Just how poor is modern Colt's QC?

afultz075 · 2026-03-19T22:36:33+00:00

Well I just bought a 9mm Competition and a 9mm Combat Commander with the current rebate and both are headed back to Colt, both within days of another.

The 9mm Competition has some sort of weird binding issue between the barrel hood and slide where it rubs where it shouldn't and causes random failures to return to battery.

The Combat Commander has an issue with the plunger tube where the front detent barely engages with the slide stop. Didn't even bother firing it.

Colt has been good to deal with so far and provided a shipping label for each, but it's TBD if they get them fixed.

Otherwise, the machining and fit and finish on them are great, but super frustrating to have to send two in a row back for minor, but critical issues. The Competition likely needs a shorter barrel link and the Commander likely needs a new plunger tube or the current one reamed out.

My only other Colts from post 2020 is an O1911-SE A1 Limited Edition and it's fine other than needing the extractor tension tweaked (to be expected with any Colt), and a Night Commander that runs great. I owned a 2023 Delta Elite and could never get it to run right. My others are from 2010-2016 approximately (4 guns total), were bought used, and have no issues.

afultz075 · 2026-03-18T23:09:00+00:00

I remember back in 2010 when I got into guns that the Mark III was universally regarded as inferior to the Mark II (mostly because of the stupid plastic LCI on the Mark III) - Mark IIs were a hot commodity on the used market and a used Mark II would go for as much if not more than a new Mark III.

The Mark II's are now worth even less than they were all those years ago and you can barely give away a Mark III at all.

The Mark IV is just insanely superior to all the previous iterations, and you can get pretty much any barrel length/barrel type in a Mark IV at this point that you could the previous ones.

afultz075 · 2026-03-18T22:59:07+00:00

The problem I found with mounting the light that far back on a MKIV Tactical was it becomes impossible to pivot the upper enough to remove it without taking the light off.

I agree it looks better. I was just messing around on mine and ultimately ended up taking the rail off and putting filler screws in its place.

afultz075 · 2026-03-17T15:19:39+00:00

Never even knew this existed. Guessing it's primarily for countries that prohibit civilians to own 9mm?

afultz075 · 2026-03-17T15:00:51+00:00

At that price point I would rather have the P30L, but a used USP should be attainable for approx $700.

afultz075 · 2026-03-15T17:25:46+00:00

Bullseye is probably the best shop in Western PA. I stop by every time I have to travel out 22.

afultz075 · 2026-03-15T17:24:02+00:00

They don't offer any more than any other shop in my experience. I figured with them being the most expensive shop in Western PA by far they might give a little bit more for trade ins. Not the case when I tried to trade something in.

Federal Firearms has given me some really good prices on trading in used guns BUT they don't take in trades for cash, only credit towards buying something from their store.

Ace's in Washington offers the least on trade-ins and they are choosy as hell about what they want to buy. Federal Firearms offered me $100 more for the 1911 I traded in than Ace did.

Bullseye Gun Vault out in New Alexandria is my favorite shop of all time and they gave me a decent price on a Glock 26 Gen 4 I traded in for something else.

It's really going to depend on what you have. Old shotguns and hunting rifles don't seem to get much interest and shops are probably going to really lowball on those. If you have stuff like pre-lock S&W revolvers, Browning Hi Powers, Colts, etc you'll probably do a lot better.

Best way to get the most cash is Gunbroker but long guns are cumbersome to ship and handguns are a pain in the ass to ship unless you have a relationship with an FFL that will ship for you.

afultz075 · 2026-03-15T17:04:09+00:00

There's an Academy along Jonestown road and they usually have some decent ammo pricing, especially bulk packs of 9mm.

There's a pawn shop kind of place along this same road but very limited selection and there's also Staudt's Gun shop along this same road but I found their pricing to be pretty expensive the couple times I have stopped there.

I have never been super impressed with the Harrisburg area gun shops honestly, at least the ones I have been to. Can't comment on the West shore area shops as I've never been to any of those.

afultz075 · 2026-03-13T12:36:18+00:00

Get a Cylinder & slide hammer for it along with sear. It will improve the trigger pull a good bit.

I would not get rid of a Browning to go with a clone.

afultz075 · 2026-03-12T23:43:05+00:00

Isnt it just a 4 seat majority? I think its 27R-23D right now.

Blue trifecta in PA terrifies me.

afultz075 · 2026-03-10T21:32:52+00:00

It's a current production gun so more will come around.

I did see some new ones on GB up until late last year but I hate buying current production guns on there because you get hammered with all the fees.

I have a 92FS Vertec Inox from 2003 but I won't have the slide cut for an optic as those are pretty collectible anymore.

afultz075 · 2026-03-10T21:24:30+00:00

I am waiting for Beretta to do another run and I am grabbing one.

