.45 COLT DEFENDER

[Pete92FS]

My main carry is a Beretta 92FS but for my light summer carry I have a Walther PPKS. I am looking for something with a little more "punch" than the .380 and would like an opinion on the Colt .45 Defender from anyone that has had any experience - good or bad - with this pistol. Thanks.

[AEA]

It's similar to the no longer produced Officer's ACP Model. It is probably more akin to a Kimber Ultra Carry.

Difference being that the Defender has a 3" barrel (like the Kimber) whereas the Officer's ACP had a 3.5" barrel. I don't recall but I would bet the Defender has dovetailed sights. That was a big problem with the Officer's ACP that had staked sights.

It's a nice gun. I actually qualified with one (rental) when I got my first CHL. The Pistol I was going to shoot (actually an Officer's ACP) had a grip safety problem and was rejected by the Range Officer. I used the Defender to qualify and then fixed my safety when I got home.

It will be a bit snappy with hot loads!

[The Annoyed Man]

The Kimber Ultra I shoot is really a pussycat. It's not hard to shoot at all. I'm not familiar with other brands in the 3" 1911s, but if the Kimber is any indication, you won't have any problem with the Colt.

[RiverRat]

I've got a Defender, New Agent, and Night Defender all in .45 and love them.
Mrs RiverRat carries the New Agent(.45) in her purse daily. My sister also has the Night Defender (.45)as her purse carry. I carry the Night Defender (.45) about half the time, an XD45 compact at others. The other Defender doesn't have enough rounds through it to trust, yet. It hasn't failed, just hasn't got but two boxes (100 rds) of FMJ through it and no JHP, yet.

They haven't done anything but work the way they were designed. I haven't had any FTF or FTE's from any. I broke them in with 350 rds of WWB, and blazer brass FMJ, and after breakin ran a a box of Winchester HP through each, no issues. Use Colt, McCormick, and Springer mags without problems. Would like to shoot them more, but the ammo hasn't been easy to find........till things settle down, I won't be using much of my .45 stores. If primers and powders would come back I'd reload, but can't find that readily available either. I sort holding tight.

I have a Springer Ultra 3.5" with about 200 rds through it and it is very sensitive to mags....still don't trust it for carry. It's been having FTE every second mag. Ammo has gotten harder to find, so I haven't wasted the ammo for breakin lately as much as I would have last year.

I've read lots of 1911 forum about them. The only thing I've seen that concerned me was one guy recommended replacing the spring at 2000 rounds. I guess I don't see the point. I got these guns for carry, not for running lots and lots of rounds through. I have others with steel frames and long barrels for target.
It's a neat little .45 carry gun.

The recoil is easily controlled, no problem. You aren't going to like it for a 200 round range trip, but Mrs RiverRat and my sister both carry them and neither have any issue. We regularly go to the range and shoot a box or two each. Good choice, good luck.

[troglodyte]

+1 for the Defender

I have had one for about 5 years. Great gun. No nonsense. No whistles or bells. Just a solid platform.

I did replace the Hogue rubber grips with Alumagrips. Great improvement. other than that it's bone stock.

[Pete92FS]

Thanks for the positive reponses - they are much appreciated.

This is one of the reasons I joined this forum. It is full of people who are always there to give helpful advise and guidance.