Happiness in a box

[Love Life]

A blue box to be exact...

[contender1]

Tease!

[Bzcraig]

That ain't right!

[Love Life]

Yes. Inside is something so utilitarian, yet so exquisite.

[brassrat]

Thug, Union product from a commie state lol

[Love Life]

Thug, Union product from a commie state lol

Better than buying garbage from Brazil or the Philippines. 'Merica.

Back to our regularly scheduled program...

147200

[Bzcraig]

You still ain't right...........I hate charades

[Love Life]

Voila!!! Oh, oops. How'd that get in there? Let me try again...


147204

[Silver Jack Hammer]

When I saw it was you Love Life, I hoped it would be a Colt. Is that going to be a Single Action Army, Model P?

[Love Life]

Sadly it is not a SAA. There is a Colt kicking around here somewhere and I'll get good pictures up today. Just reckoned I'd lead into it.

Post #7 gives a hint.

[RobS]

Voila!!! Oh, oops. How'd that get in there? Let me try again...


147204
bait and switch..........classic

[Love Life]

I always have enjoyed a nice backside.

147207

[TXGunNut]

My guess is a 1911 but that's only because you already said it wasn't a SAA. Somehow I doubt you'd be paying today's silly prices for a snake gun, was perusing Fjestad's article in AR in the "library" early this morning. 'Tis a mind-boggling thing.

Of course, 1911 doesn't narrow it down much these days. Still looking for a 2011 model but haven't seen one and the latest bankruptcy filing probably kicked the price tag on that one into silly territory.

[TXGunNut]

Gee, went after a cup of coffee and missed the last pic. Looking good!

[RobS]

Figured you were going with a 1911...............1991 or 70 series? Looking at the Colt site I'm seeing your hammer is black like the 1991 series.

[TXGunNut]

Looking like an A1 or maybe Series 70, wrong color box for a 70. Hammer and grip safety style indicates a retro leaning or a platform for a custom carry gun.

[hpdrifter]

safequeen huh?

[Love Life]

No safe queens here. Finish wear=memories. More at 10:00...

147210

[TXGunNut]

Nice, congrats.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

congrats

[TXGunNut]

Figured you were going with a 1911...............1991 or 70 series? Looking at the Colt site I'm seeing your hammer is black like the 1991 series.


1991 series I saw today had a beavertail grip safety, looks like LL has truly gone retro. :-)

I bought my first new 1911 in more than a few years a few weeks ago, it's a bittersweet experience. My old Colts welcomed the new kid, the old warhorse even loaned out a slide release for diagnostic purposes. Folks who have only shot striker-fired Tupperware guns don't and likely won't understand that the 1911 is a labor of love, patience and sometimes a bit of armory duty. The 1911 is always worth it, always.

[smokeywolf]

I raise my cup to you Love Life.

147231

[dragon813gt]

Awwww......that box has such a cute looking prancing pony on it. Is it a present for a little girl ;)

[Love Life]

Awwww......that box has such a cute looking prancing pony on it. Is it a present for a little girl ;)

Sure is. It's for you! Badum tish.

[Love Life]

1991 series I saw today had a beavertail grip safety, looks like LL has truly gone retro. :-)

I bought my first new 1911 in more than a few years a few weeks ago, it's a bittersweet experience. My old Colts welcomed the new kid, the old warhorse even loaned out a slide release for diagnostic purposes. Folks who have only shot striker-fired Tupperware guns don't and likely won't understand that the 1911 is a labor of love, patience and sometimes a bit of armory duty. The 1911 is always worth it, always.

It's the blued Series 70 Repro.

This one has been a long time coming. I've been through so many gunshops lately handling as many new manufactured Colts as I could to get a gauge on how their current offerings are put together. I've been pretty impressed.

Anywho, with Colt crying that the sky is falling, I decided I'd add a few more ponies to the stable this year. Me not being a fan of extended safeties, ambi-safeties, rails, and garage door openers on 1911s, I wanted a plain vanilla 1911. This one scratches that itch. I am very happy with the fit, finish, and quality of machining in this particular example. At less than $900 out the door it was a no brainer to me. Hopefully I'll get to shoot it this weekend, and more pictures of the gun are coming.

[smokeywolf]

Hurry up with that range report. It'll be another excuse for me to pour a couple more shots of scotch in my Colt cup.

[Uncle R.]

