Colt Series 80

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KAS1981

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My latest wheelin' & dealin' scheme involves selling my Taurus 1911 and my Ruger LC9 (when it comes back from Ruger), and putting that money towards a Colt. A Series 80 1991 to be exact.

The LC9 is a nice little pistol but I just can't seem to warm up to it. The Taurus is also a nice gun that functions fine and I shoot it well but......I dunno. Something about owning a Colt just really appeals to me.

I'm thinking I can't go wrong here. I mean, I really doubt I'll regret getting rid of a Taurus and picking up a Colt right?

Right? :confused:
 
No you will not regret it, I recently traded my lnib HK USP full size 45 and a little cash for a Compact model Colt M1991 and a nicely modified FEG PJK-HP9 hi-power. I am so glad I made the trade and love both of the pistols I got in exchange.
 
KAS1981 wrote,
I really doubt I'll regret getting rid of a Taurus and picking up a Colt right?
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I certainly wouldn't, but there are some out there that can't live without a beavertail grip safety. Your Taurus has one, the Colt 1991 doesn't. If it is an issue for you, forewarned is forearmed.

Colt does have a bunch of pistols, Series 80 models included, that do come with a beavertail grip safety, if that is what you want.

The two most important things I look at with a 1911 (after manufacturer, and Colt is an excellent one), is the grip safety and the sights. Changing from a GI style grip safety to a beavertail usually requires some grinding. Something I'd rather not do myself. If you get a gun with adjustable sights, you really are limited with aftermarket options since the slide is cut differently.
 
In my limited experience, new production Colt 1911s are very well made, have great triggers, and run like a top.

I've been studyin' up as a basement gunsmith (I only work on my own stuff) for a while now, and every time I learn about a specific manufacturing detail that is often overlooked by 1911 manufacturers, I look at my Colts and sure enough, they are machined and fitted exactly as they should be.
 
I just purchased two new Colt 1991s and 1911 Gold Cup this year and while there are some slight differences all I would rate two as great and one as good. The Colt Commander that I rate as good has a bit of a heavy trigger, when compared to the other two. The unsupported groups I shoot with the commander are a little bigger than what I shoot with the other two.

I personally like the "100 Years of Service" scroll mark on the guns that are currently shipping and think you should go for it.
 
The military had problems during the second world war and went to a typewriter company, Remington Rand, to solve their problem.
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And where, pray tell, did you get that piece of information?

Remington Rand...like the other four contractors...used standardized gauges that Colt developed in order to insure that all parts from all contractors were drop-in interchangeable...whether they built complete guns or supplied small parts.

In 1942 and 1943, Remington Rand was the one having trouble, and ceased production until they got the problems worked out. They did, and came from behind.

While it's true that, by mid-1944, Rand was producing a little better pistol than Colt at as lower cost...and that they ultimately produced more 1911A1 pistols than the other four contractors combined...Colt still made excellent pistols for the government that remained in service for a good many years after the 2nd world war ended. I have five of them. Three are bone stock, and either original or correct and not arsenal rebuilds. They work just fine, and will even run with hollowpoints and lead SWCs...and one of them was built in 1919. The other four are A1s.
 
The military had problems during the second world war and went to a typewriter company, Remington Rand, to solve their problem.
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Not true.
Quality had nothing to do with Remington-Rand making 1911's.

Colt simply did not have enough production capacity to make enough guns fast enough to supply the demand.
They were operating at full capacity at every point in the war.

Remington-Rand inherited the old machinery & tooling from Singer. The did not have the means to make a complete pistol.
They purchased barrels from High Standard, Colt, and Springfield Armory; Disconnectors from US&S; Grips safeties from Colt; and Slide stops from Colt and Springfield Armory.

The first run was turned out in late 1942. Initial guns had serious quality problems that prevented 100% parts interchangeability. Production had to be stopped and things sorted out. Finally it was sorted out, and by the end of the war, they were considered to be among the best.

rc
 
*chuckle*

I see that RC was on the ball. I was just a little quicker on the trigger...this time. :D

To go a bit further...I've bought nearly 2 dozen new Colts over the last 30 years...including two Series 70 Government models...and only one was what I considered to be sub-par. The others...including the Series 70s...functioned perfectly, straight out of the box. Even the one bad one ran. It just wasn't what I considered to be one of Colt's better efforts. I did a little work on the gun and shot it hard for 10 years before a young local lad decided that he wanted it more than I did.
 
I have two Colt series 80 enhanced pistols, and they are great. I would trade a Taurus for one in a heartbeat.
 
I have shot an 80's series till the wood grips started to burn. Even with worn springs and a slide that sounds like a baby rattler she still puts em' down range.
 
No experience with those specific Taurus and Ruger models, but I have owned 2 Colt 1991A1s since the late 90's. They have been 100% reliable with any and all types of ammo including the wad cutters. It is considered the economy Colt, but it has a reputation for being far more reliable than other more expensive 1911s.
 
When they pry my cold, dead hands from my very last weapon at my last stand, it will be my Series 80 Combat Commander as slicked up by Alex Hamilton at Ten-Ring Precision ( http://www.tenring.com/ ). I need to take a few pics & post them - it is a Colt, through & through...
 
Well I'm gonna go for it. I just might get excited and pick one up before I sell off the others. We'll see.

I'm excited to go shopping. Hope I can find one.
 
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