Colt Series 70: Worth It?

[Armybrat]

Colt QC went downhill around 1980 - with the strike taking place in 1986 - and not reversed until the early 1990s. At least that's what they say on the Colt Forum.

However, plenty of their production within those "dark days" is just fine. Today's products are not to be sneezed at, but the semi-auto finishes are not as refined as they used to be. The SAA is as good a quality as it ever was and are a work of art.

All that, in spite of the corporate mismanagement.

 

[WVsig]

Colt QC went downhill around 1980 - with the strike taking place in 1986 - and not reversed until the early 1990s. At least that's what they say on the Colt Forum.

However, plenty of their production within those "dark days" is just fine. Today's products are not to be sneezed at, but the semi-auto finishes are not as refined as they used to be. The SAA is as good a quality as it ever was and are a work of art.

All that, in spite of the corporate mismanagement.

Yes Colt did not replace their tooling early enough which resulted in a lot of out of spec guns which were problematic in the 1980s. This really dropped the overall QC. There were definitely good guns made during that period sort of like the S&W bangor punta years.

Today's Colts are excellent.

 

[agtman]

There was a time when Colt did everything inhouse. So what you are paying for is the name and an assumption that the Quality Control is equal to, or better, than other brand names.

Yep, and right now that assumption is a BIG ol' IF. I can hear the Colt fanboyz screamin' already.

While a Colt is still the original 1911 - thereby rendering other brands merely better or worse clones - the sad fact is that in the last several years Colt's QC has dropped noticeably.

A short and simple Google-fu work-out will turn up the user reports. I believe Colt has even recently closed or severely curtained their Custom Shop, which used to be the go-to factory unit for Colt 1911 owners who needed warranty work, along wanting some "upgrades" done, like feed-reliability, trigger tuning, or installing different sights.

If all you want is a shooter get the Rock Island. It will handle any ammo you want to put in it and will be as accurate or better than the Colt plus it has a lifetime warranty, lifetime of the gun no matter who originally bought it.

Correct ...

Right now, RIA's G.I. 1911 is clearly the best bang for the buck if you just want a G.I.-style shooter that you can run hard and "slam-bam" all day every day at the range, and even take through a basic tactical handgun course.

Be advised, however, that the plethora of Glock fanboyz in said courses (and even some instructors typically carrying Sigs or Smith M&Ps) have been known to cast sideways glances and giggle at fellow students shooting some form of "low-end" 1911.

 

[Hawg]

Be advised, however, that the plethora of Glock fanboyz in said courses (and even some instructors typically carrying Sigs or Smith M&Ps) have been known to cast sideways glances and giggle at fellow students shooting some form of "low-end" 1911.

They will quit laughing when the "low end" 1911 out shoots them.

 

[OldMarksman]

If I were buying a 1911 today it would be a Colt, and I am as happy as a clam to be able to say so.

 

[BigJimP]

The Colts I have seen at my range - made in the last 3 or 4 years...have been very good guns / and a lot of them are coming in with pretty good triggers. Guys are having good luck with them...and enjoy shooting them. As with any 1911...find the one locally with the best trigger you can ...but I doubt you'll need much, if any, work to make it run after its broken in.

Are they high end guns...no..not in my view ( that's where Wilson Combat, Ed Brown, etc come in in my view...)....and most of the models lack some features that I personally like in my 1911's ...( checkering on the front strap, Ambi safeties, High Ride beavertail grip safety and a Mag Well ..)...but at that price point, I think you are getting a pretty good gun for the money.

As a comparison...Springfield TRP model has all the features that I personally like and for a production gun in the $ 1,400 - $ 1,500 price range I think its also an excellent good gun for the money.

I think most all of the Colts are better than the entry level models from Springfield like their range officer model / and significantly better than any Rock Island I have seen. I think Springfields Range Officer model is way better than Rock Island as well...and some of the Range Officers I see may need some work to clean them up, triggers, etc..

 

[Aguila Blanca]

While a Colt is still the original 1911 - thereby rendering other brands merely better or worse clones - the sad fact is that in the last several years Colt's QC has dropped noticeably.

Curiously, in my alternate universe the word around is that Colt's quality now and in recent years is the best it has been in a very long time, and possibly the best ever.

 

[Model12Win]

Curiously, in my alternate universe the word around is that Colt's quality now and in recent years is the best it has been in a very long time, and possibly the best ever.

