70 vs 80 series 1911

[Chief_10Beers]

What is the difference between the 70 and 80 series 1911? I understand that the SR1911 is a 70 series. What about the Remington R1A? Or the Springfield 1911-A1?

I'm currently on a waiting list (#7) for a SR1911 but there is a R1A and 1911-A1 availible now...............................

 

[Precision32]

The 80 series of 1911 has a firing pin blocking safety (FPBS). Unless the trigger is pulled back the firing pin is blocked from hitting the primer if the firearm is dropped.

The 70 series does not have this FPBS and is as Browning designed it.

Not sure about the Rem but the Springer is a 70 series design.

I would not run a series 80 firearm for self defense. I built a Taurus based 1911, at the purchase's request. This gun is of the 80 series design. The FPBS failed on the first outing. Needless to say the FPBS was removed.

 

[modrifle3]

Remington R1 is an 80 series.

 

[Sugar River]

http://www.rugerforum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=150818

 

[guidedfishing]

Spring Field 1911 A1, Range Officer is a model 70 series.

shoot straight and shoot often
GF

 

[edlmann]

The 80 series of 1911 has a firing pin blocking safety (FPBS). Unless the trigger is pulled back the firing pin is blocked from hitting the primer if the firearm is dropped.
The 70 series does not have this FPBS and is as Browning designed it.
Not sure about the Rem but the Springer is a 70 series design.

Spring Field 1911 A1, Range Officer is a model 70 series.

One of the characteristics of a Colt 70 series is the collet style barrel bushing.

Does anyone but Colt use these?

 

[cruzerlou]

My Kimber T.L.E.II came with a F.P.S. but it worked off the grip saftey not the trigger like the colt .I remover it and replaced the firing pin with a Titmunium one and a stiffer firing pin spring and no problems .The way mine worked it didn't effect the trigger pull anyway,but I just felt like it was something there that could fail you just when you needed it most ,so out it came .
Lou

 

[GKC]

One of the characteristics of a Colt 70 series is the collet style barrel bushing.

Does anyone but Colt use these?

As far as I know, Colt doesn't use those on anything any more.

Most people understand "Series 70" (which is really a Colt-specific term) to mean that the pistol doesn't have a firing pin safety. It's the same as someone saying they want some "coke"...they may mean specifically a product made by Coca-Cola, or they may be asking for a soda of any brand. (Or in some places, it could mean some white powder...)

 

[Snake45]

One of the characteristics of a Colt 70 series is the collet style barrel bushing.

Does anyone but Colt use these?

Bar-Sto used to. I have a 1911 I built around one of their barrels around 1973 or '74 that still has one in it.

I also have a parts 1911 I built around a Colt MKIV barrel and collet bushing. Very accurate combo, and so far it seems to be holding up.

 

[DGW1949]

The 80 series of 1911 has a firing pin blocking safety (FPBS). Unless the trigger is pulled back the firing pin is blocked from hitting the primer if the firearm is dropped.
The 70 series does not have this FPBS and is as Browning designed it.
Not sure about the Rem but the Springer is a 70 series design.

Spring Field 1911 A1, Range Officer is a model 70 series.

One of the characteristics of a Colt 70 series is the collet style barrel bushing.

Does anyone but Colt use these?

The collet bushing you pictured is in fact, one of the distinguishing charecteristics of the Colt 70 Series pistol, as was the return of checkered walnut grips on their Government Models. As I recall, that is also when the gold-colored Colt grip medalion became common on Colt semi-autos, so even though the grip material was familiar, the new grips themselves were not.

Point is, there's several features common to the 70 Series which combined, set it apart from all other Colt models. But the lack of a FP safety alone does not.

Just callin' a spade a spade.

DGW

 

[lfpiii]

There is nothing wrong with a firing pin block. S&W, Kimber and Taurus use one that works with the grip safety instead of the trigger which is how the Colt series 80.

Many gunsmith hate the series 80 because they cannot get a lighter trigger pull that 4-1/2 pounds and the gun if completely reliable at 5 pounds. I have owned two Colt series 80 completely stock except grips for more than 25 years and never had a problem.

 

[edlmann]

One of the characteristics of a Colt 70 series is the collet style barrel bushing.

Does anyone but Colt use these?

As far as I know, Colt doesn't use those on anything any more.

I think I remember reports of fingers of the collet breaking off.

 

[DGW1949]

One of the characteristics of a Colt 70 series is the collet style barrel bushing.

Does anyone but Colt use these?

As far as I know, Colt doesn't use those on anything any more.

I think I remember reports of fingers of the collet breaking off.

The 70 Series bushing required additional machining operations on the slide and barrel, both of which had to be done "just right" in order for the bushing to function correctly. On the other hand, the bushing itself had to be "just right" also. And bear in mind that the gun was being produced during a troublesome period for Colt....meaning that they were being bombarded by financial problems, production problems, demands by the United Auto Workers Union, employee strikes, and other stuff, all of which went on for quite a few years.
The result of all of that caused the need to farm out work, buy parts which they would have otherwise made themselves, completely drop a lot of gun models, and in some cases, even resort to putting their name on someone else's gun.

Anyhow, although I can't say for sure just what the underlying reason was....yeah, you are correct....the bushing in question did fail ever now and then, and it failed enough times that Colt finaly abandoned it.

FWIW, I owned a 70 Series Government Model back then. That was also during the time that I was a deputy sheriff, and mine was bought as a replacement for the OM-357 Blackhawk that I'd been carrying. After taking my first look at their new-fangled "collet" bushing and how it was "supposed" to work though, I couldn't get the POS out of my gun fast enough to suit me. Matter of fact, I didn't even carry the gun untill after I'd found a USGI bushing to replace it with.

There's ideas, and then there's good ideas.
Colt's collet bushing was just an idea. Mr Browning's bushing was a good idea.

DGW

 

[PapaBear]

Have used a Colt Series 80 over 25 yrs. It was worked on by Jim Clark as a hardball gun, used in Bulls-eye shooting, trigger was set at the required 4 lbs. let off was very crisp with no take up like breaking glass. I have never had a failure to fire. I no longer shoot outdoors matches. I have been shooting indoor matches 50 Ft. Softball matches. Trigger now set at 3 1/4lbs, and I still have never had a FTF, trigger is still as crisp as before.
I remember trying to get a Series 70 to send to Jim Clark, but they were hard to come by and very pricey. I spoke to Mr. Clark & told him about not finding a Series 70. He said Son do you think I am going to go out of business because Colt is now making Series 80's. It just takes a little longer to work on the added parts. I have nothing bad to say about my Series 80.