Questions About a Colt All American 2000

[Pook]

I finally bought a Colt. It is the All American 2000 9mm Auto; it is ANIB with four 15-rd. mags. It has an alloy frame. I bought it becase it is different. I fired several boxes through it with no problems, other than the DAO trigger raises a blister on my finger during recoil.

The gun appears well-made, but a bit over-engineered for a 9mm. The only weak spot I can see is the stamped sear/lever the retracts an releases the firing pin/striker. It has a thin tab that engages an equally shallow lug on the striker. The stamped sear/lever cams up and down on a roller pinned in the frame; this setup really leaves me wondering as to its durability.

People I have talked to hate this gun; they claim it is unreliable, suffers from parts breakage, and just plain doesn't work. Although I have not had problems with it, I haven't conducted a durability test on it either. I know a tupperware version was offered, but I don't know if the alloy version I have is supposed to be better. I suspect some don't like it simply because it was such a design departure for a historic gun maker.

Does anyone have any experience with the All American 2000? Any complaints or kudos? Does the gun have any trpouble spots I need to watch for?

Thanks and all the best

Pook

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Modern Firearms - Colt All American 2000 pistol

It was discontinued in 1993. Are they making it again?


WG840

 

[cmort666]

Modern Firearms - Colt All American 2000 pistol

It was discontinued at one point. Are they making it again?

No, they're deader than Danny Glover's last lonely braincell.

It was an interesting design that was the victim of hideously awful execution.

A friend bought one when they were introduced because he wanted something different from a Glock. It had absolutely the WORST semi-auto trigger I've ever seen. The pull was like trying to exceed the speed of light. I squeezed the trigger and it just kept getting heavier and heavier until it seemingly reached infinite weight. I hear they had serious accuracy problems as well.

It was one of many bad decisions that sank Colt as a major producer of handguns.

 

[johngalt]

That was the gun that finally made me realize I could not believe the American Rifleman reviews. They reported that it had a horrible trigger, horrible accuracy, and theirs broke and fell apart under testing. They finished the review with a 2nd gun. After all that, they somehow still found something to praise it for.

The review was a long time ago, but I still remember it because it was so ridiculous.

 

[n4zov]

I believe the gun was produced in two versions, aluminum and polymer framed and faced stiff competition from the Glock. You will find a lot of comments posted here if you do a search:

ColtForum: Home

 

[7tenz]

I have the more common polymer version. Bought it at a closeout price. It functioned ok except Fiocci ammo had a lot of mis-fires.

If you completeley dis-assemble, be absolutly certain to re-assemble corectley. It will go together wrong and it takes three hands and a pair if vise grips to get it apart again to do right. The trigger assembly goes entirely under the stamped metal plate in the frame.

Also clean the rollers with non-residue cleaner and, very important, use only a dry teflon lube, otherwise the trigger will be the worst you ever had.

On the plus side, it is the best fitting handgun I ever had for my front paws.

 

[sheriffoconee]

I bought one back in 94-95 or so just cause the local receiver of most of my discretionary income had a pallet or so of them for just under 200 bucks out the door...how bad could it be????
as mentioned, the trigger pull was....intense, and quite frankly I didn't want to disassemble it after I did it the first time.....
someone wanted it and I sold it.....
it isn't any worse that some guns currently on the market, something to load, test, and put away for things that go bump in the night, but for "fun" shooting, spend your money on something else...

 

[Smithhound]

Hey Pook, as luck would have it I was straightening up the other day and ran across an old advertising catalogue from Colt dated 1991, it features the 'All American' on the front cover with a write up and hype and also the equally doomed Colt Double Eagle MKII.
Since you bought one of these, if this is something you would be interested in having, email be you addy and I'll send it to you free o' charge, I have no use for it.
I seem to remember a write up about this gun that pointed out if you hade 'fleshy' fingers or were wearing gloves, it could interfere with the rearward travel of the trigger, kind of pinch everything in there.
Never have seen one or heard of them again.
Let me know about the catalogue.
RD

 

[Lt JL]

Think of it as an Edsel. Interesting in a sort of quirky way, but totally impractical, poorly engineered and unreliable. Oil it well, put it away, and save it for 50 more years. Then it'll be worth a thousand dollars, like every other old Colt.

