Colt 1911 Question
- Thread starter mattw
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vanfunk
Member
Yes, the 1991A1 series uses the series-80 firing pin safety. The series 70 reproduction does not. These seem to be priced in the $750-900 range, depending on regional differences, store sales promotions, etc. BTW, I've found recent production Colts with series 80 triggers to have very unobtrusive safeties. Alot of the series 80 triggers I've tried ranked right up there with that of my '68 Government Model. Try one - I'll bet you'll be surprised.
HTH,
vanfunk
edited for spelling
HTH,
vanfunk
edited for spelling
Zach S
Member
+1, based on one .38 super. For a 1911, it has a decent trigger out of the box. For a seires 80, it has a great trigger.
EghtySx
Member
I bout an XSE lightweight commander recently and the trigger was decent out of the box. Of course it's a Colt and has just gotten better with time/rounds fired.
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The (sometimes) problem with the Colt Series 80 firing pin block hasn't so much too do with the trigger pull weight, as it does with the fact that the trigger must have enough travel to insure that the block is raised high enough to clear the firing pin. If the fitting isn't absolutely correct the block and firing pin can batter, and over time the system can prevent the pistol from firing when it should. While this condition is not common, it happens often enough so that I avoid the possibility by using Colt's, and others without the block. 
Old Fuff, that is exactly why I was wanting to avoid the firing pin saftey. That is why I bought a Springfield, I read somewhere that they do not use a firing pin saftey.. they just use a .38 super firing pin and a really heavy spring so that they can pass the CA drop tests. I want a colt but not a series 80 
Matt, if the series 80 mechanism bothers you it can be taken out. A simple spacer set and an extractor is all you need. Well, that and about 10 minutes if you take your time installing the parts.
I have seen what Fuff talks about too, but only bad enough to be a problem on series 80 guns using a trigger installed with an overtravel screw that was installed by someone incompetent. I've not seen it in a box stock gun, nor in a gun that was worked by someone that knows what they are doing. I've only had a couple dozen used series 80 guns apart though, I may not have enough experience to see it in a box stock gun.
I have seen what Fuff talks about too, but only bad enough to be a problem on series 80 guns using a trigger installed with an overtravel screw that was installed by someone incompetent. I've not seen it in a box stock gun, nor in a gun that was worked by someone that knows what they are doing. I've only had a couple dozen used series 80 guns apart though, I may not have enough experience to see it in a box stock gun.
Missouri Mule
Member
Just curious, why is the new extractor needed?
I have seen two instances where stock -out-of-the-box Series 80 pistols battered the firing pin and block. In one case the lever wasn't lifting the block high enough, and in the other I think the owner was sometimes pulling the trigger so gently that the block wasn't lifted high enough. Obviously a trigger with a stop screw shouldn't be installed in one of these guns, and I avoid them in anything but target pistols.
Colt does (or did) make a few Series 70 style pistols without the hammer block. Also of course, one can find Series 70 and pre-70 guns on the used market.
Unless they have changed, Springfield Armory pistols don't have a firing pin block of any kind, although the do have a "lock" in the mainspring housing. This can easily be eliminated by an owner who doesn't want it.
In all fairness, problems with the firing pin block in Colt's doesn't seem to be a common problem, but in my view it is one that I don't have put up with.
There is such a thing as being too safe ...
Colt does (or did) make a few Series 70 style pistols without the hammer block. Also of course, one can find Series 70 and pre-70 guns on the used market.
Unless they have changed, Springfield Armory pistols don't have a firing pin block of any kind, although the do have a "lock" in the mainspring housing. This can easily be eliminated by an owner who doesn't want it.
In all fairness, problems with the firing pin block in Colt's doesn't seem to be a common problem, but in my view it is one that I don't have put up with.
There is such a thing as being too safe ...
larry starling
Member
Colt still makes a series 70 pistol, Its made in blue or SS from the custom shop. There are plenty of colt series 70's available on the various auction sites. My buddy and I have series 70 goldcups and there excellent shooters. also I Dont really care for the ILS system offered on other companys products. On a loaded model 45 I had the trigger pull felt like it was 20lbs. gun was sold to fianance colt purchases...
