Aguila Blanca
Staff
Plastic guns, of course.polyphemus said:
(Rock River Arms)
colt 1911 series 80 firing pin safety reliabillity?
- Thread starter relaxing
- Start date
(Rock River Arms)
Tactical Jackalope
New member
This makes me want to replace my 70 series with the 80 series mechanism.
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How much would that run me?
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How much would that run me?
re:
There is no Series 70 mechanism in the fire control group. Everything prior to Series 80 was the original design in that area...from 1910 until the Series 80 pistols were introduced in 1983.
"Series 70" means something specific that has nothing to do with safety. It's become a catch-phrase. A quick way of letting the buyer know that the pistol doesn't contain any lawyer parts.
There is no Series 70 mechanism in the fire control group. Everything prior to Series 80 was the original design in that area...from 1910 until the Series 80 pistols were introduced in 1983.
"Series 70" means something specific that has nothing to do with safety. It's become a catch-phrase. A quick way of letting the buyer know that the pistol doesn't contain any lawyer parts.
Tactical Jackalope
New member
Can you explain to me?
Cause the reason why I'm wanting those so called "lawyer parts" is to make sure my gun is the safest as it can be with modern time.
Can I make that happen with my 70 Series?
Cause the reason why I'm wanting those so called "lawyer parts" is to make sure my gun is the safest as it can be with modern time.
Can I make that happen with my 70 Series?
Edward429451
Moderator
So what is it about my Series 80 that needs repaired if it batters the plunger? What is the problem, the lever needs bent up some?
polyphemus
New member
"So what is it about my Series 80 that needs repaired if it batters the plunger? What is the problem, the lever needs bent up some?"
post#34 the Tuner clearly explains solutions to the issue.
post#34 the Tuner clearly explains solutions to the issue.
re:
The Series 80 system makes the pistol drop-safe and it makes people who are nervous with Condition One carry less nervous, and not much else.
It will require machine work on both the slide and frame, as well as a few parts changes. Colt can do it...if they will...for a price. The cheapest, simplest way is to just buy a Series 80 pistol.
The Series 80 system makes the pistol drop-safe and it makes people who are nervous with Condition One carry less nervous, and not much else.
It will require machine work on both the slide and frame, as well as a few parts changes. Colt can do it...if they will...for a price. The cheapest, simplest way is to just buy a Series 80 pistol.
Tactical Jackalope
New member
Oh..that's it? Alright then I'm alright. Thanks brother. needed the clarification. Plus all that work sounds a little aggravating. It's getting worked on now as we speak with other stuff. 
How does it look internally? If I do a Google search of the difference will it come up clear as day?
How does it look internally? If I do a Google search of the difference will it come up clear as day?
Pardon me for commenting on something from the first one or two pages but I've never heard of the trigger being referred to as a safety. I'm also surprised that no one has mentioned the grip safety, which was apparently a serious issue for some people for a while. It was fashionable to pin it down and deactivate it, presumably because the grip safety was unsafe.
I keep wondering how a Makarov pistol manages to get by with not only not only no firing pin safety but no firing pin spring either.
If nothing else, I think the firing pin safety on the series 80 (mine was a 1991A1) made it harder to disassemble. The natural solution was to never disassemble the firing pin. It gave me no trouble and I couldn't tell the difference in it and any other Colt or Springfield Armory .45 auto I ever owned, trigger-wise. However, under the jelly-side-down theory of guns dropping, I'm almost certain they will always land on the hammer, not the muzzle, and always from at least six feet high.
I keep wondering how a Makarov pistol manages to get by with not only not only no firing pin safety but no firing pin spring either.
If nothing else, I think the firing pin safety on the series 80 (mine was a 1991A1) made it harder to disassemble. The natural solution was to never disassemble the firing pin. It gave me no trouble and I couldn't tell the difference in it and any other Colt or Springfield Armory .45 auto I ever owned, trigger-wise. However, under the jelly-side-down theory of guns dropping, I'm almost certain they will always land on the hammer, not the muzzle, and always from at least six feet high.
Tactical Jackalope
New member
I wish I could rely on that 100%
I'm really ok with my 70 series..It's not my only gun. But I like my guns up to a certain spec. If they don't match my personal spec I get rid of them.
However, this is one I may just skip out on caring about my silly "spec".
Also, good point on the Makarov. A lot of Americans like that thing for some reason.
re:
Probably. There are several diagrams of the Series 80 internals around, but I don't have any links.
The additional changes made to the standard parts are as follows:
Firing pin. Extractor. Grip safety. Firing pin stop. The firing pin springs were shorter and softer in the Series 80 pistols, but the reason for it is uncertain.
I have theories, but no hard proof. All these parts are interchangeable with Series 70 and pre-Series 70 pistols, but not vice-versa. The firing pin springs are fully interchangeable, as are all other parts.
The Series 80 hammer came with a flat quarter-cock shelf instead of the original captive half-cock notch. Simpler and cheaper than machining the captive half-cock, and almost nobody was using the half-cock as a safe carry mode any more. Interchangeable.
Most aftermarket firing pins are the Series 80 type. Ed Brown is the notable exception, and both types are offered.
Series 80 slides will work on pre-Series 80 frames if the plunger and spring is removed, and Series 80 frames will work with pre-80 slides if the frame blank is substituted for the frame levers. It also goes without saying that if the Series 80 pistol is "De-Lawyered" that all standard pre-80 parts can be used.
