View Full Version : Colt 1911 Series 70 Blue
Cincinnatus15
12-25-16, 09:13
Merry Christmas first of all.
My brother, cousin, and I were talking about buying 1911's and from what little research I've done, I've heard these are good to go. I know there are some issues with 1911 reliability, or at least a discussion about it. Do the Colt's come reliable out of the box? If anyone has experience with them I'd like to hear what your experiences have been. Thanks.
Here's where I would likely buy if they were in stock: http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=01970A1CS
I think the current production Colts are some of the best Colt has ever produced (and I've heard this from other owners also). I've bought a few over the past few years, and all have run 100%. Even with hollow point. And if you do have any problems, it's under warranty.
I think the current production Colts are some of the best Colt has ever produced (and I've heard this from other owners also). I've bought a few over the past few years, and all have run 100%. Even with hollow point. And if you do have any problems, it's under warranty.
This is my experience also. I have bought two Colt 1911's in the past five years, and both have been excellent.
On my (now no longer owned) two Colts this year (2016) both staked-on front sights loosened up. The first one Colt replaced and restaked the sight which took about a 2 to 3 week turnaround, mainly due to shipping/transit times.
The second one I restaked the existing sight which seemed to stay put after shooting a few hundred round prior to selling it. This 2nd O4691 model Colt .45 Commander was a warranty replacement for the 1st one due to a frame cracking. I understand the frame beginning to crack is uncommon, yet it happened to me.
Getting this 2nd Colt under warranty took approximately 2 months for Colt to verify and get management approvals to replace. Being in California, I had to wait a few weeks more, paying an additional amount to the gun store for processing, before I could take possession of the gun due to this state's procedures/requirements.
I've had better and worse 1911s than Colt over the years. Overall, Colt has about average or slightly below in terms of difficulty in ownership.
Although I've not owned one of the many models they make, I'd recommend trying Springfield-Armory based on my observations of other owners around me seemingly not having any problems with 1911s of that brand. Personally, I'm now tired of dealing with any potential problems on a production level 1911, but might consider something like a Springfield-Armory TRP, maybe Dan Wesson. Otherwise, I'll just spend more for a semi-custom-level next time (if there is a next time), or perhaps even go into custom-territory.
Cincinnatus15
12-25-16, 11:15
Interesting ^. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes I'm looking to buy something that's going to be hassle free but not break the bank.
Buy a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec.
Between me and a buddy, we have owned 5 Colts that were shot extensively w/out issues and a few more that were only shot occasionally. All of them ran with ball ammo no problem and the ones that we tried Speer Gold Dot in worked fine as well.
Many Colt 1911s spread out over about 4 decades. If anything the recent ones have better fit & finish, but even the old ones all worked.
The only thing you had to do on the older ones was polish the feed ramp if you planned to use hollowpoint as they did not at the time on anything but goldcups. (Real men shot hardball, apparently)
My belief is that the "unreliable 1911" mythos came about when the obsession with tighter slide fit started. And might just be smiths justifying more work. Slippery slope for sure.
Even back in 1975 when I was first introduced to 1911s shooters and Smiths knew how to tune very accurate (bullseye types). But knew that level of fit was not needed nor reliable for anything but the range. Combat rigs you dialed the work way back to just a handful of things.
I own several Colts and have had very good reliability with them. My black CRG jammed quite often for the first 5-600 rounds but it could have been reloads or bad magazines. Bad magazines when replaced with good ones (or new mag springs) will generally clear things up. My series 80 DE has had lots of feed jams due to a bad extractor. I sent it back to Colt, whom said they replaced the extractor. I got it back and it's still jamming badly. Seems like the extractor is loose in the tunnel so I will have to send it back again. I even sent them pictures and an explanation. Every other Colt have had no issues at all.
I own several Colts and have had very good reliability with them. My black CRG jammed quite often for the first 5-600 rounds but it could have been reloads or bad magazines. Bad magazines when replaced with good ones (or new mag springs) will generally clear things up. My series 80 DE has had lots of feed jams due to a bad extractor. I sent it back to Colt, whom said they replaced the extractor. I got it back and it's still jamming badly. Seems like the extractor is loose in the tunnel so I will have to send it back again. I even sent them pictures and an explanation. Every other Colt have had no issues at all.
