Series 80 Frame Blank Warning
- Thread starter 1911Tuner
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Fuffy...!...? 
So your point is that it's better to accept the series 80 pistols on the basis of workmanship improvement even though it has a questionable addition to its mechanics? Well it depends on how you look at it. I'm not sure about you, but I'm not limited to Colt products made during the series 70 - 80 years, to present.
Frankly, having owned and experienced Colt's made before the series 70 (some series 70's I’ll admit were dogs) I have scant appreciation for the current crop from mainline makers - both from a workmanship and materials point of view. Fortunately I don't have to get a pistol with added gadgets to get decent workmanship. The gun was in production decades upon decades before the hardly lamented series 70 and 80 arrived. I suppose it is possible that someday I might acquire a series 80 pistol of some sort, but if that happens you won’t recognize it when I get done...
Since I like the pistol when it’s made from the proper materials and adheres to Browning well-proven design, its more likely I’ll buy a pre-series 70 pistol, or assemble my own using parts I trust. Others of course have the option to do otherwise depending on their own views. I will agree with Tuner that a series 80 is fit to be a range beater but not much else.
Thing is, I don’t need any beaters right now...
So your point is that it's better to accept the series 80 pistols on the basis of workmanship improvement even though it has a questionable addition to its mechanics? Well it depends on how you look at it. I'm not sure about you, but I'm not limited to Colt products made during the series 70 - 80 years, to present.
Frankly, having owned and experienced Colt's made before the series 70 (some series 70's I’ll admit were dogs) I have scant appreciation for the current crop from mainline makers - both from a workmanship and materials point of view. Fortunately I don't have to get a pistol with added gadgets to get decent workmanship. The gun was in production decades upon decades before the hardly lamented series 70 and 80 arrived. I suppose it is possible that someday I might acquire a series 80 pistol of some sort, but if that happens you won’t recognize it when I get done...
Since I like the pistol when it’s made from the proper materials and adheres to Browning well-proven design, its more likely I’ll buy a pre-series 70 pistol, or assemble my own using parts I trust. Others of course have the option to do otherwise depending on their own views. I will agree with Tuner that a series 80 is fit to be a range beater but not much else.
Thing is, I don’t need any beaters right now...
RogersPrecision
Member
Here is a dissenting opinion.
I have been supporting my family for 20 years soley by my 1911 work.
I mention this to let those unfamiliar with my work know that I'm no amatuer.
Both of my personal carry guns are Series 80 Colts with the firing pin safetys intact.
The key is 'competent' gunsmithing.
Take a peek at my website. I can own and carry ANY pistol I please. I did not choose these 'inferior' series 80 guns because that is all I had.
I have been supporting my family for 20 years soley by my 1911 work.
I mention this to let those unfamiliar with my work know that I'm no amatuer.
Both of my personal carry guns are Series 80 Colts with the firing pin safetys intact.
The key is 'competent' gunsmithing.
Take a peek at my website. I can own and carry ANY pistol I please. I did not choose these 'inferior' series 80 guns because that is all I had.
Fuffy - you ought to be a politician. Wrote several paragraphs and hardly said anything.
RogersPrecision - you have no argument from me. I agree with you 100% the Series 80 is a good pistol and I can afford any kind I want. The Series 80 is my favorite.
RogersPrecision - you have no argument from me. I agree with you 100% the Series 80 is a good pistol and I can afford any kind I want. The Series 80 is my favorite.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
70/80
Well...This one's about to drift too far, guys. It was intended to call attention to a potential problem with the blanks, not start a rumble over
the advantages and disadvantages of the Series 80 pistols. I think they're
well-made and the system rarely gives problems...and it's pretty easy to correct when it does. I trust it miles farther than the Swartz system, at any rate.
I can own and carry pretty much anything I want as well. I've even been know to carry a very nice Union Switch & Signal on occasion...and probably will again. (With apologies to Johnny Peppers.) I just choose not to carry Series 80 OR Swartz-equipped pistols. Have carried'em,(Series 80s) but I just don't any more...and it's not because one of mine ever failed to function. A personal matter, understand. Murphy loves gadgets. Ol' Murphy and me...well...we just don't gee-haw, so I try to keep things simple. With my luck, the only time that it would ever malfunction would be when I was up to my Keister in Komodos. For me...and others...it's just one less thing to go wrong.
