Colt commander series 70 vs 80

By describing non colt 1911 handguns as series 70 or 80, it makes it easier to determine. There have been a lot of questions posted by new members. I see a lot of use and misuse of the terms series 70 and series 80 when talking about government model and commander pistols so i thought i would lay it out for you all. The aftermarket began using the terms series 70 and series 80 to identify parts. The series 70 hammer had a half cock notch or hook whereas the series 80 has a shelf. What colt is giving you with the new mk iv series 70 is in fact a series 80 pistol with series 80 trigger system parts, only without the actual firing pin block. This change was to prevent the eventual wear and breakage of the hook allowing the hammer to fall. In case you are wondering what the differences are. In the 70s colt got rid of the lanyard loop on the main spring housing and increased the size. Here at hgw, we still believe that the series 70 style hammer is best as it captivates the sear rather than allowing it to possibly slide off.

The series 70 and pre series 70 pistol s barrel, are not compatible with the series 80 pistol s barrel. In sum, a series 70 is better for competitive shooting carried unloaded in a box and shot a lot while the series 80 is a better duty pistol carried loaded and shot infrequently and decreases your liability somewhat. By hunter elliott on september 20, 2015 in gun talk i see a lot of use and misuse of the terms series 70 and series 80 when talking about government model and commander pistols so i thought i would lay it out for you all. Well, the series 80 is a number of features added to the basic colt pistol. This removes from the triggerfeel equation the internal movement that disengages the firing pin block. The official colt frequently asked questions faq thread. Colts entire line of 1911style pistols were switched to the new design in 1983, so they all bore the series 80 designation even the commander and officers acp models. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to right approximately 1 mm. What were the differences between the series 70 vs series 80. The colt series 70 has been outfitted with a retro hammer, nighthawk custom beavertail grip safety, mainspring housing, and match barrel bushing. Colt series 70 vs series 80 combat government colt.

Between 1983 and 1988, government and gold cup models of series 80 guns contained series 70type barrels and bushings. Colt series 70 vs series 80, the differences may be more than you think. As you can see in the pictures todays series 70 guns have the same barrel bushing as the series 80s. The thing is that none of the colt 1911 designs in the officer or commander.

This is a commonly debated subject my opinion is series 70 is a superior design and the series 80 is not needed and makes a gun less reliable and more likely to fail, malfunction or break. What series 70 and series 80 really means when 1911 shopping. Colt series 708090 firearms talk the community for. The defining characteristic of an actual series 70 is the collet bushing, which is only offered by colt on the colt series 70 pistol that they sell right now. On a pistol that has been around for 108 years, there are a bunch of generations, and here is the difference between the 70 and 80 series. Gold cup nm series 70 vs series 80 mk iv 1911forum. What series 70 and series 80 really means when 1911 shopping the thing is that none of the colt 1911 designs in the officer or commander frames received the collet bushing of the series 70. Colt fans will argue that series 70 and 80 only apply to colt and any other manufacture claiming series 80 are really just stating it has a firing pin block and mechanism, colt clones retain many of the differences that are seen in a series 70 vs 80 colt 1911. Colt in the early 1970s introduced a new variation of the 1911a1 pistol called the series 70 model, which incorporated a major change. Between a series 70 and a series 80 combat government which should i go for. Glock 17, dlask compact 1911 in 9mm, berretta 92 centurion w. A series 70 1911 left, and a series 80 1911 right oh, and the series 70 was not the original m1911 platform or the m1911a1 it was the result of decades of changes and improvements.

The safety is the most commonly discussed and noteworthy change, though. Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911 pistol. It should be noted that the shorter 4 14 barreled commander pistols. It came with the stock rubber grips but managed to find. Colt series 70 vs series 80 combat government 1911forum. A modernera series 70 ruger sr1911 left, and a series 80 remington r1 right. Keep in mind the series 70 guns you find today are more 70ish than 70true. Kimber uses and that colt refused to use since colt said the swartz system was unreliable. Enter the pistol trials which brought in names you know like colt, dwm, smith and. Firing pin block safety the colt series 80, introduced in 1983, was formally known as the colt mk iv series 80 line of pistols.

The series 80 has light holster wear, leather gun belt, leather holster, mag pouches and extra mags. A look at the colt series 70 pistol the shooters log. The shorterbarreled colt commander model kept the solid bushing design, so it never had a series 70 designation. The series 80 was created by changing the series 1970 firing pin safety or lack thereof. Series 70 vs 80, the difference is more than you think. Next came the improved series 80 with better sights, a polished feed ramp, and a firing pin block or drop.