[mr_camera_man]

Greetings everyone,

As soon as I get a little more money in my shoebox, I'll be buying my first 1911, a VG+ (or better) Series 70 Government from my uncle.

One curiosity I have, even though this pistol appears to be very mechanically sound, is how the Series 70 compares to other models. Are there any parts that are unique to the 70, as the firing pin safety is to the 80?

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[dsk]

The only thing unique to the Series 70 was the spring-collet bushing. And if you don't like those, a standard bushing will fit just fine. In fact, the slightly belled end of the S70 barrel makes it that much easier to fit a match bushing.

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D. Kamm
USGI M1911/M1911A1 Pistols Website
http://www.geocities.com/M1911_M1911A1

 

[mr_camera_man]

Standard is good

Is this type of bushing more prone to failure and/or wear than more common ones?

 

[RonS]

It is my understanding that the collet bushing can fail if it is over stressed by being removed from the slide and replaced frequently. Supposedly they are fine if left in the slide and do serve a purpose in enhancing accuracy over a non fitted bushing, similar to the effect of installing a fitted bushing. With it being 20+ years old, I for one would not trust a collet bushing for serious use, I would oil it up and put it aside in favor of a fitted bushing.

 

[mr_camera_man]

I'll keep that in mind, and I'll probably replace the bushing as soon as I get it, along with the recoil spring.

One other question that probably doesn't belong in this thread... I've read that releasing the slide on an empty chamber, as opposed to easing it closed by hand, is a Very Bad Thing for 1911's... Is that true? Why?

 

[dsk]

I agree with the assessment of the bushing- replace it with a standard "solid" bushing and be happy. Collet bushing breakage is actually quite rare, but when it does happen the broken piece has a bad habit of ending up somewhere it shouldn't and locking up the gun.

Regarding slide slamming, the BIG no-no is hand-chambering a round then closing the slide. The extractor has to snap over the cartridge, which might damage or break it. Slamming the slide on an empty chamber won't hurt anything if you accidentally do it once or twice, but don't make a habit of it unless you like buying new sears.

------------------
D. Kamm
USGI M1911/M1911A1 Pistols Website
http://www.geocities.com/M1911_M1911A1

 

[Inspector Callahan]

Originally posted by mr_camera_man:
One other question that probably doesn't belong in this thread... I've read that releasing the slide on an empty chamber, as opposed to easing it closed by hand, is a Very Bad Thing for 1911's... Is that true? Why?

Dude, the 1911 is probably one of the most over-engineered autopistols on the market today. Releasing the slide on an empty chamber would probably begin to hurt that Colt starting with approximately the ten millionth slide drop.

The trigger job cowboys always have "advice" on holding the trigger down while releasing the slide and other such tripe, which encourages unsafe gunhandling. If such a thing as dropping the slide on an empty chamber really hurt the 1911 then the army instruction manual has been unwittingly inviting damage to their own pistols for the past ninety years.

Regards,
Callahan

 

[Roshi]

Don't thow that collet bushing away. The day may come when you want to sell or retire that Series 70. You'll want to put the collet bushing back in to bring it back to original condition.



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When the world is at peace, a gentleman keeps his sword at his side.

 

[Roverman]

Better yet, get a drop-in Wilson barrel/bushing (it comes throated for increased reliability if you intend on shooting hollowpoints)... and keep the factory barrel/bushing stock (you'd have to machine the stock barrel to properly fit a solid bushing). That way you could return it to pure stock condition preserving the guns overall value.

My Advice, don't hack it up. Or make any change that can't be reversed

 

[mr_camera_man]

Thanks for the help guys. The only changes I plan on making are to get a better bushing (keeping the original in a safe place), and getting a nice set of diamond-pattern grips. The bbl/slide combo sounds nice, but I can't afford that right now... what would be a good bushing to go along with the stock barrel?

 

[Roverman]

I think you'll have to machine your series 70 barrel (with a "lump" on the end)to fit a solid bushing, that was my point.... if someone makes a solid series 70 drop in bushing (that's does not require fitting) i like to know who it is.

Good Luck

 

[mr_camera_man]

Ed Brown has them listed on their website... Anybody have experience with their bushings? http://www.edbrown.com

"All spring type collet bushings are subject to breakage and are replaced with the solid type as a matter of course with the better gunsmiths. We offer a drop-in
replacement in blue and stainless that will work on most 1911 types with little or no fitting, and an oversize gunsmith fit version, also in both blue and stainless."

 

[dsk]

Originally posted by Roverman:
I think you'll have to machine your series 70 barrel (with a "lump" on the end)to fit a solid bushing, that was my point.... if someone makes a solid series 70 drop in bushing (that's does not require fitting) i like to know who it is.

Good Luck

A factory Colt bushing will fit right over a Colt Series 70 barrel. A match bushing will need to be fitted to a S70 or any other barrel, for that matter.



------------------
D. Kamm
USGI M1911/M1911A1 Pistols Website
http://www.geocities.com/M1911_M1911A1