Colt M1991 A1 Series 80

Post by MadMike

As I am not very familiar with real firearms I would like to ask if someone can tell me about the Colt M1991 A1 .45 pistol. I think it is a Series 80 model which was sold on a limited scale. What is the difference to the standard M1911 A1 model? Was the M1991 A1 officially introduced with US military forces as sidearm? (I doubt this as the Beretta M9 was already standard service sidearm then). Any information is highly appreciated.
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Post by 8ace

These guys should know all about .45 ACP

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=15201

I did some research before buying my hobbyfix series 70 .45

8ace

Post by figaro

http://www.coolgunsite.com/comm_pistols/colt80.htm

I have both models if you would like pics.
Three or four obvious differences.
Sights, take down notch on upper slide further back by 1" on the series 80, firing pin safety internally on the seris 80, slightly widened mag well mouth on the series 80, guess at 1/2inch up and a 1/16 in.
Locking back no differences, all parts seem interchangeable. But there seem to have been a lot of slight/tiny improvements over the 70 years seperating the two models.
The hammer is different shaped, sliced instead of checkered.
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Last edited by figaro on Sun Oct 21, 2007 9:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

Post by figaro

Oh, and the trigger is aluminium and sticks out about 3/4" further on the series 80, although I prefer the look of the WW2, as it has that very distinctive sillouhette, the series 80 is much easier to control and seems to improve shoot placement.
The rear of the grip below the grip safety curves slightly outwards and is checkered on the WW2 model, on the Series 80 it is flat in line with the lower frame and the slatted, horizontal strip grooving, again at the loss of that distinctive sillouhette.
The fit and finish inside the series 80 is great, the join betweem chamber and mag ramp is like a crack in bone-china, I can get my finger nail in the space on the m1911a1, but it does still shoot fine, except aluminium cased blazer ammo, which tends to be problematic.
One more difference, the front lower corner of the ejector opening is wider and milled for a little more room.
I do not have any of the 1911 model guns to compare these to, I'm sorry.
Both are a joy to shoot, although the series 80 is just much more accurate, but may havr an unfair age advantage. Although I have shot 100 year old Merwin and Hulbert revolvers that print clover leafs at 15 yards so age isn't really an excuse.
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Post by MadMike

Well, I didn't ask without a reason. I always felt a little inferior as I did not have a Colt .45 in my collection. As the Colt "Government M1911A1" is a classic firearm, I felt the need for one. Although I really like the look of the Series 70, I wanted something that is not so common. I decided to get the M1991A1 Series 80 model. The real gun is known by its huge "1991A1" rollmark markings, something that most real 1911 enthusiasts dislike.

As MGC is out of business I decided to get a MGC model, although the Marushin 1911 model is not bad, but I can get it later I think. Here are some pics. The markings are not very strong and I must say I like them.
















The gun came with the standard MGC tools, but there is also a metal bushing. If someone knows for what that is for, please let me know.

I did not yet fire it as it is so nice. I will look for a spare barrel though as they are said to break easily. I really like this modelgun and feel sad that MGC is out of business, but there may be hope that they may reproduce some of their 1911 series in the future.
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"It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over."