[S4ad0w10]

Hello guys! I am new to this forum, so first off I want to say hi! I'm 23 years young and I live in Vegas. Thank you to all on this great site I have learned a lot, and I hope I didn't post this thread in the wrong area. If so I apologize


OK, so here is my question. I recently just purchased a pre 70 series colt combat commander in 9mm. I am looking for suggestions on what modifications/enhancements to preform to make this gun even better than it already is for daily concealed carry for when I'm off work.


Background- I am not new to guns, I purchased my first sig P226 at 18 (some wont believe me, but in Vegas you can own and posses a handgun at 18, provided someone over 21 gave it as a gift) I still own that gun and use it for work everyday. I work for a casino as a security supervisory. I carry it in .357sig solely for the ballistics. I purchased the commander for its ability to conceal great. I am just looking to enhance its reliability, without the concern for future resale value.


My father owned the same gun but in .38super and I like when he did to his, but I want to see what you guys think should be done then ill compare it to what I know he has done and go from there. thanks for all your guys help.


oh and secondly opinions on magazine companies out there? who should I buy spare mags from for the commander 9mm?

 

[gunbroke]

Hello guys! I am new to this forum, so first off I want to say hi! I'm 23 years young and I live in Vegas. Thank you to all on this great site I have learned a lot, and I hope I didn't post this thread in the wrong area. If so I apologize

OK, so here is my question. I recently just purchased a pre 70 series colt combat commander in 9mm. I am looking for suggestions on what modifications/enhancements to preform to make this gun even better than it already is for daily concealed carry for when I'm off work.

What is the serial number on the pistol? Does it have a "70" in it, if it does it was made in the the 70's. Colt never made a series-70 commander. The "series 70" referred to the collet barrel bushing that was only used on government and gold cup models during the 1970's. The Commander models never received the collet bushing and retained the solid barrel bushing throughout the 70's and as such never received the "Series 70" markings. I suspect you have a 70's production 9mm combat commander. If you indeed have a 60's vintage 9mm combat commander you have a heck of a collector's item that should not be carried on account of its value. Either way there is nothing you can do to the pistol to "enhance its reliability" leave it alone, keep it clean and oiled and she'll never fail you. Best bet for magazines is Colt, they can still be ordered direct from them for 9mm.

Edit: the one you're looking to buy in OR is a 70's production (1978 to be exact). And those stocks on it are not original.

 

[JudgeColt]

A Combat Commander is heavier than a SIG P226, holds fewer rounds of a far less powerful round and is about the same size, so I am puzzled as to why the P226 would not be your primary carry pistol off duty as well.

To clarify what gunbroke posted regarding the erroneous reference to a "Pre-Series 70" Combat Commander, the Combat Commander was introduced in 1970, so there cannot be any from the 1960s.

To expand a bit more on what gunbroke posted regarding the issue, here is my explanation of the issue. The collet bushing is what makes a Model O a "Series 70." The Commander and Combat Commander have never had a collet bushing so cannot be "Series 70" pistols. Notice that there is no "Series 70" marking on any Commander or Combat Commander, unlike a Series 70 Government Model or Gold Cup that is marked "Mark IV/ Series '70" on the slide. The always unreliable "Blue Book" makes the improper reference to "Series 70" and "Pre-Series 70" Commanders, which undoubtedly is a factor that has caused some to use this incorrect reference.

Perhaps the "Blue Book" error was generated when Colt put a "70" prefix in the serial numbers of Commanders and Combat Commanders for a while. The serial number prefix is a mere coincidence and has nothing to do with the characteristic that makes a Model O pistol a "Series 70," the collet bushing.

Finally, if I had a choice between carrying a pistol chambered in .357 SIG versus a pistol chambered in 9x19, and the .357 pistol held more rounds and weighed less, I would never carry the 9x19 pistol. Your choice, not mine.

 

[1911GUY]

Keep your colt mags aside and use wilson mags in your 9mm if you decide to carry,but i agree with the judge on the.357. Jmo.

 

[S4ad0w10]

Edit: And those stocks on it are not original.

what do you mean by "stocks"? sorry just never came across this term used before

Yes, you are correct i meant a pre 80 series combat commander as it lacks the 80 series firing pin safety. My mistake. serial number is 70bs78xxx

I did choose the combat commander because it was the all steel framed model vs going with the LW profile. I was afraid i could out shoot it, especially if i started shooting +p loads. And since I'm used to having a 226 on my hip with an extended mag of 15 .357 the weight isn't really an issue for me. I want the 9mm for cheaper rounds and less rounds on my person. I am a pretty good shot (mainly because mgm pays for range time and rounds so I am confident in my ability to hit and stop a target with fewer rounds. I am just looking for something to conceal better on my person especially in the summer months. I carried my fathers commander and loved it.

As far as what i already plan to do to her, I do know a very good local gun smith who has been doing work on 1911's since the 70's every shop recommends him. I was gonna have the gun ported and polished and have a nice trigger job done while it was there. Just to enhance everything. I was also going to have it blued, and add some front cocking serrations. Then take her out again and shoot her some more.

