Re: colt 1911's
I would agree that Colt has had some QC issues over the years, but in working on numerous different 1911's, to some extent they all do. You have to remember that with a 1911, the gun has to be hand fit during the manufacturing process. It isn't a drop-in gun like a Glock. Trying to get people with the training and experience to make the guns and keep them priced competitively with other modern pistols is a daunting challenge. As a result, whether due to lack of skilled craftsmen, or pressure to put out so many guns at a time, every U.S. manufacturer seems to have some issues. UNLESS you pay for the custom shop guns. So if you want to have a perfect gun, buy one intending it as a base gun. But I have no complaints about my Colt. The only reason parts were changed in it was to fit me better and to get the correct trigger pull for a street gun. As armorer I did all of the work myself and I am no great gun guru, but I have had no problems at all with the pistol. And it is a series 80. There is no real reason to go with the 80 but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. Some claim that there is a difference in the feel of the trigger, but to me it isn't significant enough to make a difference and it has never been an issue with any of my department officers carring 1911s. I am not saying that those who claim it is a problem are wrong, just that for the typical shooter it doesn't create a noticable difference. When I was at Colt school, they did tell me that there was never a documented case of a 70 failing, but the legal department insisted on the safety. Keep in mind, however, this is a combat handgun, not a benchrest or bullseye shooter. I still have a long way to go before I can outshoot this gun. Whatever you get, make sure that it is all parts compatible and standardized for a 1911. Some manufacturers (early Taurus for example) made guns that some of the components wouldn't interchange with a standard 1911. That could be a problem down the road, and limits customization potential out of the gate.