Sweet!
Even the box is gorgeous.
Gawd I love the pony.
Less than nine out the door you say?
Hmmm...
Your thoughts about putting fresh ponies in the stable before Colt's imminent demise seem sensible.
Your assessment of Colt's current quality level makes me think maybe I should see how much is in the piggy bank.
Are the major components of real 1911s with ponies on 'em still forged? I've seen reference to plastic mainspring housings years ago but if Colt has gone over to the dark side and embraced MIM or investment casting or other "lesser" manufacturing methods for major components I'd rather have an older one.

Uncle R.

[Love Life]

Uncle R-

You can get new Colt 1991 Series 80 pistols for under $700 out the door. To my hands, the series 80 safety system triggers are the same as my series 70 and other non series 80s (unsmiffed) triggers.

From the 1911Forum post 2: https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=15201



The MIM parts in a Colt are: Magazine Catch, Mag Catch Lock, Sear, Disconnector

Colt absolutely uses Nylon Mainspring housings on their Series 80 1991 pistols, but they have never given me an issue. I guess if you used the gun to hammer in nails then I could see that being problematic. Honestly, I've yet to come across a story of a busted Nylon mainspring housing on a Colt.

I often hear "I'd rather have an old one" but you are missing out if you think that because it's old that it's better. I'm not an expert, and I haven't stayed in a Holiday in recently, but I have seen quite a few older guns that were not very well fitted or finished.
Don't let the myth of older is better keep you out of the game.

Colts are classics. Colts are American. I can shoot this gun for the next 20 years and will still get a significant portion of my money back if I ever decide to sell it.

People can spend 75%-90% of the cost of a Colt on a 1911 assembled from parts from Brazil, or the Philippines, or they can just buy the real deal and be done with it.

Go get you some Colts!!

[9.3X62AL]

Congrats, LL! About 3 years back I added a used Series 80 Gold Cup Nat Match to the safe, and it goes along frequently to the range and into the field. It's a jewel, well-fitted and feeds EVERYTHING reliably. Its only flaw is a dinged-up Elliason rear sight that just so happens to put hardball right into the X-ring at 25 yards......so I've left it alone for now.

Seriously Jonesing for a Colt Commander XSE right now.

[osteodoc08]

Man, if I only had the funds for a few colt 1911's. Never had a prancing pony, but would love to try one out.

[Love Life]

Buds and Grab a Gun have good prices. Many places on Gunbroker do layaway from 6 months to a year. That's how I acquire the majority of my guns. Layaway.

Osteodoc08- Next time you get near Albany give me a holler. We can go shoot at the Mike Commander range and you're more than welcome to shoot my guns.

[TXGunNut]

Man, if I only had the funds for a few colt 1911's. Never had a prancing pony, but would love to try one out.


I like my Colts but these days I'd be more interested in the gun than the logo.

[Love Life]

9.3X62AL- Congrats on the Gold Cup. Such a timeless pistol. BTW, young Andrew is walking now and getting into everything.

TXGunNut- Nowadays you can have your cake (logo) and eat it too (quality/price).

[9.3X62AL]

That is great to read, sir. "Getting into everything" is their job description and modus operandi.

[TXGunNut]

TXGunNut- Nowadays you can have your cake (logo) and eat it too (quality/price).

True, it's just that I can't find the exact Colt I'm looking for. Not too excited about having another built. My new lightweight Ruger will have to tide me over until it comes along.

[smokeywolf]

Always thought Colt should have offered the Delta (10mm) on the Commander frame.

Also thought they should have offered a 41 mag in a Python form factor.

Love Life, very anxious to here all the details of your first date with your new "Rampant Colt"

[Love Life]

Always though Colt should have offered the Delta (10mm) on the Commander frame.

Also thought they should have offered a 41 mag in a Python form factor.

Love Life, very anxious to here all the details of your first date with your new "Rampant Colt"

I agree with you on those designs. Sadly for me the Python was discontinued before my being old enough to buy them, and I really don't find them to be worth the cost they bring today. The only Colt revolver that interests me is the SAA.

The Delta elite in a Commander model would be awesome. Sign me up and who do I give my money to!?!

My Colt will get a work out this weekend shooting some full tilt jacketed loads, and variety of cast loads to include the venerable H&G 68. I'm interested to see how the dimpled throat works out. My 53 year old mother will be out there helping me do the testing!!

Side note- Bens Liquid Lube is the most awesome rust preventative ever. Down here in the deep dirty I use a lot of EEzox, but the amount you sweat down here gives the eezox a workout. Apply a light coat of BLL on a firearm after treating it with eezox, rub it in like a polish, and rust free happiness will follow.

