COLT???

[Glenn R. McMannly]

What is the quality of brand new Colt M1911 pistols?

I am eyeing the two tone Series 70:



But are they now junk?

I don’t want to pay for vintage new in box but do not want a used gun. But I do want a genuine Colt.

Thoughts?

 

[Grayfox]

All indications are that since CZ bought Colt that quality has improved greatly. I haven't bought one myself, but all the reports I've read are positive.

 

[JimW]

I bought an engraved 1911 Government Model a few months ago. It shot great right out of the box. I never adjusted the sights. I can honestly say it has never jammed or stovepiped and I have shot a few hundred rounds of both new and my reloads. I’m VERY impressed. It is at least equal in build quality as my Kimber Gold Match II which exceeded my expectations.

 

[rockquarry]

I bought a new plain Gov't. Model last summer and have shot it considerably, mostly with my cast bullet handloads. I've probably fired a couple of hundred rounds of factory 230 grain ball as well. Quality of the gun is excellent and it's accurate and reliable.

I realize some have an intense dislike for Colt 1911s for unknown strange reasons, but I've been shooting them for a long time and have never been disappointed.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have heard a fair amount of positive and little to no negative about the QC since they have been taken over by CZ.

 

[UncleEd]

A few years back a gunsmith friend of mine said Colt uses the finest steels.
I take him at his word as he's worked on Colts for years.

 

[eveled]

I have 2 of them. 100+ years apart. Both seem pretty good.

 

[Yendor 1]

Look up Heffron Prescision, and read Mike’s blog. It will be mostly on revolvers, so I’m not certain Colt does the exact same thing with their autos that they do with their revolvers, but it would stand to reason that they do.

The new Colt revolvers are fantastic. I bought 3 new CZ 9MM pistols in the last 5 years. The CZs are fantastic as well.

CNC machines and the internet…Nobody makes junk anymore because if they do, the world will soon hear about it.

Buy that Colt.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

New Colts are more consistent regarding accuracy and reliability than ever. They may not have the fine Royal Blue finishes but they simply work.

I've purchased several new Colt pistols in the last few years...and there's only been one that wasn't great...it had a gritty trigger which I took care of myself though I should have sent it back to Colt to have it done.

Other than that one...the only changes I've made to any of the Colts I've purchased was to make an aesthetic change to individualize them...not because they needed the change.

 

[Greyman50]

Have several pre 80s ones that have shot many rounds. Been looking at the new ones but been hesitant to buy one as have read " conflicting stories" about them. Would like to handle and shoot one before buying.

 

[Yendor 1]

Tell me where you can “Test Drive” these new guns. I want to go there.

 

[Greyman50]

Meaning find a guy I know and shoot his. Will look when I get home and go to range and ask. Might be one or two in gun club too.

 

[Empe]

I don't have a brand new one . I purchased mine about 5 years ago just prior to the the CZ merger.
It's the 01911C Government Model .....still available . I paid $ 735.00 I believe it was and I see them now for around the $900 mark .
The fit and finish is pretty nice for it's price point . It's been very reliable and gives good accuracy .
I have no regrets with the purchase at all .
I had to buy it sight unseen as no one around me carried them .
I've heard mostly good things about the quality of Colt products since the CZ merger .

 

[bpd303]

The current series 70 is a re-release and not the same as the Mark IV series 70 which hasn't been made since 1983.
I have a Mark IV series 70 Government Model, that I bought in 1991 for $200 and a Gold Cup National Match series 70 Mark IV, that I won in a sales contest in 1981. After 1983 1911's produced have an internal firing pin block safety which makes the trigger pull stiffer.

 

[bpd303]

But are they now junk?

Absolutely no, they are just a little different than the pre 1983 Mark IV series 70 1911's. If I wanted to get another 1911 I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

I haven't had the opportunity to shoot one of the new models but the pawn shop that I have done a lot of business with and known the owner since 1981 had one and he let me field strip and I found the fit and finish comparable to the Mark IV's.

Of course they are not up to the quality of Wilson Combat or Nighthawk Custom 1911's and the price difference reflects that.

 

[31FordA]

I’ve bought 10 new Colt pistols in the last 9 years, all of them worked fine. They were all “70 Series”, aka no firing pin safety. Three of them were the Colt Classic Government, blued examples in .38 Super and .45, plus a stainless .38 Super. The only changes I made to them was to replace the flat plastic mainspring housings with arched steel mainspring housings.

Based on my experiences over the last ten years I’d say the Colt is a good buy. Back around 2006 I did get a few really poor brand new Colts. A Gov’t that the sights fell off of in less than a hundred rounds, and a Commander that consistently shot about a foot to the left. You couldn’t drift the rear sight enough to get the pistol on target. I sold both, and refused to buy another new Colt for ten years. The more recent guns are definitely better than what they were putting out 20 years ago.

