What's wrong with the series 80 Colts?

43365 Views 19 Replies 16 Participants Last post by atonyb88nola, 2 mo ago

FRJ

Discussion Starter · Apr 16, 2012

I have a series 80 1911 and it is a shooting machine!!!! Never had a malfunction it just keeps shooting. Yet I see people denigrating them and would like to know what the problem is with them. FRJ

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gib

· #2 · Apr 16, 2012

Some don't like the series 80 safety. I pulled this off another site:

"The Colt Series 80, introduced in 1983, was formally known as the Colt MK IV Series 80 line of pistols. This model instituted a big change to the 1911 design: a new firing pin block safety system.

This system featured an arrangement of internal levers and a plunger designed to ensure the firing pin was blocked until the trigger was pulled. The result was the gun could not accidentally discharge if the weapon was dropped on a hard surface.

Colt's entire line of 1911-style pistols were switched to the new design in 1983, so they all bore the Series 80 designation --- even the Commander and Officer's ACP models. Between 1983 and 1988, Government and Gold Cup models of Series 80 guns contained Series 70-type barrels and bushings."

FRJ

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 16, 2012

Hi Gib, thanks for the reply. I read your post but still dont quite understand the problem with the new safety system. I've never had a problem with mine and its hard for me to see where there would be any likelyhood of any in the future. Is their complaint legitimate or are they just hooked so bad on the model 70 that they cant get their heads around the 80 series? FRJ

trooper

· #4 · Apr 17, 2012

The problem is entirely due to the dogmatic attitude of the shooting fraterniy, which almost pathologicaly adheres to the "If it ain't broke don't fix it." Rule. While I tend to agree, it can get a bit ridiculous. Shooters tend to react to every little change as if you're burning Old Glory and pissing on John Waynes grave. The S80 safety mechanism results in a slightly heavier trigger, but you have to spend a lot of time shooting 1911s to really notice. There's nothing wrong with the system. I've owned many S80 Colts over the years and wouldn't turn down an otherwise nice 1911 because of it.

nuclear

· #5 · Apr 17, 2012

It not only makes the trigger pull heavier (and harder to lighten), it makes the trigger more complicated, and hence, more likely to fail. It also introduces another place where dirt and crud can accumulate and needing to be cleaned. Lastly, it really isn't needed unless you plan on dropping your 1911 from a height of over 17 feet exactly on the muzzle with a round chambered.

But other than that, it is a marvel of design dictated by lawyers.

larry

· #6 · Apr 17, 2012

I have the feeling that the post on my own Series 80 initiated this one... anyway I didn't mean to start a controverse of anyking. Nuclear pretty well sumarised the contras. You can add the difficulty to reassemble the 2 levers in the frame.

The last argument let me doubtful: of course, no one "plans" to drop a gun. But if everything goes ever like you plan, you don't need any safety, or even a handgun.

The ones here who have been in the service know how often unplanned actions happen outside the range...

Back to the Series 80, you read also that it is possible to reassemble the firing pin so far in its channel that it will ignite the first round the next time the gun is loaded. At that level of incompetency, you can get the same result by putting the spring after the FP on any 1911.

L.

silversport

· #7 · Apr 17, 2012

those that don't like these usually don't like anything (unless it is something they like of course) and don't like Kimber's Swartz safey (the II designation on their pistols) either...I have several 1911 pattern pistols from several manufacturers and some Colt's with and without...I send mine off to same trigger specialist so mine are all quite similar (with the exception of this Seecamp modified Colt)...

Bill

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bountyhunter

· #8 · Apr 17, 2012 (Edited)

FRJ said:
I have a series 80 1911 and it is a shooting machine!!!! Never had a malfunction it just keeps shooting. Yet I see people denigrating them and would like to know what the problem is with them. FRJ

They added a bunch of parts to implement a firing pin blocking safety. It affects trigger pull weight/feel and makes the guns a pain to disassemble and reassemble. As safeties go, ones to protect when the gun is dropped onto concrete and lands on it's muzzle seems beyond ridiculous. That occurance is so rare that I don't want my gun screwed up for it.

bountyhunter

· #9 · Apr 17, 2012

larry said:
The last argument let me doubtful: of course, no one "plans" to drop a gun. But if everything goes ever like you plan, you don't need any safety, or even a handgun.

