Series 70/80?

[tgazzx]

Newbie question...please bear with me. What is the difference in a Series 70 and a Series 80 M1911? I am a fairly new owner of a SA GI M1911-A1. Which is it (70 or 80)? Thanks!

P.S. This forum is great! It has helped me tremendously!

[irq23]

A 'series 80' is now a generic term that refers to a firing pin block that is disengaged usually during trigger pull (although some disengage with the grip safety). It is supposed to prevent an accidental discharge when the firearm is dropped. The firing pin in a 1911 is free floating, so the theory is that if you drop your 1911 hard enough on the muzzle the inertia could possibly cause the firing pin to strike the primer with enough force to discharge the firearm. Though most agree that the 'series 80' system is unnecessary and adds unneeded complication and trigger pull weight. A 'series 70' is simply a 1911 without this safety mechanism, which is the original JMB design.

[irq23]

Oh I almost forgot, welcome to the sight BTW. As far as your Springer, someone else might chime in on this, I believe it is a series 70.

[CTDinMT]

Series 70 implies that it's a Colt. But your Springfield GI operates like a Series 70 and earlier commercial and GI Colt's, as there is no firing pin block.

[Tom]

Springfield "cheats" by using a lighter, smaller firing pin - the theory being that a lighter pin will not develop enough inertia in a muzzle-down fall to travel far and hard enough to strike the primer.

That being said, I don't think there's been a documented case of an M1911 firing after being dropped muzzle-down, so both Springfield's modification, and the "Series 80" modifications, are a solution to a non-existent problem.

I'd love to see Mythbusters do a show on M1911s dropped on their muzzles to disspell this myth.

[deadmarsh]

Some claim they have witnessed this event (usually those who for some reason need to downgrade the 1911 design), however in forty + years I have never heard or seen this happen at the gunshop or in military...

My preference has always been for the non firing pin safety versions of the 1911 -- in fact, I have no versions of that design in my vault, including all my Colts...


Dead

[Candiru]

I can see some advantage to a lighter firing pin and/or a stiffer firing pin spring: avoiding inertial slamfires. When using a steel firing pin and an old, worn-out firing pin spring, I started seeing my ejected rounds with dents in the primer, one very light one on one side of the primer, the other much heavier on the other. The firing pin was bouncing forward as the gun went into battery and kissing the primer. Inasmuch as I was flirting with an out-of-battery detonation, this was my reaction: :scared:

Of course, if you go to far in the opposite direction, e.g. getting a titanium firing pin with an extra strength firing pin spring, and your mainspring is a little old, you start getting light strikes. Not that I would know this personally. Nope, happened to...uh...a friend of mine.

[deadmarsh]

Yup, Candiru, we're talking preventive maintenance here. Not a problem if you change out those springs at the right time intervals...

To me, maintaining a firearm is not unlike proper maintenance of your automobile. I don't know many folks who don't change the oil frequently, not every 20,000 miles. But springs in firearms seem to be neglected by many -- not a good practice...


Dead

[Tom]

My preference has always been for the non firing pin safety versions of the 1911
It's one of the reasons I chose Springfield over other makers.

[berkbw]

Oh I almost forgot, welcome to the sight BTW. As far as your Springer, someone else might chime in on this, I believe it is a series 70.


are we being mirrored on the sight m1911a1?
b-

[tgazzx]

Thanks, irq23...and everyone else! That's one more nagging question you guys have answered for me.

tgazzx

[irq23]

Series 70 implies that it's a Colt.

While this was once true, series 80 or series 70 really has become a generic term when applied to the firing pin safety or lack there of. Kind of like Kleenex for facial tissue.

[John]

If you visit our Home Page and read the "History" section, it will clarify everything for you. On another note, the firing pin safety mechanism which is activated by the grip safety is called a Swartz type, not a Series 80 type. Different animals.