Hello All, help me out please...

[DrDac]

Hello, this is my first post to the forum (which is very helpful and informative by the way).

Anyway, my father has a Colt Custom Shop Government Model .45 which I had just shot for the first time last week. All I can say is, MmmmmMmmmm...

So I am in search of my own Colt 1911 to purchase in the very near future.
My Budget is at $1000, (a few bucks more won't hurt though). My eyes have been caught on Gold Cups, specifically these two:

GCT
http://www.impactguns.com/store/098289041067.html

GCNM
http://www.coltclearinghouse.com/colt_gold_cup.htm

Now, what are your opinions between these two guns? I know that you all know your colts, so your thoughts are very important to me.

I have read about that these two models different sights being the main difference? Is this true?

So what would you decide on? This will be my only handgun for financial reasons denying me a second. So its an important choice.

I am not going to be carrying this gun, nor entering competitions anytime soon. Just a shooter for the range to enjoy and hone my skills.


Thanks!
Give me as much information and knowledge as you can, I love to absorb all this stuff up! :D

[Joni Lynn]

I must have done something wrong, both look like the same gun to me. If that is what you want, it's a nice enough gun. You'll enjoy it.

[RandyColt]

I think I would go with the Trophy in SS with Bomar sights.

[Skyviking]

While the Colt Trophy Gold Cup is a nice pistol, it is neither a good competition pistol or carry pistol. The Eliason sights do not have anywhere near the sight picture and repeatability of the settings as the Bomar sights most serious competitors use, nor are they rugged enough for serious carry/service use. (The roll pin holding the sight in the slide tends to shoot its way out, causing you to lose the entire rear sight and the spring.)

I think that you would be better served with a Colt 1991a1 in either blue or stainless finish. They can be had on the 'net for as little as $550 NIB. Shoot it a bit, then send it to a good 1911 pistolsmith/shop such as Cory Trapp at Gunsite's Gunsmithy, Chuck Rogers, Don Williams, Jim Garthwaite, Novak's, Wilson's, Ted Yost, etc. for a trigger job, high-ride grip safety, a carry-bevel (de-horning) package, a match barrel bushing and perhaps a reliability package ("blueprinting" of the breech face, barrel lugs' lock-up, extractor tension, etc.), and maybe Novak or Heinie (tritium?) sights. All of the foregoing mods would set you back about $500, leaving you nicely within whispering distance of your initial budget. You would have a much nicer, more unique custom pistol, to boot.

I would really recommend the Colt Gunsite pistol or starting with a new Series 70, but that would run you about $300 more than your budget allows. Going with a base pistol (1991a1 or the Series 70 reissue), and then having it customized would allow you to stretch your budget out a bit. Heck, you would then have a good excuse to borrow your Dad's pistola to practice with, too - so you can get a good idea of what you should have done to your pistol. ;)

[Joni Lynn]

I agree that the roll pin in the Elliason sight can shear off, and will almost always do so if the gun is used in a ransom rest. However the hardened steel elevation screw is still there and it is impossible for the sight to come off the gun so long as the screw is connecting it to the slide. If you have a choice, the BoMar is the better choice, better sight in all ways. I've had the pins in the Elliason shear, but never lost a sight or even a spring yet.

[Sabre]

What would be the intended use(s) of this pistol? Target shooting? IPSC competition? Bullseye competition? Personal defense?

If you descrbe to us your needs, we can better comment on how we feel these pistols will suit you.

Welcome to the forum, by the way, and thanks for joining!!! :D

[Joni Lynn]

Sabre....interesting name. My first Motorcycle was a Sabre, made by Honda. I still have it.

[Road King Jeff]

If the Sabre was your "first" bike, what are you riding now?

[Joni Lynn]

BMW K100RS in pearl white.......euro spec......1987

[Colt4evr]

I have to agree that the Colt Gold Cup (Trophy) is a fine pistol, however it does not lend itself to normal carry and use. Extended usage of hardball ammo will lead to the front sight coming off, and the roll pin in the rear sight (Elaison) to come out. Gold Cups are happiest tossing lead wadcutters downrange at about 600-700 fps. Factory loaded ammo is hard on them. The Gunsite pistol previously mentioned is a fine choice.
The Colt XSE pistols are a good choice also. It all comes down to what you intend to what you wish to use the weapon for.

