New Model Series 70

[Chris S.]

Okay, I want to commend Brent at Colt for attempting to make this right. I do appreciate the history of the original Colt factory. I obviously was willing to give Colt another try, these 6 years later. I am not on here spending my time because I have nothing better to do, believe me. I only wanted to point out that if you are saving your money, as I did, because you want the horse on your 1911, this is what I got. If you don't like what I have to say, then move along.

Here are some photos, not great, but, I think you get my drift. I have been working the thumb safety a little and I think it is engaging a little higher, if I use a little more force. Maybe it is working itself and fitting itself by constant engaging and disengaging.

The trigger is still quite sloppy. I know it is not a "match" fit trigger, however, it is very sloppy, up and down. The sear spring arm is not fitted correctly, as there is no tension on the trigger for the first bit of travel to the rear. Also, I can pull the trigger forward by hand.

The ejector, well, it ejects and functions, but I do not like being hit in the face, forehead and shoulders.

The wood stocks speak for themselves.

The rattle and play between the slide and frame is normal with the Colts I am familiar with, but not when they are fresh out of the box.

I included an NRA B8 target I shot at 15 yards. I dont care where it hits, I was concerned with the group. I also included a target from the same distance shot with my new $1200 Springfield Trophy Match and my $500 CZ 75 B, just to show you that I am not too bad of a shooter. (I do win pistol matches often).

I was about to run this Colt to the local store for consignment, but Brent did contact me and I will give Colt the opportunity to fix the major issues I have. I am not looking for a tack driver in return, I would just like the parts to be fitted properly and to function properly. I know that this pistol would sell quickly in California, blah blah blah, however, I would feel a little guilty selling it to someone who actually shoots.

[Fazer386]

I know going into a 1911 project that I'm going to tweak or change some things. Even a stock pistol has a little tune-up. Best part of a 1911.

[Chris S.]

Hey Joe, not too many new series 70 Colts around, are there? Especially where I live.

[Chris S.]

I am quite easy to please, actually. I didn't gripe about my first one, I just sold it. But I will gripe when I buy another one six years later and it is the same quality. Like I said, if you don't like what I have to say then move along.

[Chris S.]

Here are some photos........

[Chris S.]

A couple more......

[Chris S.]

Well, there are some of the pictures, not the greatest, but I think you can see some of what I am disappointed with.

This is all I have to say. Brent has contacted me and off to Colt this will go. I will update when I hear something. Thanks for being interested in my experience with my second series 70.

[alde]

Chris,

I really do think your situation is the exception and not the rule. I have a 2011 Series 70 that is a fantasitic pistol. It looks and shoots great and functions perfectly from day one. It's the one 1911 that I will never sell. I plan to try to wear it out by shooting the heck out of it.

[kaiser]

No pics yet, sorry, but I found one at my LGS, knew it would be gone ASAP and so threw down and paid about $1k for it NIB. I have not yet fired it but I have looked it over and lubed it up and it seems to be a great pistol as far as looks go. Fit and finish seem great, but this is my first Colt.
We'll see what the first trip to the range looks like but I certainly hope my experience is nothing like that of Chris S. At least I can call on you gents to feed me the super knowledge I take for granted in this forum.

[gorley]

My experiences with new Colts can be summed up as pre-CNC/post-CNC. I've bought three new Colts in the last four years, two 70 reissues and a Combat Elite XSE. The S70s were made in 05 and 06 and both were fitted about the same as the originals that I've owned, loose. The CE was a newer production that I assume was made after the new machinery was installed. It was way tighter that the others. It had one very minor issue that probably wouldn't bother most folks at all. Other than that, it was a very nice gun.

Now, whatever issues Colt has with production, they do have an extremely valuable asset in Brent, the Custom Shop supervisor. Brent will go out of his way, on his own time, to help an owner out if they have problems. I cannot say enough about how great he is. I hope the management at Colt recognizes what they have in Brent and rewards his efforts. It is very refreshing to deal with someone that gives a little extra instead of taking a little more.