My CRG has been completely reliable through about 3k rounds.
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1911s fall just below AK's on my priority list of inspection before purchase. I'd buy from someone where an inspection period is provided.
That said in the last few years I've bought new O1911 O1918 O1970 with zero issues. I did turn down a face to face deal on an O1970 with off center spring plug cut.
Don't discount SA as well
Cincinnatus15
12-27-16, 12:51
Don't discount SA as well
Springfield Armory makes a good reliable 1911? Which models? Loaded, Mil Spec, Range Officer, etc?
Springfield Armory makes a good reliable 1911? Which models? Loaded, Mil Spec, Range Officer, etc?
All of them. The only models I've ever heard of having issues are a 9mm variant, the combat operator I believe. There's a thread info on here about them. I'd be surprised if they still have issues too. Never heard of a problem with a .45 model. Find whatever Colt or SA you want and go for it, they both make great 1911s and every decent American should have at least one.
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I think the current production Colts are some of the best Colt has ever produced (and I've heard this from other owners also). I've bought a few over the past few years, and all have run 100%. Even with hollow point. And if you do have any problems, it's under warranty.
A few years ago they replaced the older machines with new CNCs. Big difference.
I've still seen a few make it through with very uneven dust covers (when viewed from the front) but all the ones I've had have been excellent.
Starting in late '11 I went on a berserk Colt spree and got about 13 of them. I didn't send back or have an issue with any.
I have a MIM aversion so I replaced the discos and sears though.
It is why I totally avoid nearly all-MIM pistols like SA (too many Brazilian parts too) and MIMber.
Starting in late '11 I went on a berserk Colt spree and got about 13 of them.
This makes me happy...
Local shop has a layaway program and a new manufacture 70 series blued and a stainless under the counter, this thread doesn't help. Hardest part is deciding which to get, or to get both.
Gary1911A1
12-28-16, 11:34
Local shop has a layaway program and a new manufacture 70 series blued and a stainless under the counter, this thread doesn't help. Hardest part is deciding which to get, or to get both.
Getting both sounds good to me, but see my on-line name.:o That being said unless you have a problem with your pistols rusting get the blue one. Carbon steel runs smoother and blue has more character even with wear.
Getting both sounds good to me, but see my on-line name.:o That being said unless you have a problem with your pistols rusting get the blue one. Carbon steel runs smoother and blue has more character even with wear.
I don't plan on doing any work to the slide or frame, has anyone melonited their 1911? Could it be done with the look of polished bluing on the sides and matte on the top of the slide?
bamashooter
12-28-16, 22:27
I purchased the Colt O1970A1CS in Sep 2014 for 1,021.00 from Bud's w/ a credit card. Check or MO would have been a little under a thousand. I've seen them the past year or so for low to mid 800.00s. I find it to be ok but nothing special. Decent 800.00 gun I reckon. I'll take my 700.00 CZ1911 A1 over the Colt all day long.
wetidlerjr
12-29-16, 08:12
The level of angst about 1911s in general and Colt 1911s in particular in this thread has me looking like this: :rolleyes:
That said, I have a fair number of 1911s (all Colts; more than one but less than one hundred) and I can say the new ones I have bought, including a 70 Series repro, have been virtually trouble free mechanically with one off-center spring tunnel and a few mag troubles that were easily fixed. As for new Colts; buy with confidence.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/CC_1991ORM010412-1.jpg
1991 ORM Combat Commander (Melonite) by Robert Miller
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/COLTS70REPRO_MILLER0811.jpg
Series 70 repro with NOS military marksmanship team contract slide by Robert Miller
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/COLT1991HRDCHRME101107.jpg
1991 ORM Government model (hard chrome) by Robert Miller
Thanks for bringing all of this up for me again...I've been fighting the "1911 bug" for a while, but it looks like it's going to win.
A blue, newly manufactured 70 Series has been on my radar for two or three years now, and I made a promise to myself back on 01NOV2016 that I get one to celebrate if HRC did not win the election. I felt like it was a safe bet at the time...