[DrDac]

Thank you all for the quick informative replies, I will make sure to keep all your opinions in mind.

[Skyviking]

I'm sure the motorcycle info. helped clarify things for you.

[John]

I have to sincerely apologize for hi-jacking this thread, with an unrelated discussion. I split the non-relevant posts, and copied them in a different thread.

If I was not the admin, I would have warned myself.

Again, I am sorry for your inconvenience, it will never happen again.

[Road King Jeff]

I want to make sure I know what's going on here. I participate in a number of forums, but none like this one, operation wise.

Was the problem talking about an unrelated subject, in this case bikes?

If so, would the proper way to handle that be to post a private message if you wanted to inquire about a subject not related to the thread?

I've appreciated the information I've received here, and I don't want to run afowl of the rules.

Thanks

Jeff

[Joni Lynn]

Like John, I had no nitention of hi jacking a thread. It just came about due to a persons handle and wasn't intentional by any means.

[XavierBreath]

I think that Skyviking gave some good advice, but I will stick to the two guns you listed.

The differences I see between the GCNM and GCT are the sights and trigger.

The GCNM has the Eliason sights with an integral sight rail running the length of the slide. The Series 80 GCNM is an enhanced version with the high cut trigger guard. It has a unique wide trigger with a neato adjustment screw. It also has a small sear depressor lever and spring that prevents sear bounce. This spring requires a specific GCNM sear that has a hole in one of the feet. Many people hate this set-up because they have not figured out how to use a slave pin for reassembly, or it surprises them on disassembly and they lose the spring. The system works though.

The present model of GCT has a round top slide with a Bomar sight. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it has a standard width trigger. Standard trigger guard. No sear depressor spring/lever.

Both guns will have a high resale value if cared for, but my favorite is the Series 80 GCNM. I like the enhanced guns, I have never had a problem with the Eliason sights, and I shoot large amounts of 230gr hardball. In particular, I like the integral sight rail and the wider trigger. The width of the trigger gives the perception of a lighter trigger pull at a greater poundage, allowing the feel of a 2 pound trigger if set at 3 pounds. Of course, you get the associated durability of the 3 pound trigger. The sear depressor spring prevents trigger/sear bounce. The GCT is a nice gun, but for that kind of money, I want something extra. The GCNM gives me that lagniappe. Both guns are accurate shooters.

Here's mine.
http://www.bayourovers.com/GoldCupNationalMatch.jpg

Now my motorcycle......................... ;)

[1911Tuner]

Jeff and Joni Lynn...If we could get into trouble for gettin' off-topic once in a while, John woulda already sent the Greek Mafia over here to git me! :D

[John]

I want to make sure I know what's going on here. I participate in a number of forums, but none like this one, operation wise.

Was the problem talking about an unrelated subject, in this case bikes?

If so, would the proper way to handle that be to post a private message if you wanted to inquire about a subject not related to the thread?

I've appreciated the information I've received here, and I don't want to run afowl of the rules.

Thanks

Jeff
Yes, the problem was that me and Lynn got adrift, talking about a subject different than the one of the original poster. This creates a problem, because the original poster keeps checking his thread, to find answers on his question, and all he got was our irrelevant discussion. This is called "hi-jacking a thread", in other words, use a thread for a discussion different, from the original subject.

It was certainly not Lynn's fault, it's me who should be more attentive to these matters, hense my sincere apologies to the original poster.

Rgds

[Road King Jeff]

Makes perfect sense, thanks for the explaination

[DrDac]

XavierBreath, thank you for that great reply. Also, that is one magnificent gun you have your hand on!

John, no apology necessary, no harm was done at all.

[Joni Lynn]

I have always been a lil bit 'off'..............even if it was off topic, the coolest thing is that we are all here because of our love for firearms........and when off subject we are here for similar reasons.