 

[mrchick]

Tell me where you can “Test Drive” these new guns. I want to go there.

We have a shop in Boise that has a small range attached and quite a few rental guns which gives an opportunity to try before you buy.

 

[JimW]

The last thing I need is another 1911 but after reading everybody’s comments I’m nearly to the point where I must have another Colt. I adore .45 ACP but perhaps filling my void in the .38 Super caliber would be all the justification I need.
I must admit at this point in my life I should be downsizing, not adding to the lifetime of additions to sate my appetite for firearms.

 

[Greyman50]

Bought a Delta Elite few years ago and removed the series 80 stuff and replaced some internal parts. Did trigger job and it shoots pretty good accuracy wise. Trigger needs a little more work. Have Dan Wesson Razorback thats about perfect.

 

[Miltfarrow]

The last thing I need is another 1911 but after reading everybody’s comments I’m nearly to the point where I must have another Colt. I adore .45 ACP but perhaps filling my void in the .38 Super caliber would be all the justification I need.
I must admit at this point in my life I should be downsizing, not adding to the lifetime of additions to sate my appetite for firearms.

Had a .38 Super (1911 Llama) long ago, before my first .45ACP 1911 Colt. Those .38 Super bullets got to the metal target A LOT FASTER than the .45 slugs do. No 'gap' between the BANG and the GONG sound. Very satisfying.

 

[Dump1567]

Like any new gun, it's good to be able to inspect it in person (if you know what to look for) vs. having one dropped shipped from a wholesaler to your local dealer. I have a newer series 70. It's got a few minor flaws but is fairly tight and has run 100%.

With a few minor mods.

 

[Rust E. Badge]

I own 12 1911's, 8 of them are Colt. The oldest Colt is 1918 and the newest is 2020. Some are series 80, .45, .38 Super and 9mm. All shoot well and I have no, zero, nada problems with any of them if I feed them properly. Stupid ammo used beyond the design parameters of any gun will give stupid results. Colt can build $5000 1911's but that is not their market. People hammer away at Colt to justify their own gun purchase decisions, and most of the dribble is simply repeated from internet crybaby's with little experience. By a Colt and enjoy. I recommend the Colt Competition.

 

[Rock185]

I have owned a number of O-Frame Colts since about 1970, later carried a series 80 Colt Govt., became an O-Frame armorer, etc. Admittedly, not all my Colts were good guns. But the Colts, always used quality frames, barrels, slides, etc. Since the early 2000s, the Colts, due to CNC machining, etc. have been better fitted, more reliable, and more consistent gun-to-gun than some of my earlier examples. The current Colts are definitely not junk.

FWIW, The trigger pull specs did not change between series 70 and series 80 Colts. I understand that many, or most, think S80 Colts must have heavier or somehow worse triggers than earlier guns, but within my humble experience, this is not so. And I understand JMB did not design the 1911 to include the firing pin safety, and in the mind of many shooters that is 2 1/2 strikes against it. But I was never offended by having a FPS as most newer pistol designs have, and never saw an unmodified S80 FPS to cause a problem...

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I own 12 1911's, 8 of them are Colt. The oldest Colt is 1918 and the newest is 2020. Some are series 80, .45, .38 Super and 9mm. All shoot well and I have no, zero, nada problems with any of them if I feed them properly. Stupid ammo used beyond the design parameters of any gun will give stupid results. Colt can build $5000 1911's but that is not their market. People hammer away at Colt to justify their own gun purchase decisions, and most of the dribble is simply repeated from internet crybaby's with little experience. By a Colt and enjoy. I recommend the Colt Competition.

Some complaints about Colt are justified in my view...but many, many criticisms of Colt are by many who are comparing them to boutique, custom 1911s that cost several times more.

 

[rockquarry]

I own 12 1911's, 8 of them are Colt. The oldest Colt is 1918 and the newest is 2020. Some are series 80, .45, .38 Super and 9mm. All shoot well and I have no, zero, nada problems with any of them if I feed them properly. Stupid ammo used beyond the design parameters of any gun will give stupid results. Colt can build $5000 1911's but that is not their market. People hammer away at Colt to justify their own gun purchase decisions, and most of the dribble is simply repeated from internet crybaby's with little experience. By a Colt and enjoy. I recommend the Colt Competition.

Certainly a good post.

 

[walkin' trails]

I remember after the Series 80 was released, the Series 70 was considered the gold standard. I don’t think there were ever any major problems with the 70s. Besides. All the SMUs never carried a stock 1911 anyway.