Colt series 70 vs 80

Handguns » 1911 Discussions

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Colt series 70 vs 80

Posted: 2/13/2020 12:02:10 AM EDT

I've been looking at 5" Colts. What's the difference in these besides the front sight and about $25?
Series 70
Series 80
I had just bought a Kimber Ultra Carry when I created my account here, so don't let my username give me any credibility on 1911s

Posted: 2/13/2020 7:51:36 AM EDT

[#1]

80 has a firing pin safety.

Posted: 2/13/2020 9:46:11 AM EDT

[#2]

70 will sometimes drop from half-cock and cause kaboom.

Posted: 2/13/2020 9:56:20 AM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
70 will sometimes drop from half-cock and cause kaboom.

View Quote

With the newer hammers, should not be enough energy in the "1/2" cock pos to allow this.

Older ture 70 series 1911 used a captive half cock.

Posted: 2/13/2020 10:26:14 AM EDT

[#4]

with the addition of the firing pin safety to the series 80, the additional two levers, block, and spring add some pull weight... but a good smith can make it reasonable

Posted: 2/13/2020 10:56:03 AM EDT

[#5]

I have a series 80 CRG from around 2014, and a series 70 CGC from 1979. It's extremely difficult to notice any discernible difference in trigger pull. Both shoot better than I can and I'm guessing the pull weight on both is around 4lbs.

Posted: 2/13/2020 11:05:56 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have a series 80 CRG from around 2014, and a series 70 CGC from 1979. It's extremely difficult to notice any discernible difference in trigger pull. Both shoot better than I can and I'm guessing the pull weight on both is around 4lbs.

View Quote

I noticed the same, no difference in trigger pull, but a more complicated level of parts. There is a part or kit that can eliminate the safety.

I am down to four Kimbers with series 70 design. Funny how I haven't dropped a 1911 ever, in decades.

Posted: 2/13/2020 11:11:44 AM EDT

[#7]

Bullseye shooters and other purists prefer the series 70.

Posted: 2/13/2020 11:14:59 AM EDT

[#8]

some 70 series had or have a collet bushing in the front,

that was regarded as a bad move, and considered the debbil for a long while,

I have a couple Series 70's Colts, and a pile of other 1911's on the same pattern,
and I also carry sometimes a Series 80 Steel framed Commander,

all shoot well,

Posted: 2/13/2020 12:22:48 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Bullseye shooters and other purists prefer the series 70.

View Quote

Purist here.

Posted: 2/13/2020 1:40:42 PM EDT

[#10]

Series 80 have a firing pin safety so the weapon is drop safe.

It really is a great system and if you’re going to carry a 1911 I would highly recommend it.

If you’re just using a 1911 for the range or competition then it’s not necessary but still not a bad idea.

Posted: 2/13/2020 3:21:54 PM EDT

[#11]

From the standpoint of detail stripping and gunsmithing, the series 80's are more of a pain.

I used to hate when I'm re-installing the slide on the frame and the stupid 80's series safety lever would catch on the back of the slide. Also, the safety plunger in the slide creates a "weak" spot in the area next to the cut out for the disconnector that always resulted in peening from the hammer bounce.

I prefer the clean simplicity of the series 70.

Posted: 2/13/2020 3:25:47 PM EDT

[#12]

I have a series 80 that's a fine shooter.

I'm not a "purist" so it's good .

Posted: 2/13/2020 3:32:21 PM EDT

[#13]

I prefer vertical cocking serrations and Series 70. But, either one is fine.

Posted: 2/14/2020 8:30:47 AM EDT

[#14]

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. I remembered there was one significant difference but couldn't think of what it was. The firing pin safety is what I was looking for.

Posted: 2/14/2020 8:39:02 AM EDT

[#15]

I have a hard time taking people seriously who make a huge stink about series 80 guns.

S70 guns are really only going to go off if they dont get the firing pin spring replaced and it drops on the muzzle from 10 feet or so.

The half cock notch is there if some how the hammer drops by accident. The odds both break? Idk but im not worried about it.

Either way i dont care.

Posted: 2/14/2020 8:58:13 AM EDT

[#16]

SA INC uses a Ti firing pin (and hvy spring) to pass the CA drop test. they are "70 series".

Posted: 2/14/2020 9:31:03 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
with the addition of the firing pin safety to the series 80, the additional two levers, block, and spring add some pull weight... but a good smith can make it reasonable

View Quote

There is also a drop in part that replaces the two lever parts in the frame of the series 80 system to improve trigger pull. I have one in my parts bin, but for safety and liability purposes I left the trigger system alone.

Posted: 2/14/2020 5:47:29 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
SA INC uses a Ti firing pin (and hvy spring) to pass the CA drop test. they are "70 series".

View Quote

Correct, that is the correct way a series 70 1911 should be built IMHO, and the added parts and thus the complexity
of the series 80 or series 90 is truly not needed, besides those that shoot 1911's a lot can notice a difference in pull
weight and trigger feel between the usually lighter and crisper series 70 trigger.

Posted: 2/14/2020 7:51:50 PM EDT

[#19]

A good smith can get a good series 80 trigger feeling like a good series 70 trigger. They did on mine, the trigger is phenomenal, light and crisp despite being a series 80. If I can have my safety cake and eat it too, I prefer to have my safety cake and eat it too. I'm not in the habit of getting butterfingers and fumbling my guns, but over the course of 15 years of almost daily carry shit happens and I have fumbled my pistol and dropped it three times, so it's nice to know the gun is drop safe in those instances.

Doubly so since one of those three times I dropped my M9 and it landed exactly right on a stone surface to have caused the infamous P320 accidental discharge had it been that platform.

YMMV.

Posted: 2/14/2020 7:54:56 PM EDT

[#20]

80 is 10 more than 70, so there's that.

Posted: 2/14/2020 9:06:36 PM EDT

[#21]

S70 is the only way a 1911 should be

Posted: 2/14/2020 9:11:46 PM EDT

[#22]

70 for me

But wouldn't turn my nose up on an 80

Posted: 2/15/2020 10:46:18 AM EDT

[#23]

Picked up a Colt CCU a little bit ago. Series 80 and I'm very happy with it.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Colt series 70 vs 80

Handguns » 1911 Discussions

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