What Colt 1911?

I was at a LGS one day, and a guy was all upset at the fact that his gun would not sell for $300,,

I walked out of the store behind him, and told him that I had the $300 in my pocket,,

He went back in, brought out the gun , and a box,,
The box had the reloading dies, a couple hundred brass, two boxes of new ammo, and the original box for the gun,, I think there was even 100 primers.

I rode home,, stunned,,,

When I got home, I shot the gun, I think it could kill with the ejected brass, almost as well as the bullets,, :D
25 feet was easily the range of the brass.

The 10MM is a beast,,, :cool:

This was a F E W years,, ago,, when people wanted to toss 10MM so they could buy 40 S&W,,
The guy used the money from the 10 to buy a 40,,, I wonder if he is still enjoying the black 40??
 

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Lots of suggestions against a 80 series. During a tumultuous drug house raid in Miami, my condition 1 Colt Gvt Series 80 was knocked from my hand and landed hammer down on a cement floor. For an instant, I was looking down the barrel. It landed with enough force to snap the ampi thumb safety pin in half. But it did not discharge and shoot me in the face. For me, its a series 80 forever. I can overcome the difference in the trigger, not a hole in my head.

Thank you for sharing this story. I appreciate your perspective. Sometimes people get attached to a concept, don’t consider the reality.
 
Lots of suggestions against a 80 series. During a tumultuous drug house raid in Miami, my condition 1 Colt Gvt Series 80 was knocked from my hand and landed hammer down on a cement floor. For an instant, I was looking down the barrel. It landed with enough force to snap the ampi thumb safety pin in half. But it did not discharge and shoot me in the face. For me, its a series 80 forever. I can overcome the difference in the trigger, not a hole in my head.

Based on your description, a Series 70 gun wouldn't have discharged, either. But there's nothing wrong with Series 80 guns if it makes you more comfortable. Can't fault that at all. I have both and like both.
 
Thanks!!

I think that after you experience the joy that the 1911 can bring, one will just be the start of an addiction. Looking forward to reading a range report on your new Colt Series 80 Gold Cup Trophy.

I’m looking forward to the range.... thanks for posting!!
 
colt commander

a colt series 70 commander in .45 will do it for me as i like to pack the guns i own. in the mid 70s i had a few of those but sold them all. after swenson passed away, i had a chance to buy one of his hardball commanders on consignment by his wife but i didn't as the asking price was $450 and all i wanted to pay was $400.
 
OK...

My last post gave me great information, so it’s time to take it to the next level. Many said “If you only have one 1911, it should be a Colt”. I know other brands may be just as good or better but I want to have a piece of history. So, let’s just say I’m prepared to buy a Colt. What 1911 should it be?

Well, I do only have one, and it is a Colt. Mine is a Colt Combat Government Series 70 from about 1981. There were not many made before they switched to the Series 80.
Larry
 

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Based on your description, a Series 70 gun wouldn't have discharged, either. But there's nothing wrong with Series 80 guns if it makes you more comfortable. Can't fault that at all. I have both and like both.

Understood that physics says that the firing pin would have been traveling backward, if at all, and I cannot disagree with your opinion. However, it demonstrated to me that, truly, s..t does happen. I’m much more comfortable with the S 80.
Your interest and response is appreciated.
 
There's no right answer to your question. I've had a dozen or more 1911s and there's five in my safe today. Five different configurations, five different manufacturers, bet only 2 calibers... All . 45ACP and one . 22LR... In tht future I'll be adding a 6" 20mm and a 9mm Colt Lightweight Commander.

To say I love 1911s is an understatement. My current Colt is a viral 1980s Stainless Gold Cup Commander that has served as a duty pistol, competition pistol, and a personal protection pistol.

If you can have only "one" Colt 1911 I'd seriously consider the current Lightweight Commander. Depending on your preference, either 9mm or .45ACP will provide you with a lifetime of service. If you're more into competition shooting you can't go wrong with a full size Gold Cup. That being said, there is no wrong choice. Any 1911 from Colt is the right choice.
 
I stumbled into an unusual Government Model a while ago. I was in a gun shop on the other side of Harrisburg from me and I saw what I thought was a Gold Cup with a Bar-Sto barrel. The price looked like a pretty good deal so I practically broke my wrist getting my wallet out. While I was doing the paperwork the box was brought out and it said Government Model. I double checked the serial numbers and they matched. Somebody had put a Gold Cup slide, with the Bar-Sto barrel on a Government Model frame. Not to worry, with the Bar-Sto barrel it was still a great deal.

I took it to the indoor range at the nearby club to try out and sight in. At 7 yards with two hands it was cutting big holes from the bullets touching. I've always looked to acquire customized guns, because I figure I need all the help I can get.
 
