Colt Defender .45 ACP
Model: O7000XE
Colt Defender .45 ACP
Model: O7000XE
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Colt Defender is a compact single-action .45 ACP built for concealed carry. Colt still lists the Defender in its current line. The frame is aluminum alloy under Cerakote with a stainless slide on top, which brings a .45 ACP 1911 down to 24 oz at 6.75 inches overall.
It comes set up to carry, with a Novak low mount carry rear sight, G10 panels in black cherry, two magazines and a hard case. The safeties are the 1911 pair plus the Series 80 firing pin block, and Colt lists the trigger at 4.5 to 6 lb. Nothing adjusts without tools. At 5.13 inches tall and 1.25 inches wide it is a flat gun that holds seven rounds, and the 3-inch barrel gives up muzzle velocity to a full-size .45 and leaves less dwell time for a hollow point to open.
If you're cross-shopping, the Kimber Pro Carry II has an inch more barrel at 4 inches and 7.7 inches overall, for 4 oz more weight at 28 oz and an MSRP of $980, so it shoots flatter and hides slightly less. The Glock G36 is the striker-fired alternative at 22.4 oz and 1.18 inches wide, holding six rounds with one trigger pull to learn and no thumb safety to sweep.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Two magazines and a hard case come with it, so the first spare magazine is already paid for.
- The barrel and slide are stainless steel while the frame is Cerakoted aluminum, which puts the corrosion-resistant metal where the sweat goes.
- The barrel uses a 1:16 left-hand twist, the traditional .45 ACP 1911 pitch.
- No accessory rail and no optic cut, so a light or a dot means a different gun.
- A short .45 ACP barrel needs defensive loads chosen for short barrels, because many hollow points are designed around full-length barrel velocities.
- Aluminum frame rails wear faster than steel.
Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for .45 ACP ammunition.
.45 ACP Ballistics →Frequently Asked Questions
What sights does it have?
A Novak low mount carry rear sight, which sits low in the slide and is shaped to avoid snagging.
Is the Defender still made?
Yes. Colt lists it in the current commercial catalog of .45 ACP pistols.
What safeties does it have?
A thumb safety, a beavertail grip safety and the Series 80 firing pin block, so the firing pin stays locked until the trigger is pulled.
What are the grips made of?
G10, in a partially checkered black cherry pattern. G10 is a laminate, so the texture does not wear smooth like wood.
