4'' form than 5'').If you want to shoot a 1911 for pure precision,the thing is less forgiving than a revolver and more sensible to the consistency of the''grabbing''force you put into it.I mean you've got to hold it more tightly and with the same consistency as a revolver.I'm not suggesting that you can hold a revolver randomly tight and loose but to me and a few friends who shoot competitively for accuracy,this fact is more important for a s.auto than a revolver.On the other hand,the revolver is more sensitive on placement of the hand on the grip(higher or lower).
The secret is if you want to get good at one or the other,don't go from one to the other.Practice only with the one you want to get good with.

I have Colt Combat Commanders in 9mm and .45.
The 9mm is a slightly older blued model. The .45 is SS and made when Colt was putting the sort-of solid rib atop the slide.
Both have had mods done to enhance usefulness for me - beavertail grip safeties, extended carry safeties, longer triggers, grip changes, better sights (Novak).

That being said - the .45 is the much more accurate pistol.
Actually obtained the 9mm as a training aid in shooting the .45.
Didn't really work out that way since the .45 outshoots the 9.

Just got a RIA 5" in .38 Super. It outshoots the Colt 9mm also.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I picked up a colt 04840wc after I helped a general store own tidy up his firearm stock room and found this new 2 years old colt . I was at the store to look at 1911's and this pistol was a willy clap model that is a series 70 , tight slide the frame fit and except for the trigger wiggle was a real nice pistol . He aske me if I liked it , heck yes and he sold it to me for a heck of a bargain price . I like the mid size beavertail , the brass bead novak sights the small gi thumb safety and being a Lite Weight model did not hurt . Even the unique grips work well .

I did order a short Ed Brown trigger to fit to the slide to for a tighter fit and did some polishing and smoothing of edges . Rubber graphite dry powder into the trigger group parts and ended up with a sweet .3lb 8oz trigger .

I have the Colt Combat Commander in 45acp, it shoots very accurate but the trigger isn't as smooth as the Ruger SR1911 with no moderations to either. Best trigger of the 1911s I have, believe it or not is the RIA. Heavy as a boat anchor but accurate and a fantastic trigger. Go figure.

Triggers on 1911's are not hard to improve to what fits your needs , smooth or lighten the pull weight . The most it will take is a new trigger and some labor from the owner .

That steel frame does a nice job of dampening recoil. If you are going to work on your own trigger, get every manual and visual aid you can find. And a generous supply of spare parts. Use them to learn on.
The 9MMP takes a bit more work to get good accuracy from, but the results are worth it.

1911 triggers can be fairly easy to tune.


1911 triggers are incredibly easy to mess up.


When messed up, they may create a full-auto 1911 machine pistol. I know someone who did his own trigger job. It went full-auto and unloaded a full magazine. Even worse, he also managed to get his off-hand in front of the muzzle and nearly lost a thumb.


Be very careful when performing a trigger job on any firearm. In the case of the 1911, there are trigger kits that include hammer and sear that already have nicely prepared engagement surfaces. These kits can provide a very nice, yet very safe trigger pull.


Unless you are willing to invest in the proper tools and obtaining the knowledge of how to perform a trigger job, either buy a kit or take the pistol to a gunsmith who is well versed in the 1911.

A great thread and responses that remind me of the “old days.”

I do not have a modern Commander in 9mm and haven’t had the chance to shoot one. Do have a really nice .45, which is an excellent gun. In general, I think the new Colts I have seen are better than the older ones, if not in finish, definitely in fit. That’s just my impression. My experience with the newer guns is limited, but I like the ones I have seen and fired.

Yes, IMO, the 1911 trigger does take a bit of getting used to for us S&W revolver shooters. I’ve been shooting pistols since I was of age that now would be considered “child abuse” to let handle, let alone fire, a handgun. Even now, I still have a bit of trouble putting down the revolver and picking up a 1911, so I usually shoot the 1911 first, when I take both to the range. I have seen others who claim otherwise, but most of these folks seem not particularly interested in precision shooting, or maybe they have a different concept of it. That said, I realize some will disagree and can switch back and forth easily.

