Just bought a 2011 Colt Series 70

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wow6599

wow6599

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Well, I sold my SA Range Officer - but couldn't get anyone to bite on my NRA Mini - so my Ed Brown will have to wait........again.

Anyhow, I just purchased (online) a 2011 Colt Series 70 repro and already have a list a mile long of things I want to do, but my money is only 1/4 mile long.
I must add a flat MSH and beavertail safety. I want Novak NS, 25 lpi FSC, a long trigger, a new hammer and the whole thing dehorned. Also like to remove any MIM parts (please no MIM discussion!) on the gun; I think the sear, mag catch and disconnector are MIM.

Anybody here have one of these "100 years of service" S70 repro guns, and would it be best to send it to Colt's custom shop when I have the $ for everything to be done at once? Or are there better (and cheaper) custom shops out there? I have always used my local 'smith or SA's custom shop, so I need a little direction. And before anyone asks, I bought this as a base gun......just not sure who to turn it over to.
 
I wonder if after that mile long list is completed if it will be any better gun than your RA was
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A better shooter? Probably not.

I didn't have a Colt 1911 in the collection........seemed wrong.
 
Here is a very lightly tweaked Series '70 from a few years ago I found on GunBroker. The work includes sights, reliability job, lowering the ejection port, beveling all of the sharp edges, and refinishing. It has everything I need in a defensive gun and nothing extra. The work was done by Robar. The work is top-notch, but not inexpensive. I saved a lot of money by buying it already finished as it cost me about what a new Series '70 costs.

robar_series_70-2.jpg

robar_series_70-6.jpg
 
I love the Series 70 Repro's. It just seems wrong making all those changes to a brand new, classically designed Colt. The only thing I'd consider is a higher visibility front sight. Colt has pistols in their catalog equipped as you've described, why not buy, or trade, for one of those.
 
Colt has pistols in their catalog equipped as you've described, why not buy, or trade, for one of those.
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2 reasons - 1) I got a heck of a deal on this gun.
2) I may want to get the parts myself and build it through my local 'smith.

If this was an original Series 70 I wouldn't touch it, but being a reproduction........not a big deal to me. I may want an Ed Brown part here and a Wilson there, things like that.
Or, like I said earlier, send it off to be reborn exactly how I want it. Not a run of the mill gun that anyone can buy.
 
If this was an original Series 70 I wouldn't touch it, but being a reproduction...
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You do realize that it's not a reproduction. It's a resurrected continuation of a standard Colt production model. I know what you mean, but...

If Colt began making Pythons next month, they wouldn't be reproductions. They'd just be the latest version of that gun.

Someday your choice of words will seem ironic, as future collectors will someday inevitably pay high dollar for a Series 70 (any version...including your new one). :)

BTW: Nice gun. Try shooting it with the classic arched MSH and short trigger. That combination was added to the gun after the military had some experience with it and was intended to improve its point-ability. You just might find that you actually like it.
 
You do realize that it's not a reproduction. It's a resurrected continuation of a standard Colt production model. I know what you mean, but...
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Then again, a "reproduction" is merely a production of something that was preveiously produced. "copy" etc. So the term is applicable here. The fact that the repro is done by the original mfr, probably doesn't preclude the accurate use of the term... Colt also reproduced cap & ball revolvers..

Still again, your term "resurected continuation" could be construed as an oxymoron by some.. though I know what you mean :).. Maybe we should just call them "resurrections"..

Semantics can sometimes be tricky...

Greg
 
Resurrection, copy, whatever....I call that a beauty. I fully paid for a Ruger 1911 about 8 weeks ago and still havn't seen it. Maybe....just maybe I go get a refund and consider this Colt.
 
To be honest, the whole plan doesn't make sense to me.

It sounds like your ultimate goal is to get an Ed Brown. Definitely a top of the line choice. But every time you sell a gun you lose money. If you buy one and then mod it, you lose even more money. This whole transaction just pushed that Ed Brown further down the road for you.

And what did you get in return? You're going to have a Colt Range Officer; a Colt version of what you already had.
 
Semantics can sometimes be tricky...
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You are correct. :)

I can normally halt the charge of a wild semantic with a well-aimed shot from my trusty reproduction.
 
I've lightly modified a few Colt Series 70's, and while I do appreciate the mods, at the same time I do somewhat miss the classic, factory spec on the guns.

Thing long and hard before you do any permanent changes to the gun.