I've heard this as well.

 

[mikejonestkd]

Curiously, in my alternate universe the word around is that Colt's quality now and in recent years is the best it has been in a very long time, and possibly the best ever.

You and I must exist in the same alternative universe. In mine, I have seen/ shot/ examined 20-30 examples of newer Colt 1911s, and all the owners have been very satisfied with them.

My two newer ones are among the best bang for the buck handguns I have in my stable

 

[bn12gg]

Here, 2 Colt 1911's, both less than a grand. Lovely finish and straight shooters. They are keepers. For the money, what's not to like. Resale, eh no.

.02. David

Ps: 70's, 80's, old gov'ts.

 

[WVsig]

Correct ...

Right now, RIA's G.I. 1911 is clearly the best bang for the buck if you just want a G.I.-style shooter that you can run hard and "slam-bam" all day every day at the range, and even take through a basic tactical handgun course.

Let me know how well that RIA is holding up after 25,000 rounds. IMHO running hard is exactly what you cannot do with a RIA. It was not built to last that long. The cast frame, MIM parts and extruded steel forged slide simply were not engineered to be run hard. IMHO

This is again why I asked the OP what were their intentions with the gun. If you are really going to bang out 5,000 rounds a year in extend range sessions and training the RIA might not be the gun for you. The Colt might not be either but after 25,000 rounds my money would be on the Colt bring in better shape and ready for another 25,000.

Todays Colt are excellent guns. Better than they have been in a long time. They still make mistakes like the Competition 9mm which seems to be having some teething problems but for the most part today's Colts will serve you well today and your children tomorrow even if you do run them hard.

Now the reality is that 99% of the 1911s at any price range sold in the US these days are not going to ever see 25,000 rounds. Very few will ever see 5,000. Most I would image will see less than 2,500.

So use should dictate gear. If you are honest about how you are going to use your pistol, in what conditions you will run it and how high a round count your expect to shoot goes a long way to helping people pick the right pistol. IMHO Today we are lucky there is a 1911 pistol to fit the bill for the right price for all levels.

 

[Saurdaukar]

Have a current production Mark IV Series 70 Government (45ACP) and a RIA FS Railed Tac (their top of the line offering) (10mm).

Your mileage may vary but, in my mind, there is no comparison between the two. The Colt is more than worth the extra money. The slide cycles like it's on lubricated glass and the fit and finish are outstanding.

I purchased the RIA seeking bang for the buck and, at least with 1911's, learned my lesson: don't do that. I hear their customer service is excellent, so I'll be sending it back for some smithing but, out of the box, it (mine, at least) was not good to go. Slide to frame fit is so tight that racking the slide can really be an exercise. Failures to return to battery; failures to eject; failures to feed; failure to lock open; etc. I'd experienced just about everything and tried multiple loads. All of that having been said, the RIA does, in fact, have a heavenly trigger (also a Series 70 design, if that's not already been mentioned).

The RIA is not a 'bad' gun, and I like it enough to try and fix it instead of just dump it, but if I could only choose only one, it would be the Colt without any hesitation.

 

[Model12Win]

Have a current production Mark IV Series 70 Government (45ACP) and a RIA FS Railed Tac (their top of the line offering) (10mm).

Your mileage may vary but, in my mind, there is no comparison between the two. The Colt is more than worth the extra money. The slide cycles like it's on lubricated glass and the fit and finish are outstanding.

I purchased the RIA seeking bang for the buck and, at least with 1911's, learned my lesson: don't do that. I hear their customer service is excellent, so I'll be sending it back for some smithing but, out of the box, it (mine, at least) was not good to go. Slide to frame fit is so tight that racking the slide can really be an exercise. Failures to return to battery; failures to eject; failures to feed; failure to lock open; etc. I'd experienced just about everything and tried multiple loads. All of that having been said, the RIA does, in fact, have a heavenly trigger (also a Series 70 design, if that's not already been mentioned).

The RIA is not a 'bad' gun, and I like it enough to try and fix it instead of just dump it, but if I could only choose only one, it would be the Colt without any hesitation.

Really? The internet says Rocks Islands are the greatest 1911s ever made and are always perfect and that if your has problems, you are stupid and must be doing something wrong.



Seriously, some real RIA fanboys on the net. Like you I did not have good luck with my NIB RIA Tac-II, even after a trip back to the factory it would not shoot reliably. I have decided to not purchase any more of them.