Anyway...Raja! have you ever seen the flanging on the frame spacers that I've described? Several people report no problems. Several others have reported the same thing that I've noticed. It seems to occur at the rate of about one in five guns, and I haven't really jumped into figuring out why...yet.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Well...This one's about to drift too far, guys. It was intended to call attention to a potential problem with the blanks, not start a rumble over
the advantages and disadvantages of the Series 80 pistols. I think they're
well-made and the system rarely gives problems...and it's pretty easy to correct when it does. I trust it miles farther than the Swartz system, at any rate.
I can own and carry pretty much anything I want as well. I've even been know to carry a very nice Union Switch & Signal on occasion...and probably will again. (With apologies to Johnny Peppers.) I just choose not to carry Series 80 OR Swartz-equipped pistols. Have carried'em,(Series 80s) but I just don't any more...and it's not because one of mine ever failed to function. A personal matter, understand. Murphy loves gadgets. Ol' Murphy and me...well...we just don't gee-haw, so I try to keep things simple. With my luck, the only time that it would ever malfunction would be when I was up to my Keister in Komodos. For me...and others...it's just one less thing to go wrong.
Anyway...Raja! have you ever seen the flanging on the frame spacers that I've described? Several people report no problems. Several others have reported the same thing that I've noticed. It seems to occur at the rate of about one in five guns, and I haven't really jumped into figuring out why...yet.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
RogersPrecision
Member
Tuner,
I have not seen this problem. But virtually all of the Series 80 guns I see have the stock parts intact.
Thanks for the heads up. It is something I will be watching for.
I have not seen this problem. But virtually all of the Series 80 guns I see have the stock parts intact.
Thanks for the heads up. It is something I will be watching for.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
re:
Thanks. It first came to my attention on one of my range beaters with an occasional hammer follow to half-cock during a reload...and a quick tweak on the sear spring didn't fix it. I went ahead and stripped the gun and saw what was interfering with sear reset...so I got into the habit of dressing the flanges during routine detail-strip cleaning, and didn't have another problem...until I switched out the much-used and ratty blanks for new ones
last month.
FWIW, I discourage using the blanks unless the gun is only intended for range duty AND the owner is willing to detail-strip for inspection and maintenance
on a regular basis...mostly for this very reason. I use'em in my beaters mainly because I have 6 pistols in the rotation and I detail-strip all of'em monthly. I shoot a LOT...and I use mostly cast bullets. Nasty stuff. I also like to be able to strip and reassemble at the range if need be, without havin' to fiddle with the trigger bar lever. I have all the lawyer parts for each gun...matched to the serial number...in case I return the gun to carry duty for some reason. Interestingly...the only one I've had a release timing problem with was the NRM Colt manufactured in '01, and a #2 lever squared it away. All the older pistols...four 91A1s and a Combat Commander worked fine.
So...Now, whenever somebody on a board has a hammer follow problem with a Series 80 pistol, one of the first things I ask is if they've installed a spacer.
Thanks. It first came to my attention on one of my range beaters with an occasional hammer follow to half-cock during a reload...and a quick tweak on the sear spring didn't fix it. I went ahead and stripped the gun and saw what was interfering with sear reset...so I got into the habit of dressing the flanges during routine detail-strip cleaning, and didn't have another problem...until I switched out the much-used and ratty blanks for new ones
last month.
FWIW, I discourage using the blanks unless the gun is only intended for range duty AND the owner is willing to detail-strip for inspection and maintenance
on a regular basis...mostly for this very reason. I use'em in my beaters mainly because I have 6 pistols in the rotation and I detail-strip all of'em monthly. I shoot a LOT...and I use mostly cast bullets. Nasty stuff. I also like to be able to strip and reassemble at the range if need be, without havin' to fiddle with the trigger bar lever. I have all the lawyer parts for each gun...matched to the serial number...in case I return the gun to carry duty for some reason. Interestingly...the only one I've had a release timing problem with was the NRM Colt manufactured in '01, and a #2 lever squared it away. All the older pistols...four 91A1s and a Combat Commander worked fine.
So...Now, whenever somebody on a board has a hammer follow problem with a Series 80 pistol, one of the first things I ask is if they've installed a spacer.
grendelbane
Member
Once upon a time I had a Para-Ordnance. It had the spacer, and it never gave any trouble. (The spacer never gave any trouble, the P-O gave a little).
I reall didn't fire it all that much, several hundred rounds maybe.
This is my only experience with the spacers. My only Series 80 is a Delta Elite, and the '80 parts are about the only trouble free parts of that particuliar blaster.
I reall didn't fire it all that much, several hundred rounds maybe.
This is my only experience with the spacers. My only Series 80 is a Delta Elite, and the '80 parts are about the only trouble free parts of that particuliar blaster.
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