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What is so much better about series 70s?
- Thread starter Greg Bell
- Start date
CastleBravo
New member
The Series 70 guns look nicer and don't have the firing pin block safety. The original Series 70 (not the new ones) also had a special barrel bushing that was somewhat prone to breakage. Some people claim the Series 70 triggers are better, but I could never tell the difference on stock OR customized S70 vs S80 guns. That's about it. So the differences are pretty much academic.
The XS and XSE are higher-end versions of the Colt S80 Government Model. The 1991 was the entry-level Colt Government Model for about 10 years and was mechanically a S80 gun (and even said so on the side). The new basic Colt Government Models are S80 guns that are better finished and have more attractive markings. There is also a S90, but I forget what the heck it was.
The XS and XSE are higher-end versions of the Colt S80 Government Model. The 1991 was the entry-level Colt Government Model for about 10 years and was mechanically a S80 gun (and even said so on the side). The new basic Colt Government Models are S80 guns that are better finished and have more attractive markings. There is also a S90, but I forget what the heck it was.
Never heard of the series 90. Series 90 might refer to the 1991a1 that Colt came out with.
Some folks claimed that the extra parts for the firing pin block made it difficult to get a good trigger pull. I don't know, I took a Colt Commander series 80 about 10 years ago, got the Bill Wilson book and a couple of others and modified the trigger pull to a measured 2.5 lbs with 100% reliability. No hammer follow, no doubling. First work I did on a pistol at my kitchen table. Shot the pistol in local IPSC matches that way for over a year with no problems. Still shooting the pistol with the same trigger parts but I've since bumped it back to 4.5 lbs. Probably in excess of 5000 rounds through it.
Castlebravo, I believe you are referring to the collett bushing that came out on the National Match models. I don't think the series 70 ever had the collett bushing. They were prone to break the small fingers and most folks replaced them with solid bushings as soon as they found out about this problem.
Some folks claimed that the extra parts for the firing pin block made it difficult to get a good trigger pull. I don't know, I took a Colt Commander series 80 about 10 years ago, got the Bill Wilson book and a couple of others and modified the trigger pull to a measured 2.5 lbs with 100% reliability. No hammer follow, no doubling. First work I did on a pistol at my kitchen table. Shot the pistol in local IPSC matches that way for over a year with no problems. Still shooting the pistol with the same trigger parts but I've since bumped it back to 4.5 lbs. Probably in excess of 5000 rounds through it.
Castlebravo, I believe you are referring to the collett bushing that came out on the National Match models. I don't think the series 70 ever had the collett bushing. They were prone to break the small fingers and most folks replaced them with solid bushings as soon as they found out about this problem.
Thomas Nowicki
New member
The double action .45 that Colt came out with in the 90's was a Series 90. Double Eagle I think it was called?
Tom
Tom
The collet bushing was used on ALL full-size Colts, both the Government Model and Gold Cup, up until 1988. My 1986-vintage stainless steel Colt Series 80 has the collet bushing.
It is correct though that the newly reintroduced Series 70's have the standard bushing.
Besides the trigger pull, the truth is a few folks also noticed that Series 80 parts could wear to the point that they would fail to release the firing pin. Most of this was due to improper modifications, however. When replacing parts inside a Series 80 one must make sure the plunger travel is correct. Colt actually makes plunger levers in three sizes, to adjust for tolerances and to make sure the plunger lift is the right amount.
It is correct though that the newly reintroduced Series 70's have the standard bushing.
Besides the trigger pull, the truth is a few folks also noticed that Series 80 parts could wear to the point that they would fail to release the firing pin. Most of this was due to improper modifications, however. When replacing parts inside a Series 80 one must make sure the plunger travel is correct. Colt actually makes plunger levers in three sizes, to adjust for tolerances and to make sure the plunger lift is the right amount.