Help buying a Colt 1911

[Alard]

Hello,
Just getting back into handguns, after doing without for many years, since I sold my 70's Government model in '74.
I would like to get a similar Colt. Really like .45 ACP shooting.
I'm really starting all over, though, regarding price, models, etc.

There are two Colt 1911's at my local range store.
Series 80 MKIV, slightly used, $699
Series 70 Government model, new $929

Any thoughts, recommendations, or suggestions would really be appreciated.
Thanks for your help.
Al

[ArmyCop]

For CC and general enjoyment I like my Colt Defender. Not sure what I'd like if CC wasn't a consideration.

[Alard]

For CC and general enjoyment I like my Colt Defender. Not sure what I'd like if CC wasn't a consideration.
Thanks for the input.
I'm hoping that someone who has experience with the series 70 and on, will let me know what I might be missing out on by buying a series 70.
Or maybe a comparison as to what would be better about a Defender.

At this time, plans are to buy only one handgun. I want to make sure it is a good purchase.

I am (was) a competent pistol shooter. Now mostly long guns, and pre-charged pneumatic pellet rifles, which I can shoot in my basement.
Now I'm looking forward to shooting a .45 at the range every week.

[191145]

I'd go for the 70 if its really new. You had one before, and it'll be like going home. The main difference in the 80 is a firing pin safety and they went back to the full contour barrel and solid bushing. The 70 Series will have the machined barrel and collet bushing for a more precise lock-up. Just remembered something - the 70 will be all forged steel, while the 80 may have some MIM or investment-cast parts. Considering the price of a brand new current production Colt Series 70 reproduction, I'd jump on the original 70 tomorrow morning as soon as they open.

[Hunter]

I would go with the series 70. Both 70 and 80 are excellent 1911s but I have both and for some reason I really like the series 70. Since you are familiar already with the 70 you will fall right in with your old habits kinda like riding a bicycle you won't forget.

[Hawkmoon]

Another vote for the Series 70. As 191145 explained, the Series 80 has the additional hardware to provide a firing pin safety in the slide. This isn't a huge drawback, as it is possible to achieve a decent trigger with it in place, but the 1911 somehow managed to get the job done for 70 years without it, so since you are accustomed to a 1911 without it, the Series 70 will be the same pistol you had 30 years ago.

[SMMAssociates]

Alard:

Yet another vote for the Series 70, but you might want to swap out the colletted bushing for a standard one. Sometimes they lose a finger....

Otherwise, it'll be more or less the same gun that you're used to.

There are risks in buying a used gun, but you might want to sniff out a used Series 70 or pre-70 and save a few bucks.

Springfield, Para, S&W, and Kimber (among others) all make high-quality 1911's, too, but may include the infamous firing pin safety in some models. Kimber's semi-proprietary design seems to be particularly iffy. IAC, one of these might be a better choice from a price standpoint, too.

(I've got a pre-70's Colt Commander, a Para LDA, a small Kimber, and a strange thing from S&W that I'm not going to describe here.... All of them are decent performers. The Para and the S&W have firing pin safeties. The one in the Para's probably going to be reliable. I can't get the stupid S&W apart to examine it, but the price was right. :D )

Regards,

[John]

I'll go for the Series 70, if I could afford it.

[191145]

The new one would be nice, but for example I traded a 70 recently on a Remington Rand, and got $550 for it. It was in very excellent mechanical condition with 95% finish, original grips and all original parts (but with a few scratches). You can find nice ones for way less than the $929 for the new one. A collector would probably want the new one to put away, while you may be happy with one for $250 less that has fired a couple boxes of shells. The key here is finding one that is unaltered and un-messed-with. Sometimes that's the hard part.

[OD*]

Alard,

When you say Series 70 Government model, new $929, do you mean it is an original unfired Series 70, or one of the currently produced reintroductions?

[Alard]

Alard,

When you say Series 70 Government model, new $929, do you mean it is an original unfired Series 70, or one of the currently produced reintroductions?
Guess I should have been more specific. It is the current Colt production of the Series 70. Not an original piece, like the one I used to own.
It sure has that familiar feel though.
I've heard that they come with a standard bushing, not the old "accurizer" collet bushing.

Thanks to all for the input.

[OD*]

Not a problem Alard ;)

I think for the difference in money, I'd get Series 80.
As has been stated, the 70 will come with a solid bushing and you will need to see if it has the Series 70 half cock hammer or if it was shipped with the Series 80 "shelf" hammer. If you prefer the non-firing pin safety feature on the 70s, it is easy to by-pass with a lever shim from Brownells. If money is not a concern, I would likely look at the repro, only because I don't have one. :(

http://www.brownells.com/Images/Products/876011780.jpg

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=13121&title=1911+AUTO+FRAME+SLOT+BLANK

[191145]

I would also take a pass on the new '70'. I didn't think about that possibility, because I automatically rule out new guns and pay no attention to them. I have seen a number of them on Gunbroker for less than $929 + tax, though. The problem is in figuring out if they're the current model or a 'real' one. The sellers thrive on the confusion and usually don't give any clues. The new rollmark even says 'Mk IV Series 70' just like the old one. This is one of the most confounding things I have seen in looking for guns.

[Alard]

Just thought I'd close out this thread with the conclusion.

Bought a current reproduction of the Series 70 Gov. Model.

Very pleased with the feel. Haven't taken it down yet, but, it looks well machined, from what I can see. I looked at three, mine is the only one that had the slide machined on center!! One of the others was severely off center.

Two things to add:
Any help with what I should look for in the internals would be appreciated.

Anyone want to hear about the difficulty my local PD gave me when I went for my purchase permit?

Thanks for all your help.

[OD*]

Anyone want to hear about the difficulty my local PD gave me when I went for my purchase permit?

Yes sir, I would.

[SMMAssociates]

I believe there's a "what to look for when you buy a used gun" checklist here someplace, or on one of the other 1911 forums.

That'd be a good place to look.

Enjoy!

[John]

Anyone want to hear about the difficulty my local PD gave me when I went for my purchase permit?

They issued you a permit to get a 1911 in UK?????!!!!!

I want to hear all about it! How did you make that?

[Alard]

You know, I never really noticed that I lived in the UK until I looked at my profile on this site.

Thanks.

[John]

Good Lord, and I start thinking that there is still hope for our English friends! No such luck I am afraid :(