Series 70 vs 80 type firing system

This pistol is of course still a series 80, so the firing safety system is present. Just this week ive encountered two different youtube videos in which the talking head on the video declared with absolute authority and no reservations the series 70 system is superior to the series 80. Only alpine can merge incredible performance, extreme efficiency and superior durability into a premiere vinyl window collection thats as strong as. 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. Also, the collet bushing was replaced with the solid bushing in about 1988.

Additional this model features a novak style rear sight with fiber optic front sight along with a skeletonized trigger. Similar to the transfer bar safety common to doubleaction revolvers, the trigger must be pulled to unblock the firing pin. Nov 29, 2015 series 80 on left, series 70 collet on right. Reading comparisons between the two models by some top gunsmiths, it seems that the series 80 is the safer of the two and, except maybe for very serious target or competition shooting where you want really light triggers, theres nothing to lose with a series 80. The 70 series is a family of toyota land cruiser models produced from 1984 to the present day. In case you are wondering what the differences are.

Lets take a closer look at the colt series 70 and how it performs compared to. 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. This approach is critical to making a variable speed compressor that delivers optimal performance over a wide operating range. The fit and finish is better than the 70 series production of previous decades. 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. Colt series 70 vs series 80, the differences may be more than you think. Despite major changes in styling and numerous technological updates, the. The series 70 firing system has long been associated with colts heritage as a top manufacturer of competitiongrade firearms, said mark redl, product manager and pro shooter for colt. Next came the improved series 80 with better sights, a polished feed ramp, and a firing pin. When the series 70 came out, there was a special bushing to make the pistol slightly more accurate. 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. In series 80 the ejection port is not only lowered and beveled, but also moved to right approximately 1 mm.

This high angle of fire is useful in engaging targets on steep slopes, in urban fighting, and for engaging low slow flying air targets. Gold cup series 80 pistols used the series 70type barrel and bushing as well. Reduces the creep and jump in the takeup thats inherent in these guns. This system featured an arrangement of internal levers and a plunger designed to ensure the firing pin was blocked until the trigger was pulled. Both lack the series 80 firing pin safety, however the new pistols do use the same internal parts as the series 80 pistols. 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.

Lots of people feel the 80s series is basically just a lawyer lock. This removes from the triggerfeel equation the internal movement that disengages the firing pin block. Firearms forum article about 1911 firing pin blocks. The original browningdesigned inertia firing pin was the way the gun was built from 1911 until the series 70 guns ran their course in the early 1980s.

It is nessessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander over and lock up the sear trigger mechanism. It is nessessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander over and lock up the sear. 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. It had a couple changes from the ones built in the 50s60s. Series 80 parts are fully backwards compatible in series 70 guns, as the notched parts do. Colt redesigned the barrel bushing from a solid cylindrical type to a springsteel. 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. Series 70 vs series 80 type the firing line forums. Most highend pistol makers ed brown, wilson, dan wesson only make 1911s without a firing pin block. The shooter must press the trigger to unblock the firing pin for series 80 1911s. I replaced the mainspring housing on the 80 series as it was plastic and with a wilson mainspring housing.

It is the same reason why we use acronyms like ftf, fte, imho, and others. The colt competition 1911 series 70 government model is the series which features the legendary series 70 firing system ensuring that this particular 1911 is a faithful reproduction of government models manufactured prior to wwii. Some claim that this addition makes for a heavier trigger pull. What firearm manufacturers other than colt make a 1911 with. 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. Sep 28, 2017 however, series 80 1911s are another matter. Iv series 70 a current version from colts custom shop. 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.

The official colt frequently asked questions faq thread. For maximum reliability, key features must be part of the design foundation. The biggest change in the series 80 is the firing pin block. In effect, the return to the preseries 80 system at colt is a return to the series 70 style guns and earlier m1911a1s.

Our heavyduty vinyl frames combined with 1 insulated, lowe glass, make these windows some of the most energy efficient produced. Titaniumnitrided parts, with an exclusive molydisulfide coating, reduce trigger pull weight without risky modifications to series 80 colts firing pin safety system. Well in the process of looking at it, dry firing it etc etc i realized that it barely. A look at the colt series 70 pistol the shooters log. Colt series 70 vs 80 firing pin safety question the. The series 70 and pre series 70 pistols barrel, are not compatible with the series 80 pistol s barrel. The firing pin safety is a pin liked to the pin that holds the sear and the disconnector togeeather, that pin is lifted up by depressing the grip safety, and the pin pushes up a button on the under side of the slide and moves the firing pin into the firing position. Since it is used by many different companies, series 80 has become slang for any 1911 pistol with an fpb, although it should only apply to a 1911 with the colt series 80 system. The colt series 80, introduced in 1983, was formally known as the colt mk iv series 80 line of pistols.

Id defy anyone to correctly distinguish which one has the series 80 trigger by the trigger itselfall are truely excellent triggers with no work done to them. To convert to a series 70 would be a good idea if you want a lighter trigger because the firing pins safety plunger spring adds to the trigger pull weight. I removed the ils system and replaced it with wilson mainspring housing. The series 70 hammer had a half cock notch or hook whereas the series 80 has a shelf. The colt is a series 80 that individuals complain about. The 80 s series hammer does not have a half cock notch, but a ledge.