My opinion on Commanders, in general, is that the new ones are set-up wrong. I much prefer them set-up like a 1911A1, which is to say with the standard length trigger and arched mainspring housing. I do like the beavertail safety, particularly the one S&W used on my 1911Sc Commander, since it allows the highest grip possible on the gun.

As for grip panels, I am no fan of particularly thin ones. The rougher the better, in my view. I have VZ panels on my lightweight guns. Nowadays, I consider them a “necessity” on a .45 Commander.

My steel frame 9mm Commander isn't labeled "Combat".
Obviously rated for range use only..
Its a decent shooter, has the lawyer 5# Colt trigger.

However, it has been relegated to the back of the safe by this one:

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Sorry cannot ignore. Is that a SIG P6 on the left? I just got one last week. I like it.

Never had a Commander but I would like to get one someday. Anything with Colt stamped on it seems out of my price range and will probably only grow more so.

I love the 1911 platform, its history, and all the variants.

It still amazes me how a design that is 100+ years old could still be as relevant and in demand. Rhetorically, how many other firearms could say the same? There are some; but, it is a short list.

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Rather be outdoors

"Sorry cannot ignore. Is that a SIG P6 on the left? I just got one last week. I like it. "
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Yes it is. I bought one when they flooded the country for about $300.00. As soon as I shot it, I drove back to the LGS and bought another one.

The only thing I don't like is that the grip length is too short for my hands, but I can say this about a lot of guns. A Browning High Power would be my perfect idea of a 9mm service handgun if the grip was 1/2" longer. I recently bought a Glock 19x for it's Commander-like dimensions.

The Glock will likely end up on that list too, but not until after I have shuffled off from this mortal coil. The 1911 was and is a robust design and has proven to be quite adaptable so as to remain relevant to the times.

Got gunsmith to do trigger job...now- the grips on Combat commander are a little thin for me....suggestions, please...maybe Hogue grips?

I carried a 1911 and trained LEO's with this weapon during my career as a cop. I carried 45 acp and never felt uncomfortable with with it. I made very few modifications on it , good sights, good trigger,polished ramp that would feed a an empty case. It takes training and practice to keep up to speed.
As far as the 9mm goes, in my opinion, was worthless 30 years ago, however with the FBI adopting the caliber there are now some excellent personal defense rounds, Hornady Critical Defense and others.
It all boils down to Training and practice, over and over again. I believe it was Bill Jordan who stated " nobody ever died from a quick loud noise

I am always amazed at how many gun enthusiasts and shooters have never tried to learn the basics of pistol craft. Practice alone will not make perfect unless the mistakes in stance, grip, and trigger pull are properly diagnosed and corrected. In order to do that, the basics have to be learnt, remembered and frequently revisited.

That said, my old 1911 Commander is a great gun, accurate, with a great trigger and a pleasure to shoot.



I cannot recommend this simple lecture often enough!

Encyclopedia of Bullseye Pistol

Based on the length of the dust cover, that looks more like a Commander top on a Government Model receiver.

"Got gunsmith to do trigger job...now- the grips on Combat commander are a little thin for me....suggestions, please...maybe Hogue grips?"

creekman - I've been fooling with 1911's longer than I'd wanna admit - and will have to say the series of grips I've settled on have become my go-to for them, -
Look at VZ grips. They have some that look pretty good and you select the texture and how aggressive that texture is.
My latest pair look exactly like the old 'double diamond; design n Rosewood but are their proprietary laminated material and nearly indestructible. Look just right on a stock-block (other than sights) 5" .38 Super.

My first 1911 was a new/used Series 70 in the early 70's ($175)
At the time the only serious grips being put on in my area were Pachmayrs. Homely, but worked.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

A couple of tricks for 1911s

1. 3 types of mainspring housings: arched, flat or wedge. Figure out which one works for you and don't worry which one is considered cool this week. There is also a bobtail mod that is kinda like a M39 shaped frame but that is major surgery not a parts swap.

