Series 70 vs 80 firing system

Colt now making series 70 competition pistols the mag life. Ruger went with a series 70 gun because the majority of the users didnt want a series 80 one. Larger ejection ports and a selection of mainspring housing shapes, i think, hve been available as factory improvements or. I like the roll marks and sight options on the competition but the only real difference that my novice eyes can see is the series 70 vs series 80 firing system. Colt series 70 vs series 80, the differences may be more than you think. These updates were added in 1983 and were dubbed the series 80 since the previous revision to the base model gun was similarly dubbed the series 70. Ive rented a trp and a les baer which i loved, although both were superb.

The series 70 hammer had a half cock notch or hook whereas the series 80 has a shelf. Series 70 1911s have no safety plunger in the slide. Colt ever wonder what the difference is between a series. What this means is that designwise most of them share commonality with the pre series 70 guns, using neither the firing pin block nor the collet bushing. Series 70 vs 80, the difference is more than you think. Because of this it is important to remember that only colt series 80 models, and a couple of clone 1911 makers use a firing pin block. For those wondering what the difference is between these. The series 70 and pre series 70 pistols barrel, are not compatible with the series 80 pistols barrel.

So, if you notice a compact 1911 thats billed as series 70. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to right approximately 1 mm. The series 80 iswas the term used to refer to a number of modifications made to the firing mechanism of the colt 1911 pistol. Colt 1911 govt model versus ruger sr1911, or springfield. The m1911 and m1911a1 pistols do not have this device. You could more accurately characterize them as a pre series 70 design, since they incorporate neither design feature. Do not be confused by colts experimental use of the schwartz safety system. The series 70 versus series 80 has nothing much to do with reliability or one beingbetter. Why is a 70 series 1911 better then a 80 series 1911.

Iv series 70 a current version from colts custom shop. Comparing two recently produced, offtheshelf government models featuring the series 80 system with an original series 70 government model and the test gun with its. Kimber ii series 1911s have a slide mounted firing pin safety similar to the colt series 80 s. Colts series 70 trigger put to the test series 70 vs. The purpose of the firing pin block is to prevent the firing pin from moving forward unless the trigger is depressed. In an attempt to improve the accuracy of the standardissue weapons. People that own and fire only striker fired weapons will have no idea what you are talking about and likely will not care. In case you are wondering what the differences are. The series 80 firing pin block is the formost and most important safety feature ever made. The fp safety keeps the firing pin fron contacting the primer for a possible ad when the pistol is dropped, muzzle down, on a hard surface. In 1973, a colt designer came up with an ingenious way to enhance the out of box accuracy by tightening up the muzzle end of the barrel fit with the slide without the need for tedious hand fitting. The only thing that keeps the firing pin from moving is the firing pin retaining spring.

Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911 pistol. In a nutshell, the series 70 design is the older colt design while the series 80 is a newer design that adds a physical drop safety mechanism. A look at the colt series 70 pistol the shooters log. I was reading earlier today at a 1911 forum about all the safety features designed into the series 80 firing system of my colt, as well as the half cock feature, that apparently do not exist for the most part in other 1911s. The official colt frequently asked questions faq thread. Series 70 is in this context just refers to the original gi system, without the series 80 firing pin safety.

What series 70 and series 80 really means when 1911 shopping. Sigs, as well as most current production from most manufacturers, are 80. Series 80 was a redesign to the series 70 where they redesigned the barrel bushing to the way they make them now, plus they added the drop safety into the gun. This firing pin blocking mechanism on the series 80 colts differentiates the series 80 colts from the true m1911a1 pistols. 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. Grab a springfield or a dan wesson 1911 and it is technically neither a series 70 or series 80. Paraordnance, sig, auto ordnance, remington, and taurus have adopted colts series 80 or a similar firing pin block system as well. The difference between series 80 and 70 is that series 80 incorporates a firing pin block. So, if you notice a compact 1911 thats billed as series 70 it. What firearm manufacturers other than colt make a 1911. Next came the improved series 80 with better sights, a polished feed ramp, and a firing pin block or drop safety. These pistols are known to collectors as preseries 70 guns. Tjs 1911 series 80 to series 70 conversion shims frame slot filler replace the gap used by the colt series 80 firing pin block actuating levers when removed by gunsmiths for crisper trigger pulls.

Among the less expensive makers, springfield 1911s lack this as well, although they do include an inte. It is nessessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander over and lock up the sear. This was years ago so the remorse is mostly passed but as i look toward my next 1911 im trying to decide if i really even care between series 70 and series 80. Thus, the firing pin can only move if the trigger is pulled. The 80 series started in the 80s and continues to be built. First was the addition of a triggeractuated firing pin block. The series 70 did not have a firing pin disconnectblock safety system. Its possible for a series 70 to fire on its when dropped or thrown against a solid surface, but the firing pin block on the series 80 prevents this. This is an intriguing change, one that should hit the mark with traditionalists and shooters who are after the snappiest trigger pull possible. 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.

Anyway, pistol smiths have had 30 years to work that out and you can get a good trigger on a series 80, although it is more difficult and a series 70 is still smoother to those that know the difference. Series 70 safeties do not prevent the firing pin from moving. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to. Series 80 went back to the solid bushing but incorporated a firing pin block safety. When you look for parts and the maker says 70 series or 80 series, they are talking about the presence or absence of the firing pin block. Everything from the rollmark to the 70s series firing system. Eventually the use of series 70 to identify any 1911 without a firing pin safety. When i discovered it wasnt true to what i used in the service i decided i didnt like it and sold the gun.

Story time with jerry miculek the worthless 1911 guide rod and being tacticool duration. The basic design has remained the same throughout all these years, although a number of minor internal changes have been made from time to time. When the series 70 came out, there was a special bushing to make the pistol slightly more accurate. Colt the main difference between a series 70 vs 80. The series 80 is simply a 1911 thats has been installed with an internal firing pin block system. On the series 80, a pivoting link is actuated by the trigger pull, pushing the firing pin block up and unblocking the firing pin.

Now, it seems that even colt has taken to using the term to let the buyer know that there isnt a series 80 firing system in place. It seems to make perfect sense, as its not too difficult to remember that series 70 means any colt product without a firing pin safety system, versus a series 80 which has the safety. The m1991a1 is an economy version of the series 80, some of them have different rollmarks than others, theres nrm and orm versions. In 1983 the series 80 models were introduced with the new firing pin safety system, which guarded against an accidental discharge should a loaded pistol be dropped onto a hard surface. Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911.

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. You can leave a series 80 firing pin and extractor in a series 70 gun, you just cannot use the series 70 and earlier bits in a series 80 gun. It has the firing pin safety and no more collet bushing. These guns incorporated a new firing pin block safety system, where a series of internal levers and a plunger positively blocked the firing pin from. The only real difference between the two is that the series 80 has a firing pin lock safety feature that keeps the firing pin locked until the trigger is pulled. Colt still makes some 70s, as do some of the semicustom builders. Colt competition government model with series 70 trigger. If you drop a 1911 from a high enough height onto a hard enough surface and it lands on its muzzle, the inertia of the firing pin will overcome the retaining spring and strike the primer.

Also, the collet bushing was replaced with the solid bushing in about 1988. The series 70 system, which this gun sports, is the one originally designed by browning for the 1911 and does not have the passive firing pin block of the later series 80 system. Lots of people feel the 80s series is basically just a lawyer lock. More important to our discussion of the series 70 guns, the firing pin system was exactly the same one used since 1911. Most highend pistol makers ed brown, wilson, dan wesson only make 1911s without a firing pin block. The series 80 system introduced a passive safety to block the forward motion of the firing pin so it could not strike the primer unless the trigger. Previously, they were outfitted with series 80 firing systems. Safties, the series 1s are based on the colt series 70 style with no firing pin safety. Today series 70 means the ww1 and wwii system without the firing pin block added in the series 80 and without the special bushing which tended to break. The shooter must press the trigger to unblock the firing pin for series 80 1911s. In that article i explained how the series 70 came about, how the series 70 firing system differs from the series 80 system used in colt m1911 pistols since 1983, and why colt reintroduced the series 70 in limited runs beginning in 2001. Were gonna talk about the difference between a 70 series 1911 and an 80 series 1911 stick around. Colt competition pistol line now uses series 70 firing.

The 80 series safety stuff in the frame and slide prevent the hammer from hitting the firing pin if the gun somehow drops and the stars are aligned and the earths magnetic poles switch and well you get my drift. Does this firing pin safety system of the series 80 1911 have a negative effect on the classic trigger press and is it really needed for drop safety. The thing is that none of the colt 1911 designs in the officer or commander frames received the collet bushing of the series 70. What exactly does that mean and im gonna show you on this 70. What were the differences between the series 70 vs series 80. Youre gonna learn something so what youll notice on your left is this is a this happens to be a gold cup pistol that is a 70 series pistol and and you know we get a lot of questions. I dont have an opportunity to rent either colt, but they are the more fiscally responsible option. I removed the ils system and replaced it with wilson mainspring housing. The series iis are based on the colt series 80 style with the firing pin safety. It is the same reason why we use acronyms like ftf, fte, imho, and others. We can get our point across by using the 70 series 80 series, and people know what we mean without having to describe that we either do or do not have some kind of firing pin block safety, whether it is a colt system, or the kimber schwartz style. The reality of the situation is that in the modern gun vernacular series 70 and series 80 have become synonymous with without firing pin safety and with firing pin safety. The main difference i know of between the series 70 and the series 80 colts is the series 80 guns have a firing pin block and the series 70 guns dont. This removes from the triggerfeel equation the internal movement that disengages the firing pin block.

This change was to prevent the eventual wear and breakage of the hook allowing the hammer to fall. All the models in the colt competition pistol line will now be outfitted with series 70 firing systems. There have been a lot of questions posted by new members and 1911 owners as to what the difference is between series 70 and series 80. The series 70 and previous models could be dropfired if dropped directly on the hammer.