My concern on these Colts, however, has always been the sights because of my old eyes. Although I would not get this pistol with a primary intention of carrying it, I would still want decent sights for the range, etc. The only option in the past seems to have been to get the pistol and then send it somewhere for some sight work. Bud's offers a Series 70 pistols with Level 1 "upgrades" (Colt O1970A1Z) that include Novak sights, flat mainspring housing, NM barrel, and a few other things for a cash price of $1,023. There's also a Level 2 shown that includes a magwell. I can't find anything on Colt's web site about these, so I was wondering if anyone had any info, suggestions, comments, etc. Although Bud's is out of stock on plain Jane, blue Series 70 and a price isn't shown, I'm thinking that this Level 1 pistol might be a good way to go.
That said in the last few years I've bought new O1911 O1918 O1970 with zero issues.
You have good taste sir. The WWI Repros are among Colt's best. I have two O1918's. One is a shooter, the other a safe queen. Wish I had grabbed an O1911 when they came out.
Springfield Armory makes a good reliable 1911? Which models? Loaded, Mil Spec, Range Officer, etc?
My first 1911 was a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec (Stainless) purchased in 2009. It came with an 11-pound trigger pull (measured with two different trigger pull scales) from the factory. I considered sending it back to Springfield to have it worked on or sending it to a reputable pistolsmith, but decided that I'd end up spending more than if I just sold the pistol and bought an already-tricked-out Colt or Kimber. I ended up selling it to a friend who didn't care about the trigger pull and bought a Glock 17. When I decide to get another 1911 it'll be a Colt.
The level of angst about 1911s in general and Colt 1911s in particular in this thread has me looking like this: :rolleyes:
That said, I have a fair number of 1911s (all Colts; more than one but less than one hundred) and I can say the new ones I have bought, including a 70 Series repro, have been virtually trouble free mechanically with one off-center spring tunnel and a few mag troubles that were easily fixed. As for new Colts; buy with confidence.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/COLTS70REPRO_MILLER0811.jpg
Series 70 repro with NOS military marksmanship team contract slide by Robert Miller
Looks like a King Tappen rear sight on that beauty.
Maybe the best GI style sight ever offered. Wish I had loaded up on those back when Kings was still in business...
Thanks for bringing all of this up for me again...I've been fighting the "1911 bug" for a while, but it looks like it's going to win.
A blue, newly manufactured 70 Series has been on my radar for two or three years now, and I made a promise to myself back on 01NOV2016 that I get one to celebrate if HRC did not win the election. I felt like it was a safe bet at the time...
My concern on these Colts, however, has always been the sights because of my old eyes. Although I would not get this pistol with a primary intention of carrying it, I would still want decent sights for the range, etc. The only option in the past seems to have been to get the pistol and then send it somewhere for some sight work. Bud's offers a Series 70 pistols with Level 1 "upgrades" (Colt O1970A1Z) that include Novak sights, flat mainspring housing, NM barrel, and a few other things for a cash price of $1,023. There's also a Level 2 shown that includes a magwell. I can't find anything on Colt's web site about these, so I was wondering if anyone had any info, suggestions, comments, etc. Although Bud's is out of stock on plain Jane, blue Series 70 and a price isn't shown, I'm thinking that this Level 1 pistol might be a good way to go.
Compared to the gi profile sights of the older series 70's the current production guns sights are much larger and easier to see. Replacement not needed for my 50+ eyes anyway. I took a vickers 1911 class a couple years ago and used a stock ww1 reproduction with the tiny military style sights and when we did a walk back test to see who could keep all shots in the black I was still holding black at 25+ yards so the small sights of even this model did not handicap me- they would be hell to pick up super fast or in low light though. Again the current guns use sights that are much bigger and work fine
Over the last 30 years, I've had more 1911's then I can count without actually making a list.
All were reliable, when there was a FTF/FTE is was magazine or extractor tension related.
The one I did have to send back, a hard chrome Special Combat Government needed throat/polish
according to the gunsmith at the CS.
My last CS LW Commander was a flawless shooting gun.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/clarkz71/cb8dbeb3-35db-4bd0-9fa4-3f4b9044e69c_zpsjkuubnad.jpg
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