Sights, I would do. The rest? I'd probably leave it as is. That's just me, though, and there are a million different ways to go with something like this.

The Colt Series 70 is a magnificent 1911.
 
Sights, I would do. The rest? I'd probably leave it as is.
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I may follow your advise to a certain extent. I may go with a Wilson drop-in beavertail, so no real work needs to be done, add an ambidextrous safety (my boy is a lefty) and find sights that don't require any cutting on the slide........Novak (Trijicon) fixed probably.
 
wow6599

Nothing wrong with making the mods you've mentioned to any gun, be it a new reproduction or an older original version of the Series 70 Model. I kind of went the other way. First I bought a Colt Lightweight Government, which already had most of the mods you were considering making; and then I recently bought a Colt Government which is a basic no frills M1911. I wanted it this way because it looked like a stock M1911 as well as having the "100 Years of Service" rollmark on the slide. One customized Colt M1911 and one classic Colt M1911.
 
I recently bought a Colt Government which is a basic no frills M1911. I wanted it this way because it looked like a stock M1911 as well as having the "100 Years of Service" rollmark on the slide.
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bannockburn, how's the trigger on yours? It's been a long time since I shot a Colt, and that was my buddy's Gold Cup.
 
Congrats wow on the sale and new purchase.

I just bought a lightly used Springfield Loaded and I am excited about upgrading some parts and making it my own. I love it! I think that is one of the major appeals of the 1911 platform, is the ability to customize it, upgrade it, etc.

That being said... If there was one platform that deserved to stand "as is", it would be the Colt 70 series. If I wanted a Colt and I wanted a model to upgrade, I probably would have chosen a model other than the 70 series. I understand the desire to avoid the fps, but the 80 series seems more conducive to upgrades, IMHO.

Anyway, congrats again. Let us know how she shoots!
 
Thanks RJ. I will post a range report after I get it.

Here is my problem - is a repro 70 Colt a "real 70"? I got a good deal on it, never wanted an 80, but I feel like if I have Colt's custom shop do the work, and I know it will cost me, won't it hold its value being that Colt did the work? If I just add sights and a beavertail, or have them do a "Colt Tactical Package" (sounds dumb) that includes the following for around $850 -

Complete Dehorn of all Critical Edges
Action Tune for Enhanced Reliability
Ambidextrous or Single Side Safety
Smith and Alexander or Ed Brown Grip Safety
Novak Night Sights (other options available)
Finish in Customer’s Choice of Available Colt Finishes
Checker Front Strap- Choice of Lines per Inch
Tune Trigger
Flat or Arched Checkered Mainspring Housing
Full Beveled Magazine Well
Hand Fit Slide to Frame

With all of that work, plus what I paid for the gun, I would still need another $1000 for the Ed Brown I was wanting. Seems like a decent deal for a nice Colt, but maybe my line of thinking is..........different? And some might think I'm "ruining" a nice Colt by doing that - I just don't see it that way, since Colt is the one doing the work. Am I crazy?
 
Sorry I forgot to congratulate you on your Loaded Springer. Beautiful 1911s that should cost more than they do - are great value and good shooter. I really do miss mine..........

Let us know what you do to her RJ.
 
wow6599

The triggers on both of my Colt Governments are excellent, as is their overall quality. Along with another two Colts that I have bought in the last couple of years, I think Colt is making a very solid effort at turning out a decent product.

It's been awhile since I have thought about having any custom gunsmithing done so I really couldn't comment on Colt's Tactical Package, but it does sound fairly comprehensive and it would be done by Colt's Custom Shop. If you want to modify your stock Series 70, and maintain a Colt connection in terms of who does the work, this would seem to be a good way to go about it. Let us know what you decide to do.
 
Congrats on the S70 Repro, continuation, re-release, whatever you want to call it. I have two WWI "Repros" 01918 "Black Oxides" and they are stunning. They were pretty reasonable when bought new as well. It was a lot of 1911 for the money when they were still making them, and selling them through dealers.
 
I bought my retro Series 70 Colt specifically to be a base gun. Don't like the way it comes, didn't buy it as a nostalgia piece, and it needs work to meet my needs.
Good raw material, but it's no range toy, and as a serious working gun it doesn't make it.
Those who don't want to modify are welcome to their own opinions & usage, but for the rest of us there's nothing wrong with tweaking. :)

Colt can do it & will probably get it back quicker.
I've used C&S with good results, most of my 1911 work is done by a local guy.
Denis
 
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