OT: My new(to me) Colt .45ACP and some questions

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neil mitchell
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OT: My new(to me) Colt .45ACP and some questions

Post by neil mitchell »

I bought this gun from a lady I know and her asking price was $300.Too good a deal to pass up! Someone gave it to her for a $60 debt so I don't feel like I took advantage of her ! I bought it as a shooter and it has been fired before.Seems very well made and functions flawlessly.It IS made by Colt.I finally found this gun in my Bluebook but very little on some other forums.
It shoots over 1ft high so I will replace the front sight.I took the gun apart(first time I did that since Vietnam and no problems) and looking inside the slide the front sight is not staked.Will it just pull out?
I found some postings from Hobie on one 1911 forum so hopefully he or someone else can answer that and some other questions I have.
Thanks

Neil

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NRA,Disabled Vietnam Veteran
Lastmohecken
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Post by Lastmohecken »

It may not look like it's staked in, but I believe it probably is, and or sodered. Be careful not to mess up that nickel finish/hard chrome or whatever it is.

You might want to try another brand of ammo with different bullet weights, it might shoot closer to point of aim with some of them. I am sorta surprised it's shooting that high, based on the guns I have had with those sights.
Comal Forge
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Post by Comal Forge »

It is probably staked but as mentioned, you might try different ammo first. 185 gr bullets typically shoot lower than 230 gr ball so that might help. You could also cut down the rear sight as that is easier than messing with the front. File out the notch several thousandths with a needle file and then start removing the top surface, a stroke or two at a time. You will see the bullet POI start to drop and it doesn't take much metal removal to move 12 inches at 25 yds considering it's a 5 inch bbl.
neil mitchell
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Location: Lufkin,Texas

Post by neil mitchell »

I tried Monarch and Winchester 230gr. The Winchester shot a little lower. Not a lot of variety to choose from in Lufkin,Tx.
I first thought of filing down the rear sight but with the polished nickel finish I was afraid it would start flaking off.

Neil
NRA,Disabled Vietnam Veteran
Rusty
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Post by Rusty »

I had a friend of mine that had two of the pistols like yours. Both were commemorative, one was for the ETO the other was PTO.

I'm guessing there were more pistols in what would have been a whole set. His were the only two I've ever seen.

I still don't think I'd change too much on it. Even though it's been fired it's worth way more than $300.
If you're gonna be stupid ya gotta be tough-
Isiah 55:8&9

It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled.
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Hobie
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Post by Hobie »

Neil,

You have two possibilities.

#1 clean it well and sell it for more than you paid and get another gun that suits you better as there isn't a lot you can do with those sights without ending up with an UGLY gun.

#2 shoot the holy heck out of it until you know where the sights shoot with your ONE load (230 gr. ball) and let the collectors cry over it at your funeral.

There is moderate collector interest in these. Should be worth about $700-900 (depending on the buyer).
Sincerely,

Hobie

"We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best that we find in our travels is an honest friend." Robert Louis Stevenson
buckeyeshooter
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Post by buckeyeshooter »

Try some 185 grainers and see where they shoot. Do you know that those commeratives sell for well over $1000.00. I would work for a load that shoots in that gun and refrain from doing anything that would modify it from original. Although collector value has been damaged from shooting it, if in original condition it will still have higher value than a used 1911, which are not cheap these days even for a standard moedl.
neil mitchell
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Post by neil mitchell »

Thanks everybody for the replies.
Hobie, I think I'll go with #2 since I am not and never will be a "collecter".
I'm going to shoot the stuff out of it and IF it malfunctions I'll sell it. I want to keep it and let my 2 sons fight over it when I'm gone. :lol: I've wanted a Colt .45 ACP ever since I first fired/carried one while in the Army.I've seen first hand what happens when someone is shot with one of these. :shock:

Neil
NRA,Disabled Vietnam Veteran
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