[OhShot!]

Why does the slide have to be so tight? This is something I have yet to understand. I would rather my slides rattle a little bit. That way I know they will function during times of muck and filth.
My Wiley Clapp from this year is a rattle can. I like it that way. It has chewed up and spit out over 1500 rounds without a problem. Can you say reliability? Trust is what I need/like most in a firearm.
Hope you fall in love with the upgraded pistola when it returns to you. I am sure you will. Good luck!

[hogrdr]

the original 70's were pretty loose guns. the ones i have owned were a lot looser than even a kimber even new, but they generally worked. the first one i ever bought, a light weight commander in 76 rattled everywhere but worked 100%, and was decently accurate. i think theres too much emphasis on tight fitting 1911's nowadays. that said. yours is pretty sloppy.

[Kopfjager]

I can see your cause for concern there Chris, sorry that you have had that experience, but like everyone has mentioned, I am sure that Brent and his team will do everything they can to address your issues and return your S70 in tip-top running condition.

[varoadking]

In MY opinion Colt's are the best value for your money on the market with all things considered...

MINE as well...

[lazarus86]

Very sorry to hear. My Colt rattles (and I quite like it) but there are some things I dislike, including the recoil spring tunnel being thinner on one side, possibly from polishing but still...

The safety engages nicely though, this is what a safety engaged SHOULD look like:


I hope that you get your gun taken care of. I wish that Colt had a lifetime warranty like Springfield does, they only warrant the original owner, Springfield does whoever has the gun. And Colt, if you're listening, some support for us Canadians wouldn't be too shabby.

[TREEMAN]

Originally Posted by BJT72

I would like to voice a personal thought here if that is ok with everyone. We have improved every day in some way here since I started 3 years ago. I understand that there may be some things that people don't like or think we should do better. Why do you think I am here paying attention and helping people. In MY opinion Colt's are the best value for your money on the market with all things considered, but hey what do I know.
Brent

x2.........

[dsk]

That thumb safety simply appears to need a couple more passes with a needle file before it'll fit and work perfectly. The grips would be matched if it wasn't for the light colored band in the middle, which doesn't look bad to me but perhaps the vendor (Altamont, I believe) could've paired them up a bit better. The sloppy trigger is common with Colts and not something that would bug me, but the only real solution is a fitted alloy trigger. As far as the targets go, was that from a rest or offhand? Most of the shots are in a nice tight cluster, with just a couple of slightly errant shots opening up the group size. That's usually a sign of a new pistol that simply needs to be broken in a bit to properly seat the reciprocating parts. I'd bet that after another couple hundred rounds those groups would close up considerably.

In other words I see a lot of minor issues that, were the pistol mine I'd have fixed them all myself in a single lazy afternoon. It simply needs a little bit of fine tuning, that's all.

[Chris S.]

Hi dsk,
ya, I agree with the final fitting being done by the customer on an expensive pistol. Also the trigger, not only is it loose vertically, it is loose forward and rearward, prior to the slack, which I am guessing is the sear spring arm that contacts the rear of the trigger bar. Ya, the grips are mismatched, but so what? I am sure I can file on the ejector to and retune the extractor so it doesn't bounce when dry fired. I dont mind rattletraps, but I would think it being new in the box would have been a little tighter. I have never seen a Les Baer be unreliable due to a tight fit. The rattle is the least of my worries, to be honest.
The targets were shot offhand, as I do not shoot from a rest. The first target is the Colt, now compare that to the next target, a stock Springfield Trophy Match (approximately the same price I paid for this series 70), and the final target is the $500 CZ 75 B. I can easily tell you which is the best value for my money. I see no group with the Colt target..... Anyhow, I am not trying to be a jerk by any means, however, I will speak the truth and I am on series 70 #2.
Brent from Colt has done everything he can, so I am very pleased with the customer service at this point. The pistol is on its way, via FedEx, as of this afternoon. Other people may accept the flaws that I have pointed out, but I will not. If it is found that I am complaining about nothing, then I will just sell it, not a problem. There are plenty of pistols that shoot like the last two targets for a lot cheaper. I am quite surprised some of you think these are acceptable flaws, because I sure don't.
I have several pistols that I shoot pretty well, and I have never heard of groups closing up after I shoot a couple hundred rounds through it? I usually shoot at 25 yards, but keep in mind this is only 15 yds. You are fortunate to know what to file on your pistol and make it work perfectly. Does Altamont put the wood stocks on the frame for Colt? I doubt it. "Sloppy triggers are common with Colts," really? That doesn't bother you? The targets speak for themselves...... I am glad that you see my issues as minor, however, I do not feel it is my responsibility take a thousand dollar pistol new in the box and break out my file set. That is totally ridiculous to me.

