I had a customer ask me over the phone about a problem with his colt defender, before I make conclusions, I figured to through out a feeler and see what some of your guys think the issues may be, to give me some ideas what to look for.
Problems: Gun not locking back, not dropping mags, and varies sometimes it locks and sometimes doesn’t - changed out mags, locks back, sometimes… he also said that when he stripped it down, it was very difficult for him to put it back to together without, depressing the plunger, and the take down pin doesn’t feel right to him.
The gun is a 1978 Colt Defender passed down from father to son, gun has never been serviced, est 10k rounds.
I have a few ideas what parts may be shot or what the problem could be.
Just want to see what yall think. Thanks for the feedback.
Knew a guy, and I actually shot the pistol, who had one, wasnt worth a damn. He sent it back 3 times, it never would work right, I dont recall him ever shooting more than two mags without a failure.
He finally sold it.
Not in my experience nor that of others, I am told. The one I owned was reliable, accurate and never, over three and a half years, did I have a FTF or a FTE. Many rate the Defender as the best of the sub-3" 1911 style pistols.
It could be the slide stop or the mags (spring or follower) causing the problem and the Defender often needs recoil spring changes at around 1000 rds. (some say sooner).
I had the same experience. Got my CHL, bought a Defender. It instantly broke down at the range, failure to extract, failure to feed, and – weirdly – shooting unfired rounds through the ejection port! I sent it back to colt, UPS Air at my expense, three times. I waited months between trips back to Colt, could never get anybody on the phone, I sent faxes, but they took their own time. After I got it back the 3rd time and it still didn’t work, I gave up. I’d spent big bucks on shipping, ammo, range fees, gas, etc. only to be screwed. But I didn’t sell it, didn’t want to cheat anybody. I still have it.
They say Colt AR’s are good rifles–I wouldn’t know, because I’ll never give Colt’s Pat. Fire Arms another penny.
I agree and this mirrors my experience although all of my Colts get a reliability job soon after purchased. My Defender has been top notch accurate and reliable.
I am conservative and always changed my Defender recoil spring at about 800 rounds as you will see failures soon after 1000 rounds if you do not.
Seven round Officer magazines need their springs changed after awhile but six round (quality) magazines like the Colt mags are good indefinitely, in my experience. A strong magazine spring is very important in a little 1911.
People let the springs go then cry about how bad these three inch guns are, often parroting what they have read from others like themselves. Sure the 5" Gov’t Model is the most reliable of all.
If you want to run a small gun, they require more attention, sometimes the use of a reputable gunsmith. Sometimes they do produce lemons like all brands have.
How many people even realize how innovative Colt was with the Defender by incorporating the patented Seecamp recoil system into a 1911?
They were even more innovative producing Defenders that didn’t work and giving awful customer service, thereby allowing Kimber and Springfield to eat their lunch.
Please, school us. I have not heard of all of these Defenders that didn’t work and I have never had bad customer service from Colt.
Kimber ate Colt’s lunch? Please. If you mean because Kimber pumped out so many more guns from their factory than Colt, yes.
Kimber’s mass produced 1911s are not in the same league as Colt, quality-wise.
