Just bought a Citadel compact - Page 2 - The Firearms Forum

mesinge2 · 02-21-2010, 11:19 AM

Damn, that came out nice.

Great Job

It looks like my Colt Combat Elite

Attachment 34318

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mesinge2 · 02-21-2010, 11:27 AM

Is the stainless finish a cold blueing or paint?
How does it work, the process?

I would love to do it to my Para GI Expert

Again, Great job

Olympus · 02-21-2010, 11:44 AM

It's not a bluing. It's an epoxy based finish called Duracoat. The black is color HK Black and the silver is color Stainless Steel with a satin clear coat.

The Combat Elite is probably my favorite pistol of all time. It was my inspiration!

mesinge2 · 02-21-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

It's not a bluing. It's an epoxy based finish called Duracoat. The black is color HK Black and the silver is color Stainless Steel with a satin clear coat.

Is it hard to do?

I would love to finish my GI Expert's Frame in stainless like the frame on yours to make the same two tone look.
Attachment 34319

Yours came out GREAT!

Olympus · 02-21-2010, 01:19 PM

It's not that difficult if you have the right equipment. I used a cheap airbrush from Harbor Freight, but if you plan on doing more than one gun, I would invest in a better HVLP sprayer. The main thing is to do the prep work exactly like they recommend. Take your time and everything will turn out fine.

Double D · 02-21-2010, 02:16 PM

Well, it looks real good. I think a flat black would look better but it still looks good. I hope you get the kinks worked out. I think they are good little pistols.

Old Grump · 02-21-2010, 06:11 PM

Looks good to me to and I suspect some of your problem may have just been new gun tightenss and not stripping, cleaning and lubricating it before your session. A few hundred rounds of plain old hardball ammo should get the parts worn in right and by the way hollow points are not magic bullets. I have no problem using a hardball against a boogerman if it was him or me. That is still 230 grains and a big hole. Marksmanship counts more for effective shooting than a 'Gee Whizz' bullet no matter what the ads or the writing on the box says. Shoot what the gun likes whatever it is and you will be happier with its performance.

Double D · 03-18-2010, 02:00 PM

I was looking to hear an update on this post to find out the end result. Anything new to report?

big steve · 03-18-2010, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olympus

I've been hearing great things regarding Armscor products so I decided to buy one for myself. I wanted to go with something different than the government size 1911. I have plenty of those. So I decided on the compact which is essentially a Colt Officer frame 1911 from Citadel. As I understand it, Citadel is the new brand name for RIA. I haven't had a chance to shoot this gun yet, but my first impression is that it looks to be a high quality little 1911. The fit on this thing is very tight. I'm not a fan of the parkerizing, so I'm thinking of having it refinished, either in a two-tone Duracoat configuration or having it totally reblued. Here are some pictures of it.

And here it is dressed with a set of my box elder burl grips...

got yourself some nice equipment there

Olympus · 03-18-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double D

I was looking to hear an update on this post to find out the end result. Anything new to report?

I haven't taken it to the range since I've done the Duracoating. I figured I would wait the 6 to 8 weeks it recommends for maximum curing time.

ALR · 12-29-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olympus

I finally made it to the range today. I left having mixed feelings. I ran 50 rounds of cheap Blazer aluminum and 50 rounds of 15 year old ball ammo and everything went smoothly. No fte's or ftf's. The gun did shoot about about an 1 1/2 to 2 inches left, but I don't know if that was just me or the gun. I bought some hollowpoints too and tried to shoot a clip of those, but the gun wouldn't shoot a single one.

I put a full magazine in the gun and pressed the slide release and it wouldn't come close to chambering a round. I tried with the magazine not completely full and it still wouldn't. Then I thought I would leave the magazine out and just drop a single round in the chamber by hand. I did that and pressed the slide release and the slide wouldn't go fully into battery. Even a little bump on the back of the slide wouldn't make it go fully into battery. I tried the same thing with a few other bullets just in case, but it did the same thing.

So I'm a little let down because I bought the gun as a defensive pistol, but it won't even shoot hollowpoints. I ended up reading in the manual that Armscor states that the gun isn't even designed for flat nosed bullets and that a certified gunsmith would have modify the feed ramp in order to feed them correctly. I guess I just would have liked to have known that before I bought the gun.

This may be because the gun is still not really broken in, but it sends brass flying all kinds of places. Sometimes it throws cases totally forward, sometimes to the side, and sometimes straight back. I took a few cases in the face, but I had safety glasses on. I also took a few in the ear. They hit my left side ear muffs. After I got done shooting, I noticed that the front of the slide had some shiny spots where brass had hit the slide and took the finish off. I already have plans to Duracoat the gun, so that didn't bother me. But for someone who liked the finish the way it was, I would consider this to be a significant cosmetic flaw. Here are some pictures of the slide nicks.

