I just traded some goodies for a Talo CCG. Basically a 1991A1 NRM with Novak sights, beavertail, extended thumbsaftery and a fiber optic front sight. It is basically the 1911 I think that should be Colt’s standard gun (well, maybe with a white front dot for purists).
This gun is nicely put together without the godawful front serrations that ruin the aesthetics of so many nice 1911s. The grip safety on my example was nicely fitted, unlike so many of the Colts and Springfields I have been seeing lately. The trigger is excellent at 5 pounds with very little take-up and no grit. The reset is very positive. Basically the perfect combat trigger.
I was mixed on the fiber optic front sight. Clearly, it is superior for daytime use but I have concerns about long term durability. Especially since this gun is clearly set up as a shooter more than BBQ gun. I am going to slap some laser grips on the gun and keep the fiber optic on there for a while.
For a while I have been bemoaning the lack of a great Colt 1911 with modern touches sans the cheese of so many of the current “World ATTACK PISTOL” or “NINJA EDITION” BBQ guns with goofy billboards on the sides of the guns and absurdly expensive boutique features. This gun seems to answer that complaint.
I should also add that it comes with thin grips and the usual Colt Razor sharp edges. Someone needs to alert Colt that knocking the edges of these things is not that hard. And given how awesome their bluing is it is a damn shame that a lot of folks have to get someone to do it and refinish it is some godawful bake on tactical crap finish.
That’s a solid looking hole punch. Integral shaving equipment aside, Colt’s been impressing me lately.
But I will agree on the FO front sight. I have seen a lot of FO go TU and personally I won’t run one.
On the other hand, even if it dies mid-defensive-shooting-incident (which realistically is pretty unlikely) it will still be a sight, just not an optimal one.
Can I ask where you got it and how much? Any online dealers carrying them? I’m thinking of getting a Les Baer UTC in a week but a much cheaper alternative is welcome if reliable and solid. This looks to be a good shoot it now and customize it later alternative to a semi custom.
Nice Colt! As for the FO front, I use them all the time in competition. One tip I’d give is to flare each end of the tunnel (I gently hand twist a slightly larger drill bit to do this). That way when you melt the FO pipe, it’s flared on each end for retention, yet isn’t sticking outside on the ends to get knocked around.
Colt should contract out their design department to Talo. They are actually offering pistols the consumers want. I bought one of the Wiley Clapp editions and for about 40% more than a standard Colt 1911, I got most of the refinements that I would have had a gunsmith add plus a NM barrel. I would have paid much more for the custom work.
If somebody was offering a dehorned CRG with some decent grips at a price that even competes with the imported IMBEL’s from SA, they’ll make a ton of cash.
I picked one up a month or so ago and I am real happy with it. Mine, although not like a bar of soap, does not have “razor sharp edges”.
Maybe I got the only good one. I did, however, change out the grips for some double-diamond VZ and I replaced the polymer MSH with a VZ metal one.
Tied a set of laser grips on today. I had to take out the short bushings because the long screws dont really get enough thread to reliably hold. Also blasted an additional 100 rounds down the pipe. That makes a total of 300 problem free rounds. I brought out my other Colt that I built myself (Well, I dropped in a trigger job, commander hammer, Wilson grip, dehorned, trigger, etc. Obviously, the trigger was better on my built gun. But otherwise I preferred the Talo gun.
Some observations on the laser grips. Unfortunately, my grip has migrated so high up on the gun that my knuckle is rubbing on the diode housing. Not a big deal, but it is distracting.
I did, however, change out the grips for some double-diamond VZ and I replaced the polymer MSH with a VZ metal one.