[Mike PT1911]

Recently I acquired my first series 80 Colt Gold Cup NM. I love it so much that I decided to order a Commander to keep it company. As of late I've been hearing some guys saying that the series 80 is junk. Can someone please elaborate on the meaning of this. I have read that some really prefer the series 70. Is it because the series 70 is closer in design to the original? Is there really anything wrong with the Series 80 design?

 

[Bud White]

Look up the series 80 sticky and you will see the extra parts that are in the gun .. lots of guys dont like them .. do they really matter not really they don't mess with the trigger pull as much as some guys would have you think.. It adds more work to polish them up to do a trigger job is why most gunsmith hate them .

My 3 commander size colts all are series 80

 

[TraderJack]

The common complaint about the Series 80 system is usually described as 'a solution for a problem that doesn't exist'. That may be so, but it's not for me to say.

The S80 guns I own are all extremely reliable, great shooters, have really crisp 4# triggers and are a joy to shoot. I carry some of them often. Even the gun I use for USPSA Single Stack competition is a S80. It has a crisp 2 1/2# trigger and I trust it completely to fire every time.

I believe the purists in our crowd prefer the S70 guns because of some of the reasons you mention, but mostly because they feel the S80 is not necessary.
:flag:

 

[Bud White]

The S80 stuff isnt needed but i wont let it stop me from buying one with S80's parts ..

Though none i Carry right now have S80 parts in it

 

[El Pistolero]

I wouldn't call them junk, I just take out the series 80 stuff and put in a tj's replacement shim.

 

[OD*]

.. do they really matter not really they don't mess with the trigger pull as much as some guys would have you think..

Exactly, my Series 80s trigger pulls;

1984 - Govt. MK IV - 4.75lbs.
1985 – Officers ACP MK IV – 5.5lbs.
1987 - Govt. MK IV - 5.5lbs.
1988 - Govt. MK IV Ultimate Finish - 4.0lbs.
1988 – Gov’t MK IV – 5.0lbs.
2000 -M1991A1 - 4.75lbs.

 

[El Pistolero]

It doesn't mess up the trigger pull and it's set from the factory where the trigger pull is about the same as those from the factory without. It DOES lighten it a little when you take the series 80 stuff out though, so it's a cheap lightening of the trigger when you put in the shim.

 

[OD*]

If any of the trigger bar levers, or plunger levers screw-up, that's what I plan on doing. :wink:

 

[Hunter]

You have to be careful of the shims you choose. Some are soft metal only to take the place of the levers to save gunsmiths time while working on the Series 80 receiver.
The softer shims can and do deform and could cause trouble.

 

[OD*]

I would use the same shims Steve uses, he's stated several times he's never had one deform on him.

 

[TraderJack]

I would use the same shims Steve uses, he's stated several times he's never had one deform on him.

Excuse me OD, but for Mike's benefit(and mine), who is this 'Steve' you refer to? And which shims does 'Steve' use?

 

[OD*]

I'm sorry Jack, that would be Steve Shields. Better known as wichaka, he's an LEO, trainer and gun wrench. IIRC, he uses the same part as Jerry, T.J.'S CUSTOM, slot blank filler.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=13121&s=

 

[El Pistolero]

I've always used tj's shims and have never had one deform or had any problem with them.

 

[TraderJack]

Thanks :wavey:

 

[Bud White]

I use the Tj's Also

 

[BigEd63]

I'll have to get one too. My 1991-A1 has a fairly smooth trigger but you can still tell the FPS is there no matter how well polished.

 

[El Pistolero]

I agree Ed, regardless of what anyone says I can tell a difference no matter how well the parts are stoned. The shim always lightens the trigger a little for me.

 

[MarshallDodge]

Can someone please elaborate on the meaning of this. I have read that some really prefer the series 70. Is it because the series 70 is closer in design to the original? Is there really anything wrong with the Series 80 design?

I prefer the 70 series trigger but if the it doesn't bother you then shoot it and don't worry about it.

The other issue is that when the 80 series came out, Colt's quality was starting to drop. The Gold Cup has always had a higher level of work done to it and all of them I have seen have been nice guns.