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Is it just for range use? If so, I see no issues with your preference for a plain Series 70. If it’s for defense, the modern 1911 options as exemplified in the XSE and Rail Gun make the 1911 easier to shoot at speed.
Fine pistol and great choice.
I recently picked up a 70 repro for a build. I’d try to buy in person or at least obtain detailed pics. The pic below is an example of what I encountered, poor dust cover cut, while looking for mine.
This pistol would be my go to pistol for traveling, potential home protection, threats to life, local shooting events, etc.
I would honestly say the sights are the only drawback of that pistol. On the other hand thousands of soldiers kicked that ass with that very same model of pistol in WW2.
Sent straight from my mind to this forum.
actually the current production series 70’s have the slightly higher profile sights first brought out on the 1991 series- they are close to double the size of the old gi sights and more than adequate.
As long as you don’t have a fat hand subject to hammer bite (I’d shoot a regular spur hammer /grip safety 1911 just to be sure) then the 70 series will do you just fine.
Many people (not me ) have issues with hammer bite and after the first range session are fetting advice on what new hammer and grip safety to but on thier biter. find that out first- if bite is an issue for you,get a gun with a beavertail and ring hammer right out of the gate
Local shooting events? As in bullseye? Or action type events like IDPA, USPSA, etc? Honestly for all three uses, I’d take the XSE every time. It would cost you a LOT more in the long run to add the improvements the XSE offers. The only reason to choose the plain jane Series 70 is nostalgia and initial price.
Thanks guys shooting events hmm I don’t know what it’s considered. I can illustrate, I’m shooting at steel in town like scenarios.
Sounds like a match where your score is predicated by the time it takes an/or the number of steel dropped? That’s a speed shoot and the XSE will be faster.
or if the gun will be used later on for a commissioned build. No many smiths like to undo work, even if it’s colt that initially did it.
that being said, there’s lots of used s70 guns for sale now. and during the holidays, lots more turn up. keep an eye out, deals are out there
I’ll have to decide and I got time, are the XSE’s, combat etc, all have ambi thumb safety?
Just to be pedantic, the area you’re referring to is the recoil spring tunnel. The dust cover is the portion of the frame that sits behind that area on the slide when in battery.
That is definitely an area that Colt had somewhat widespread issues with 5 to 10 years ago, but to be honest I have personally seen off-center tunnels in 1911s from many different manufacturers from most eras of 1911 production (going all the way back to a Colt M1911 from 1927). What year was your repro made, outta curiosity?
Ultimately, that off-center spring tunnel is a cosmetic issue and won’t impact the function of the pistol in any way. In fact, it is a great way to get some $$ knocked off a 1911 when purchasing it if your seller doesn’t know any different. So long as the tunnel and the opening for the bushing are aligned (and they should be based on how that area is cut in the slide), it should aim and shoot fine.
Like above poster said, a lot of smiths out there like to only work on the s70/s80 repro models because it gives them more space to work on it (no undo’ing work). One smith I spoke to also said they already know what to work on when it’s a Colt s70/80. But I am no smith and I am just rephrasing what he said.
Just my 02 cent. I believe the s70 has a slightly heavier trigger pull as well.
A heavier trigger pull than what?
What many people complain about is that the trigger/firing pin safety system in the series 80 pistols can theoretically create a harder trigger pull. The reality is, though, that any competent 1911 gunsmith can make a series 80 pistol just as smooth as and light as a pre-series 80 system.
I’ve heard that some pretty competant 1911 smiths actually prefer the series 80 parts.
I have series 80 guns from LAV, CT Brian, and Novak’s. their triggers are just as clean as any.
I can’t speak for the XSE, but my Rail Gun came with an ambi safety. It’s the one nit I have to pick on the gun. It’s oddly proportioned and I replaced it with a single side Wilson Bullet Proof safety almost immediately. I have several thousand malfunction free rounds through my CRG, almost exclusively with JHP’s.
You would do well with a new S70 Colt for a first 1911. I have had one for a number of years (came with the “spring tunnel” issue) and it is still running strong. It has been worked over by Robert Miller and now sports a NM slide from the 1960s.
If the base model Colt and the features that it provide is what you want then get it. My personal opinion fwiw, is if you think you will eventually want to get some bells and whistles added, just order it that way from the factory.
It is a hassle chasing down a “Qualified” gun smith that doesn’t have long wait times in order to do the work. Not to mention the cost of having said gun smith do the work on top of the original purchase price.
Bottom line:
Get it the way you want it the first time. Buy once, cry once!
My mistake for not clarifying. The S70 trigger does resemble the GI trigger and is a bit heavier than some other 1911’s I’ve shot/owned.
A decent smith should be able to work over both 70/80. I would run like hell from a smith that could not make an S80 trigger work smoothly