When recently I sought to evaluate the current Colt Python, I told the people at Colt that my first centerfire handgun was a 6” Python and the first autoloading pistol I carried in uniform as a peace officer was the Colt National Match 45. When they offered the current ‘snake,’ they also offered a sample of the Combat Elite – I selected the Commander version in 9mm Luger.
Striking in appearance, it’s a ca-34 ounce, stainless steel 9-round 9mm with bilateral (‘ambidextrous’) safety levers, 25 LPI checkering on the front strap, night sightst and G10 “Colt-“ marked stocks. The finish – “TT Elite” – is best described as a blackened stainless that’s had the flats of slide and frame brushed. This renders the flats in silver, while the top, bottom, rear (only) cocking serrations, and laser-engraved lettering remains PVD coated. I like the look. While it’s not ‘new’ in the gun making world, Colt’s made it their own in the Combat Elite line.
The genuine Novak sights are marked “Night Fision,” indicating perhaps the source of the tritium elements in front and rear sights. The front has a ring around the tritium, helping to draw the eye.
The barrel is Commander-specific 4 ¼” in length and it’s apparently a match grade barrel. Shipping with a single 9-round magazine, the gun has the extended trigger/flat mainspring housing that’s the current rage as well as an upswept ‘beavertail’ grip safety. A firing pin block is also featured in the gun – though I really couldn’t tell by the trigger press.
As I’ve done 9mm 1911 stories before, I was prepared for having only one factory-supplied ‘stick.’ I added a pair of stalwarts, both Brownells 10-round and Wilson Combat 10-round. While differing in details from each other, I like them both. Brownells don’t look like stainless steel magazines due to the Xylan fluoropolymer coating – corrosion resistant and slick. Wilson Combat ETM (Elite Tactical) are likewise 10-round stainless mags with the nose-dive preventing ramp on the magazine tube.
While we’re about it, I went through the holsters and found the Simply Rugged DEFCON 3 holster I had for Commander-format autos. A leather concealed carry rig, it has a reinforcing feature – so you can reholster the pistol without using forceps – and it is cut for IWB straps so you can wear it inside for closer concealment.
I took the assembled plunder to the range for some ‘social distancing.’ Someone had kindly left a shot-up USPSA target in a frame. I covered the center with an NRA B-8 repair center and marked the remaining holes, repaired back to fifty yards and loaded three rounds of Black Hills Ammunition 115 grain EXP-JHP. From there, holding on the bull, I fired the first three rounds out of the gun. They fed, fired, extracted and ejected – no surprises. I tended right, shooting standing unsupported. A pair went into the right side of the “7” – one close to the “8” ring and the other just clipping the repair center page, still in the “C” zone of the target.
Having (poorly) passed the “asymmetric” phase of my personal test of ability, I moved in. As I fired various ammunition through the CEC9, I found some irritating failures to go into battery. Before blaming anything but me, I took greater care in my hold and avoided contact with the slide. Now I can’t say that unfelt, minor interference caused the problem – but it quit and the remainder of the shooting was uneventful. I fired 93/100 from 25 yards on a B-8 – still tending right. I imagine that’s me, not the gun.
Aside from the Black Hills round, I shot some (rather old) Cor-Bon 115 gr. JHP +P and Winchester 115 grain Silvertip HP.
Yep, only hollowpoint ammo; it is, after all, a “Combat Elite” marked pistol.
The accuracy is there. So far, the function is there if I pay attention – or maybe it just decided on its own to work. I really like the appearance and I’ve been a fan of the Commander line for decades. For that reason, I intend to shoot it more.
I’m glad to see Colt doing so well.
- - Rich Grassi