2. 3 lengths of triggers. Again pick which one works best and the heck w which one is considered cool. Long ultralight w holes in it to lighten is the thing but a short round face trigger works best for me. Your hand your gun.

3. Buy grips that feel good in your hand. Ultra thin is cool but not good for my paw. It makes a big difference. Function over form. Your hand your gun!

4. Front strap checkering improves traction but can chew your hand up. Pretty checkering is cool but ugly stlippling works best for me.

5. Pick sights you can see well. Just because they have a famous name doesn't mean they will work for you.

6. If you aren't getting hammer bit you don't need a beavertail grip safety. That changes handling dynamics. I've got them on some of my 1911s but not on others.

7. 1911 suffers from Tommy Tactical cool factoritis. Make sure any modifications work for YOU and YOUR HAND. For instance relieving under the trigger guard to get your hand higher on the frame is big cool factor. Doesn't work for me. May work for you.

8. Good basic trigger job not a 2lb trigger. I want smooth w just a touch of take up on a carry gun. People tend to want 2lb target triggers on all their 1911s. For a lot of gunsmiths that is a bragging rights deal so talk to your gunsmith before he does a target trigger for you.

9. Super tight is good for accuracy. Accuracy is overrated on a self defense pistol. I've had 1911s that would rattle when shook. 100% dependable and more than accurate enough for intended purpose. Function over form except for dedicated target pistols. My 1st custom 1911 would eat a ragged hole in a target. Wouldn't run for me even though it would run fine for other folks. 5 of us including the gunsmith went to the range. Worked for everyone but me w same ammo and mags. Finally I looked at gunsmith and told him to hand me his 1911. I ripped through 3 mags, 1 w both hands, then 1 each w 1 hand strong and weak. Gun karma exists. Quit trying to figure it out and sold it. Again your hand your gun.

10. Use quality magazines.

11. Ambidextrous safety if you need it but the mindset of what if I can't use my right hand and have to reach behind my back and draw left handed so I need a big gas pedal set of ambidextrous safeties is akin to a 20x mildot scope on a M4 carbine w a lite 16" barrel bc it's more accurate off a shooting bench. Don't make it into something it's not. Go as small as works for you. Personally I wish someone made an old style GI tab thumb safety that was ambidextrous. Big ambidextrous safeties are cool but I don't like them. My gunsmith used to trim down Wilson's small ambidextrous safeties for me.

The ABSOLUTE best guy I ever shot against back when IPSA was still somewhat realistic won some flavor of world wide speed shooting match. He was seriously good and regularly beat guys shooting fancy raceguns. He was shooting one of the ugliest 1911s I ever saw. We got to comparing pistols. I was using a stock Norinco w these mods - ambidextrous safety bc I shoot left handed, bigger sights w the rear notch wide enough for plenty of daylight and a basic trigger job. It was what i had. He asked who my smith was and said he like my basic 1911. Thought he was being nice even though I had been warned at the ISPA club he was a jerk. Stopped in at my gunsmith later that week. He asked me if I had my 1911 in my truck bc the guy had been by and ordered a pistol saying he had met me, shot my 1911 and wanted one built the same way except no ambi safety for a carry gun. This guy was good enough to shoot professionally and had enough money to buy any 1911 he wanted. Reason I mention that is find what really works for you rather than what's cool and PRACTICE! I don't know him but Ross Seyfried won one the early ISPA World Shoots with a 1911 that rattled when shook and the barrel was essentially worn out. Basic trigger job and a S&W rear revolver sight. Barrel was basically worn out from practice. The guy that I knew had an ugly 1911 from practicing a lot too.

Got good trigger job on my Combat Commander, now like shooting with thumb riding safety....much happier with the gun.

Now does anyone have holster suggestions for this gun for concealed carry?

I would like thicker grips on my Colt ...feel too thin for me. Can you give me suggestions - Are VZ panels for that? If so, where can I find them ...advice appreciated