Newest Colt Gold Cup version

[American1776]

I love Colt 1911s . Never owned a Gold Cup.

Got this NIB. Magwell, checkering, series 70. Changes the blue grips to these silver woods.

Is the Gold Cup a good model? I tried to chamber a JHP from the 8 round mag it came with and it would get stuck on the ramp. Switched to a 7 round Colt mag and zero problems chambering a JHP. I guess the 8 round mag stinks.

Can anyone educate me on the Gold Cup? Good overall gun? Thanks

 

[Texas Star]

I got one in 1966 and it was perhaps the most accurate handgun I've fired.

Federal's 230 grain Match ammo shot like a laser to 25 yards. On a good day, all eight shots were in a single ragged hole.

I could shoot as well with S&W M-27 and M-29 guns and the .357 holes were smaller, so I guess the group was sort of tighter. But the big .45 holes when I handloaded SWC bullets were impressive.

Back then, slides were lighter inside, to ease use with light target ammo. With full loads, the front sight loosened and I sold the gun.
Later, Colt made the slides normal thickness and the present one, in stainless, is probably wonderful.
The sights are more complicated and larger than on the Govt. Model, but they do adjust.

That gun will probably shoot the eye out on a gnat at 50 paces.

 

[crazyphil]

I got my series 80 Gold Cup National Match about 20 years ago, for what
I thought was a bargain price. First shot the front sight fell off. Lots of
feeding and ejection problems. Local gunsmith told me to get Wilson
magazines which I did. That helped a lot, but still occasional problems.

About that time I read an article in a gun magazine about Karl Sokol.
"When it absolutely, positively must work, knowledgeable poeple from
all over the world send their guns to Karl Sokol." I sent mine to Karl
and he gave it a complete overhaul, including his Mountain Tuff finish.

Elmer Keith said "The Gold Cup National Match is one of the finest and
most accurate auto pistols I have ever used." I agree with that statement,
since Karl worked it over. It has worked every time for a long time and is
far more accurate than I am.

Photos below, left to right:
My Colt with Herrett's Cocobolo panels and an Ashley Big Dot front sight.
Carved and Laced Heiser #728 with Ultimate M1911 knife.
Brill-Persons holster and matching belt by Red Nichols.

 

[arjay]

Bought an original series 70 some years ago and was pleasantly surprised by its accuracy.Need to get it out shooting again.

 

[stansdds]

Generally speaking, the Colt Gold Cup is better finished, better fitted, and will show better accuracy than a Government Model. Some Gold Cups, however, are no better, but most are.

Colt Gold Cup 45 ACP pistols came with two recoil springs, a 14 pound spring and a 16 pound spring. Use the 14 pound spring with 185 or 200 grain target wadcutter ammo as this ammo is lower pressure and lower velocity ammo. Use the 16 pound spring for full power ammo.

The 1911 magazine was originally designed to hold 7 rounds of 45 ACP. I have tried 8 round magazines and found them to be less reliable than 7 round mags and the springs wear out much faster than those in a 7 round magazine. I really think a slightly extended magazine body is the solution for those who really need that one extra round in the magazine.

Enjoy your Colt Gold Cup, looking forward to reading a range report.

 

[GTBL]

Mine is a Series 80 and I love it. It looks great and shoots great. I too use the Wilson Magazines. If you could only have one 1911, the Colt Gold Cup is the one to have.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My F-I-L acquired 4 from 1960ish until 1972. They were almost double a standard 1911. Then he would send them to a gunsmith in Texas named Brown (maybe Ed Brown) and it was another $275 to be made to work properly for NRA bullseye. He went NRA Distinguished Marksman with those 45's (Also Distinguished in Police Combat Pistol). Those guns ended up costing about 6 times the cost of a new Colt Government Model, before he fired a shot. Now days, Kimber and Wilson have applied so much monetary pressure that Colt make a much better product out of the box!

Ivan

 

[max]

I bought a slightly used Series 70 GC back in the mid 70's. I sent it to a gunsmith in Oklahoma who throated and polished the barrel. I have fired over 25,000 lead swc reloads through it and it is much more accurate than I am.

It is reliable and fun to shoot. I had the frame done in CPII several years ago as I have always wanted a 2-tone 1911 since I saw Ross Seyfried shooting one on the Cover of Guns and Ammo over 40 years ago.

Skeeter Skelton wrote a great article on the GC many years ago.

 

[crsides]

Got this 1968 National Match in Tulsa this year. I love it. Good old time Colt quality and finish.