Range Review: Colt XSE Commander .38 Super

[mnw42]

I finally took the plunge and bought another Colt. I was going back and forth between a Dan Wesson and the Colt, but finally decided on the one with the horsie. It may be a little irrational, but I have the most fun with some of my more irrational purchases

Finding one was another matter. I tried a couple of different shops and neither could squeeze one out of their distributors. I finally said to hell with it and went searching on Gunbroker and found one in Nebraska. With the shipping I still got out for less than $900 (MSRP is $950). I picked it up yesterday, cleaned it as soon as I got home, and ran to the local indoor range after dinner.

...And here she is:



Look ma', no FLGR!






I'll have some time this weekend to take some more and better pictures which I'll post at the first opportunity.

The pistol came with two (Metalform?) 9-rd. stainless magazines with dimpled follower, a cable lock, the blue plastic box, range flag, the usual documentation, the ubiquitous NRA form, and a note from the Mass. AG ([color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color]) designed to make you feel bad (it didn't) about buying an gun. Colt added a note to the MA AG's memo saying we're sorry, but we have to - They probably include it with every pistol and it is a little amusing.

The fit and finish is pretty good - including the interior machining. I was surprised and quite happy to the standard guide rod. I thought all of the XSEs came with FLGRs; so I'll have to research it a little bit. The slide ran a little rough at first, but smoothed up considerably after a 100 rounds. I think that is more a function of the finish Colt puts the alloy frame than poor fit or machining. The one, minor, gripe that I do have is the slide hangs over the back of the frame just a hair and the sharp, perfect 90º edges.

And now, for the good part....

I ran 50 rounds of PMC 130gr FMJ and 50 rounds of Remington FMJ through it. I had no hiccups or stoppages of any kind. It ran flawlessly through 100 rounds. I will be shooting more this weekend, including some DPXs I had gotten from Midway and will let you all know if there is an change. I am especially curious to see how the DPXs feed. They seem a little longer than ball that I have and wonder if it will cause any issues. It'll be a good test of Colt's new(ish) throat design.

The sights are a typical, Novak style 3-dot affair and branded by Colt. They are pretty easy to pick up and shot right to point of aim at 20 yds with the ammo I tried.

The 80 series trigger was a little mushy, but light. There was almost no over travel and it broke pretty cleanly. My other 1911's are target guns and I don't think a comparison to my S70 Gold Cup is really fair.

It looks like Colt is still making some decent stuff.

[Billy Sparks]

Colt makes a XSE Commander in .38 Super? Where is a drool emoticon when you need one? That would be so nice to find one. Oh WildwhyhavenotyoutoldmeaboutthisAlaska where are you?

[mnw42]

One thing that I will add relates to that funny grip safety that Colt has been putting on it "enhanced" pistols. I didn't hate it at all. I was simply a little odd. I think I'll put a few hundred more rounds through it before I make the decision to keep it or swap it out for a Wilson drop-in.

[cschwanz]

Where is a drool emoticon when you need one? That would be so nice to find one.

That is a VERY nice pistol! Good pickup

[xm21]

Nice pistol,nmw42.I own a Combat Commander in 38super that was made in 83.If you ever buy any more magazines I highly recommend the Shooting Star from Chip McCormick.They also hold 10 rounds and have a pad that you can put on if you so desire,the base plate is pre drilled and the pad also comes with self tapping screws.

[mnw42]

It came with the two Colt magazines and I had an old, blued Colt magazine laying around I'll need to try. I did order a Cobra magazine from Tripp Research to see how they runs.

[NWdude83]

I'm just curious, whats so great about .38super?

Btw Ferraris have a little pony on them as well.

[malachi]

Glad to here the good report. I just bought one and have not had an opportunity to shoot it yet.
My dealer got mine Sports South www.sportssouthinc.com
They had a bunch of them in stock.

[mnw42]

The super came out in 1929 and was developed for the same reasons as the .357 magnum. The standard load for it is a 130 gr. FMJ doing around 1300 fps. Most of the modern factory stuff is loaded to around 1200 fps. It does this with around the same pressure as a 9mm and relatively mild recoil. The +P stamp on modern ammo is to prevent somebody from stuffing it in an old Colt chambered in .38 ACP (the parent cartridge). When properly loaded (Core-bon) it is a potent pistol cartridge that hovers in the bottom half of .357 territory.

I like the 1911 platform. If you want a reliable, mid-bore one the Super is the way to go. As a bonus you are a barrel swap away from 9mm for plinking or 9x23 for even more power. 9+1 or 10+1 with after-market mags is a nice plus too.

