lubbockdave
Member
anyone have one, shot one, held one etc... care to give a review.
Dave
Dave
Series 70 Gold Cup National Match
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Snake Eyes
Member
I've owned several (Yes, several) and curse myself for ever turning loose of them.
I find them to be, quite simply, the finest production 1911 I've ever seen.
Even the 80 Series Gold Cup was an exceptional firearm. Accurate, beautiful, functional and a True Colt from a time when that meant something.
I gaze wistfully at the models available on Gunbroker and pine for the day I have three or four increments of $1500 to buy more.
I find them to be, quite simply, the finest production 1911 I've ever seen.
Even the 80 Series Gold Cup was an exceptional firearm. Accurate, beautiful, functional and a True Colt from a time when that meant something.
I gaze wistfully at the models available on Gunbroker and pine for the day I have three or four increments of $1500 to buy more.
I have one and shot it quite a bit.
I'd say it's not much different than the "standard" Colt's except it has a flat, raised rib, very nice blueing, and a wide trigger. They have Ellison sights which often need a solid pin to keep the sights on the gun. The sight picture is not as good as a Bo-mar, but it's the "smallest", least obtrusive of all adjustable sights that I have seen.
Mine came with a collect bushing and seemed to work well, although I finally put in a solid bushing.
IMHO, if you are looking for a "target grade" 1911, out of the box, to shoot the tighest groups, I'd look elsewhere. If you are looking for a good looking Colt with a wide trigger, flat top...buy it for a reasonable price.
I'd say it's not much different than the "standard" Colt's except it has a flat, raised rib, very nice blueing, and a wide trigger. They have Ellison sights which often need a solid pin to keep the sights on the gun. The sight picture is not as good as a Bo-mar, but it's the "smallest", least obtrusive of all adjustable sights that I have seen.
Mine came with a collect bushing and seemed to work well, although I finally put in a solid bushing.
IMHO, if you are looking for a "target grade" 1911, out of the box, to shoot the tighest groups, I'd look elsewhere. If you are looking for a good looking Colt with a wide trigger, flat top...buy it for a reasonable price.
lubbockdave
Member
wow, two very different opinions right off the bat...
what is a reasonable price?
Dave
what is a reasonable price?
Dave
Some others can give you a better idea on pricing, but I would scan the internet sites like Gun Broker and others to get a "feel" for pricing and condition.
I would look at the prices that they actually "sell" for rather than the asking price. There are some very high prices out there...but no bids.
Mine, for example, with a lot of rounds and an added beavertail, thumb safety, etc would probably only sell for a third of a new in box, unmodified GC., maybe less!
I would look at the prices that they actually "sell" for rather than the asking price. There are some very high prices out there...but no bids.
Mine, for example, with a lot of rounds and an added beavertail, thumb safety, etc would probably only sell for a third of a new in box, unmodified GC., maybe less!
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10X
Member
Gold Cup 45
In my opinion the best there is out of the factory box. They are very accurate, great triggers, good sights. Adjustable sights are very important to me. Capable of 2" groups withtwo hand hold at 25 yards on a good day for me.
The only things I have had to do with them are perhaps replace the recoil spring and sometimes put in a lighter trigger spring.
If I could have only one handgun, it would be a series 70 Gold Cup 45 ACP.
In my opinion the best there is out of the factory box. They are very accurate, great triggers, good sights. Adjustable sights are very important to me. Capable of 2" groups withtwo hand hold at 25 yards on a good day for me.
The only things I have had to do with them are perhaps replace the recoil spring and sometimes put in a lighter trigger spring.
If I could have only one handgun, it would be a series 70 Gold Cup 45 ACP.
I currently have one and they are nice. The trigger is untouched on mine and is probably the nicest of any 1911 I've felt (but I don't dabble in the $1500+ 1911's). Mine will do 2.5" groups at 25 yds. with the Wal-Mart 100 rd. packs and I don't consider myself to be a match-grade shooter.
That being said, I'm selling mine (PM if interested). I don't have a need for it and style guns aren't for me. The sights, while nice, aren't my style for carry. The trigger is also not for me in the carry role. I would be just as happy with a fixed sight, 5lb trigger 1911, though I thought the opposite was true years ago when I bought it.
I still love to shoot targets with it and I do love making people drool over it. Great gun, just not for me.