Olympus...Greetings.
I went through the same exact ejection problems with my new Citadel CS in Nov. After reading about others on 1911 forum, I contacted Legacy Sports in Pahrump NV and was told to send it in for warranty. Got in a rush and sent trying to beat Christmas rush and sent in with slide off as instructed and left slide stop pin out and had tried to adjust extractor . Sent in expecting to buy pin and extractor, came back no charge and working good.
I suggest you send in as is warranty, I had same ugly marks on slide and badly dented cases, ejected in face. Not fun.
Its a new gun, send it in. Let me know if you need phone # , They are very helpful on phone and have an excellent gunsmith or two!
By the way mine, and a lot of others shoot left too apparently, LOL
Good Luck........Tony

Citadel M-1911
Semi-Auto Pistol Repairs

Armscor Precision Int’l.
150 North Smart Way,
Pahrump, NV 89060
Ph: 775-537-1444
Fax: 775-537-1446
Cell: 702-875-1201

xpertz1 · 12-30-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olympus

I finally made it to the range today. I left having mixed feelings. I ran 50 rounds of cheap Blazer aluminum and 50 rounds of 15 year old ball ammo and everything went smoothly. No fte's or ftf's. The gun did shoot about about an 1 1/2 to 2 inches left, but I don't know if that was just me or the gun. I bought some hollowpoints too and tried to shoot a clip of those, but the gun wouldn't shoot a single one.

I put a full magazine in the gun and pressed the slide release and it wouldn't come close to chambering a round. I tried with the magazine not completely full and it still wouldn't. Then I thought I would leave the magazine out and just drop a single round in the chamber by hand. I did that and pressed the slide release and the slide wouldn't go fully into battery. Even a little bump on the back of the slide wouldn't make it go fully into battery. I tried the same thing with a few other bullets just in case, but it did the same thing.

So I'm a little let down because I bought the gun as a defensive pistol, but it won't even shoot hollowpoints. I ended up reading in the manual that Armscor states that the gun isn't even designed for flat nosed bullets and that a certified gunsmith would have modify the feed ramp in order to feed them correctly. I guess I just would have liked to have known that before I bought the gun.

This may be because the gun is still not really broken in, but it sends brass flying all kinds of places. Sometimes it throws cases totally forward, sometimes to the side, and sometimes straight back. I took a few cases in the face, but I had safety glasses on. I also took a few in the ear. They hit my left side ear muffs. After I got done shooting, I noticed that the front of the slide had some shiny spots where brass had hit the slide and took the finish off. I already have plans to Duracoat the gun, so that didn't bother me. But for someone who liked the finish the way it was, I would consider this to be a significant cosmetic flaw. Here are some pictures of the slide nicks.

These short 1911's come with an Extended Ejector to get the brass out of the action quickly. I have had to adjust quite a few of them for this problem.
It is actually an easy fix.

Clipper · 12-30-2010, 04:30 PM

I have the American Tactical Titan (stainless duplicate of the short Citadel) and it feeds well on HP's. I haven't tried wadcutters yet, got lots of hardball in lead and jacketed to burn up first.

02-21-2010, 11:19 AM	#26
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact Damn, that came out nice. Great Job It looks like my Colt Combat Elite Attachment 34318 -- __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson. Last edited by mesinge2; 02-22-2010 at 09:01 PM..

02-21-2010, 11:27 AM	#27
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact Is the stainless finish a cold blueing or paint? How does it work, the process? I would love to do it to my Para GI Expert Again, Great job __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson.

02-21-2010, 11:44 AM	#28
Olympus V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 83	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact It's not a bluing. It's an epoxy based finish called Duracoat. The black is color HK Black and the silver is color Stainless Steel with a satin clear coat. The Combat Elite is probably my favorite pistol of all time. It was my inspiration!

02-21-2010, 01:19 PM	#30
Olympus V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 83	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact It's not that difficult if you have the right equipment. I used a cheap airbrush from Harbor Freight, but if you plan on doing more than one gun, I would invest in a better HVLP sprayer. The main thing is to do the prep work exactly like they recommend. Take your time and everything will turn out fine.

02-21-2010, 02:16 PM	#31
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,082	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact Well, it looks real good. I think a flat black would look better but it still looks good. I hope you get the kinks worked out. I think they are good little pistols. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

02-21-2010, 06:11 PM	#32
Old Grump Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Little hut in the woods near Blue River Wisconsin Posts: 2,290	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact Looks good to me to and I suspect some of your problem may have just been new gun tightenss and not stripping, cleaning and lubricating it before your session. A few hundred rounds of plain old hardball ammo should get the parts worn in right and by the way hollow points are not magic bullets. I have no problem using a hardball against a boogerman if it was him or me. That is still 230 grains and a big hole. Marksmanship counts more for effective shooting than a 'Gee Whizz' bullet no matter what the ads or the writing on the box says. Shoot what the gun likes whatever it is and you will be happier with its performance. __________________ "When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil."~~- Thomas Jefferson Roman Catholic, Life Member of American Legion, VFW, Wisconsin Libertarian party, Wi-FORCE, WGO, NRA, JPFO, GOA, SAFand CCRKBA

03-18-2010, 02:00 PM	#33
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,082	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact I was looking to hear an update on this post to find out the end result. Anything new to report? __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

12-30-2010, 04:30 PM	#38
Clipper V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 381	Re: Just bought a Citadel compact I have the American Tactical Titan (stainless duplicate of the short Citadel) and it feeds well on HP's. I haven't tried wadcutters yet, got lots of hardball in lead and jacketed to burn up first.