Miami_JBT
US Veteran
I carried a GLOCK for fifteen years as a cop and in the end, since I've hanged up the badge. I've dug into the back of my safe and pulled out some classic beauties that just scream Americana and quality craftsmanship.
My Colt MKIV Series 80 Government Model (made in 1984) and Smith & Wesson Model 586 (made in 1982).
The Colt Series 80 is loved by some and hated by many. I happen to be in the loved by some category.
The Prancing Pony made the gun "drop safe", but many target shooters disliked the additional bits and friction the firing pin block added to the design and trigger pull. Well, Massad Ayoob shared my thoughts on the matter back in 1990. He stated "the box-stock Government is a combat pistol"; he was referring to the MKIV Series 80 Government Model. I agree with him, the MKIV Series 80 is a combat pistol meant for the two-way range, not a target shooter meant for shooting paper on a one-way range.
My Colt has been spruced up a bit. It has a Wilson Combat checkered front strap, trigger, and two-piece full length guide rod along with a set of three-dot sights installed by Miami area gunsmith, Somarriba. Prior to me getting my grubby paws on it, it was my Father's and it served him well as a off-duty carry piece in the mid to late 1980s.
The Smith & Wesson L-Frame line of revolver though, never had a love hate relationship with shooters. The gun has been loved since the moment it was released in 1980 and it continues to be produced to this day. It took everything that was great from the K-Frame and N-Frame and mated it into the right size.
The gun was sent off to the mothership due to a recall. The original no dash models suffered from primer flow back into the firing pin bushing with some hot 125 grain Remington loads and that would lock up the gun. As such, Big Blue replaced the firing pin bushing with a smaller hole and the hammer nose with a smaller one made for the smaller hole in the bushing.
While it was there, the Performance Center slicked up the internals. This gun is slicker than whale snot. She's very controllable while shooting 125gr .357 Magnum loads. Recoil is very manageable and follow-up shots are no problem.
The Colt is also a very controllable shooter too. .45 ACP is no joke and is a hell of a round. Yes, 9x19mm is fabulous and I finished my LE career carrying a Gen 4 G17. But .45 ACP can do some fun things in a 1911. The usual load I carry isn't a 230gr JHP, it is a .255gr SWC.
Both have had their factory stocks replaced. The wheel gun wears a pair of Herrett's Shooting Star stocks and the slab side wears a pair of Colt OEM Rosewood grips meant for a XSE Model.
In the end, these guns are still great self-defense platforms when they're well maintained. These are guns you have to maintain like a sports car, not like a beater econo-box four-banger. If you treat your vehicle like your lawnmower. Then a GLOCK is for you, not these guns. But if you can properly maintain them, they'll do their job.
Post 'em if you got 'em.
My Colt MKIV Series 80 Government Model (made in 1984) and Smith & Wesson Model 586 (made in 1982).
The Colt Series 80 is loved by some and hated by many. I happen to be in the loved by some category.
The Prancing Pony made the gun "drop safe", but many target shooters disliked the additional bits and friction the firing pin block added to the design and trigger pull. Well, Massad Ayoob shared my thoughts on the matter back in 1990. He stated "the box-stock Government is a combat pistol"; he was referring to the MKIV Series 80 Government Model. I agree with him, the MKIV Series 80 is a combat pistol meant for the two-way range, not a target shooter meant for shooting paper on a one-way range.
My Colt has been spruced up a bit. It has a Wilson Combat checkered front strap, trigger, and two-piece full length guide rod along with a set of three-dot sights installed by Miami area gunsmith, Somarriba. Prior to me getting my grubby paws on it, it was my Father's and it served him well as a off-duty carry piece in the mid to late 1980s.
The Smith & Wesson L-Frame line of revolver though, never had a love hate relationship with shooters. The gun has been loved since the moment it was released in 1980 and it continues to be produced to this day. It took everything that was great from the K-Frame and N-Frame and mated it into the right size.
The gun was sent off to the mothership due to a recall. The original no dash models suffered from primer flow back into the firing pin bushing with some hot 125 grain Remington loads and that would lock up the gun. As such, Big Blue replaced the firing pin bushing with a smaller hole and the hammer nose with a smaller one made for the smaller hole in the bushing.
While it was there, the Performance Center slicked up the internals. This gun is slicker than whale snot. She's very controllable while shooting 125gr .357 Magnum loads. Recoil is very manageable and follow-up shots are no problem.
The Colt is also a very controllable shooter too. .45 ACP is no joke and is a hell of a round. Yes, 9x19mm is fabulous and I finished my LE career carrying a Gen 4 G17. But .45 ACP can do some fun things in a 1911. The usual load I carry isn't a 230gr JHP, it is a .255gr SWC.
Both have had their factory stocks replaced. The wheel gun wears a pair of Herrett's Shooting Star stocks and the slab side wears a pair of Colt OEM Rosewood grips meant for a XSE Model.
In the end, these guns are still great self-defense platforms when they're well maintained. These are guns you have to maintain like a sports car, not like a beater econo-box four-banger. If you treat your vehicle like your lawnmower. Then a GLOCK is for you, not these guns. But if you can properly maintain them, they'll do their job.
Post 'em if you got 'em.
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