If one decides to convert a Series 80 Colt to a Series 70 configuration it is recommended that the firing pin and firing pin spring also be replaced with the equivalent Series 70 parts. The Series 80 firing pin is shorter, as is the firing pin spring.
The Series 80 hammer has a ledge on the face, rather then a half-cock notch. While doing so may not be critical, the proper Series 70 style hammer should be substituted too.
The firing pin block can be retained in the slide, after the groove in it is increased to insure it won't touch the firing pin. Removing the block leaves a large hole for dirt and crud to accumulate.
The Series 80 hammer has a ledge on the face, rather then a half-cock notch. While doing so may not be critical, the proper Series 70 style hammer should be substituted too.
The firing pin block can be retained in the slide, after the groove in it is increased to insure it won't touch the firing pin. Removing the block leaves a large hole for dirt and crud to accumulate.
Speaking of paranoia -
Has anyone had to confront a jury after having had to defend themselves using a gun that had a factory "safety" removed? I'm curious as to how the law/jury would view that evil gun made more evil by it's (obviously evil) owner.
/J
Has anyone had to confront a jury after having had to defend themselves using a gun that had a factory "safety" removed? I'm curious as to how the law/jury would view that evil gun made more evil by it's (obviously evil) owner.
/J
The principal reason for the firing pin block is to protect the manufacturer (Colt) from lawsuits if a user/owner drops the pistol and it discharges. While this is unlikely it is possible. In addition, Colt anticipated that states like California, and New Jersey would likely pass laws requiring firing pin blocks, and they didn't want to be frozen out of those markets.
So far as a gun owner/user might be concerned, if a neglient discharge occured, and a safety device had been modified or removed, some attorneys - especially in a civil case - might try to convince a jury that the "shooter" was especially negligent in carrying/using a firearm with a defective or deactivated safety.
So far as a gun owner/user might be concerned, if a neglient discharge occured, and a safety device had been modified or removed, some attorneys - especially in a civil case - might try to convince a jury that the "shooter" was especially negligent in carrying/using a firearm with a defective or deactivated safety.
rmgunsmith
Member
I got a new Delta ELite series 80 MKIV 10mm and this what Kase Reeder of Reeder custom guns said about it:
You can take out the series 80 parts in it and replace the ones in the frame with a TJ custom frame filler. It will give you a better action and replace 4 parts in the gun that can break or malfunction. I would use a shock-buff also.
The slide has a spring and plunger in it and the frame has two dog leg parts in it. The trigger pushes against one dog leg part which pushes up the other part which pushes up the firing pin plunger which allows the gun to fire. If any of those parts fail, break or stick your gun is a 45 oz blunt object. I have some of the frame fillers or you can get them from Brownells.They are around $10.
You can take out the series 80 parts in it and replace the ones in the frame with a TJ custom frame filler. It will give you a better action and replace 4 parts in the gun that can break or malfunction. I would use a shock-buff also.
The slide has a spring and plunger in it and the frame has two dog leg parts in it. The trigger pushes against one dog leg part which pushes up the other part which pushes up the firing pin plunger which allows the gun to fire. If any of those parts fail, break or stick your gun is a 45 oz blunt object. I have some of the frame fillers or you can get them from Brownells.They are around $10.
Zach S
Member
No offense, but I'm pretty sure this was covered in the last four years in another thread or ten.
Try not to bump old threads. Not many people look at the dates, and then we end up with a bunch of new replies to an old thread that the OP forgot about.
Try not to bump old threads. Not many people look at the dates, and then we end up with a bunch of new replies to an old thread that the OP forgot about.
BlindJustice
Member
Colt offers the Goverment Model Series 70 Re-Issue
Randall - wondering why you'd buy a Series 80 if you have
a problem with the FPB Safety system.
'
Randall - wondering why you'd buy a Series 80 if you have
a problem with the FPB Safety system.
'
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