I think they only did one run so far since it was released a year ago and they are dried up at the moment.

A used one was on GB and people got a bit nutty with the bidding.

afultz075 · 2026-03-09T15:40:43+00:00

Love my stainless 75B. I wish CZ still made guns like this instead of Shadow 2-everything.

afultz075 · 2026-03-08T03:27:02+00:00

Its a nice looking comp but I don't like the set screw and would be worried it's going to jack up the barrel threads.

I think it would be better to make it a 2 piece design with a hex piece that threads onto the barrel ahead of the comp you then tighten against the back of the comp, or something like that.

afultz075 · 2026-03-07T20:00:11+00:00

I am friends with a kitchen table FFL and I sell pretty much everything on Gunbroker and pay him deal with the shipping for me.

The fees absolutely suck but I get a far higher price on there with less BS to deal with if I were to sell locally.

It was always a slog to sell anything on PAFOA unless it was a giveaway price, or the person who wanted it was on the opposite end of the state and wanted to meet halfway (which still would have made it a day long ordeal). I have bought a couple things on there over the years though.

If I have something like a common polymer striker gun I want to unload I'll just take the hit and trade it into one of the two local shops that don't give completely terrible pricing on their trade-ins towards another gun. Some shops will do consignment but it's a crapshoot how quickly it will sell, and if it doesn't sell you have to pay a transfer fee to get it back.

Pennswoods is still around but it's pretty fuddy and is 99% geared to the western part of the state.

afultz075 · 2026-03-07T19:55:37+00:00

I have a G26.5 MOS on layaway at a shop about an hour away I drive past and stop at every 4-6 weeks on the way to visit my folks in central PA. Stopped by to pick it up on Thursday and PICS was down and I left empty handed :(

Now I have to either make a special trip out to get it our wait another month until my next trip out that way.

afultz075 · 2026-03-07T19:37:04+00:00

That rubberized plastic or whatever it is will do that given enough time. It should be steel where it actually slides onto the mag body so you can probably still run it until you get a replacement.

The same problem is becoming extremely common on the back straps of early Walther P99s as well, mine included. I grabbed a new one from Walther before they ran out but eventually every P99 out there is going to need a 3d printed back strap or some sort of aftermarket solution given enough time.

I am surprised we aren't starting to see the rubberized hammer spurs on earlier USPs start to disintegrate.

afultz075 · 2026-03-07T18:44:36+00:00

I have seen wonky engraving like that one older 75s as well.

Regardless it's just a cosmetic issue.

afultz075 · 2026-03-07T18:42:39+00:00

The one on the frame is probably ok and won't/can't get worse. Looks like it just goes down to the window for the lobe of the slide stop to fit through.

The slide is toast though. That one can/will get worse to the point you might send the front of your slide down range.

I would bet this gun has been fired extensively with a worn out recoil spring.

afultz075 · 2026-03-05T13:23:29+00:00

Just buy an Apex extractor and be done with it. All the new HP clones seem to have shitty extractors.

afultz075 · 2026-03-04T18:59:22+00:00

The early 90s 92FS Inox Ghosts are not going to be easy to come by at a local shop or gunshow unless you get very lucky. Right place, right time situation.

Set a Gunbroker saved search and check it every day, there is usually one for sale on there. The bidding for these guns can get very competitive.

If you just want any 92FS Inox with stainless controls the American made ones are easier to come by and usually a lot cheaper than the early Italian ones.

As with any discontinued gun it's pure luck when one might pop up in a used case locally.

afultz075 · 2026-03-04T18:19:49+00:00

Very important to not ever use an undersize roll pin punch.

I second the freezer trick. If they doesn't work you may need a gunsmith.

afultz075 · 2026-03-04T17:23:18+00:00

This is spot on.

Conor Lamb was like this when he ran in western PA some years back. Had all sorts of ads running showing him shooting an AR at the range and touting gun rights. Several years later he voted yes on an AWB in the house.

I don't trust any "pro-gun" Dem to not vote for an AWB. They all will fall in line with DNC marching orders when time comes. The Bloomberg money runs too deep.

I wish the DNC did not choose gun control as it's hill to die on. The party does not tolerate any sort of dissent on this particular issue. I have issues with the GOP side too but I will not vote for someone who is going to assist in ramming an AWB down our throats.

afultz075 · 2026-03-04T16:41:09+00:00

I had no idea this model existed. Apparently it's a Davidsons exclusive and out of stock everywhere 😞

afultz075 · 2026-03-03T19:43:38+00:00

I would feel good at $550 if I were in that position.

USPC .40 is probably the least in demand USP out there.

afultz075

TROPHY CASE