Besides, I just wanted one

Unlike a Ferrari, I can afford most Colts (eventually). Ferraris do have that heavenly, spine tingling exhaust note though...

[mnw42]

Update: 26 May
I ran another 150 round of ball (more UMC and Federal AE) and 30 Rounds of Cor-bon 125gr DPX through it this weekend. I am happy to say that it ran flawlessly and the accuracy is quite good.

It was a busy weekend, so I didn't get a chance to set up proper targets and shoot for groups. Instead I took any opportunity that I had to shoot at what ever I could make out on the back stop (25 yards). I could hit damn near anything at will.

The trigger has also improved considerably. The "mushy" feel that I had reported earlier has nearly disappeared. I can honestly call the trigger quite good.

I also picked up a 10 round .38 Super Tripp Research CobraMag. It ran with out hiccup and locked the slide back with no issues. The fit and finish was suburb. I'll probably pick one more up in the future and I would defiantly recommend them to others.

[vox rationis]

Really nice! I might pick up one of these with a lightweight frame. I'm curious, do they only make them in .38 super and .45?

[Billy Sparks]

I am pretty sure Colt only makes it in .38 Super and .45 ACP.

[Kreyzhorse]

One thing that I will add relates to that funny grip safety that Colt has been putting on it "enhanced" pistols. I didn't hate it at all. I was simply a little odd.

Funny, when I bought my 1911, the Colt XSE was on my short list. Couldn't find one and fell in love with a Springfield TRP 1911 instead. One day however, I will own a XSE. My question is this: What is different or funny about the grip safety on the enhanced pistols? Just curious.

[Billy Sparks]

What is different or funny about the grip safety on the enhanced pistols? Just curious.

It is more of a ducktail as opposed to a beavertail. I have read that it doesn't allow the gun to sit as low in you hand. With that said I cannot tell a difference in felt recoil or accuracy. The beavertail is slightly (I cannot say how slightly) more comfortable to me.

[mnw42]

Colt makes a SS Combat Commander in .45 and the LW Commander in .45 & .38.

[mnw42]

I finally got an opportunity to run some ammo over a chronograph this past Sunday and I thought you might find the information useful since all of the information I've seen is for a 5" bbl. As I've stated before my Colt as eaten everything that I've fed it. The chrono. was 10' from the bench.

Corbon 125gr DPX, 1350 fps 506 ftlb - from muzzle
1 - 1259 fps
2 - 1262 fps
3 - 1259 fps

Federal American Eagle 130gr FMJ, 1200 fps 416 ftlb - from muzzle
1 - 1200 fps
2 - 1232 fps
3 - error
4 - 1200 fps

[Kreyzhorse]

It is more of a ducktail as opposed to a beavertail. I have read that it doesn't allow the gun to sit as low in you hand. With that said I cannot tell a difference in felt recoil or accuracy. The beavertail is slightly (I cannot say how slightly) more comfortable to me.

Thanks Billy! Ducktail looks like a great way to describe it. I didn't realize it would have a different hand feel.

[mnw42]

Update 15 July:

I was cleaning the pistol after a range session (around round 700 - I counted the empty boxes) I noticed a small chip out of the chamber. Needless to say I was a little annoyed. I'm not sure if it was a defect in the barrel or a piece of crud that caused the chip to appear (probably crud). I called Colt that week and Cindy had me send it in for barrel replacement.

Colt had the pistol almost two weeks the returned it to me with a new barrel and slide. That is pretty fast turn around by any standard and, they thew in (unexpectedly) a set of grips for another pistol I had. I'm pretty pleased by the service. The slide was quite tightly fitted and needed a box or two to break in. I ran 250rds. through it when I got it back: 80 rds of Corbon 125 gr HP, 150 rds of mixed ball, 9 Silvertips another shooter had, and the rest were DPXs I had from before.

Accuracy with the new parts is about the same as before - better than I can hold. Reliability with ball and DPXs is still 100%.

Then, I tried some Cor-bon 125gr HPs and started to have issues. I'll start with the good: they ran right about 1300 fps out of the Commander's barrel.

The first issue is feeding. The first cartridge would jam on the feed ramp and just stop mid-cycle. The bullets were being pushed back into the case and would just stop. It didn't seem to matter if I used the slide stop, racked the slide, loaded a round of ball and fired, or used a different magazine. The second issue was the slide locking back at random times in the magazine. The DPXs, Remington UMC, Federal American Eagle or, Silvertips had any problems - so I'm inclined to think it is the ammo.

I don't expect any more problems, but I'll report again after I run the couple boxes of Magtech and some more DPXs through it.

Here's a more stylish pic: