Difference between colt series 70 80 90

Sep 28, 2017 a few people might have noticed some 1911s are labeled series 70 and some are series 80, and wonder just what the difference is. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to right approximately 1 mm. The series 70 was a specific model of the colt, offered only in the 5 barrel length. What is the difference between a colt series 80 and series. But many years ago, colt manufactured a series of its iconic 1911s. 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. In the 1970s, the mk iv series 70 government model superseded the standard government model. Colt released an updated design of their fullsize 1911 pistol in the. I just had a conversation with colt today to buy an extra recoil assembly for my series 90 colt new agent. Series 80 90 pistols with the firing pin safety are cheaper than 70 series and original government models from the same manufacturer without the addons. I know there is very little difference between the 70 and 80 but figuring that im wanting the purest 1911 like an a1, its the first time im really taking the 70 vs 80 debate into consideration.

Aug 21, 2018 in the 1970s, the mk iv series 70 government model superseded the standard government model. 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. We go over everything from the safety, bushing, and hammer in the series 70 and series 90 1911s to see which is the best for you. Differenece between series 80 and series 90 pistolsmith.

The m1911, also known as the colt government or government, is a singleaction, semiautomatic, magazinefed, recoiloperated pistol chambered for the. I understand colt had a double action series 90 at one time. The helpful lady let me know that series 90 is a moniker that is going away. 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. Over the years a number of changes have been made to the 1911 platform. The colt model 1911 semiautomatic pistol is the most popular semiautomatic pistol in u. Sep 16, 2015 on monday i posted an initial look at the colt mk.

In fact, i prefer the 80 series to the new 70 series. If you gush over the latest plastic fantastic and fail to recognize the usefulness of 1911s youre missing out. What is the difference between a 1911 series 80 and a series 90. Ive since repeated my experiment see video below on sidebyside comparisons between probably half a dozen new series 70 colts and the current line of series. Okay but you see, i was alive when the series 70 came out and all the outrage in gun magazines was at full throttle about the series 70 being a mistake, being unreliable and a bad move by colt. The 80 series, so called because it was introduced by colt in 1983, is a more modern. The series 70 made a comeback in 2002 in the new retro line named the mk ivseries 70 government model.

For whatever reason colt has in the past called the defender and double eagle series 90, although the firing system is series 80. Not only are they useful, but theyre also not all the same surprise. Many say it doesnt make a difference, and i suppose it doesnt. Colt commander 45 apc series 70 vs 80 series thearmory. The only differance in the two is that there was a new firing pin safety in the series 80 which came from government regs like 10 round mags only did. The ww1, gunsite, and series 70 pistols will be series 70 no firing pin safety and the defender is a series 90 a series 80, as far as you need to be concerned, and the rest are series 80. Its a major difference to 1911 fans, with many preferring the older 70 series for competition guns. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program. The only mechanical difference between a real original mk iv series 70 colt and a 1969 government model was the accurizor collet bushing.

The series 80 also came with a composite plastic trigger in some models. In the 70s colt got rid of the lanyard loop on the main spring housing. In effect, the return to the preseries 80 system at colt is a return to the series 70 style guns and earlier m1911a1s. While lawyers were in the mix to convince these newer series were safer, the improvements in safety. Colt series 708090 page 2 firearms talk the community. Jan 08, 2010 i just had a conversation with colt today to buy an extra recoil assembly for my series 90 colt new agent. I do see a degree difference between manufacturers, however. However, you can use most series 80 parts without a problem in a series 70 pistol. Unless the trigger is pulled back the firing pin is blocked from hitting the primer if the firearm is dropped. The series 80 is simply a 1911 thats has been installed with an internal firing pin block system. When i discovered it wasnt true to what i used in the service i decided i didnt like it and sold the gun. Colt s 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. However the cry of outrage smeared the series 80 and 90 pistols and colt brought back the series 70.

Colt merely used the series 70 designation with the new guns as a means of identifying all pistols not using the firing pin safety system. The series 70 made a comeback in 2002 in the new retro line named the mk iv series 70 government model. Aug 05, 2015 last week i traded for a new colt government model. Last week i traded for a new colt government model. Mar 28, 2017 the markings between the two pistols are also obviously different, although they both sport the colt name and logo. Difference between series 80 and series 90 1911forum. By describing non colt 1911 handguns as series 70 or 80, it makes it easier to. And the trigger pulls on my 80 series guns, especially my new commander, is as good as ive felt on a production 1911 gun, whether 70s or 80s series, colt or otherwise. For starters, do you really mean a series 70, or are you really asking the difference between a series 80 and a preseries 80. Not sure about the rem but the springer is a 70 series design. Series 8090 pistols with the firing pin safety are cheaper than 70series and original government models from the same manufacturer without the addons. Colt eventually changed the collet bushing, and the series 70 pistol.

