Colt series 70 vs 80

This change was to prevent the eventual wear and breakage of the hook allowing the hammer to fall. The defining characteristic of an actual series 70 is the collet bushing, which is only offered by colt on the colt series 70 pistol that they sell right now. The series 80 is simply a 1911 thats has been installed with an internal firing pin block system. On the series 80, a pivoting link is actuated by the trigger pull, pushing the firing pin block up and unblocking the firing pin. What colt is giving you with the new mk iv series 70 is in fact a series 80 pistol with series 80 trigger system parts, only without the actual firing pin block. Its possible for a series 70 to fire on its when dropped or thrown against a solid surface, but the firing pin block on the series 80 prevents this. Usa in one form or another, i have shot, customized, accessorized, reloaded for, and generally admired this one. 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. Here at hgw, we still believe that the series 70 style hammer is best as it captivates the sear rather than allowing it to possibly slide off. This is a discussion on colt series 80 gold cup national match within the handguns forums, part of the gun forum category. As was noted a good gunsmith can give you an excellent trigger. Lastly, a solid barrel bushing was used instead of the delicate series 70 colletstyle bushing.

In the 1970s, the mk iv series 70 government model superseded the standard government model. The firing pin safety is a pin liked to the pin that holds the sear and the disconnector togeeather, that pin is lifted up by depressing the grip safety, and the pin pushes up a button on the under side of the slide and moves the firing pin into the firing position. Because of this it is important to remember that only colt series 80 models, and a couple of clone 1911 makers use a firing pin block. The only mechanical difference between a real original mk iv series 70 colt and a 1969 government model was the accurizor collet bushing. It uses the old model sights which i believe are built in the slide. The 80 has the blasted finish on 100% of the pistol. The series 80 was created by changing the series 1970 firing pin safety or lack thereof. More places for dirt to accumulate, grease to impinge operation, parts to go wrong, general malfunctions and stoppages to occur, and parts to break or affect reliability. As for 70 vs 80, i think people get a little carried away with it and whats right.

The series 70 and pre series 70 pistol s barrel, are not compatible with the series 80 pistol s barrel. 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. The series 70 pin top one is the same as the series 80 bottom one. There were cosmetic differences in the roll marks, sandblasted walnut grips, and plated trigger, but the roll marks were reduced in size and checkered grips and blue trigger were reinstated partway through the production run. Everything from the rollmark to the 70s series firing system. It is necessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander over and lock up the sear trigger mechanism. The 70 series differs from the 80 series model with 70 series short trigger has a much faster firing rate than the 80 series. What this means is that designwise most of them share commonality with the pre series 70 guns, using neither the firing pin block nor the collet bushing. Series 70 vs 80, the difference is more than you think. Colt released an updated design of their fullsize 1911 pistol in the 1970s hence the name. When the gold cup pistol received the mark iv series 70 roll mark in 1970, the accurizor barrel and collet barrel bushing were installed. There have been a lot of questions posted by new members. Additional charges for non free shipping products, products shipping to remote locations, hazmat products, and large or heavy items still apply.

It is nessessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander over and lock up the sear. This is an intriguing change, one that should hit the mark with traditionalists and shooters who are after the snappiest trigger pull possible. The revolutionary lower receiver and bolt carrier design enable the upper receiver group to be easily swapped out for any colt milspec. The series 70 hammer had a half cock notch or hook whereas the series 80 has a shelf. Series 70 vs series 80 1911addicts the premiere 1911. In fact, i prefer the 80 series to the new 70 series. While it may not be technically correct, its much easier to diagnose a series 70 or series 80 issue becuase you know which parts are there, rather than simply my 1911. Colt competition pistol line now uses series 70 firing. Took my 1992 enhanced bright st st gcnm out of the safe today. Well, the series 80 is a number of features added to the basic colt pistol. Tjs 1911 series 80 to 70 shims replace the gap used by the colt series 80 firing pin block parts.

I think the firing pin safety has merit on a carry gun. 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. Not only are they useful, but theyre also not all the same surprise. Curious besides the firing pin safety and lowered ejection port, are there any differences in these two. This updated configuration is packed with ambidextrous features and includes a 15 mlok compatible rail system that will enable flexibility for every end user. Thus, the firing pin can only move if the trigger is pulled.

