70 Series Colt 1911 ?

[CoalTrain49]

80's series triggers get a bad rap. Only the most experienced shooter could tell the difference. I can't. That's why it doesn't matter to me and a S70 may have some other features that you don't want, like an ejection port that isn't lowered. That will ding the hell out of your brass if you want to reload it.

I don't even look at roll marks anymore cause when I'm finished using my 1911 it will more than likely need to be refinished anyway.

 

[herrwalther]

80's series triggers get a bad rap. Only the most experienced shooter could tell the difference

I can tell the difference. First 1911 I owned and shot was built off the 80 series. Thought it was smooth and was impressed. Then I fired a beat up GI model series 70 and was further impressed. The 80 can feel very well polished at higher price models. I was lucky enough to handle a D&L Sports 1911 and all theirs are 80 series. Couldn't tell the difference with that one.

 

[Constrictor]

Pictures, my friend, pictures.

here ya go! cheap cell phone pic.

 

[wojownik]

80's series triggers get a bad rap. Only the most experienced shooter could tell the difference. I can't. That's why it doesn't matter to me and a S70 may have some other features that you don't want, like an ejection port that isn't lowered. That will ding the hell out of your brass if you want to reload it.

I had a 1990s ORM Series 80 (1991A1), and to tell you the truth, that trigger was cr@p (out of the box) compared to my other 1911s. On the other hand, I have a fairly recent Series 80 commander, and that trigger is very nice, almost imperceptable difference. So, Colt might have earned a bad rap on the Series 80s due to some QC issues some time ago. They really have improved.

My O1911 WW1 reissue has the nicest, crispest trigger of the bunch - but I suspect that is more a function of the Colt Custom shop than the Series 70v80 debate. I have a Series 70 reissue on order, so I'll be able to judge that one in a week or so.

I went for the Series 70 over 80 to avoid the plastic mainspring used in Series 80s (at least Colt used to, not sure currently - something I should have researched). The conventional ejection port does not bother me, my brass has not been too dinged up on other 1911s with the standard port.

I also wanted to go with a short trigger (though I will probably look for a raw trigger to replace the blued short trigger someday - matches the unfinished hammer more nicely, but now that's just cosmetics).

The Series 70 is also supposedly a bit better polished than the Series 80. We'll see - I saw some side by side in one LGS, and you really would be hard pressed to tell the difference. But I saw two side by side in another LGS, and the difference was very clear.

I was never a big fan of the Series 70 rollmark. Much prefer the roll marks used on the XSE or Series 80. But I can easily live with that.

So, my choice was get a Series 70, and maybe "upgrade" with 3dot high profile sights - or - go with a cheaper Series 80 and replace the mainspring, trigger and possibly hammer. Hmmm ... and then I found a Series 70 at the same price as the Series 80. Easy decision.

here ya go! cheap cell phone pic.

Congratulations on the new bouncing blue boy.

 

[SC Shooter]

I suggest you not deactivate the firing pin lock. Colt (and nearly everyone else) put it there for a reason. To remove a safety device for only a marginal improvement in trigger pull is not a good idea

One of the more intelligent comments posted on THR.

 

[bannockburn]

I can tell a slight difference between a Series 70 and a Series 80 trigger pull but overall the feel of it is barely noticeable. Not worth the bother of removing the added safety mechanism in my opinion.

 

[Constrictor]

Took my new 70 series gold cup to the backyard range this evening and put 300 rounds down woods target at 35' and it's the most accurate shooting center fire gun I've ever shot. No jambs but a few not going full unto battery with my kimber loads (just push on the back of the slide when this happens) but my sig loads ran perfect. ( slightly shorter) man I'm going to love this gun.

 

[Delmar]

Received a Series 80 National Match last Saturday for a combination birthday/fathers day present. Was sort of worried about the firing pin safety parts but nothing at all to worry about. Compared to the original Series 80 levers and plunger they installed at the beginning of production these are highly polished on all their surfaces, and the trigger pull was pretty good out of the box. About 15 minutes with an extra fine ceramic stone and a sear jig took the slight creep right out of it.

