Series 70 GC; help much appreciated

[Rugger]

Last Sunday I took my NIB Series 70 CG to the range for its first session. I also brought along 4 original Colt manufacture magazines I had been given as a present recently, to test them for reliability. I must admit that the pistol might have been a little over-lubed. I intended to get rid of an assortment of older FMJ cartidges none of which was a reload. However, these included cartidges manufactured by the Mexican Army in 1942. On the fourth shot of the first magazine I was firing (not the original magazine that came with the pistol originaly), FTFs began ocurring, especially with the 1942 vintage cartidges. In all cases very light fring pin indentations appeared on the primers. Upon attempting to fire these cartidges again, all fired with the exeption of the 1942 vintage which I threw away. This went on during the complete session (100 rounds in 1 hour of shooting). In the second magazine I fired (again, not the original magazine that came with the pistol), the base of the magazine blew off and downwards. Save for the missfires and this incident with this magazine, the pistol functioned fine and accuracy at 15 yds. was excellent. Could anyone share his/her views on what might be the problem and the cure? At the outset, I have thought that I will not be using the pistol solely for formal target practice, and am thus inclined to change the recoil and firing spring springs for Wolff or Wilson replacements. Could anyone comment on this? Can anyone let me know what is the correct recoil spring rate for a normal Government Series 70 (as opposed to a Gold Cup)? Thanks to all for your time and your input.

Best regards.

[Hawkmoon]

Are you using "FTF" to indicate "Failure to Feed" or "Failure to Fire"?

[Rugger]

My apologies! I meant failure to fire. Best regards.

[daveohno]

The springs have a recommended round life. Go ahead and buy the new springs and when these reach their life span, change them. Once you shoot regularly, the round count adds up pretty fast.

I had a pistol that was having light primer strikes and I contacted Colt and I they sent me a replacement firing pin and firing pin spring. I see you are in Mexico, so I don't know if that would work in your case.

[para38super]

Last Sunday I took my NIB Series 70 CG to the range for its first session. I also brought along 4 original Colt manufacture magazines I had been given as a present recently, to test them for reliability. I must admit that the pistol might have been a little over-lubed. I intended to get rid of an assortment of older FMJ cartidges none of which was a reload. However, these included cartidges manufactured by the Mexican Army in 1942. On the fourth shot of the first magazine I was firing (not the original magazine that came with the pistol originaly), FTFs began ocurring, especially with the 1942 vintage cartidges. In all cases very light fring pin indentations appeared on the primers. Upon attempting to fire these cartidges again, all fired with the exeption of the 1942 vintage which I threw away. This went on during the complete session (100 rounds in 1 hour of shooting). In the second magazine I fired (again, not the original magazine that came with the pistol), the base of the magazine blew off and downwards. Save for the missfires and this incident with this magazine, the pistol functioned fine and accuracy at 15 yds. was excellent. Could anyone share his/her views on what might be the problem and the cure? At the outset, I have thought that I will not be using the pistol solely for formal target practice, and am thus inclined to change the recoil and firing spring springs for Wolff or Wilson replacements. Could anyone comment on this? Can anyone let me know what is the correct recoil spring rate for a normal Government Series 70 (as opposed to a Gold Cup)? Thanks to all for your time and your input.

Best regards.
My friend I see you are in Mexico, I always beleived that mexico would not allow people to own guns. Also I think its really hard to contact colt and get them to send replacement parts to mexico because of the laws in mexico.

[Rugger]

Thanks for your input Daveohno. As per your intrest in Mexico para 38super, our laws do allow gun ownership although subject to certain regulations/restrictions pertaining posession, transport and carry. Allowed and restricted alibers as well as auto weapons are regulated. Military personnel and in certain cases police officers are allowed restricted calibers as well as collectors. Best regards.

[paul45]

A NIB Series 70 GC? Replace recoil and especially the firing pin spring anyway. Only fire good name brand ammo at first to ensure all is well.(No offense to reloaders.) Don't fire ancient corrosive ammo.

[Rugger]

Thanks for the input! Best regards.

[tenx]

If you are getting Failure To Fire problems, I urge to replace the hammer spring. Wolff springs are my choice.

I have run into Series 70 Gold Cups near new that have weak hammer and recoil springs.

The old WWII ammo may have hard primers like some European ammo that requires a good spring to power the hammer. The WWII ammo may also be corrosive. Thoroughly clean the gun.