Sr1911 ?

[Tuco Tom]

Is the Ruger SR1911 a 70 or 80 series design?

[wjkuleck]

Is the Ruger SR1911 a 70 or 80 series design?
Tom, it is neither*. It is the original M1911 design, i.e., no firing pin block. A lightweight Titanium firing pin with heavy firing pin spring is used.

Regards,

Walt
*Yes, I know the terminology has entered the vernacular, but that makes it no less erroneous.

[nightfighter]

Now that the answer has been given, I will feel free to do a hijack of the thread.
Thinking about it, the Series 80 invention seems to have overlooked a few considerations in its attempt to make a 1911 safer.
Research shows that, the gun needs to be dropped at least four feet in the air in order to fire. When I am not on horse back, my guns are never that high. If I am on horse back and it falls and fires (directly down), the horse may be injured but it is unlikely I will be.
It needs to drop directly on its muzzle onto a hard surface (no carpet etc.,). If it hits sand, soft ground, it will not fire. It it is cushioned by someone's foot it will not fire. If it hits hard ground/rock it may fire, but then it is not shooting you in the top of the foot.
It has to land directly on the muzzel...how often, what percent of the time will that happen.
In all, the series 80, or the titanium fireing pin/stronger spring fix would seem have a questionable need...unless I have missed something.

[ncviking]

It needs to drop directly on its muzzle onto a hard surface (no carpet etc.,). If it hits sand, soft ground, it will not fire. It it is cushioned by someone's foot it will not fire. If it hits hard ground/rock it may fire, but then it is not shooting you in the top of the foot.
It has to land directly on the muzzel...how often, what percent of the time will that happen.
In all, the series 80, or the titanium fireing pin/stronger spring fix would seem have a questionable need...unless I have missed something.
Any single design safety measure isn't questionable IMHO. Something had to happen for Colt to feel the need to use the design.....somewhere.
I am not a proponent of the series 80 design....in fact I can't stand it but it's easy to look past when your talking about safety.
Walt has done much research on the "drop subject" he can add allot of insight on the subject.

[nightfighter]

Any single design safety measure isn't questionable IMHO....Any single design safety measure isn't questionable IMHO. Something had to happen for Colt to feel the need to use the design.....somewhere.
All safety features are questionable. For instance, someone may deceide that autoloading handguns would be "safer" if they were just single shot. There could be a case made for that "safety improvement".
The same thing could be said about Ruger abandoning the 3-screw Colt copy because 1880's Cowboy's stirrup would drop on the hammer of their Colts when tightening the girth. I don't buy it. Ruger going to the transfer-bar, pin system does not make their single actions any safer, unless you can provide the reseach that indicates that it is so. Also, the series 80 Colts, if you cannot site the reaseach that shows it, you are making a suposistion that there was research to warrent the change. It could just as likely been an abitrary decision based on politics of the time. Just show us the reasearch and we can settle all this.

[wjkuleck]

Please keep in mind that the original Model P design and its copies allows the firing pin to rest on the primer of the cartridge in the chamber under the hammer when the hammer is down when the revolver is loaded with all six. If that doesn't give you the heebie-jeebies, I'm not certain what will.

Regards,

Walt

[wjkuleck]

Any single design safety measure isn't questionable IMHO. Something had to happen for Colt to feel the need to use the design.....somewhere.
I am not a proponent of the series 80 design....in fact I can't stand it but it's easy to look past when your talking about safety.
Walt has done much research on the "drop subject" he can add allot of insight on the subject.
Our work shows that however unlikely a dropped pistol is to discharge, the possibility is there to the point that if a Colt I own is intended to have its drop safety parts I'll leave them in. Otherwise, I'll go with the Ti firing pin. After some experience in the matter, I'll eschew Swartz-type safeties altogether, and have divested myself of the pistols that included same.

As for research...do some on the S&W Victory Model ;).

Regards,

Walt

[nightfighter]

Please keep in mind that the original Model P design and its copies allows the firing pin to rest on the primer of the cartridge in the chamber under the hammer when the hammer is down when the revolver is loaded with all six. If that doesn't give you the heebie-jeebies, I'm not certain what will.

Regards,

Walt
In a Buscadero outfit (a creation of the entertainment industry) that could be a consideration. However, if you look at the holsters that were actually in use during the cowboy era, few were not carried in holsters where the leather did not protect the hammer from impact. Also, it was only a perception that there was danger because in practice, most SA owners only loaded five anyway...making "safety features", unnecessary.

[ncviking]

All safety features are questionable. For instance, someone may deceide that autoloading handguns would be "safer" if they were just single shot. There could be a case made for that "safety improvement".
It could just as likely been an abitrary decision based on politics of the time. Just show us the reasearch and we can settle all this.
You may be right. Some day I my learn the answer but until then I won't debate it. I offered my opinion...nothing more. The series 80 design is a pain to deal with when detail stripping a pistol but it does serve a purpose. If it was that good, it would be used across other platforms.

[dakota1911]

I would have said it is a pre 1983 Colt type system with a Titanium firing pin and a heavier than Colt firing pin spring. Not exactly a 70s Series but close. Has a grip and thumb safety and still sales less than the Glock I bet; which has what?

[edlmann]

Is the Ruger SR1911 a 70 or 80 series design?
Neither; it lacks (1) the collet bushing of the 70-series and (2) the firing pin safety of the 80-series.
I would have said it is a pre 1983 Colt type system with a Titanium firing pin and a heavier than Colt firing pin spring. Not exactly a 70s Series but close. Has a grip and thumb safety and still sales less than the Glock I bet; which has what?
It is a classic pre-70-series with modernized features.