Everybody has to decide what is reasonable for a safety: I think the sear blocking safety (the lever on the 1911) is excellent as it prevents discharge from an accidental trigger pull, which happens MANY times when a newbie holsters the gun carelessly.

Some safeties are just ridiculous, like the grip safety that only works as long as you are not holding the gun in your hand (?)

Anyway, if you let the safety nuts have their way, they will demand stuff like a gun with an electronic "safety" in the gun that only recognizes the legalowner's fingerprint or hand print. They actually tried to mandate that here in california..

FRJ

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 18, 2012

Well I guess I've got it now. Thank you one and all for your imput. I did do a trigger job on mine and a friends and it wasn't overly complicated but I was a auto technician for over 40 years and am used to putting things together right. I also have a model 70 and while it is somewhat simpler neither one is really difficult. Again thanks for the answers. FRJ

antares

· #11 · Apr 23, 2012

Not to fret about Series 80 Colt 1911's. The extra parts are of some use to those who are very concerned about litigation, but a good gunsmith can make the trigger as smooth and crisp as on any series 70 1911. I have versions of both series 80 and series 70 from Colt and the best trigger of all my 1911's is on a series 80 gun. The gunsmith who works on the gun is the key.

rice paddy daddy

· #12 · May 13, 2012

I already had a 70 Series Government Model, a Rock Island Armory plain-jane 1911A1, and a Taurus PT1911 when I was offered an almost new 80 Series Commander at a price I could not turn down.
It fires just fine, I've put 200 rounds thru it to loosen it up. When I field strip it I can see the difference in the slide and frame, but in 40+ years of owning 1911's I have never disassembled one further than the old Army field strip, so the internal differences don't really bother me.

spad

· #13 · May 13, 2012

I guess I was lucky both my series 70 Colts had nice triggers right out of the box. In my day, longtime ago the 1911 was supposed to be able to be dropped and not fire, what happened? Spad

TXGunNut

· #14 · Jun 12, 2012

FRJ said:
I have a series 80 1911 and it is a shooting machine!!!! Never had a malfunction it just keeps shooting. Yet I see people denigrating them and would like to know what the problem is with them. FRJ

In a word: Nothing! I have a Series 90 (80) Defender and with new springs, a judicious cleaning and a bit of polishing it became my favorite carry gun. Yes, it has more parts to fail or mis-assemble but I can live with it.

BarryinIN

· #15 · Jun 19, 2012

I've seen three Series 80 extractors that were broken in the half circle-like area added to the Series 80 extractor to clear the safety plunger. I did not see them break, but was shown the parts. I suppose they could have been clamped in a vise and beat with a hammer to make a (false) point, but I doubt it seriously.
All came from what would be high round count guns to most people (25k or more). Would a non-S80 extractor have broken in another area? Maybe, but I have doubts since that does look like the point of most stress.

I have guns with them and guns without them. I'd prefer the S80 stuff to not be there, but won't pass up a gun just because of it. If two otherwise identical guns are available, I'd take the non-S80.
I'd also rather have that system than the grip safety activated types because those often are not timed as I'd like (IMO, the firing pin should release by the time the trigger clears, not after it clears, like on many of them). The 1911 I've used the most is an S80 1991.

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jrod

· #16 · Jul 8, 2012

There is nothing wrong with a series 80 Colt!

bountyhunter

· #17 · Jul 8, 2012

One point not mentioned: STI makes only series 70 guns and they were able to pass the muzzle drop test every gun must pass here in kali by changing the firing pin to titanium which has less mass, and therefore less inertia. Apparently, all the extra series 80 junk is not necessary to get compliance.

OD*

· #18 · Jul 9, 2012

FRJ said:
What's wrong with the series 80 Colts?

There isn't anything wrong with the Series 80.

chuntaro

· #19 · Jul 31, 2012

I bought one about 1990. Five or six more have since come along to join it. Having trouble finding anything wrong.

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atonyb88nola

· #20 · 2 mo ago

FRJ said:
I have a series 80 1911 and it is a shooting machine!!!! Never had a malfunction it just keeps shooting. Yet I see people denigrating them and would like to know what the problem is with them. FRJ

Perhaps it's series 70 that I'm thinking of.

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