Additionally, about the time that Series 80s were introduced came a change in the hammer strut design. Stronger and more durable than the old struts, but less useful as a punch and slave pin. Also interchangeable.
Probably. There are several diagrams of the Series 80 internals around, but I don't have any links.
The additional changes made to the standard parts are as follows:
Firing pin. Extractor. Grip safety. Firing pin stop. The firing pin springs were shorter and softer in the Series 80 pistols, but the reason for it is uncertain.
I have theories, but no hard proof. All these parts are interchangeable with Series 70 and pre-Series 70 pistols, but not vice-versa. The firing pin springs are fully interchangeable, as are all other parts.
The Series 80 hammer came with a flat quarter-cock shelf instead of the original captive half-cock notch. Simpler and cheaper than machining the captive half-cock, and almost nobody was using the half-cock as a safe carry mode any more. Interchangeable.
Most aftermarket firing pins are the Series 80 type. Ed Brown is the notable exception, and both types are offered.
Series 80 slides will work on pre-Series 80 frames if the plunger and spring is removed, and Series 80 frames will work with pre-80 slides if the frame blank is substituted for the frame levers. It also goes without saying that if the Series 80 pistol is "De-Lawyered" that all standard pre-80 parts can be used.
Additionally, about the time that Series 80s were introduced came a change in the hammer strut design. Stronger and more durable than the old struts, but less useful as a punch and slave pin. Also interchangeable.
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Tactical Jackalope
New member
Thank you for the clarification 1911Tuner. Appreciate the time and knowledge.
re:
As far as that goes, the grip safety is present on both, so it doesn't really factor into the 70/80 debate.
And that's precisely why the grip safety is there...as an add-on in a few 1905s...incorporated into the design on the 1907s...and it reappeared on the 1909, 1910, and 1911s. It was and is a drop safety.
As far as that goes, the grip safety is present on both, so it doesn't really factor into the 70/80 debate.
And that's precisely why the grip safety is there...as an add-on in a few 1905s...incorporated into the design on the 1907s...and it reappeared on the 1909, 1910, and 1911s. It was and is a drop safety.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
How does it look internally? These are the "extra" parts:
The upper plunger and spring are in the slide. The two levers are in the frame. The right side of the frame has to be milled out (beside the hammer and sear) to make room for the levers. In the slide, the firing pin has to have a "waist" in the rear section to interface with the plunger.
The upper plunger and spring are in the slide. The two levers are in the frame. The right side of the frame has to be milled out (beside the hammer and sear) to make room for the levers. In the slide, the firing pin has to have a "waist" in the rear section to interface with the plunger.
Attachments
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Don’t have one, but the Russians managed slamfires through primer insensitivity. That is one reason why people complain all the time about misfires with Russian ammunition and primers. It takes a stout ignition system to fire them off and many Western designs have wussy ignition systems and wussy American primers are often too sensitive to use in Russian military weapons.
I am quite certain the occasional Soviet was shot when he chambered a round with a sensitive primer in a Makarov.
The Soviets had a different attitude towards safety.
I was serious about that, you understand. I once managed to knock my Browning Hi-Power off a shelf that was actually closer to seven feet high. It landed on the hammer. Nothing broken but it might have been bent a little. I seem to remember some pistol having a hammer that was made so that it would be obvious if it were dropped on the hammer, only I don't remember which one.
polyphemus
New member
post#94 graphic
To get a better perspective both trigger bar(lower)and plunger lever(upper)
should be turned over 180,this is how you would assemble them in the
frame.Also the extractor is modified with a half moon recess and a small step
to prevent the plunger from being ejected.Chief Colt engineer Rube Goldberg
designed it in a moment of inspiration.
To get a better perspective both trigger bar(lower)and plunger lever(upper)
should be turned over 180,this is how you would assemble them in the
frame.Also the extractor is modified with a half moon recess and a small step
to prevent the plunger from being ejected.Chief Colt engineer Rube Goldberg
designed it in a moment of inspiration.
Farshooter
Inactive
Walther gold cup 22 models
Do the colt design Walther series "gold cup trophys" use the series 80 style firing pin safetys
Do the colt design Walther series "gold cup trophys" use the series 80 style firing pin safetys
No, it doesn't. The Walther/Colt .22 has a different firing mechanism than a centerfire 1911.
You an see an exploded view here;
http://www.waltherarms.com/wp-content/uploads/manuals/Manual-Colt-1911-22-Rimfire-07R12.pdf
Welcome to the board.
You'll get more and quicker replies if you start your own thread rather than add your question onto the end of a 2 year old zombie thread.
You an see an exploded view here;
http://www.waltherarms.com/wp-content/uploads/manuals/Manual-Colt-1911-22-Rimfire-07R12.pdf
Welcome to the board.
You'll get more and quicker replies if you start your own thread rather than add your question onto the end of a 2 year old zombie thread.
Gunkooker55
New member
Series 80 Colts
I have several series 70 Colts and 1 series 80 Commander . I like the 80 just as much as the 70 series can't tell the difference. The bluing is mucher nicer on the 70 guns tho
I have several series 70 Colts and 1 series 80 Commander . I like the 80 just as much as the 70 series can't tell the difference. The bluing is mucher nicer on the 70 guns tho