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Colt Defender

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  • texas_teacher

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    Feb 14, 2009
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    God I felt one of these this weekend and this is what my fiance and I have been looking for... We are avid Colt fans with the Mustang and the Plus II being in our collection and would love to hear what everyone has to say about this little beauty... I also wanted to see if there was in the Austin area that was willing to meet out at the range to let me put a couple through it... I'd be willing to let you fire anything that I've got and also pay your range fee or buy you lunch whatever... I just really want to see how Colt has tamed that little devil of a 45 in this compact beauty...
    Military Camp
     

    kerryp

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    Apr 12, 2009
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    When I was looking at a compact, I looked at the Defender and the Colt New Agent and liked them both.

    I ended up going with a Kimber Ultra Carry II, and I like it.

    I am sure that the defender, agent and ultra are all very similar in how they shoot. I really thought recoil was going to be worse than it is, you might want to check with Reds and see if they have one you can rent to shoot if noone here speaks up...
     

    dbgun

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    Mar 17, 2008
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    Good luck in your serch. I finally bought my first Colt pistol (Commander XSE, SS, 38Super) a couple of months ago. I really like it. Ammo is a little expensive but pretty easy to find.:patriot:
     

    texas_teacher

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    When I was looking at a compact, I looked at the Defender and the Colt New Agent and liked them both.

    I ended up going with a Kimber Ultra Carry II, and I like it.

    I am sure that the defender, agent and ultra are all very similar in how they shoot. I really thought recoil was going to be worse than it is, you might want to check with Reds and see if they have one you can rent to shoot if noone here speaks up...

    Yeah I love the look of that Kimber and if I had a couple more C-notes to drop on it I loved the feel of the Raptor in my hand at the gun show this weekend... now that thing is a true work of art... I looked at Red's and they don't list it as an available rental... and no offense to those on the forum that are employed at Red's but I don't shop there unless I really have to because everytime I've been in there it's just been one bad experience after another... so coincidently I was just in there yesterday and once again my fiance and I had another pitiful experience where she was wanting to see a gun and there are four employees standing around and not paying attention to any of the customers... oh well to each his own right?

    But in your opinion the recoil is really manageable?
     

    kerryp

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    Yes the recoil is totally manageable. and the gun is accurate. I have small hands and a 1911 works well for me and the compact fits and conceals well in my cross breed holster. Now if my CCL would just get here.

    As for price, I got my Kimber for less than the Defender that was for sale next to it....but the Kimber wasn't stainless, and the defender is, so that is the reason for the price difference....
     

    smschulz

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    Apr 13, 2008
    546
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    The Colt Defender is a nice little gun. I do admit is not the freindliest shooter compared to the larger models. I also have a Commander and a Gov't sized Combat Elite. I like the size and it is a sexy littly pistol but with the increased recoil it is somewhat harder to manage and you have to watch out for brass occasioally whacking you in the forehead or learn to 'shoot and duck' . I still like it but only ocasionaly shoot it for that reason.

    My Defender (with a little EMP influence):

    DefenderCCR.jpg
     

    texas_teacher

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    Feb 14, 2009
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    Yes the recoil is totally manageable. and the gun is accurate. I have small hands and a 1911 works well for me and the compact fits and conceals well in my cross breed holster. Now if my CCL would just get here.

    As for price, I got my Kimber for less than the Defender that was for sale next to it....but the Kimber wasn't stainless, and the defender is, so that is the reason for the price difference....

    Which Kimber did you end up going with? I also felt the Raptor this weekend and it is a sexy beast I just don't know if I can justify that much for my first 45... especially not when a DPMS .223 is on the buying list...
     

    texas_teacher

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    Feb 14, 2009
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    The Colt Defender is a nice little gun. I do admit is not the freindliest shooter compared to the larger models. I also have a Commander and a Gov't sized Combat Elite. I like the size and it is a sexy littly pistol but with the increased recoil it is somewhat harder to manage and you have to watch out for brass occasioally whacking you in the forehead or learn to 'shoot and duck' . I still like it but only ocasionaly shoot it for that reason.