I will look into some wilson mags. thanks guys!

 

[JudgeColt]

"Cheaper" rounds for self-defense, that's the ticket! "Fewer rounds" sounds like an anti-gunner's justification for magazine capacity limits!

The Combat Commander does not "need" any of the modifications you propose, but, like putting graphics on your ride, if it makes you happy, then do it. But I would still recommend the SIG over the Combat Commander, especially in the pip squeak 9x19, as opposed to the .45ACP that is the norm for any Colt Model O (the internal Colt designation for the basic 1911-pattern Colt pistols of all kinds) as the Gun God intended. The Model O in anything other than .45ACP is unholy in my opinion, with exceptions for the rimfire versions and the .38 Super.

"Stocks" are the name Colt uses for the wood slabs that are attached to the butt frame with screws. The ignorant call them "g**ps," but "real" Colt people know that the Gun God has decreed them to be "stocks," so that is the term used here in the Center of the Colt Universe.

 

[gunbroke]

what do you mean by "stocks"? sorry just never came across this term used before

I did choose the combat commander because it was the all steel framed model vs going with the LW profile. I was afraid i could out shoot it, especially if i started shooting +p loads.

As far as what i already plan to do to her, I do know a very good local gun smith who has been doing work on 1911's since the 70's every shop recommends him. I was gonna have the gun ported and polished and have a nice trigger job done while it was there. Just to enhance everything. I was also going to have it blued, and add some front cocking serrations. Then take her out again and shoot her some more.

Yes as Judge mentioned "stocks" is the correct term for grips, which you will see them referred to by the more senior/experience collectors and Colt owners. If you refer to grips as stocks you'll typically get more respect but you're new/learning the hobby and the lingo. As far as the aluminum/steel debate there's no grounds for concern. The Commanders could handle the .38 super with no issue so the 9mm (even +P) is just a drop in the bucket and won't "out shoot"/wear out the frame rails.

If you want to have the smith modify it, have it. It's your pistol, do as you wish. But as Judge mentioned: having the gun ported, polished, reblued, and add some front cocking serrations; is like taking a cherry 1972 Chevy Nova SS - routing the exhaust out the hood, putting a huge wing on the back deck, and painting it phosphorescent yellow. It's money spent that does nothing for performance, just decreases the value, and makes people wonder "what the hell?!" for all the wrong reasons.

 

[S4ad0w10]

Ok. That's May have sounded like a yuppie I get it. But when I meant cheaper rounds I was referring to everyday target loads. I enjoy the sig. But I enjoy shoring in general. I like to go every Sunday. And I wanted to get into a 1911 and wanted one in 9mm. I am sorry that its an abomination in the eyes of 1911 purists. I just want to carry something less bulky on my hip in the summer months.

I completely see you guys argument. Just let it be known I own a 1973 z28 split nose camaro all original. And I drive a silverado z71 also all original besides BFG all terrains. I was simply trying to make the commander a more reliable gun with a lower profile to carry daily. As I understand it porting an polishing all the feed ramps won't change the value of the gun but simply enhance its performance. That's all I'm looking to do here.

And thank you for letting me know about stocks. I was unaware of that term. But I will use that from hence forth. I was considering some pachmyers or a nice hogue stocks for the commander. And I was recommended Tripp mags or Wilson mags. Are those the common consensus when it comes to mags? Thanks for all the help guys. I appreciate it.

 

[Oro]

Regarding some of your specific recommendations: Porting is often helpful on some .45s, and vastly less critical on 9mm's because of the case size difference. Relatively speaking, the ejection port is already ported compared to a .45. I'd skip that. Polishing is helpful if you have a problem. Do you? And I would add that front cocking serrations are great if you intend to add a scope to it; they are designed to let you grasp the front of the slide when the rear serrations are blocked by frame-mounted scope mounts. If you aren't intending to scope it, FCS's really just become tacti-cool bling for no great reason. And on a carry gun, they have the added benefit of acting like dull razors on your holster lining. They will scrape off leather in small chunks to helps wear your holster and gun at a vastly accelerated rate. Her's a gun that needs FCS. Other uses for them take a bit of bending over backward and specious arguments to make any sense to justify the cost of machining, refinishing, and of the accelerated wear if it's a carry gun. Gun that needs FCS:

http://members.iowatelecom.net/hatley/sw1911_sf.jpg

You didn't address sights, so if you are content with what's on it, then I'd just go shoot it and see if it really has problems before tossing money at it and reducing it's value in the process (so you loose on both ends). I have a pre-80 Combat Commander 9mm and it works with Colt mags and shoots great. I carry it frequently and am ok with the factory sights, thus it's unmodified and it never will be. Or at least I'm pretty sure it never will be. I'll have it about 40 more years, and then it'll be 70+ years old and at that point no one would likely be foolish enough to modify it!