Colt Defender 45acp, thoughts?

915A · January 16, 2015, 03:27 PM

I was offered a trade for one with two mags and 400+ rds, for a high end tube amp I have. Value wise Im losing on my end, but dont play anymore. Good gun? Thoughts?

arktravler · January 16, 2015, 04:04 PM

I had one that was a very good firearm. Wished a 00 times I'd kept it... FWIW

smee78 · January 16, 2015, 04:10 PM

I have a Springfield model of that gun and its a great pistol. Easy to pack and carry, but with the short slide guns I have been told you need to swap out the recoil spring more often to keep it running % 100 . It's also nice to be able to use a full size mag for an extra/reload if needed.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 16, 2015, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 915A

I was offered a trade for one with two mags and 400+ rds, for a high end tube amp I have. Value wise Im losing on my end, but dont play anymore. Good gun? Thoughts?

It's an excellent gun, and your amplifier must be really high-end if you figure you're losing on your end. The MSRP is $1,236 and the street price is right around $1,000. The spare mag is worth about $30. If the ammo is basic plinking FMJ stuff, it's still going for around 40 cents per round, so that would be $160 . If it's JHP personal defense ammo, it's worth more than $1 per round, which would add $400 to the value of the pistol.

So in round numbers you're getting a package worth about $1,200 to $1,300.

As for reliability: short (under 4-inch) 1911s historically have a somewhat deserved reputation for being finicky. The Defender has it right -- Colt did their homework, and I rarely hear of people having problems with a Defender.

I'd go for it in a heartbeat.

915A · January 16, 2015, 06:07 PM

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah its definitely high end AB, more than your numbers. But Im really liking what Im reading and hearing on the Defender.

KyJim · January 16, 2015, 06:13 PM

The Defender is priced at $846 at Bud's but you would have to tack on the transfer fee of a local dealer. Still, how much is an amp worth that you don't use?

Grumpy_Bottom · January 16, 2015, 09:22 PM

I love mine, my boss loved mine so much, he bought one, then his best friend loved his so much, he bought one too. It's a great gun.

Kosh75287 · January 16, 2015, 10:29 PM

I notice the piece comes with the Series 80 trigger system, which at one time was no fun to tune. Do these come with decent triggers on them, or do they need work, once you get them? For their price, I would EXPECT them to come with good triggers, but I've seen higher-dollar Colt Products with bad ones.

Just wondering.

**Aguila Blanca** · January 16, 2015, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kosh75287

I notice the piece comes with the Series 80 trigger system, which at one time was no fun to tune. Do these come with decent triggers on them, or do they need work, once you get them? For their price, I would EXPECT them to come with good triggers, but I've seen higher-dollar Colt Products with bad ones.

The series 80 system is not a trigger system, it's a firing pin safety system that's activated (or de-activated, I guess) by the trigger.It adds maybe a quarter of a pound to the trigger pull and doesn't make the trigger any more difficult to tune than a non-Series 80. Current thinking among "1911 people" is that having the series 80 firing pin safety is a desirable feature in a pistol that will be carried or used for home defense.

The Colt New Agent is the same pistol with a "trench" sight rather than conventional sights. M1911.org reviewed the New Agent not long after it was introduced. Here's a link to the review -- their test pistol had a 4-pound trigger. You shouldn't want anything less than that for a carry pistol. (I prefer 4-1/2 to 5 pounds).

http://ezine.m1911.org/ColtNA.htm

michael t · January 17, 2015, 03:48 AM

I have a Defender and bought a New Agent when they came out. New Agent was traded as I couldn't get use to the sight . I still have and will Keep my Defender.

dusty14u · January 17, 2015, 10:28 AM

What amp are you going to trade? Some boutique amps are worth 3 or 4 times what Colt Defenders cost. You might try to sell the amp and then buy rather than trade for it. Plenty of guitar shops will sell it for you on consignment.

Unfortunately I have two very expensive hobbies in guitars and guns. Few guns that I am interested it cost near what my higher end guitars cost though.

KyJim · January 17, 2015, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Do these come with decent triggers on them, or do they need work, once you get them?

I don't have a Defender but do have two recent vintage Colts, one with the firing pin block and one without. Both are a bit heavy for my taste, around 5 to 5 1/2 pounds. They break cleanly (once I put a hundred rounds or so through them). I decided to leave them alone. I would rather have a clean trigger pull that was a pound heavier than one that was gritty.

tipoc · January 17, 2015, 06:37 PM

The Defenders and Agents are the best of the mini 1911s. The alloy frame make the gun quite lightweight. People that carry 1911s rate these guns highly.

But for fellas who are not experienced with 1911s the compact 1911s are hard places for them to start.

tipoc

915A · January 20, 2015, 09:54 AM

Thanks guys gonna make the trade

January 16, 2015, 03:27 PM	#1
915A Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 464	Colt Defender 45acp, thoughts? I was offered a trade for one with two mags and 400+ rds, for a high end tube amp I have. Value wise Im losing on my end, but dont play anymore. Good gun? Thoughts?

January 16, 2015, 04:10 PM	#3
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,952	I have a Springfield model of that gun and its a great pistol. Easy to pack and carry, but with the short slide guns I have been told you need to swap out the recoil spring more often to keep it running % 100 . It's also nice to be able to use a full size mag for an extra/reload if needed. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

January 16, 2015, 10:29 PM	#8
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	What's the trigger like? I notice the piece comes with the Series 80 trigger system, which at one time was no fun to tune. Do these come with decent triggers on them, or do they need work, once you get them? For their price, I would EXPECT them to come with good triggers, but I've seen higher-dollar Colt Products with bad ones. Just wondering.

January 16, 2015, 04:04 PM	#2
arktravler Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 117	I had one that was a very good firearm. Wished a 00 times I'd kept it... FWIW

January 16, 2015, 06:07 PM	#5
915A Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 464	Thanks for the feedback. Yeah its definitely high end AB, more than your numbers. But Im really liking what Im reading and hearing on the Defender.

January 16, 2015, 06:13 PM	#6
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,149	The Defender is priced at $846 at Bud's but you would have to tack on the transfer fee of a local dealer. Still, how much is an amp worth that you don't use?

January 16, 2015, 09:22 PM	#7
Grumpy_Bottom Member Join Date: January 30, 2014 Posts: 75	I love mine, my boss loved mine so much, he bought one, then his best friend loved his so much, he bought one too. It's a great gun.

January 17, 2015, 03:48 AM	#10
michael t Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2004 Location: Out back Ky Posts: 4,044	I have a Defender and bought a New Agent when they came out. New Agent was traded as I couldn't get use to the sight . I still have and will Keep my Defender.

January 17, 2015, 10:28 AM	#11
dusty14u Member Join Date: January 1, 2015 Posts: 33	What amp are you going to trade? Some boutique amps are worth 3 or 4 times what Colt Defenders cost. You might try to sell the amp and then buy rather than trade for it. Plenty of guitar shops will sell it for you on consignment. Unfortunately I have two very expensive hobbies in guitars and guns. Few guns that I am interested it cost near what my higher end guitars cost though.

January 17, 2015, 06:37 PM	#13
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 4,114	The Defenders and Agents are the best of the mini 1911s. The alloy frame make the gun quite lightweight. People that carry 1911s rate these guns highly. But for fellas who are not experienced with 1911s the compact 1911s are hard places for them to start. tipoc

January 20, 2015, 09:54 AM	#14
915A Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2012 Location: Colorado Posts: 464	Thanks guys gonna make the trade