Colt series 708090 firearms talk the community for. Tjs 1911 series 80 to series 70 conversion shims frame slot filler replace the gap used by the colt series 80 firing pin block actuating levers when removed by gunsmiths for crisper trigger pulls. Previously, they were outfitted with series 80 firing systems. The front and rear sights were also made larger than what was found on the mk iv series 80 guns. We can get our point across by using the 70 series 80 series, and people know what we mean without having to describe that we either do or do not have some kind of firing pin block safety, whether it is a colt system, or the kimber schwartz style. The series 70 and previous models could be dropfired if dropped directly on the hammer. On a pistol that has been around for 108 years, there are a bunch of generations, and here is the difference between the 70 and 80 series. The 80 series, so called because it was introduced by colt in 1983, is a more modern. Your 80 series is every bit as good as a 70 series. Colt series 70 government 1911 handgun shooters report.

Colt government model pre series 70 1911 ammoland gun news. Iv series 70 a current version from colt s custom shop. In an attempt to improve the accuracy of the standardissue weapons. The series 70 is also different from the series 80 1911, which are far more popular today, as well. In 1983, colt started making the series 80 pistols with the firing pin safety. And the plunger has to be pushed up by something such as a lever or pin so below are the top of the frames in the same order. This removes from the triggerfeel equation the internal movement that disengages the firing pin block. What were the differences between the series 70 vs series 80. The collet bushing held over into the series 80 line until the late 1980s, but reports of bushing failures led colt to revert back to the solid bushing which carries over.

The trigger on the 80 feels a little bit better but that pistol has 1535 rounds in it now and the 70 has 165 rounds. The safety is the most commonly discussed and noteworthy change, though. From 1983 to 1988, the pistols kept the accurizor barrel and collet bushing. It is nessessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander. In sum, a series 70 is better for competitive shooting carried unloaded in a box and shot a lot while the series 80 is a better duty pistol carried loaded and shot infrequently and decreases your liability somewhat. Colt series 70 vs series 80, the differences may be more than you think. The finish is excellent on both but the 70 series has smooth and semi polished flats. More places for dirt to accumulate, grease to impinge operation, parts to go wrong, general malfunctions and stoppages to.

The added firing pin safety is not a bad idea i guess. And the trigger pulls on my 80 series guns, especially my new commander, is as good as ive felt on a production 1911 gun, whether 70s or 80s series, colt or otherwise. All the models in the colt competition pistol line will now be outfitted with series 70 firing systems. Language cautioning against pulling the trigger with the second finger was included in the initial m1911 manual, and later manuals up to the 1940s. In the interest of covering the basics, this government is a true spec series 70. A series 70 1911 left, and a series 80 1911 right oh, and the series 70 was not the original m1911 platform or the m1911a1 it was the result of decades of changes and improvements.

People that insist that all 1911s made before the series 80 came out are series 70 guns, are deluded. In 1983 colt introduced its mk iv series 80 models, which had an additional passive firing pin safety lock that did not allow the pistol to fire. Colts series 70 trigger put to the test series 70 vs. If you gush over the latest plastic fantastic and fail to recognize the usefulness of 1911s youre missing out. Colt manufactured a series of its iconic 1911s that looked like standard pistols that had shrunk in the wash. In that article i explained how the series 70 came about, how the series 70 firing system differs from the series 80 system used in colt m1911 pistols since 1983, and why colt reintroduced the series 70 in limited runs beginning in 2001. Short steel trigger, no firing pin block like the series 80s, arched steel mainspring housing. Gold cup nm series 70 vs series 80 mk iv 1911forum. The collet bushing was replaced with the solid bushing and the phase out was completed around 1988. The series iis are based on the colt series 80 style with the firing pin safety. Colt commander 45 apc series 70 vs 80 series thearmory. Its a major difference to 1911 fans, with many preferring the older 70 series for competition guns.

Over the years a number of changes have been made to. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to. Series 80 refers to the series 80 firing pin safety, which is on other colts as well. The big news, of course, that makes this gun different from previous government model competition 1911s is the fire control system mentioned earlier. When i discovered it wasnt true to what i used in the service i decided i didnt like it and sold the gun. The 80 series has the pencil barrel and the 70 series has the thicker barrel. They are called series 70 because they came out in, imagine this, the 1970s. The main modifications in the new model were a slightly heavier slide and a slotted collet barrel bushing. Colt fans will argue that series 70 and 80 only apply to colt and any other manufacture claiming series 80 are really just stating it has a firing pin block and mechanism, colt clones retain many of the differences that are seen in a series 70 vs 80 colt 1911. The ww1, gunsite, and series 70 pistols will be series 70 no firing pin safety and the defender is a series 90 a series 80, as far as you need to be concerned, and the rest are series 80. Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to right approximately 1 mm. In effect, the return to the pre series 80 system at colt is a return to the series 70 style guns and earlier m1911a1s. This is a discussion on series 70 vs 80 series colt within the general firearm discussion forums, part of the related topics category.