Stainless Colt Gold Cup Trophy Series 70

Good luck with your search and have fun with it!
Faced with same choice, I made the following decisions:
#1 Stainless Colt GCT Series 70 with some mods:
Checker front strap
Mainspring housing
Cut grooves in top of slide
Beveled Mag Well
Carbon Fiber VZ Grips & Screws
Fiber optic front sight
Trigger, Ignition Kit (minus the hammer)
Several reliable magazines
Couple thousand rounds of hardball
Couple hundred rounds of hollow points
The services of a good gun smith
Makes one big ragged hole in a target, if I’m on my game ;)
OWB pancake holster & mag carrier

Before / After pics of my project are attached...
 

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Why spend 2000

OK...

My last post gave me great information, so it’s time to take it to the next level. Many said “If you only have one 1911, it should be a Colt”. I know other brands may be just as good or better but I want to have a piece of history. So, let’s just say I’m prepared to buy a Colt. What 1911 should it be?

1. Colt Gold Cup Trophy
2. Colt Gold Cup National Match
3. Colt Government Model
4. Colt Special Government Model
5. Colt Combat Commander XSE
6. Colt Custom
7. Some other Colt

Please give me your opinion on Colt Options. I’m looking for a range/night stand gun. I am prepared to spend up to $2,000. All of your feedback is appreciated.

Thanks.

Why spend 2000 for a name when a noce 70 ser 1911 can be had for 500 all metal gun. A tisas 45 acp commander will give you a nice trigger and a very accurate range gun . Add night sights and a nice rubber finger grooved grip and it is a perfect night stand gun and can even carry it if you choose. All for under 650 with the sights and grips.
 

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Why spend 2000 for a name when a noce 70 ser 1911 can be had for 500 all metal gun. A tisas 45 acp commander will give you a nice trigger and a very accurate range gun . Add night sights and a nice rubber finger grooved grip and it is a perfect night stand gun and can even carry it if you choose. All for under 650 with the sights and grips.

Because that's what he wants. No further justification needed.
 
It is with great sorry that I report I will NEVER own another Colt auto. I purchased a Cot Mustang .380 lite weight years ago when they first came out. I used it for very short time as a BUG & off-duty. After slightly less than a 1,000 rounds, it suddenly started jamming. A close inspection showed a crack in the frame from the hole for the slide stop upward into the area at the low edge of the frame rail.

3 letters later all the way to the President of Colt, it became clear that no one intended to fix the problem. The 4th letter told the former general then the President of Colt that I would never buy another Colt. We both kept our word. Colt did not fix my gun and I have not spent a nickel on another one of their products !!! I had a skilled machinist align the frame and weld it up then polish it smooth. It looked like it caught fire and was left in that state. I fired a few 100 rounds through it, was convinced it would work again, and gave it to a indigent domestic violence victim. At least some good came out of the sorry state of affairs.
 
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I have several Colt 1911s, all in .45 ACP. My real favorite to shoot is a Satin Nickel 1974 Combat Commander. However, on my nightstand (operative word is "Night") is a Colt O1070RG Rail Gun with a 10 round Wilson Combat magazine plus spares. It's stainless steel, 5" barrel, heavy and shoots like a dream, almost as much fun as the Combat Commander but for different purpose than fun.

My logic behind that choice is that it's dark at night, so I want a rail and a light without groping for a flashlight. it's got a Streamlight TLR-4 that has both flashlight and laser. I also might not be fully awake when needed, so it's heavy to minimize felt recoil for follow-up shots and has 10+1 capacity.
 
My logic behind that choice is that it's dark at night, so I want a rail and a light without groping for a flashlight. it's got a Streamlight TLR-4 that has both flashlight and laser. I also might not be fully awake when needed, so it's heavy to minimize felt recoil for follow-up shots and has 10+1 capacity.

Not a fan of lasers or flashlights on a firearm. They let people know where you are as you are trying to find them. It makes you as much if not more of a target as they are. They old saying is "that lasers work both ways". Meaning that that little red dot you are projecting is also highlighting your position.

You need to learn to get two shots off on the same sight picture. If done correctly both shots will impact the target side by side.....this is called a "Double Tap". I learned this on just a straight up government issue M1911A1. A problem is most ranges will not let you practice this.

AJ
 
For a night stand gun, of those options, I would go for a standard government model, preferably 70 series. They were making those again recently I think. I have a 70 series GC which is a beautiful target gun that I would not bang around in a night stand. I also have an 80 series Stainless Combat Commander which is handy and has been reliable. I would do a lot of break-in on any new 1911 I was planning to use for self defense with my given choice of load. Learn to clear a stovepipe fast. Some are picky about what they will feed. That being said, my personal nightstand choice is a Glock. Cheaper, accurate, reliable, higher capacity, harder to scratch!
 
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