When i took my first trip to Gunsite some 20 years ago i arrived with a Glock 17. I believe i was the only one in the class without a 1911 and the term "Glockenheimer" was used often to refer to me. M/SGT Chris Dwiggins-RIP was always our instructor back then and he carried a Colt 70 Series with few mods. The gun had the finish worn off and was not pretty. It worked. next time i came with a Springfield Loaded and the gun malfunctioned due to extractor issues once and a loose ejector the second time. Fortunately the Pro-shop was within walking distance. There was always a line to get to the gunsmith. They made a lot of money in those days from 1911 owners. The next time i took my G17 and my wife her G19 for a private class. No malfunctions. This was fortunate because the Pro-Shop did not open unless there were full classes.
Following Mr. Dwiggins' advice i purchased a Colt 70 Series. The only problem i had with it was hammer bite. Utterly reliable through 8000 rounds. Then i got tired of the hammer bite and sent it to Arizona to have it modified. While there i decided it needed tritium Novak sights, trigger job, match barrel, extractor work, extended mag releases, beveling, new safety and front strap stippling. Probably some other "necessities". When i got it back 12 weeks later i had several malfunctions somehow attributable to the magazine and the extractor. I had spent the cost of the gun to modify it and lessened the reliability. Next time i get a Colt i will not have it modified. That is why i see the Colt XSE as the way to go. So what if every few thousand rounds the extractor needs to be replaced. That is all that in my experience is additional work (from a Colt) compared to Glocks. Wait sometimes the extractor on a Glock needs to be replaced too. It has everything it needs and nothing it doesn't at a reasonable price.
Last edited by PLCedeno; 11-27-14 at 12:53.
NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor
Glock Certified Armorer
Admitted New York State Bar 1994
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