The 80 s series hammer will not be captured by the half cock ledge if it. Series 70 vs 80, the difference is more than you think. Reason behind colt still putting out series 80 firing. Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911 pistol. The notes and warnings in this document must be observed by the user to ensure hazardfree operation of this device. Mar 22, 2011 series 70 safeties do not prevent the firing pin from moving. Jul 18, 2011 in this video we take a look at the swartz firing pin safety system that was introduced in 1937.

Of my 3 1911s, one is a colt series 80, the rest are 70 series in makeup. 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. Among the less expensive makers, springfield 1911s lack this as well, although they do include an inte. Many of the other small parts are also nickeled carbon steel, obviously to reduce manufacturing costs. 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. Those changes meant the gun wouldnt fire until the. This change was to prevent the eventual wear and breakage of the hook allowing the hammer to fall. By hunter elliott on september 20, 2015 in gun talk i see a lot of use and misuse of the terms series 70 and series 80 when talking about government model and commander pistols so i thought i would lay it out for you all. Series 70 vs series 80 1911addicts the premiere 1911. Sep 16, 2015 on monday i posted an initial look at the colt mk.

Firearms forum article about 1911 firing pin blocks from. Instead of being a solid piece, it had a few fingers on it. What firearm manufacturers other than colt make a 1911. Regarding the clone guns 1911pattern pistols made by manufacturers other than colt, only paraordinance adopted colts series 80 firing pin block system as well. The difference between series 80 and 70 is that series 80 incorporates a firing pin block. By installing the shim and removing the firing pin safety linkage the pistol is unsafe with the 80 s series hammer still in the pistol. The series iis are based on the colt series 80 style with the firing pin safety. Jan 08, 2010 my government series 80 has a trigger that needs no work.

Eventually the use of series 70 to identify any 1911 without a firing pin safety. The colt series 80, introduced in 1983, was formally known as the colt mk iv series 80 line of. This device left the factory in proper condition to be. It is necessary to fill this frame gap so the sear will not wander over and lock up the sear trigger mechanism. The soviets modified the truncated cone turret used on the btr70 for the btr80 by redesigning the mantlet. The collet bushing was replaced with the solid bushing and the phase out was completed around 1988. I do like it better in one respect than the series 80 firing pin block of colt. 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. I believe it uses 3 extra levers in the lockwork that work together to block the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled.

The alpine 80 series is the ultimate in vinyl window technology. First off, a basic comparison of the new second generation series 70 pistols with the originals is in order. This model instituted a big change to the 1911 design. Series 70 1911s have no safety plunger in the slide. The 80 series started in the 80s and continues to be built. Jan 29, 2018 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. What were the differences between the series 70 vs series 80. The hammer is of the conventional spur type, however on this stainless gun it is actually nickelplated carbon steel instead of stainless. Parts youll need are a shim that fills in the space in the frame where the series 80 lever was, and id recommend a series 70 hammer. A kimber for example sure as heck doesnt use a series 80 fpb, but it does have an fpba schwartz lock fpb. A number of companies sell the series 80 design as well the remington r1 springs too that feature the firing pin block as well as the halfcock shelf. When you depress the grip safety, a small pin pushes a plunger up in the slide which unblocks the firing pin. 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.

The new colt series 70 has a somewhat better finish than the series 80 guns, but other than the lack of a cut in the frame for the s80 parts, they are otherwise identical. In an attempt to improve the accuracy of the standardissue weapons, the mark iv series 70 used a. As already mentioned the new guns use the solid barrel bushing, whereas the 1st gen. The vs series rethinking everything the vs series design started from a clean sheet of paper. Thumb safety, grip safety, firing pin safety grips. Should you buy or modify a series 80 or series 70 1911. Sep 05, 2016 series 70 versus series 80 among older 1911 guys youll sometimes hear discussions about series 70 versus series 80 firing pin systems. Colt series 708090 firearms talk the community for. It replaced the 25yearold 40 series as the offroad workhorse of the land cruiser heritage, while the 60 series and later the 80, 90, 100, 120, 150 and 200 series developed into more comfortable passenger offroad vehicles. The only thing that keeps the firing pin from moving is the firing pin retaining spring. Colt competition 1911 series 70 government model semi auto.

The series 80 was created by changing the series 1970 firing pin safety or lack thereof. Not everybody liked the new firing pin safety system colt devised. Larger ejection ports and a selection of mainspring housing shapes, i think, hve been available as factory improvements or aftermarket addons since the 40s. May 26, 2017 the series 70 firing system has long been associated with colts heritage as a top manufacturer of competitiongrade firearms, said mark redl, product manager and pro shooter for colt. The series 70 made a comeback in 2002 in the new retro line named the mk iv series 70 government model. Kimber ii series 1911s have a slide mounted firing pin safety similar to the colt series 80 s. The pistol featured a fourfingered collettype barrel bushing that. Paraordnance, sig, auto ordnance, remington, and taurus have adopted colts series 80 or a similar firing pin block system as well. Colt series 70 vs 80 firing pin safety question the firing. A series 70 hammer, with half cock notch should be installed. Oct 30, 2015 the series 70 lacks a firing pin block. Colts series 70 trigger put to the test series 70 vs.