Same pretty much holds true with my Series 80 Government model I bought for my birthday last year. Well fitted parts with just a bit of work on the hammer and sear-good to go. I just fitted a short oversized trigger and arched mainspring housing to it and it feels very much like an old military issue-cept it doesn't rattle!

The creep on both of them was not a big deal, and probably would have smoothed out with use. I just didn't want to wait.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Series 80 triggers

Consider all the crappy triggers that people put up with in Glocks, Sigs, H&K and a multitude of non 1911 pistols. The newer series 80 triggers are miles ahead of any of those. The new GC triggers are very good. Shoot one and see for yourself.

Of course good shooting is a head game. If you think you have an inferior trigger, you do.

 

[red rick]

Good news / bad news , my new Colt will be here tomorrow , my FFL dealer will be out of town until Monday . I'm going to have a long weekend .

 

[wojownik]

Good news / bad news , my new Colt will be here tomorrow , my FFL dealer will be out of town until Monday . I'm going to have a long weekend .

Ha! The race is on! My new Colt also lands tomorrow too ... I might not be able to pick it up till Monday.

 

[Constrictor]

I'm already anticipating another new arrival Friday, an unfired smith and Wesson model 52 and I've got no ammo for it yet.

 

[Delmar]

my 3 sons

 

[bannockburn]

Delmar

Nice family! My Colts and their SA cousin:

 

[Delmar]

Well done Sir!

 

[red rick]

Ha! The race is on! My new Colt also lands tomorrow too ... I might not be able to pick it up till Monday.

Make sure you post a picture . I love looking at all these Colt 1911's , y'all have some nice pistols .

 

[wojownik]

Will post pics soon. Picked it over the weekend. Very nice pistol, the polishing is indeed very nice, more so than the O1991 - the bluing is is almost a mirror on the sides. Gorgeous pistol. Tight as heck, well fitted pistol.

I do have to report that the trigger is gritty as heck (might be the grittiest trigger I've had on a Colt pistol, regardless of series. If it doesn't smooth out with some use, it's going to need some "professional attention". Taking to the range tomorrow.

 

[red rick]

I just picked mine up today and I am very happy with it's appearance . Nice bluing and the roll marks are nice and very legible . I had read a review saying that they were barely legible on one side . Mine are nice .

My trigger didn't feel gritty , but it felt a little heavy , like around 6 lbs. .

The mags feel a little cheap , even a bare stop on both of them . I will get some Tripp or Wilson mags soon .

Overall very happy with my first Colt .

 

[Constrictor]

My new colt has a smooth and very nice trigger.

 

[wojownik]

Here's my Series 70. Below that is my current 1911 "family" -




The family - O1911 Carbona Blue, O1970ACS Series 70 (you can really see the difference in bluing technique), Springfield, Sistema Colt, and Series 80 Colt Commander:

 

[red rick]

Nice family wojownik .

 

[bannockburn]

wojownik

Great family of 1911s you have there. Love the look of the Carbona Blue 1911.

 

[red rick]

wojownik , did you have this stain on your hammer ? I am sure that I can polish it out . It looks like it might be some bluing . Here are some pictures of the mags . They don't match the quality of the pistols bluing .

I did some dry firing today and my trigger is starting to feel really good .

 

[bannockburn]

red rick

Those mags almost look like they have a painted finish to them, like it was sprayed on a bit too heavy near the bottom of the mag. I can remember seeing similar marks on Colt hammers years ago. Some gunsmiths I talked to at the time thought it might be a slight scuff or burn mark from when the part was being polished on the buffing wheel.

 

[wojownik]

Red Rick - no my hammer did not have any blemishes at all. The bluing on my mags appear different than yours - much less shiny. Mune have a "functional" but uniform blue job. I normally set aside factory mags anyway - keep `em in the box and go with my Wilsons or CMCs.

Bannock - I love the look of the Carbona blue as well, but it is much less robust than the standard Colt bluing. Very delicate by comparison.