Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911. The rock series is rock island armorys most welloptioned line of 1911 pistols built in the traditional 70 series design with the addition of next level upgrades. Like all rock island 1911s, each is built using 4140 ordnance steel on the industrys best cnc machines while. Some people want the original, which means a colt 1911 pistol. Maybe they did, maybe they didnt, but colt is still one of the biggest producers of 1911 pistols and have a very diverse lineup of them.
Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911 pistol. Does this firing pin safety system of the series 80 1911 have a negative effect on the classic trigger press and is it really needed for drop safety. After 100 years of refining the venerable 1911, the loaded pistols offer a reasonably priced, fullfeatured 1911 thats ready to perform right out of the box. Usa in one form or another, i have shot, customized. Become your own firearm builder with any of our 1911 pistol kits. In about 1924, significant changes began to be introduced to government issued gi and commercial 1911 pistols, and today some are still made. Altamont 1911 grips will fit nearly all full size guns from any 1911 manufacturer.
Among the less expensive makers, springfield 1911s lack this as well, although they do include an inte. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. They are of course not all just cheap entry level guns, with the ria tactical, compact, and match. Series 70 and series 80 are currently trademarks owned by colt, but the terms are still used to denote the specific firing systems. These pistols are known to collectors as pre series 70 guns, as they predated the series 70 guns introduced in 1971. So theyre pre series 70 guns marked series 70 and with some series 80 parts inside. Guns international makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information contained in the. There are also two types designed for the series 70 and series 80 1911 style pistols. Colt released an updated design of their fullsize 1911 pistol in the 1970s hence the name which consisted of a collet bushing instead of the. Enter the pistol trials which brought in names you know like colt, dwm, smith and.
Bypassing the series 80 safety components on the 1911 pistol duration. With that said, i would not hesitate to buy one if the external extractor design does not bother you. We know that 80% 1911 pistol kits are much more affordable and serve well as fully functional, everyday carry firearms. Colts entire line of 1911 style pistols were switched to the new design in 1983, so they all bore the series 80 designation even the commander and officers acp models. They made them first, and some maintain they made them best. Jan 16, 2017 many 1911 aficionados prefer a series 70type model. Oct 01, 2019 the flat mainspring housing makes fitting a beavertail grip safety easier. Recoil is ample compared to the garden variety 9mm, but very manageable in this 38 oz. However, we typically understand when folks say series 70 they really mean no matter how incorrect no firing pin safety. Oct 30, 2015 the series 70 lacks a firing pin block. The series 70 1911, picture right, does not have a lift. As a result, the series 70 has a shorter trigger, arched mainspring housing, a standard grip and thumb safety, and. Kimber ii series 1911 s have a slide mounted firing pin safety similar to the colt series 80s. This channel and tymp pistol project are both fully viewer supported.
So, today, for fun, i took apart my sig nitron, a series 80. The ria pistols are usually more geared toward budget prices in the 1911 market. A look at the colt series 70 pistol the shooters log. The colt series 70 or mark iv series 70 as the name suggests utilizes the series 70 firing system. Series 80 i noted that the trigger was not all it was cracked up to be my colt 1911 enthusiasts. Ive since repeated my experiment see video below on sidebyside comparisons between probably half a dozen new series 70 colts and the current line of series 80. This was years ago so the remorse is mostly passed but as i look toward my next 1911 im trying to decide if i really even care between series 70 and series 80.
A tribute to the revered commercial government model pistols of the past the 1911 classic features the series 70 firing system pre70 series rollmarks. The m1911, also known as the colt government or government, is a singleaction, semiautomatic, magazinefed, recoiloperated pistol chambered for the. We offer grips in a wide variety of materials, textures, and custom configurations. The m1911, also known as the colt government or government, is a singleaction. There were no firing pin safety parts in any of the pistols built in the 50s and 60s. Colt government model preseries 70 1911 my favorite pistol.
With the white dot sights, sight acquisition is easy. While the extractors made for series 80 will work in all series 70 guns of the same type, the opposite case is not possible. David gives us a look at his favorite colt government model preseries 70 1911 and why he likes classic colts. The series 80 extractor boasts a retainer stud which holds the firing pin safety plunger. Jan 27, 2014 this is a commonly debated subject my opinion is series 70 is a superior design and the series 80 is not needed and makes a gun less reliable and more likely to fail, malfunction or break. They are of course not all just cheap entry level guns, with the ria tactical, compact, and match models offering extra semicustom high end features. In any case, a series of field tests from 1907 to 1911 were held to decide between. Many a keystroke has been dedicated to the differences between the colt series 70 and series 80 pistols. Complete 1911 80% build kits shop glock, 1911 80% kits. Kimber ii series 1911s have a slide mounted firing pin safety similar to the colt series 80s. Most 1911 handguns today have a long targetstyle trigger.
Colt series 70 government 1911 handgun shooters report. The series 80 iswas the term used to refer to a number of modifications made to the firing mechanism of the colt 1911 pistol. Series 70 vs series 80 1911addicts the premiere 1911. For my needs, for fast shooting and personal defense, the original is preferred and offers a shorter trigger reach. It turned into a cuss fest, with words exiting my pie hole that would have made satan blush. It was during this year that colt introduced the first major design change to the government model in nearly 50 years. The colt model 1911 semiautomatic pistol is the most popular semiautomatic pistol in u. The bluecolored g10 grips, dual recoil spring mechanism, beavertail safety grip, novak fiber optics sights and all the features of the colt competition make it an excellent pistol. On a pistol that has been around for 108 years, there are a bunch of. Our 1911 grips will fit models such as the colt m1911, colt series 70, colt 1991 series, colt delta elite, colt gold cup, colt commander, dan wesson commander, kimber warrior.