That being said, I'm selling mine (PM if interested). I don't have a need for it and style guns aren't for me. The sights, while nice, aren't my style for carry. The trigger is also not for me in the carry role. I would be just as happy with a fixed sight, 5lb trigger 1911, though I thought the opposite was true years ago when I bought it.
I still love to shoot targets with it and I do love making people drool over it. Great gun, just not for me.
Sir Aardvark
Member
I have both a Series 70 and a Series 80 Gold Cups. I can't really tell much of a difference between them. My Series 80 came with a tighter slide-to-frame fit than the 70. They are both accurate and reliable, and a pleasure to shoot.
My understanding is that if you are going to do any serious modifications or build a race gun, then the Series 70 is the more preferred platform than the Series 80 due to the way the internal safeties operate.
So... all that being said - my SIG GSR beats both of my Gold Cups hands down!. It is more accurate, has a better feeling trigger, and has a much tighter fit overall.
My understanding is that if you are going to do any serious modifications or build a race gun, then the Series 70 is the more preferred platform than the Series 80 due to the way the internal safeties operate.
So... all that being said - my SIG GSR beats both of my Gold Cups hands down!. It is more accurate, has a better feeling trigger, and has a much tighter fit overall.
schmeky
Member
I had a Series 70 Gold Cup many years ago. Mine was crap. Had to many problems so I sold it. Bought an AMT Hardball .45 and it was more reliable than the Gold Cup, but not as accurate.
I may have rotten tomatoes thrown at me for saying this, BUT, I had a Chinese made Norinco that was a more RELIABLE pistol than the Gold Cup. I shot the hell out of 2 Norincos and never had a reliablity issue with either.
I just got a "late Friday afternoon/first thing Monday morning" made Colt.
I may have rotten tomatoes thrown at me for saying this, BUT, I had a Chinese made Norinco that was a more RELIABLE pistol than the Gold Cup. I shot the hell out of 2 Norincos and never had a reliablity issue with either.
I just got a "late Friday afternoon/first thing Monday morning" made Colt.
I have had one for about 30 years and have put over 15k reloaded lead rounds down range with it. I had a few problems early on, but they were related to a bad extractor. Since I got that fixed, I have had very few problems. I did replace the collet bushing also. I trust my Sig more, but all that I have ever fired in it are jacketed factory rounds. I might have the same faith in the GC, if I had only fired jacketed in it. Any failures ( not many) that I had could be traced to lead swc's not wanting to feed properly.
It is the best 1911 style that I have ever fired and I have great faith in it. It is accurate, reliable and fits my hand well.
It is the best 1911 style that I have ever fired and I have great faith in it. It is accurate, reliable and fits my hand well.
Tigerseye
Member
The thing that made a Series 70 different from the previous model was the barrel and barrel bushing. The Series 70 bushing was a tension finger bushing that was intended to return the barrel to the exact same position each time the slide came forward, without the expense of hand fitting a solid bushing to the slide and barrel.
When these were first introduced, there was great concern that the tension "fingers" on the bushing could/would break off and completely jam the gun. I do not personally know of any instance of that happening, but there was quite a demand to fit a solid bushing and pitch out the tension bushing.
I have a gun built with a Gold Cup National Match Series 70 barrel and bushing and I have had thousands of rounds through it without a hitch. Your mileage may vary.
When these were first introduced, there was great concern that the tension "fingers" on the bushing could/would break off and completely jam the gun. I do not personally know of any instance of that happening, but there was quite a demand to fit a solid bushing and pitch out the tension bushing.
I have a gun built with a Gold Cup National Match Series 70 barrel and bushing and I have had thousands of rounds through it without a hitch. Your mileage may vary.
Have two Series 70s. Great performers. No problems with collet bushings, or anything else. However, I have other 1911's that shoot as well. Equal in accuracy is a SA Commander Loaded. Around here a good S70 GC will be $750 to $1000, or more.
SwampWolf
Member
I'm on my second one and have nothing but praises for them. Accurate, reliable (mine have digested thousands of reloads, mostly in Bullseye shoots, without problems) and the Series 70s have fine triggers. Also, despite what I've heard many times about the collet failing, I've had no problems with either of mine.
Around these parts, you can expect to pay $1,200.00 or so for one in excellent condition.
Around these parts, you can expect to pay $1,200.00 or so for one in excellent condition.
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