colt vs colt

[jim young]

If you collectors wanted a government mod. of colt 45, and you had a choice between a series 70, and a new roll stamped government in blue with case for 200 less, which one would you take? one other question, between a stainless and a blue in both which would be better? or is this one of those strictly personal choice things? the reason I ask is I am looking at a 70 series and a friend said that the new colts are better buy, but I like the old blue 70 series with the royal colt blue. thanks

[John]

If you collectors wanted a government mod. of colt 45, and you had a choice between a series 70, and a new roll stamped government in blue with case for 200 less, which one would you take? one other question, between a stainless and a blue in both which would be better? or is this one of those strictly personal choice things? the reason I ask is I am looking at a 70 series and a friend said that the new colts are better buy, but I like the old blue 70 series with the royal colt blue. thanks
Series 70 without a doubt. But that's just a biased opinion.

Rgds

[stoneypete]

That would depend on my application. If it was for carry, I'd go with the 80. The extra safety gives more peace of mind when carrying in condition 1. If it was gonna be a target gun I'd go with the series 70. Much easier to put a nice trigger on.

BTW this is my first post ever on this M1911.org. I love Colts and USGI's. Fair warning, my opinion is worth what you paid for it. :D ;)

[papashah41]

I am looking at a 70 series and a friend said that the new colts are better buy, but I like the old blue 70 series with the royal colt blue. thanks

Why not get both new and blued? The "new" 70 series pistols can be had with a beautiful blued finish! They're a bit pricey...but remember that they're coming from Colt's "custom shop" (plus side...real pretty and well built. negative side....$$$ LOL).

[jim young]

I agree with the idea that a series 70[original] is the better way to go, I am workig on buying whichaka's as we type.

[John]

If it was gonna be a target gun I'd go with the series 70. Much easier to put a nice trigger on.
Have you ever tried that? Because I have heard so much rumours about how you cannot make a nice trigger with a Series 80. I have my own example, which has the sweetest triggers, and this was not done with an expensive custom job, just drop in parts. And using or not using the S80 parts, the trigger pressure does not change.

So please if you have first hand experience, we are eager to learn, but do not redistribute word of mouth or what mags write.

[wichaka]

John, I wish I could send you my series 80 SS Gov. model just to try the trigger. Its got a clean 4 1/2lb trigger.........no creep. Its very possible to get a very good trigger out of them, just have to make sure that the firing pin trigger bars are operating properly after the job is done.

The trigger job is done no different than any other 1911. Years ago Wilson put out info. about how the 80's guns were hard to get a good trigger pull, and some others jumped on the band wagon with him.
That's not true..........I've done many trigger jobs on series 80 guns, I find very little difference............except having to mess with them blame little parts!

[mitchjoe]

jim young:

The choice is really personal. Assuming the 70-Series is in as-new condition, for 200-bucks, that's the one I would buy.

That said, the new 1991's are great gun's (as are the "new" 70-Series). The choice of stainless or blue; ditto. The stainless or blue question includes a degree of practicality depending on the pistol's intended usage, but it's still a good call either way. Personally, nothing looks better than a well-done blue.

Finally, I agree with Wichaka. I've owned and shot Series 80 gun's that possessed some mighty fine trigger action. The bottom line is how you feel, and of course cash... :D

mitchjoe

[jim young]

I called colt and asked them about the lifetime defect war. they said that the series 70 new model is only a temp. item and not a permanent manufacture item, and that the war. is only for manufacture defect. so unlike taurus it is not a we fix wear and tear.

[SMMAssociates]

Have you ever tried that? Because I have heard so much rumours about how you cannot make a nice trigger with a Series 80. I have my own example, which has the sweetest triggers, and this was not done with an expensive custom job, just drop in parts. And using or not using the S80 parts, the trigger pressure does not change. John:

Really hearsay, but I've got enough of an engineering background to be leery of the firing pin block. You've got a plunger more or less riding on the trigger doing something else entirely, and if it's not set up properly, you've got a problem.

Then, you have to consider what that plunger is working against, and it's kind of random alignment....

My own vote, for target use, is to lose the plunger and the block. (Brownells sells a spacer that replaces the plunger.) For carry, though, you want to leave it there.

Strictly IMHO.... If I were King, and I'm not saying that it could be done, I'd have put the block on the "other side" of the sear - letting it de-activate after the trigger breaks.

I don't think there's much of any difference between the Series 80 and others except the firing pin safety, and maybe the firing pin spring. You can use Series 80 parts pretty much everywhere in the older guns, and vice versa.

Regards,

[John]

That's what I think too gentlemen, my S80 has the same exact, lovely trigger, either with or without the S80 parts. Oh, and yes usually I have a sim there instead of the cams, but some time ago, I got in the investigating mood and put them back in and measured the pull. No difference. Shoot the thing with and without them. No difference.

The bottom line being that it IS possible to have a very nice trigger on a Series 80. It all depends on the attention you pay when doing it.

Rgds

[SMMAssociates]

John:

I'm nowhere near the purist here.... I don't think you can measure the effect of the firing pin block goodies.

The actual pull difference probably is there, but (at least on my Para) the spring is very light. The problem is that there are three or more parts moving while you're pressing the trigger that aren't there in the other models.

Get a little crud behind the block in the slide, or on the mating surfaces between the block and the firing pin, and things are going to be a little different. Moving the plunger in the trigger group adds a bit to the job, too, even when the rest of the goodies work.

All of this should change the letoff point slightly, and I think the purists will tell you that it's also going to be unpredictable. :eek:

I doubt if it'd bother anybody in a carry gun situation - but I think the target guys would be cautious.

(I think the whole thing should be reliable enough to be safe to carry, too. It's pretty simple, and good maintenance should be sufficient to keep it working.)

I really see this as a solution for which no problem exists, but whoever did it (disregarding my previous comments about tying it to the hammer fall) seems to have cooked up a nice way of doing it.

Regards,

[stoneypete]

Have you ever tried that? Because I have heard so much rumours about how you cannot make a nice trigger with a Series 80. I have my own example, which has the sweetest triggers, and this was not done with an expensive custom job, just drop in parts. And using or not using the S80 parts, the trigger pressure does not change.

So please if you have first hand experience, we are eager to learn, but do not redistribute word of mouth or what mags write.I sent you a PM. I've no desire to hijack this post.

[clare44man]

I just put a Colt government on layaway at Jay's. I have been looking at this gun for quite some time. I did not get the model designation but it has the engraved slide with the gold inlay Colt, full length guide rod (not my favorite feature but ok) commander hammer and Colt's stupid drop in grip safety (first thing to be replaced!). Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I picked it up (first mistake) and tried the trigger (second mistake). That trigger was as sweet as I have ever felt on a factory gun. I would guess that it was down near 4lbs, had a little take up, then broke clean and sweet! I looked at the gun closer expecting it to be a new series 70. It was not! It was a series 80 gun! I'll never bad mouth a series 80 trigger again! I also had an Officers series 80 and that trigger was good for a stock gun, but this government has as nice a trigger as my old Kimber and that is saying a lot. I'm sure not every factory Colt has a trigger this good, but you have to treat every gun as an individual. Had I realized this was a series 80 first, I probably would have left it in the case. But after I tried the trigger, I had to have it!!!