Colt SS Officer's Model

[glockatlanta]

I'm not sure which series...I'm assuming an 80, but don't yet know. Any Pro's vs. Con's for this pistol? Are parts available as they are for Gov't and Commander Models?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[lwt210]

I had a series 80 Officer's model a few years back and had a local smith install some goodies on mine. As I remember, aftermarket parts could be found with ease.

I had a new bushing, extended trigger, beavertail, ext. safety, and a full length guide rod system installed. Also had some better sights installed.

Pistol was a real tack driver at 25 yards. Reliability with ball ammo was excellent but I had some issues with some hollowpoints. I have heard that hollowpoints won't expand out of such a short barrel so I carried mine with hardball.

I sold it to buy another gun and kind of regret that decision (like eighty percent of the trades/sells that I did). I owned full sized 1911s also but always turned to the Officer's model when it came time to strap one on for carry.

Recently, the 1911 bug has been gnawing on me once again. Looking for a Commander sized piece this time. Probably the best of both worlds.

[glockatlanta]

Thanks for the reply. I ended up buying it. A stainless Series 80. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until next week sometime to get it out to the range.

[Backfire]

I bought a Series 80 Officer's ACP in the early 1990's and still have it. It is fussy with hollowpoints that have sharp edges like the Hydra Shocks. It feeds HP bullets that resemble hardball in profile. Although the two original Colt magazines have had only several hundreds of rounds through them (mostly moderate reloads), both magazines have been failing to feed the last round...the magazine springs seem to have weakened and I just replaced them with 10 lb. Wolff magazine springs (factory springs are 9.5 pounds acc. to Wolff). I will test the magazines soon to insure last round reliability.

Quandry:Hardball might be the answer for such a short barrel, especially in the Officer's where some hollow points can be problemmatic anyway (although 185 grain Winchester Silvertips seem to feed o.k.). However, I recall (Marshall and Sanow?) that there is only a very small advantage in .45 hardball over 9mm hardball in stopping power (something like 63% vs. 60% for one shot stops)...both are likely to overpenetrate and can ricochet dangerously. Best bet may be 185 gr. hollowpoints that feed reliably. At the worst, they would behave like hardball, especially in cold weather climates when failure to expand after penetrating thick outer clothing is likely to occur. Remember, that Officer's loses important velocity for the heavy .45 slug due to it's short barrel. In contrast, I hear that 9mm does not suffer as much from short barrels.

[paul45]

how bout using power ball from Corbon...should feed in finicky pistols

[jerryd]

I picked up the enhanced parkerized model a few months ago and really like it. Changed the grip safety to wilson drop in , grips, and springs, so far its great. havent done anything else, maybe checker the front strap and nite sites,my eyes are shot.;)

[Zoggy]

I have a series 80 SS, like it alot. Bad part is it will chew up the web of my hand pretty good so I am going to have the smith put a ed brown part onto it.