Colt Special Combat Government out of the box match pistol
Special Combat Government. I chose the caliber Super .38 in hard chromed model number 02570CM. I wanted a target pistol in that caliber for me to exploit the fast velocity and flat trajectory of the Super .38.
First Impressions
When I got the Colt home I went over it and my initial impression was positive. The barrel bushing was snug to the slide and well fitted, but not so tight that a barrel bushing wrench was needed for disassemble. and a dovetailed Heinie front blade sight.
The Smith and Alexander magazine well looked as if it grew from the receiver; the mainspring housing was a part of the magazine well and was nicely checkered at twenty lines per inch.
Also on the Special Government Model is a Swenson style ambidextrous safety, rear dovetailed Bo-Mar sights adjustable for windage and elevation
The magazine release is well serrated for traction and worked exactly as it should. The trigger is a match grade aluminum, 3-hole design with overtravel adjustment. Out of the box it broke clean at four pounds four ounces with very little overtravel using my Lyman mechanical trigger pull gauge. I am reminded of the proverbial glass rod.
The ambidextrous safety is extended and engaged positively with an audible click and some effort. The Smith and Alexander grip safety was well fitted and disengaged positively. The double diamond stocks reminded me of the stocks that came with the original Colt 1911s and I thought that was a nice touch.
Detail Strip
The Colt Special Combat Government field and detail strips as any other Series 80 Colt Government Model with the exception of the ambidextrous safety. The right side of the safety is held in place by the right stock. Removing the right stock will allow removal of the right side of the safety. I was glad to see a standard guide rod in this pistol.
Initial Range Trip
We started the day with reliability testing at the twenty-five and thirty yard line. The only trouble I had was with the Metalform magazine which came with the Special Combat Government. The base plate broke loose from the magazine body about half way through the range trip. I called Colt and sent me a replacement right away. I understand that the magazine is produced for Colt by Metalform but I was glad Colt took care of the issue right off. I believe this is the very reason an initial range trip is a good idea to wring out any issues.
Again my shooting buddy Clint was there to run some rounds through the Colt. When he was done he handed me back the Colt and said with a smile “nice pistol Hunter, I want one.” We wrapped it up with 125 total rounds fired without a pistol failure.
My reloads consist of 147gr Hornady JHP loaded with 4.7gr of Unique with Federal brass and Winchester primers. I wanted to see if this Colt would feed jacketed hollow points right out of the box. I shot 100 rounds of that load without a failure. Next were 25 rounds of factory Remington 130gr +P full metal jacket. They also ran without a hitch. When I got home, I detail stripped and cleaned up the Colt. I paid close attention as I disassembled the pistol. I was equally impressed with the internal fitting as I was the exterior appearance and function. When I completed assembly I applied a light coat of CLP where it counts. Function check showed I managed to get it back together correctly.
Second Range Trip
My second outing with my new Special Combat Government I started out the day by setting up my CED chronograph and getting the numbers. With the muzzle about ten feet from the sky screens I began putting rounds down range.
Please click on the chart for a larger version
Once I had finished measuring the velocities it was back to the twenty- five yard mark to shoot for accuracy using a supported position. The results of the velocities at ten feet from the muzzle and the groups at twenty-five yards are listed in the chart above
After what I would consider the work portion of the test was over it was time to get the Colt hot and dirty. Again my litmus test was the home cast 120gr truncated cone bullet cast in the Lyman mold 356402. For the record, the bullet weight averaged 126gr after being swaged to .356″ and lubricated with Lyman Moly lube. Brinnell hardness was 19.5 using the Lee hardness tester. The load was 5.3gr of Unique powder, with Winchester small pistol primers and Federal +P nickel cases.
By now I was at round count 228 and so far so good. I then proceeded to the forty foot mark and poured it on. I had my shooting buddy Clint keeping my magazines topped off as I went at it. After twelve magazines totaling 108 rounds as fast as I could go, she was starting to warm up a bit. It was time to police up some brass.
Then again I handed off my pistol to Clint for a few magazines. I mixed in my reloads with factory ammunition to see how the pistol would cycle different round profiles with different powder charges. He run through them and maintained his opinion. Clint helped me by keeping the magazines loaded, the brass policed, and shooting the pistol when I needed a break.
I had 137 rounds left to round out this test. So with the same idea we went back at it with the finish line in sight. Close to the end the receiver began to warm up enough I could feel the heat through the stocks. The Colt was plenty hot and dry so if a failure was going to happen it was
Once round count 500 was reached I was satisfied this Colt was going to win so I quit,
I am sure you all are familiar with the term boringly reliable but this is the first time ever I said out loud I am tired of shooting this dang pistol. Accuracy was in my opinion excellent as was function through jacketed hollow points to lead semi wad cutters.
The round on the far right the truncated cone, middle is the Hornady 147gr jacketed hollow point, and far left is the Armscor 125gr full metal jacket. The Federal and Remington rounds were +P and I noticed the Armscor was not. All functioned well but the Armscor had noticeably less recoil.
I would also like to point out this pistol was brand new in the box with no “break in” period and no pistol failures in 500 rounds.
Here are four examples nine shot groups shot at twenty-five feet.
Another target picture of 27 rounds of 125gr LSWC shot as twenty-five feet.
Conclusions
I am confident in saying this model Colt is worth a look to anyone who is interested in a range, IDPA, IPSC, or target pistol. Though it has performed flawlessly, I am not sure I would recommend right off as a carry pistol. In my opinion the amenities such as the ambidextrous safety, Bomar rear sights and magazine well that make it an excellent range pistol may take away from its concealability.
The pistol unholstered well and had a natural point of aim. The rear Bo-Mar sights would be a little large for a carry pistol but were easy to find and index on the front sight blade for target work.
This pistol dispels the internet rhetoric that Colt no longer produces a quality pistol or the myth a tuned Government Model requires a break in period to be reliable. Though I was tempted to have it as a safe queen, after my test I have changed my mind and will put her in heavy rotation for range use and the occasional match.
Specifications
Model 02570CM (Hard chrome Super .38)
Weight: 2 pounds 8 ounces.
Overall Length: 8″
Barrel length: 5″
Width of slide: .914″
Width of grip (including stocks at magazine well): 1.32″
Trigger pull: 4 pounds 4 ounces
Magazine capacity (Super .38): 9 rounds.
Twist: 1 turn in 16 inches.
MSRP: $2099
Acknowledgments
Colt
Tom Beliveau, Gunsmith in Wendell North Carolina. Armscor .
John Travis (aka 1911Tuner).
Clint Riley.