 

[tom turner]

Edsel indeed. There are certainly some new ones still languishing around in some dusty, little old gun stores . . .

 

[Frank237]

I have seen the alloy framed models occasionally SELL for some crazy prices to collectors. I think these are younger guys who are trying to buy most ANYTHING they can thats Colt and remotely affordable.

But I have seen three or four of thems sell in the past four or five years for prices I thought were crazy. Talking $800-$1200 NIB.

FN in MT

 

[2152hq]

I handled and shot one when I worked at a gunshop in the early 90's. The experience has been pretty much already summed up here. I do remember shaking my head after firing it wondering what they were thinking when they designed it.
I'm not in to Glocks and the other assorted such handguns, but how they ever though that pistol was going to give the others a run for a share of the L/E and personal security handgun market is amazing.

 

[revolvergeek]

We got two of the alloy framed ones in at the store that I was working at at the time. Both broke while being handled by customers and were sent back for credit. The only good thing that I can say about it is that the slide was very easy to pull back, and many female customers thought that they were going to like it until they tried the trigger. The trigger always reminded me of the little plastic disc guns (Zebra brand?) that I had a bunch of when I was little; straight back, lots of stack, then a break about as crisp as a dill pickle left on the countertop for two days, then lots of overtravel.

 

[The Highlander]

The gun was actually designed by Reed Knight I believe, you know the Knight's Armament guy that did the AR-10 .308's. Very talented gun designer. I think the problem is that Colt bought the rights to the gun, then screwed around with it to get it in production. I played with one of the original alloy versions, and almost bought it.

I remember writing that the trigger reminded me of the ping-pong ball shooters of the day. As the trigger was pulled, it ran up an inclined plane until it reached the rear of the pull, where it released under spring tension and "fired" a ping-pong ball.

The 2000 felt worse.

Maybe Knight saw Colt coming and sold Colt a pig in a poke, or maybe Colt took a good product and screwed it up. Who knows.

The Highlander

 

[Pugged]

HELP

Ok, newbie here. And a not-so-proud owner of said Colt 2000 polymer frame (trigger replaced in recall several years back).

First time to take it down today for cleaning. And I am ashamed but nonetheless determined to reassemble the pos so I might take it to the range once more.

I cannot get it back together. Please, for the love of God, somebody please help me .

 

[kfede1]

Actually now that Colt blueprinted it, di a ramp job, new trigger, etc, it is my best

When I got this thing, it had all the issues that caused it a bad reputation. Colt went through the gun and when I got it back, it was pretty much perfect. I can even shoot some old izraeli ammo that is well past it's date. My glock fails to fire about 1 out of 3 rounds of that old stuff. The colt has never had a misfire with that ammo. Because it fits my hand, it is pretty much my favorite gun to take to the range. I know this thread is pretty old, but I found it when I went looking for additional clips for the gun.

 

[Cyrano]

I had one with the alloy frame; I think the first 2000 had the alloy frame and were supposed to be a little special. I had no trouble with the trigger pull, and shot it a lot, mostly with cast bullet handloads. Had no reliability problems and never broke a part. I didn't think it was a bad pistol but for some reason lost in the mists of the past, I sold it.

 

[inspcalahan]

I still have mine - the polymer version. The ergonomics are outstanding in my opinion. The grip size, angle, etc I'm talking about. I haven't shot it as much as my other 9mm's, but when I have it's run 100% and is "combat" accurate. The downside is the trigger pull, and BOY IS IT THE DOWNSIDE! After a mag or two, my trigger finger is just worn out.

All that being said, it's quirky and I've got one. I won't be getting rid of it. It deserves a place in the family, much like that odd uncle or brother in law.

 

[Frank237]

Funny how these old threads get resurrected.

I have two comments I'd like to post regarding such items. Poorly executed, but with additional work as well as adapting to their quirks one CAN make them passable.

My first comment mentions "polishing" a certain item...but that one may get me a demerit.

I will relate something wise my Ve t once mentioned as I helped him work on a truly unruly, constantly problematic horse. "With so many good horses out there...Why keep a bad one"?

 

[revolvergeek]

They are starting to be collectible these days, particularly the all metal one. We got one in at the shop I was working at back when they first came out. It was one of the only three guns that every broke while on display. Very comfortable grip and easy to rack slide though. It is a pity that they couldn't work out the other issues.