    My Defender (with a little EMP influence):

    DefenderCCR.jpg

    Gotcha thanks for the insight... "shoot and duck" I like that I'll have to remember that when I pick one up
     

    kerryp

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    Apr 12, 2009
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    Which Kimber did you end up going with? I also felt the Raptor this weekend and it is a sexy beast I just don't know if I can justify that much for my first 45... especially not when a DPMS .223 is on the buying list...

    I got the Ultra Carry II, much cheaper than the Raptor :)

    P1010003.jpg
     

    HadEmAll

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    Feb 19, 2009
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    I had always thought that 3" 1911 style pistols were problems waiting to happen, just based on the reading I've done on many forums.
    BUT
    2 people in my family, both relatively new to firearms, bought Defenders against my gentle warnings, and both are very happy with them. I've shot both of theirs, and must admit I like them very much. No failures to feed, fire, or extract, for which I was honestly surprised.

    I'll stay with my 5" for now, but if the opportunity presents itself, I must admit I'd like to own one now.
     

    texas_teacher

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    Feb 14, 2009
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    I had always thought that 3" 1911 style pistols were problems waiting to happen, just based on the reading I've done on many forums.
    BUT
    2 people in my family, both relatively new to firearms, bought Defenders against my gentle warnings, and both are very happy with them. I've shot both of theirs, and must admit I like them very much. No failures to feed, fire, or extract, for which I was honestly surprised.

    I'll stay with my 5" for now, but if the opportunity presents itself, I must admit I'd like to own one now.

    Good to know... I think they are truly exceptionally built...
     

    ambidextrous1

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    Short-barrelled 1911s got a (well-deserved) bad rap many years ago, but this is the 21st Century, and more than one manufacturer has found the way to make reliable short-barrelled pistols. My Defender has been (and is) reliable for the couple of thousands of rounds I've put through it, and I hear the same from Kimber owners; I expect that there are other manufacturers who are producing "snubby" 1911s.
     

    texas_teacher

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    Feb 14, 2009
    2,114
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    South Korea
    Short-barrelled 1911s got a (well-deserved) bad rap many years ago, but this is the 21st Century, and more than one manufacturer has found the way to make reliable short-barrelled pistols. My Defender has been (and is) reliable for the couple of thousands of rounds I've put through it, and I hear the same from Kimber owners; I expect that there are other manufacturers who are producing "snubby" 1911s.

    Yeah I'm also examining a couple of other short-barreled 1911's one by Springfield and then the Raptor and Custom Carry II from Kimber... I just still love that grip on the Defender... hmmmm choices choices choices
     

    Scrounger

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    May 19, 2010
    1
    1
    Southeast Texas
    Recoil is relative

    Owning quite a few different variations of the 1911 platform in .45 acp, I find the longer the barrel, the more tame the felt recoil. My Taurus PT1911 5" barrel is a sweet shooter. My 80 Series Colt Officer's Model with it's 3.5 " barrel has a bit more bark and bite. However, the Hogue grips seem to lessen the felt recoil of the Officer sized 3" barrel stainless Colt Defender. I also have a Colt Night Defender TALO Edition and a Kimber Carry II with Crimson Trace laser grips. They are all very controllable, accurate and reliable. But, being a fan of the .45 acp caliber, my compact Taurus Pro 745 is a nice all day carry / shooter too. Buy them new. Wring them out with hardball and carry Hornady Critical Defense or Winchester Ranger +P ammo.
     

    c_m_shooter

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    Oct 6, 2009
    109
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    Paradise
    I have had a Defender for awhile now and really like it. If you plan on shooting it a lot I hope you reload, it really likes 200 grain cast swc over 4 grains of Bullseye. There is something about the 180 and 200 grain bullets that just feels right in this pistol. I have had no failures since I got the current recoil spring assembly from Colt. The Hogue grips that come on it make the pistol much easier to shoot accurately, but I prefer smooth wood grip panels since mine spends a lot of time in an IWB holster. The only other small issue is that the heavy recoil spring that these small guns require make it impossible for my wife to rack the slide. If she wants to shoot it when we're at the range I lock the slide back and lay it on the table for her. She can run it from there, but could not use it for carry on her own just because of not being able to clear it if needed.
     
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