[FergusonTO35]

Voila!!! Oh, oops. How'd that get in there? Let me try again...


147204

Ya just can't stop evolution!![smilie=s:

Seriously, nice pony you've acquired there. I'm not a Colt fan but I do like their 1911's.

[smokeywolf]

A neighboring PD used to issue the S&W model 57 in 6" to their officers. Surprisingly most of the officers liked the barrel length as, the extra weight made it easier to steady, buffered recoil and the longer sight radius tightened up accuracy, making it noticeably easier to shoot a good score and re-qualify out on range. They carried them with loads which were closer to 41 special velocities.

Always fancied those 6 inch model 57s, but growing up with Colt, wanted a 41 mag in a Colt.

Very interesting about BLL. I've not yet used it, but Ben tests his concoctions pretty thoroughly before publishing them and I've seen quite a few glowing reports. Have already stocked up enough Johnson's One Step to last my lifetime and probably my children's as well.

[ebner glocken]

I raise my cup to you Love Life.

147231

When someone purchases a hi point do we take a swig of Thunderbird or Mad Dog? Of course out of a paper bag as it was originally intended.

Ebner

[TXGunNut]

When someone purchases a hi point do we take a swig of Thunderbird or Mad Dog? Of course out of a paper bag as it was originally intended.

Ebner

Quite possibly but I won't be joining that toast. ;-)

[onceabull]

Wild Irish Rose was the fav.of the bindle stiff I bought my first personal shotgun from..Long B4 Thunderbird,Ripple,or Mad Dog !!!! Onceabull

[Love Life]

When someone purchases a hi point do we take a swig of Thunderbird or Mad Dog? Of course out of a paper bag as it was originally intended.

Ebner

This made me laugh! I attended a PME school years ago, and being a baller on a budget I drank a boatload of mad dog.

[dragon813gt]

This made me laugh! I attended a PME school years ago, and being a baller on a budget I drank a boatload of mad dog.

My memories of Mad Dog aren't that fond. Last time I drank it was the summer of '97. This was the summer of $.98 gasoline and $.50 Taco Bell Tacos. Let's just say Taco Bell and Mad Dog aren't a smart combination. I didn't learn my lesson until late August :laugh:

[Love Life]

So I finally made it to the range. Nothing earth shattering to report since due to the way the range was set up I had to do the majority of my shooting at 10 yds.

Gratuitous gun pictures after shooting

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The 1st 14 rds at 10 yds. If you duplicate my load data and destroy your gun, then that is on you. I like to run a couple magazines of full tilt loads through a new gun to kinda seat everything in place.

147932

Followed by 4 consecutive targets shot with one magazine apiece loaded with the NOE H&G 68 clone over 4.2 gr of Bullseye. Target number 4 has 14 rds in it because that's how the math worked out:

147933147934

By the time the range emptied of people, my mom and I had been there for about 3 1/2 hours. I didn't really feel up to doing any real testing since I was tired. I put up one last target at 20 yds and fired 7 rds of my H&G 68 4.2 gr Bullseye load from the standing with a firm 2 hand hold. The results were good and I can't wait to do a full work up at 25 yds with the H&G 68 boolit and the HI 230 gr RN:

147935

Throughout the firing there were no failures of any kind. Ejection is robust with the cases being thrown to the rear right oblique. Before shooting I was a bit unsure of the ramped front sight (I prefer a square post), but it didn't seem to hinder me. The dimpled throat was a non issue and is pretty cool.

At the end of the day the Colt series 70 repro (I call it 3rd gen) ran like a top, looked good doing it, and proved itself to be worth every penny paid.

[smokeywolf]

So, is the next one you buy going to Mom? With some trigger time, her targets could look like yours.

[Love Life]

Mom is no slouch. After an elbow injury she has had to learn to shoot left handed. Funny thing is that she still shot better than a bunch of people on the range.

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Here she is engaging the target on the right with the S&W in 10mm.

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[smokeywolf]

As Louis L'Amour would put it, Mom looks to be "a gal you could ride the river with".

[TXGunNut]

Good shooting! My old duty gun started life as a Series 70 back when a Colt was a kit. Glad to see that has changed for the better.
Glad your mom was able to transition to shooting lefty. It's really not that big a deal if you just think about what you're doing. I think shooting with my off hand now and then makes me a better shooter.