It was widely used in world war i, world war ii, the korean war, and the vietnam war. What is the difference between a colt series 80 and series 90. There were cosmetic differences in the roll marks, sandblasted walnut grips, and plated trigger, but the roll marks were reduced in size and checkered grips and blue trigger were reinstated partway through the production run. Colts manufacturing company firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. I think i want a colt defender model 90, but im not in the market for a few months yet. Jan 08, 2010 my government series 80 has a trigger that needs no work. In 1970, colt introduced the allsteel colt combat commander, with an optional model in satin nickel. The video below shows how the series 70 stacked up against a blued, 2014vintage colt m1991a1 series 80. All that being said, every gun i have purchased has been so because i liked the gun and the price was right. Series 80 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 colts.

I just opened up the box and looked at the owners manual. Colt series 708090 firearms talk the community for. The main modifications in the new model were a slightly heavier slide and a slotted collet barrel bushing. Series 70 vs series 80 1911addicts the premiere 1911. Its all a matter of individual needs and tastes, as far as im concerned. The off amount and percentage simply signifies the calculated difference between the sellerprovided price for the item elsewhere and the sellers price on ebay. I think colt saw how popular the sig 220 and sw 4506 were and tried to get into that market, only they were a little late. The 70 series does not have this fpbs and is as browning designed it. Between 1983 and 1988, government and gold cup models of series 80 guns contained series.

I think the firing pin safety has merit on a carry gun. The 8090 series guns can be slicked up very well, to the point that you cant really tell the difference. What is the difference between a series 80 and series 90 pistol. It served as the standardissue sidearm for the united states armed forces from 1911 to 1986. Jan 10, 2019 many a keystroke has been dedicated to the differences between the colt series 70 and series 80 pistols. Colts series 70 trigger put to the test series 70 vs. I dont know that ive ever heard an explanation of what series 90 was supposed to represent. The differences between the two are not insignificant nut it is. To tell the truth, id bet theres not one guy in 20 that could tell the difference between a stock 70 and 80 style gun, if they were clean and properly lubed, especially after firing a few hundred rounds. Answers is the place to go to get the answers you need and to ask the questions you want. 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.

Regarding the controversy involving getting a decent trigger pull on a series 80 gun, it is only of importance if the gunsmith attempts to create a superlight pull under four pounds for. The difference between 80 and 90 was nil, so they i am guessing here are doing away with the name since it just brought up more questions like. Interestingly, the latter uses a solid barrel bushing and series 80 hammer, so it is somewhat different mechanically than the original series 70 models. Iv series 70 a current version from colts custom shop. When referring to colt 1911 pistols, the first models that come to mind are the standardsized semiautos chambered in. Series 70 vs series 80 has no impact on my decision to purchase a particular gun. Considering the difference between the series 70 and 80, i can understand why it might cause alarm when colt adds another series to their 1911 pistols. Difference between 1911 series 70 and 80 the firing line.

Many a keystroke has been dedicated to the differences between the colt series 70 and series 80 pistols. I know there is the difference between the recoil spring and barrel length, but is there anything else. There is a lot of bad information about these pistols being unreliable and having terrible triggers. Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911 pistol. A few people might have noticed some 1911s are labeled series 70 and some are series 80, and wonder just what the difference is. The series 70 and pre series 70 pistols barrel, are not compatible with the series 80 pistol s barrel. My government series 80 has a trigger that needs no work. Series 70 vs 80, the difference is more than you think. Colt series 70 vs series 80, the differences may be more than you think.

This question is best answered by giving the following history. Introduced the accurized split barrel bushing collet bushing. There is another big difference between the series 70 and series 80 pistols, but nobody talks about. To be perfectly honest, i have no idea how tell the difference in series 70 from any other series. 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. There are some key differences between a series 70 and series 80. In 1983 colt introduced its mk iv series 80 models, which had an additional passive firing pin safety lock that did not allow the pistol to fire. What is the difference between series 70 80 and 90 firing. Nov 29, 2015 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. Series 80 refers to the series 80 firing pin safety, which is on other colts as well. I have a tough time telling the difference between the 70 and 80 series guns in terms of trigger. Between 1983 and 1988, government and gold cup models of series 80 guns contained series 70 type barrels and bushings. Series 80 i noted that the trigger was not all it was cracked up to be my colt 1911 enthusiasts.

The series 70 is also different from the series 80 1911, which are far more popular today, as well. Well, there was a big trend for dasa guns back in late 80s. The reverse is not true with specific series 70 parts, since the series 80 firing pin safety mechanism requires clearance cuts in the grip safety, firing pin, firing pin stop, and extractor. It adds another level of safety, doesnt really affect trigger pull if done right, and only adds about 4045 seconds in additional reassembly time once you figure out how to do it. The 80 series of 1911 has a firing pin blocking safety fpbs. This is a video to explain the differences in the different series pistols and how some of the terms have changed over time.