So I got the chance to lay my grubby mitts on the newish Colt Marine Pistol or M45A1CQB for a few days. This is the exact pistol Colt is manufacturing for the USMC for the MARSOC guys going into harms way. Having heard people saying how nice the new Colts are has gotten me curious especially after seeing the new Competition Pistol, the Marine is basically the top of the line for Colt currently with a retail of $1700 so it is definitely pricey.
The gun features a stainless frame and slide, National Match barrel, tritium sights and a gorgeous Tan/Bronze Ion-Bond coating. It utilizes a series 80 mechanism for the trigger meaning there is a bit of squish before the trigger breaks unlike a good series 70 trigger due to the added internal safety. It has a beefed up frame capable of taking the recoil of a 10MM to aid in service life of the pistol as well as featuring the new double recoil system from Colt (think just two recoil springs stacked over each other nothing groundbreaking). Due to the weight of the pistol recoil is mild and it shoots very nice groups courtesy of the NM barrel.
Now here the part of the review where if you are a Colt fan you look away because it gets ugly. Since the Marine Pistol features a $1700 price tag I feel it is justified to compare it to features and finish levels of 1911's also in that particular price point such as Dan Wesson or certain Springfield models.
The barrel to slide fit on the Marine is very good with a nice lockup, the barrel to bushing fit however is not that great with a small amount of wiggle and visible gaps.
It features top notch G10 grips that fit the gun well but the front strap is left bare and not checkered, which surprised me especially considering this gun was designed from the ground up to go into combat.
The barrel is feed ramps are not fully beveled out and polished either unlike what is offered on every other 1911 in this price point.
[Colt Marine Pistol barrel feed ramps note they are not even polished or fully done)
[Dan Wesson VBOB notice how much more work went into it as this helps make the gun reliably feed modern JHP ammo)
On to the smaller not as annoying flaws of the pistol fit and finish wise, the slide to frame fit is well classic Colt not super great but it gets a pass as that is one thing colt just cant seem to get right even at this high price point. The grip safety is not fit well and rattles as does the trigger (only worse fit trigger I have ever seen personally is on a Ruger SR1911). The safety also had some play in it when you press your thumb downwards on it while shooting a flaw not present on say a VBOB or a TRP.
Basically the Marine Pistol looks killer with its FDE coating and Marine Corps lineage, but it does not have allot of the fit and finish that is present on allot of other 1911's in this $1700 price point. The Pony disappoints again unfortunately and unless you absolutely are dead set on the Marine Pistol I highly recommend looking elsewhere especially at this price point. Now there is hope for Colt as the new Competition Pistol that has a retail of $900 has allot of nice features and at that price point is actually very competitive.
The gun features a stainless frame and slide, National Match barrel, tritium sights and a gorgeous Tan/Bronze Ion-Bond coating. It utilizes a series 80 mechanism for the trigger meaning there is a bit of squish before the trigger breaks unlike a good series 70 trigger due to the added internal safety. It has a beefed up frame capable of taking the recoil of a 10MM to aid in service life of the pistol as well as featuring the new double recoil system from Colt (think just two recoil springs stacked over each other nothing groundbreaking). Due to the weight of the pistol recoil is mild and it shoots very nice groups courtesy of the NM barrel.
Now here the part of the review where if you are a Colt fan you look away because it gets ugly. Since the Marine Pistol features a $1700 price tag I feel it is justified to compare it to features and finish levels of 1911's also in that particular price point such as Dan Wesson or certain Springfield models.
The barrel to slide fit on the Marine is very good with a nice lockup, the barrel to bushing fit however is not that great with a small amount of wiggle and visible gaps.
It features top notch G10 grips that fit the gun well but the front strap is left bare and not checkered, which surprised me especially considering this gun was designed from the ground up to go into combat.
The barrel is feed ramps are not fully beveled out and polished either unlike what is offered on every other 1911 in this price point.
[Colt Marine Pistol barrel feed ramps note they are not even polished or fully done)
[Dan Wesson VBOB notice how much more work went into it as this helps make the gun reliably feed modern JHP ammo)
On to the smaller not as annoying flaws of the pistol fit and finish wise, the slide to frame fit is well classic Colt not super great but it gets a pass as that is one thing colt just cant seem to get right even at this high price point. The grip safety is not fit well and rattles as does the trigger (only worse fit trigger I have ever seen personally is on a Ruger SR1911). The safety also had some play in it when you press your thumb downwards on it while shooting a flaw not present on say a VBOB or a TRP.
Basically the Marine Pistol looks killer with its FDE coating and Marine Corps lineage, but it does not have allot of the fit and finish that is present on allot of other 1911's in this $1700 price point. The Pony disappoints again unfortunately and unless you absolutely are dead set on the Marine Pistol I highly recommend looking elsewhere especially at this price point. Now there is hope for Colt as the new Competition Pistol that has a retail of $900 has allot of nice features and at that price point is actually very competitive.
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