Posted: 2/12/2013 6:36:38 PM EDT
| Why do Colt owners i speak to have such a negative view of the 80 series? I saw a nice used nickel plated 80 series for sale and I get mixed feedback from other owners. I really want the Colt but may just get a New Dan Wesson for roughly the same price if the Colt has some issue I am unaware of. I haven't gotten a solid answer locally. I've just been told to avoid it or "I wouldn't waste my time with that" sort of answers that don't tell me why that is. |
| Thanks for the reply. Just to be clear, I'm not looking for a heavy use beater type of pistol just a casual range toy. I seldom shoot my Springfield loaded as it is. But I have been on a real bad Glock buying spree for the past eight months and I'm a bit tired of ugly guns, if you know what I'm saying. |
| I still think they are good guns. It would be difficult to put a 3lb trigger in one, but as long as it is cared for properly it should run well and last a long time. I've actually got some Kimbers on order and I think they have series 80 parts in them. Just don't soak it in WD-40 and let it sit for a few months, lol. |
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There is no "issue" that Colt has with the series 80, it was done for safety purposes. A series 70 fully cocked, safety off and dropped on the hammer will discharge, an 80 will not. There are additional parts in an 80, A spring, plunger, lever, and I'm sure I'm missing one. The additional parts can affect the trigger, but any gunsmith worth his salt can tune the trigger. My Colt commander with series 80 parts breaks at 4#, my Series 90 Defender with the same parts breaks at 4.25. They are both my carry guns that's why I didn't want the triggers any lighter. For a range gun, or a carry gun a series 80 Colt will serve you well. |
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I don't get bent over Series 80 parts, same as I don't get bent over the loaded chamber indicators in the new Ruger .22 pistols and such. It hurts nothing except for some people's butts.
My S80 Commander has the best trigger on any handgun I own save the Highway Patrolman... 
As far as a failure point goes- Anything can fail, but stories of these parts failing are legendary and anecdotal at best. You'd be well served with any series 80 system. |
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Quoted: Are the additional parts a point of failure on them? I'm not overly concerned with the trigger pull going lighter. If I pull the trigger and it feels good enough, I would just leave it. If it feels rough or overly heavy I might just pass. I trust my life to them, I carry one each and every day.
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| So it sounds like I will be fine. Most likely will only be carried to the range and shot at local get-togethers. I wasn't looking for another full size but it's an attractive looking pistol and being a Colt is always a plus. I can always get the Dan Wesson later. |
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The only issue I had with my Series 80 was a heavy trigger pull.
I installed this http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/frame-parts/frame-hardware/fillers/tj-s-1911-series-80-to-series-70-conversion-shims-prod13121.aspx?ttver=1 Actually lightened the trigger pull up quite a bit |
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I like my Series 80. I don't know how heavy the trigger pull is but it has never been an issue so I am guessing that it is on the light side. The only thing that I have done to mine is replace the poorly fitted factory barrel bushing with an Ed Brown that I fitted to the slide and barrel. I also replaced the black wood grips with factory rubber Gold Cup take offs.
decent pic with original grips 
crappy pic with new grips 
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When the Series 80 firing pin lock system came out, some top shooters said that they could tell the trigger pull was heavier and "stagy".
Since the top experts didn't like it, everyone didn't like it, even though they personally couldn't tell any difference. After gunsmiths figured out how to improve the trigger most people stopped complaining but the story continues that the 80 trigger pull is no good. Another reason some people don't like it is that if you disassemble the frame completely and fail to properly reassemble the Series 80 parts, the gun will appear to function correctly, but the firing pin will not be unlocked when the trigger is pulled and the gun won't fire. In addition, this can damage the firing pin and firing pin lock plunger. To prevent this, all you have to do is PAY ATTENTION if you disassemble the frame and make sure you get it back together correctly. This ain't rocket science, and it's extremely easy to check the assembly to insure it's working correctly. People who improperly reassemble the Series 80 system and get a "click" when the trigger is pulled instead of a "BANG" probably shouldn't be allowed to use a gun due to extreme carelessness. If you don't like the Series 80 firing pin lock, you can remove it. To remove it, you'll need to buy a spacer plate to fill the area in the frame the two Series 80 levers fit, and remove the firing pin lock plunger and spring from the slide. This will leave a hole in the bottom of the slide. If you want to remove the Series 80 system, you have to remove ALL of it, or NONE of it. |
| Thanks for the feedback guys. Went back today and the Nickel was gone but a Polished Stainless was there, so I picked that up. Cheaper also. Found a receipt for it in the box that it was sold in 1997 in the same store. I'm going to try and find the year it was made, I'm guessing it's from 96 or 97. Trigger pull feels fine to me as I mainly shoot DOA pistols. |
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Quoted:
You shouldn't be putting a 3lb trigger on a 1911 to begin with. You can get away with it on a gun that's dedicated to shooting wadcutters and will see regular inspection from a pistolsmith. But the 1911 should really have at least 4lbs of trigger. In bullseye competition all guns with less than 4.25lbs were rejected as unsafe; there's a reason for that.
I still think they are good guns. It would be difficult to put a 3lb trigger in one, but as long as it is cared for properly it should run well and last a long time. I've actually got some Kimbers on order and I think they have series 80 parts in them. Just don't soak it in WD-40 and let it sit for a few months, lol. To get a trigger down to 3lbs, the sear shelf on the hammer is WAY too shallow. And most guys who are looking for such light triggers fully intend to shoot full power loads through their guns. That gives you ZERO margin for error. Just not a good idea on a combat gun at all. |
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I bought a brand new on in .38 Super in December. It's the best 1911 trigger I've ever owned.
Bearing in mind that my 1911 experience so far has been the Army and Springfield... 
Even so, a friend of mine has a stainless .45 that's damn near telepathic in how it works. Still series 80. Just be aware that the little arm that pushes the firing pin block up can flip up into the way of the slide when you're putting it back together. |
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Nothing wrong with Series 80s 1911s. I have a Delta Gold Cup, and I have put many rounds down range without a hitch.
Even with all those pasts in the firing pin locking mechanism, I doubt most shooters could feel the difference, unless you're a professional shooter like Brain Enos. |