Colt released an updated design of their fullsize 1911 pistol in the 1970s hence the name which consisted of a. Todays gun buyer can find a 1911 pistol to fit virtually any need. Colt made a major change to its competition pistol line of handguns, incorporating a series 70 firing system into all of the new pistol models, which previously featured the companys series 80. It might seem that everyone and their brother makes one, and they practically do. Series 70 vs 80, the difference is more than you think. This is a commonly debated subject my opinion is series 70 is a superior design and the series 80 is not needed and makes a gun less reliable and more likely to fail, malfunction or break. So theyre preseries 70 guns marked series 70 and with some series 80 parts inside. A ready to go, store bought 1911 handgun is one thing, but assembling your.
Ive read several comments you guys have posted concerning your dislike of series 80 pistols. Springfield armory takes care of those upgrades for you with our loaded series of 1911 pistols. The key feature of a series 70 gun was the collet style bushing. For sale is a very nice series 70 gold cup in 96% condition. Between 1983 and 1988, government and gold cup models of series 80 guns contained series 70 type barrels and bushings. If the grip safety isnt depressed, the firing pin safety is engaged and prevents it from being driven forward to contact the primer. I prefer the series 70 and 1911s made by other manufacturers which are faithful reproductions of the original john m. What firearm manufacturers other than colt make a 1911. Jan 04, 2017 david gives us a look at his favorite colt government model preseries 70 1911 and why he likes classic colts. Well, i recently learned how to completely break down a 1911, and learned on a series 70. This is one of the last of the c suffix serial numbered pistols before the series 70 came out. The competition pistol is a goanywhere doanything 1911, that while geared for competition, will also serve well for personal defense. The big news, of course, that makes this gun different from previous government model competition 1911s is the fire control system mentioned earlier.
Most highend pistol makers ed brown, wilson, dan wesson only make 1911s without a firing pin block. Originally posted by mathman hate and phobic are terms used to put a negative spin on distaste or dislike expressed in a contrary opinion. The pistol features the series 70 firing system that makes the trigger pull very light. Colt model 1911 a1 civilian pre series 70 in rare factory. It fits the hand incredibly well, almost naturally guiding the hand into a high, tight grip and pointing as if an extension of the hand. On the colt series 70 the only thing that keeps the firing pin from hitting the primer is the firing pin spring. First, let me start by saying that this is not an easy list to narrow down because there are so many excellent pistols being made by many different companies. Internally, the pistol makes use of the older series 70 style layout as made famous by colt 1911s. Many newer models of 1911 have an added firing pin safety. It was widely used in world war i, world war ii, the korean war, and the vietnam. Colt series 70 government 1911 classic for sale new. Nov 29, 2015 series 80 on left, series 70 collet on right. Over many years, the evolution of the 1911 pistol has seen a number of transformations.
Browning and placed into service in 1911, was the u. A tribute to the revered commercial government model pistols of the past the 1911 classic features the series 70 firing system pre 70 series rollmarks. Its regarded as being the original firing system of the 1911, and 70 models also tend to have a lighter trigger system than 80 models. In particular, i was looking at some of the sig 1911s that i understand are series 80. Colt model 1911 a1 civilian pre series 70 in rare factory nickel finish description. Many designers have attempted to make the 1911 more acceptable to civilian. This is a commonly debated subject my opinion is series 70 is a superior design and the series 80 is not needed and makes a gun less. The series 70 and pre series 70 pistols barrel, are not compatible with the series 80 pistols barrel. Colts series 70 trigger put to the test series 70 vs. It served as the standardissue sidearm for the united states armed forces from 1911 to 1986.
Browse all new and used colt pistols 1911 series 70 for sale and buy with confidence from guns international. Top 5 brands of 1911 to own modern survival online. Many 1911 aficionados prefer a series 70type model. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to right approximately 1 mm. Best 1911 pistols for the money 2020 pew pew tactical.
Give a little warning before you post a pic of that gorgeous pistol. The reason i chose a 1911 colt series 80 over a series 70, is the series 80 has a firing pin block. The series 70 system, which this gun sports, is the one originally designed by browning for the 1911 and does not have the passive firing pin block of the later series 80 system. Avoid the temptation to replace everything on your brandnew 1911 just to make it better. While the 1911 has been around for ages and was officially adopted by the us military in 1911, it stayed pretty much unchanged until the 70s. You obviously have your own opinion, which i want to hear too. So if you want an entry level 1911, the ria might be the best 1911 pistol choice for you. The m1911, also known as the colt government or government, is a single action.
What firearm manufacturers other than colt make a 1911 with. The firing pin safety plunger, spring, and actuator parts 32, 10, and 31 were not part of the original design and are not needed. Colt in the early 1970s introduced a new variation of the 1911a1 pistol called the series 70 model, which. Ranking our 10 favorite 1911 pistols wide open spaces. The flat mainspring housing makes fitting a beavertail grip safety easier. The pull and reset are both very short at around 1 to 2mm each and the pull weight hovers in the 5 pound area.
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