[GKC]

Originally Posted by OhShot!

My Wiley Clapp from this year is a rattle can.

That's strange...my Wiley Clapp is as tight as they come. I have an XSE Government that is just as tight. My New Series 70 Government is the loosest 1911 I have ever seen.

I guess they are more or less unique pistols...and each one has to be judged individually.

[dsk]

Of my two current Series 70 repros, one had the trigger slack you mentioned. I dont know what caused it, but when my gunsmith did a trigger job on the piece the slack disappeared. My other one (made a couple of years later) doesn't have the problem. So again, it's a bummer but it's fixable.

[R0CKETMAN]

Originally Posted by Chris S.

Other people may accept the flaws that I have pointed out, but I will not.

Glad they're taking care of you. Please let us know the outcome.

[TEA]

The thumb safety engagement on my 1978 S'70 looks like yours in this pic when I engage it with my right hand.


In order to get it to fully engage as in this pic, I need to use my left hand to push it all the way up.

[gorley]

This one had some of the same issues as what you describe but it looks awesome now. Brent really helped me out. They peened the frame rails to tighten the slide fit and now the barrel locks up tighter than a tick's a$$. While they had it they also carry beveled the slide, flattened the rollmarks and blended the rear of the slide to the frame. Only thing left is to decide on the rear sight.

[TEA]

Originally Posted by TEA

The thumb safety engagement on my 1978 S'70 looks like yours in this pic when I engage it with my right hand.


In order to get it to fully engage as in this pic, I need to use my left hand to push it all the way up.

My stiff thumb safety problem was cured the other day with the installation of a new plunger tube by Big Dave at Elk Castle. When I noticed how much smoother the the thumb safety operated I asked if he'd done anything to smooth it out and he said "no" that the thumb safety was so stiff because the previous plunger tube was loose, which allowed the plunger to stick out to far and interfere in the proper operation of the thumb safety. I can fully engage the thumb safety with my right thumb as in the second pic above with very little pressure and it makes a nice audible click when it engages.

[Jonzer77]

My 70 series repro that was made in 2007 was pretty rough compared to my 2011 manufactured 80 series. My 2011 made pistols have been amazing in fit and finish with the usual slide to frame play.

The 70 series needed the extractor adjusted as well as the ejection port lowered because the brass was hitting the top of the slide and leaving brass shavings all over the bench. I took the trigger out and fitted a oversized trigger like I do on all of my Colt's since the factory ones aren't fitted. I also needed to replace the plunger tube because it was out of spec and made it damn near impossible to field strip and the safety wasn't smooth. I had my local smith work on it and it runs great now so Colt will get it running right.

I have had experience with Colt's customer service because one of my 80 series(made in 2010) had a few small rust spots in the finish. I called them up and they sent me a tag to fix it and they went above and beyond. I told them they I could shave with the gun because of the sharp edges and the trigger pull was really heavy at 7lbs compared to my other Colt's. I also accidentally swapped recoild plugs with my brothers RIA when I went to visit him and I requested a new one and they wouldn't charge me for it. When I got the gun back it was amazing, dehorned, nice light trigger, beautiful finish, and a new recoil plug.